I found your Nov. 7 editorial (“Combat stress: Soldier’s actions not cowardly”) short-sighted in the way you immediately jump to the conclusion that SSG Pogany is simply a victim of over zealous persecution by the U.S. Army.
Having spent five years as an officer in that service, I can inform you that, for whatever reason, there is a small but significant portion of Army soldiers that will stop at virtually nothing to get out of exercises or deployments that represent even the modest departure the relative comfort of normal garrison duty. This includes everything from faking medical or mental illness or family emergencies, to engaging in criminal acts that keep them in the U.S. for processing, to even getting pregnant in order to get sent back from a deployment with the premeditated intention of getting an abortion when they return home.
The number of these soldiers is thankfully only a small percentage of the whole, but they do a great deal of damage to the morale of other soldiers who are committed to their chosen profession.
I would advise The Lantern not to pass judgment on the acceptableness of SSG Pogany’s behavior based on his version of events alone. SSG Pogany would probably not be getting court-martialed if he was a lower-enlisted soldier.
But non-commissioned officers willingly assume a greater measure of authority and responsibility with their rank, so it does not surprise me that his case was elevated to a level above the non-judicial punishments available to his commanders. You’re right when you reason that he will not face the death penalty; punishment in court-martials are based on the severity of the offense and the previous rulings of similar cases, just as in our civilian courts.
Being somewhat familiar with the court-martial process on Fort Carson, Colo., if SSG Pogany is even found guilty I would be surprised if he received anything harsher than a General or Other Than Honorable discharge.
Brandon Moore Graduate student in electrical engineering
