Soldier from Greeley won't go to Afghanistan until Obama produces birth certificate

[HBARleatherneck]

http://www.greeleytribune.com/articl...ntProfile=1001

A Greeley native and U.S. Army official has vowed to disobey orders to deploy to Afghanistan until President Barack Obama produces proof he was born in the United States.

Lt. Col. Terry Lakin, who was born in Greeley and graduated from University High School, is asking Obama on an Internet video posted this week to furnish a birth certificate.

“For the first time in all my years of service to our great nation, and at great peril to my career and future, I am choosing to disobey what I believe are illegal orders, including an order to deploy to Afghanistan for my second tour of duty there,” Lakin says in the video.

He later adds, “President Obama, I ask you to respect and uphold the Constitution. Be transparent, and show your honesty and integrity. Release your original signed birth certificate, if you have one, thus proving your birth on American soil, and thus assure the American people you are lawfully eligible to hold the office of the presidency and serve as commander in chief of the armed forces.”

He does not accuse Obama of illegally obtaining office in the video.

Lakin is in his 18th year of active uniform service, according to the video.

Lakin's father, Frank Lakin of Greeley, said he didn't know enough about the situation to comment Thursday afternoon, but he did say his son's video wasn't representative of the family.

“This does not reflect the opinions or the attitude of the family by any means,” Frank Lakin said. “We're Obama supporters.”

A Web site dedicated to Lakin's cause, http://safeguardourconstitution.com, is collecting donations to contribute to Lakin's defense fund. The site claims it must raise $50,000 in the next 10 days.

Margaret Hemenway, who has been handling media relations for the Web site, said Terry Lakin is the highest-ranking active duty officer to publicly challenge Obama's natural born citizenship.

Hemenway said Lakin researched the subject before coming to her with the idea to create the video. She then had him talk to a lawyer, who attempted to derail the plan. Lakin persevered, however, and filmed the video.

Lakin is waiting to see what course of action the Army will take with him, Hemenway said.

“If they court-martial him, it will be huge,” she said. “They will risk making a martyr of him.”

According to the Web site, Lakin serves as chief of primary care and is a flight surgeon for the Pentagon's DiLorenzo TRICARE Health Clinic. He has been awarded with the Army Flight Surgeon Badge, Combat Medical Badge, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Armed Forces Expedition Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon sixth award and the NATO service medal

[Birddog1911]

I predict that it will not end well for him.

[SA Friday]

Although I understand him completely and empathize with his cause, I am sorry to see him destroy 18 years of honorable service. They will not be disuaded from courts martial simply because of some press. They will definately charge him for disobeying a lawful order, and the defense that it's unlawful won't last 2 seconds in any court. Furthermore, I suspect they will also charge him with acts unbecoming (Can't use your military status for politics) for the video, and maybe throw in dereliction of duty to boot.

He won't plead either. He wants the press. One of two results, jury nullification (which they'll boot him afterward, it's administrative) or guilty and he will get a un-nice ride in a short bus to Kansas.

[HBARleatherneck]

i think the last officer that pulled this kind of stunt, just got his orders dropped. i would bet the military will just cancel his deployment. but he can figure on a bad fit-rep. no promotions, and or maybe early discharge. 2 years left to retirement. why? nobody likes the kenyan, I get that, but dont throw away your career and at this point, retirement funds.

[Bailey Guns]

I applaud his standing firm on his convictions but I'm with Friday. There's no way this is going to solve the birth certificate issue.

I'm guessing they're hoping they'll be able to compel the gov't to produce the document as some sort of evidence or under some discovery rule. I don't see that happening.

But I don't see him doing any/much jail time either.

[SA Friday]

I applaud his standing firm on his convictions but I'm with Friday. There's no way this is going to solve the birth certificate issue.

I'm guessing they're hoping they'll be able to compel the gov't to produce the document as some sort of evidence or under some discovery rule. I don't see that happening.

But I don't see him doing any/much jail time either.

Neither do I. 6 Months. BUT... All Officers serve their time at Leavenworth.

[Marlin]

The story of Don Quixote comes to mind..

[sniper7]

i like what he is doing but dont see it ending well

[Hoser]

i would bet the military will just cancel his deployment.

Nope.

[theGinsue]

I predict that it will not end well for him.

I fully agree. The Army has only to prove that he failed to obey an order or regulation. At which point the Lt.Col will question/debate the legality of the order. There is no way the legality will be substantiated - and the presiding officers of the courts martial will surely blow past the challenge and white wash it as an "assumed" because Obama hold the office of President of the United States thus making him Commander-in-Chief.

I wonder if this guy has ever been to Kansas because he's fixin' to be sent to Leavenworth!