a surrender - 10

(Continuing "a surrender," chapter one, "surrender")

For the next several weeks I stayed on the base and answered a phone in an office and waited for my trial. Soon I learned, however, that the Navy lawyers wanted to avoid a trial. Perhaps this was partly because I was an officer, and they wanted to avoid the negative publicity of an officer being court-martialed. I don’t know for sure. But the commanding officer of my ship insisted on a court-martial. So the lawyers began the trial process, and I had to go to a hearing and watch as the executive officer pointed at me and testified that I had refused his order. After that, the court-martial was handed over to the lawyers and my commanding officer wasn’t involved anymore. And I was offered a way out. If I would waive my right to a trial and accept an “other-than-honorable” discharge, then all the charges against me would be dropped. I was stunned. I certainly didn’t think I deserved an honorable discharge. And I didn’t plan to apply for any benefits from the military in the future, since I didn’t deserve those either. So an other-than-honorable discharge seemed right. And I would not have to spend years in a military prison.

Suddenly the ship had fallen away behind me and I was floating on air.

I was free.

Continued...