My answer is to cut the baby in half. He completed his term of service, with honour, and we don't abandon our own. IF his next of kin request a military funeral, he gets the flag on the coffin and uniformed pallbearers, but no firing party.
Thus his prior service to country (flag) and comrades (pallbearers) is given due regard, but the man himself doesn't get the final mark of respect (to say nothing of how inappropriate that mark would be in the circumstances).
When the press ask, the answer is "THAT's how special it is to have been one of us."
Would a convicted Felon lose his/her rights? That’s my first question. Failing that, my recommendation is to conduct the funeral, with honors, in private. Thus, the minimum required to uphold what an honorably discharged veteran has earned.
I would say though, that he's brought shame on the brotherhood, and he, and the brotherhood, have to atone for that. Undoubtedly other Marines have done bad things post-discharge and received honours at their funeral, but shooting several dozen unsuspecting civilians crosses a line.
Were I CMC, I would order that Whitman receive no honours, and I would apologise to the survivors and the families of the dead for his actions.
At the time of the shooting and the subsequent criminal judgment(s) made of Wittmans infamous and tragic actions he was a civilian, albeit a vet Marine. Therefore as his advisor, recommended advice to CMC is to defer to the Director of the Veterans Administration and its regulations and rules regarding benefits, including those related to burial of his remains. Secondly, recommend to CMC to ensure USMC PAOSs and leaders be made aware of his decision to defer to the VA and why.
I really want to look stuff up, but I don't want to risk spoiling myself. Mainly, I'd like to know what the precedent is, since this can't be the first time a discharged Marine has died in the course of committing a capital offense. That said, I'm assuming the "monarch" description implies Greene has full control over whether or what kind of military funeral occurs.
Here I go. As they say, "fools rush in." No Marine background. At. All. Limited military background.
1. Once a marine, always a marine. Discharge changes the nature of service only, from military to civilian. This is part of the Marine ethos and a major recruiting angle. If Whitman is guilty, then he no longer deserves the military funeral, despite what the regs may say. I'd probably make some official statement to that effect, while also insisting on an investigation and an autopsy. Delay the funeral pending an investigation / autopsy.
2. Yes, I said "if" he's guilty, for several reasons. Part of it is the Marine ethos again. We don't abandon our own. Part of it is "innocent until proven guilty." Part of it is that this looks very suspicious to me. This part may be that I write fiction, and part may be the last few years. It smells like a psyop to me. Do we know for sure the guy doing the shooting is Whitman? Possibility of mistaken identity? Was he drugged? In possession of all his faculties? Do an autopsy.
3. Other stuff. Talk to who else? President? SecDef? Congress? Address the troops? I don't know what needs to happen here.
This is an interesting one!
My answer is to cut the baby in half. He completed his term of service, with honour, and we don't abandon our own. IF his next of kin request a military funeral, he gets the flag on the coffin and uniformed pallbearers, but no firing party.
Thus his prior service to country (flag) and comrades (pallbearers) is given due regard, but the man himself doesn't get the final mark of respect (to say nothing of how inappropriate that mark would be in the circumstances).
When the press ask, the answer is "THAT's how special it is to have been one of us."
Would a convicted Felon lose his/her rights? That’s my first question. Failing that, my recommendation is to conduct the funeral, with honors, in private. Thus, the minimum required to uphold what an honorably discharged veteran has earned.
No.
Not a marine here, though ex-infantryman.
Technically, Whitman deserves full honours.
I would say though, that he's brought shame on the brotherhood, and he, and the brotherhood, have to atone for that. Undoubtedly other Marines have done bad things post-discharge and received honours at their funeral, but shooting several dozen unsuspecting civilians crosses a line.
Were I CMC, I would order that Whitman receive no honours, and I would apologise to the survivors and the families of the dead for his actions.
At the time of the shooting and the subsequent criminal judgment(s) made of Wittmans infamous and tragic actions he was a civilian, albeit a vet Marine. Therefore as his advisor, recommended advice to CMC is to defer to the Director of the Veterans Administration and its regulations and rules regarding benefits, including those related to burial of his remains. Secondly, recommend to CMC to ensure USMC PAOSs and leaders be made aware of his decision to defer to the VA and why.
I really want to look stuff up, but I don't want to risk spoiling myself. Mainly, I'd like to know what the precedent is, since this can't be the first time a discharged Marine has died in the course of committing a capital offense. That said, I'm assuming the "monarch" description implies Greene has full control over whether or what kind of military funeral occurs.
Here I go. As they say, "fools rush in." No Marine background. At. All. Limited military background.
1. Once a marine, always a marine. Discharge changes the nature of service only, from military to civilian. This is part of the Marine ethos and a major recruiting angle. If Whitman is guilty, then he no longer deserves the military funeral, despite what the regs may say. I'd probably make some official statement to that effect, while also insisting on an investigation and an autopsy. Delay the funeral pending an investigation / autopsy.
2. Yes, I said "if" he's guilty, for several reasons. Part of it is the Marine ethos again. We don't abandon our own. Part of it is "innocent until proven guilty." Part of it is that this looks very suspicious to me. This part may be that I write fiction, and part may be the last few years. It smells like a psyop to me. Do we know for sure the guy doing the shooting is Whitman? Possibility of mistaken identity? Was he drugged? In possession of all his faculties? Do an autopsy.
3. Other stuff. Talk to who else? President? SecDef? Congress? Address the troops? I don't know what needs to happen here.