Letter: Military has always been a dictatorship
Published 1:30 am Saturday, January 24, 2026
Editor,
As a retired Navy commander, the letter by Mr. Sullivan and McNamee entitled “Military must back democracy, not dictatorship” is disgusting. It is tragic that former marine corps reservists would write that article.
The Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) these two retired marine reservists indicated that a considerable number of generals and admirals were forced to resign early in the President Trump administration. They claim that it was because the flag officers questioned the legality of President Trumps orders. The initial thrust of the President Trump administration was to get rid of flag officers that promoted DEI (a woke culture) in the military. The president’s goal is to re-focus the military on protecting the country.
Peter Hegseth’s guidance from President Trump was no more DEI. Those flag officers that did not focus on protecting the country needed to go. E.g., No more sex changes paid for by the taxpayers with years of taxpayer paid medications.
The “Marines” go on to take the side of the deplorable Mark Kelly. I know Sullivan spent time in Vietnam. There were individuals drafted and sent to the Marines. Sullivan and McNamee would have went crazy if any enlistee said, “I do not think this war is constitutional, so I am not going on patrol today.” Promoting breaking the chain of command is a woke Marine Corps. They both know better and would have never allowed it. Both should be censured and demoted for their public statements promoting the questioning of the chain of command.
An option I hope the Secretary of War would take is to bring Kelly, Sullivan and McNamee back on active duty and do more than just reduce their pay grade. They are violating UCMJ Articles 88, 92, 133, and 134. Article 88 has a maximum sentence of one year in prison and loss of all benefits and pay.
The military has always been a dictatorship and the oath for enlisted members makes it clear that Kelly, Sullivan and McNamee have lost their way.
The U.S. Military Enlisted Oath of Enlistment is a solemn promise to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, bear true faith and allegiance to it, and obey the President and officers according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, often concluding with “So help me God.” It does not state if you like the orders.
Taxpayers pay billions of dollars to have a strong military and not a soft emotional woke military.
Lastly, defending terrorists bringing drugs into the country or creating nuclear weapons in an unstable country?? Finally, a president that is fixing problems instead of talking about them. When democrat presidents did similar occurrences there was never an outcry from Republicans or the left.
I feel sorry for those individuals that have TDS so bad they would give up the country to illegals and illegal actions before supporting anything President Trump does to ensure America is first, safe, and strong.
Every Marine I have ever known has been a loyal patriot, but we live in different times now.
Terry Sparks
Oak Harbor
