This Is How You Kill A Military Career

One mistake. One oversight. But in an institution in which zero defects is not a catchy slogan on a poster plastered on the wall but rather a way of life. Or death. One mistake is all it takes and this one is pretty grievous.

About 300 friends and family members showed up for the July 6 ceremony.

The Army did not.

No honor guard. No gun salute. No active military personnel to fold and present the flag to the colonel's widow. No one in uniform, save a bugler who happened to be a family friend and her son, a Boy Scout.

This is something that is taken very seriously in the military. A military funeral is the final time to show honor and respect to a service member who has devoted or given their life in the service of their country. It is one last time to pay honor to a veteran, who may not have gotten that respect in life, especially if his service was during the Vietnam War like Col Tindall's was.

The room told the story of 32 years of service, his two tours in Vietnam, 17 medals and commendations, his admission into the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.

Those 17 medals and commendations include Legion of Merit (Oak Leaf Cluster), Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star (OLC and "V" Device for Valor), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (25 OLC), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (6 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal (2 OLC), Vietnam Service Medal (6 OLC), Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Overseas Service Ribbon (2 OLC), Master Parachutist Badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Medal, and the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.

The officer who's career is now probably over is COL Deborah Grays, who is the Garrison Commander of Ft McPherson in Atlanta. While she is taking responsibility there are others, closer to the action who should also be falling on their sword. Somewhere there is a casualty assistance officer and NCO, who's primary responsibility it is to make sure that when military honors is requested and coordinated it happens.

I am sure COL Grays feel sincerely remorseful about what happened and the last thing she needs is somebody else jumping on her case for it, but I did quite a few funerals when I was serving. We always made sure to check and double check the details to make sure we were at the right place at the right time with the right resources for what was being requested. We made sure we were there early and stayed just out of sight until we were sure we were no longer needed. A garrison commander certainly has a lot more to attend to then checking up on the funeral arrangements of a retired service member, but she is at the top and she is taking responsibility which I give her credit for. I hope that those further down the food chain who were directly responsible for ensuring that this mission was carried out, while not taking the blame publicly, have been punished accordingly.