http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8883343/

NBC News and news services
Updated: 12:12 p.m. ET Aug. 9, 2005
WASHINGTON - 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 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.

Pentagon and Army officials told NBC News that Byrnes was relieved of his duties due to “potential infidelity.”

I am sad that we lost a warrier today.

I am happy because my Army continues to enforce standards. He got what was coming to him. He knew better. He brought dishonor upon himself, his command and the Army.

The Army is better today because they relieved him of duties and he will probably be forced out. The Army is better today because it enforced its creed....duty, honor, country.

In His arms.

***He brought dishonor upon himself, his command and the Army.***

And upon his family.

If he is not going to protect it, who is?
Mulan

Too true!

In His arms.

But isn't it interesting how an honorable man can fall? I don't know any of the particulars, but I'm assuming that General Byrnes was a good soldier.

This infidelity stuff just boggles my mind.

This is true, Believer. I was in the inspector general's office as an IG for 4 years (these are the guys that are investigating this stuff). And it jsut boggled my mind the stupid things good soldiers did, and ruined their lives with. Some amazing soldiers, with decorated records...all ruined because they could not maintain their honor.

I feel very little for a soldier that is willing to risk all for their selfish gain. If they would risk their career for "getting a little," then they will risk soldiers' lives needlessly, for their own selfish glory.

No. I am glad the Army found out about this guy and that he is being drummed out. Dishonor endangers lives. Dishonor endangers the mission.

I do feel for his family and those affected by his selfish decisions. They probably followed him thru his career. A four star general is something most people are unable to attain. And now it will be all gone. All those years, and deployments, and moves to different places...all wasted because of his selfishness. I do feel for his family.

But I still say the Army is better off today with him gone.

In His arms.

I disagree. I think he would not risk his soldier's lives. The affair probably crept up on him. One day he was an honorable man, and the next day he wasn't. That's how fast it happens.

I'm prejudiced of course, because I have worked for the Marine Corps for 25 years. I've seen many a good man go down. They fall for the same reasons the rest of us do. In battle, they leave no one behind. But real life gets to some of the best.

This story just saddens me.

What if he was being Blackmailed and made a bad decision that cost someone their life?

I understand what you are saying. But you cannot distinguish between combat and real life when it comes to internal workings of the soldier. A soldier of honor is a man of honor.

A sergeant major once told me that almost anyone can be a warrier. Anyone can learn to shoot-move-communicate. A solider is something more. A soldier is more than closing with and destroying the enemy. A soldier is also they gu yor gal who keeps their boots shined. It is the guy or gal that renders proper military courtesies. And so much more.

And one thing that makes a soldier (or a Marine, or airman, or seaman or costguardsman) is that they are honorable in all things they do. And when they make mistakes, they make restitution.

But a leader is something even more. A leader is not allowed to make mistakes...not big ones. Not ones that are selfish, that are self serving. A leader is about men and mission. That is all.

So a soldier leader puts everything and everyone before himself. This general put himself before everyone. If he was a great warrier, and he had to be to make it to be a 4-star, he wasnt a great soldier. Why? Because he put his needs before his soldiers. He put his needs before his family's. If he was a great warrier, then he cost his men and women, his command, and the Army a soldier that they might have needed in battle. He let everyone down.

So, as of now, this guy is not a good soldier. He may have been a great warrier. But this country demands more than great warriers. They demand Duty-Honor-Country. They demand Semper Fidelis.

This is what separates us from most of the other combatants in the world. There are great warriers in Al Qaeda. They have great discipline and will lay down their lives for their cause. But they are not honorable men. They are not soldiers. And THAT is why they will not succeed!!!

It is sad. But my sadness is not for him, because he knew exactly what he was doing. it is a sadness for my Army, for the country...and most especially, his family.

As an IG, I was involved in the prosecution of several high level soldiers for adultery. It wasnt pretty. But I was glad we did it. Because we believe that to allow someone that would be so reckless with their personal life to have command over troops that have the power of life and death...would be inviting disaster.

Soldiers follow soldier leaders. They would never follow a man like this, once they knew what he had done. Even if he was a great warrier.

In His arms.

TA - I am not defending him, just saying that it makes me sad.

Working closely with the military, I have a spot in my heart for them. I have seen many good warfighters fall. These are guys just back from Iraq, some who fought door to door in Fallujah. Some who have purple hearts.

The biggest risk to these guys is when their wife is having problems, and leaves to go back home. These men often fall apart, and even go AWOL.

The military has high standards, and I believe it should be that way. But it is often difficult to live up to those standards.

Dont I know!! I too was deployed September 2001. I too returned to find my wife in an affair. I too had to make the decision to retire last year, rather than deploy with my guys to Afghanistan. All because I needed to concentrate on somethign more important...my marriage and family.

It is sad. And you are right. Living up to these standards is hard. It is why the public has such a high regard for the military. Because the American people know they have a group of young men and women that have volunteered to meet those standards. Everyday. No matter what.

It is sad, Believer. It was sad when I had to sit across a table from a Command Sergeant Major we caught in a "compromising" position with a subordinate soldier, who was not his wife. As I took his testimony, this soldier of 27 years, with a wife and three kids, broke down in that room crying. It is sad.

But that is why we train. We we endoctrinate. Why we counsel. Why we continue to monitor. Because we know soldiers are human. We know that left to their own devices, that many would falter. We protect our own.

This general had all of that. Plus prestige, money, power. And even with all of the training, all of the help available to him...he chose to be selfish.

It is sad. I wish he had not made such a bad decision. But he did, and because of that, the Army does what it must do to protect itself.

Soldiers cannot make mistakes, or people die. It aint fair, but that is the way it is. And we can forgive mistakes that were made in trying to do their job. We do not forgive selfish behavior.

This man deserves and should be drummed out. And if the OW is a subordinate, he should also see jail time.

And all of that will be sad.

In His arms.

I completely agree MM.

I talk to these young men and women everyday in the smoking area at work. I've become great friends with lots of them. You can rest assured that Believer is doing her part.

I know. And I know those Marines are glad you do.

In His arms.

P.S. I hope you arent smoking!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Naaa. Haven't smoked for over 20 years. But that is my secret weapon. I take my breaks and go to the smoking area. When it comes up in conversation, I let people know that I am no longer a smoker, but used to be. They can't believe that I hang out with the smokers, and that it no longer bothers me.