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Home Front: Culture Wars
Senior general is relieved of duties
2005-08-09
The Army, in a rare disciplinary act against a four-star officer, said Tuesday it relieved Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes of his command in the midst of an investigation into unspecified "personal conduct."

Byrnes, a native of New York City, was relieved as commander of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command on Monday by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker, according to a brief statement issued by Army headquarters at the Pentagon. In that post, Byrnes oversaw all Army training programs and the development of war-fighting guidelines. It operates 33 training schools and centers on 16 Army installations and is headquartered at Fort Monroe, Va. Adultery or gay?
Posted by:Chuck Simmins

#9  Sestak may have been unpopular because he overworked everyone, but he had done lots of good work towards modernizing the Navy for the future. The guy was extremely smart and he didn't just shoot from the hip - he did his homework. His work, and the hard work of others approved by the previous CNO, was just dumped out with the trash to "improve moral".
Posted by: 2b   2005-08-09 21:26  

#8  Byrnes, a native of New York City, was relieved as commander of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command

Ummm, didn't I read something about deaths in "Boot Camp" a few months ago, bunch of DI"s and their Officers cashiered, and so on?

"Training Command" is Militariese for "Boot"
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2005-08-09 17:54  

#7  Its probably either sexual misconduct with a subordinate [how many female peers are there at that rank?] or with someone's spouse. The Gay community doesn't like you to know that hetros are prosecuted for their sexual behavior as well [remember Kelly Flynn - oh, and her lawyer tried to play the 'victim' card as well only to be shot down by real info days later on the number of male officers who'd face courts martial charges for adultry in the prior year]. And yes it does effect discipline and morale when 'team' members screw other members' spouses and significant others. People stop looking out for their buddy's back, thus putting everyone in more danger than is necessary. The gays want to have immunity for their behavior while straights will continue to be disciplined and separated from the service for their sexual activity.
Posted by: Flash Hupomoling8954   2005-08-09 16:24  

#6  Sure hope this guy weasn't with the Cavalry in Seattle.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-08-09 15:29  

#5  More: An Army official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the disciplinary action followed an investigation by the Defense Department inspector general's office into "allegations of personal misconduct of a sexual nature." The official offered no further details of the allegations against Byrnes, who is married.

Boyce said the investigation into Byrnes had been going on for "a couple of months" but could not say whether it began before Wallace was nominated to replace him. Boyce said he knew of no one else who was investigated for possible misconduct along with Byrnes, adding that any potential further action against Byrnes would be taken by Army officials. "He has not been charged with anything," Boyce said, adding that Byrnes already had been expected to retire from the military at the time of the investigation.


No charges yet may mean nothing illegal, just bad press for the Army.

"Obviously any time there is an allegation against a general officer of personal conduct, it's taken very seriously. It is looked into and examined and acted upon as appropriate," Boyce said. Cases in which four-star U.S. military officers are relieved of their duties are extremely unusual, and the Army was not immediately able to cite another recent example within that branch of the military.

In 1995, Navy Adm. Richard Macke was replaced as the head of U.S. Pacific Command after making an offensive remark about the rape of a 12-year-old Japanese girl, suggesting to reporters that Marines charged in the case would have been better off spending their money on a prostitute.


Searched, but can't find a hint of anything.
Posted by: Steve   2005-08-09 15:19  

#4  The officer, Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes, was forced into retirement about two months before he was to step down as head of the Training and Doctrine Command.

It must be bad if they are busting him with only two months to go.

A spokesman for Mr. Rumsfeld, Bryan Whitman, told The Associated Press that the investigation involved "matters of personal conduct," but he declined to elaborate. A question yet to be answered is whether General Byrnes will be allowed to retire at full rank, or be demoted and reprimanded as well.

Really, really bad. A DUI you could sweep under the rug for two months. Maybe a sexual harrassment case, maybe he suppressed charges or claims by female soldiers at one of the training commands. That would do it after the AF Academy fiasco.
Posted by: Steve   2005-08-09 15:08  

#3  As an aside, it took the new CNO, Admiral Mullen, less than 24 hours to dump one of the most disliked officers among the Navy's top brass. Vice-Admiral Joe Sestak, an arrogant and obnoxious "bully-boy," who delighted in being rude and unreasonable and getting away with it, found he was expendable the minute his mentor went out the door.
Posted by: anymouse   2005-08-09 13:21  

#2  JackA., I guess you also have the "got-drunk-and-went-cruising-the-rest-stops-for-gay-adultery" angle covered...
Posted by: Carl in N.H.   2005-08-09 13:21  

#1  Everytime I saw a higher up diciplined, it always had something to do with alcohol. My money is on a 'DUI'.

Fred, put me down for $50 on DUI to win, and $10 on Fraternization to show!
Posted by: JackAssFestival   2005-08-09 13:14  

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