An honorable man
LTC Scheller makes the only move that makes sense.
A Lt. Colonel in the United States Marine Corp announced on LinkedIn today that he is resigning his commission after losing his command over a public video he had posted criticizing top military brass for their actions in Afghanistan.
Lt. Colonel Stuart Scheller’s video attacking everyone from the Joint Chiefs of Staff down for their role in creating the Afghanistan crisis went viral last week. Shortly after the video was released, he was relieved of his command but still remained a Marine. Today, he announced he is resigning.
“Part of me feels like everything in the last 25-years of my life may have happened to bring me to this point right now,” he said.
Reactions from patriots since the video went viral have been mostly positive. Many tribute and GoFundMe pages have been set up to support him, but he made it clear that he has not set up a GoFundMe himself. He called for donations to go to the families of lost service members from the attacks in Afghanistan.
One comment in particular seemed to truly affect Stuart. A former commanding officer, “Lt. Col. Hobbs,” posted something on social media that prompted the latest video as well as his resignation.
“If Stuart Scheller was honorable, he would resign his commission,” Hobbs posted in a reply on LinkedIn, according to Stuart’s video.
Stuart became emotional and proceeded to announce his resignation.
“I want to make the announcement today,” he said. “After 17 years, I’m currently not pending legal action and I can stay in the Marine Corp for another three years, but I don’t think that’s the path I’m on. I’m resigning my commission as a United States Marine, effective now. I’m sure there’s more admin on how I’m supposed to do that, and I’ll work through that. But I am forfeiting my retirement on entitlements. I don’t want a single dollar.”
Obviously, Col Schiller, the USMC you loved and served in for so long exists now only as a fond memory. The current Corps, sadly, is no longer worthy of men of your caliber and qualities, and there is no place for you or them in it. I can but sit back in awe of your courage and integrity for taking the stand you have, and shouldering the burden of sacrifice you just did with your resignation. All good Marines will rue your absence; each should now do some soul-searching themselves to ponder where all this is headed, and what part they want to play in the days ahead.
Update! A thoroughly honorable man.
The maverick Marine fired after he released a now-viral video slamming the US military for botching the exit from Kabul, issued a clear threat to his aging superiors Saturday.
“The baby boomer’s turn is over,” Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller told The Post. “I demand accountability, at all levels. If we don’t get it, I’m bringing it.”
He also quoted Thomas Jefferson, saying “every generation needs a revolution.”
Scheller’s family and former troops say they’re not surprised the officer sacrificed his career in order to tell his truth.
“It takes real courage to do what he did and that was Stu all the way,” Juan Chavez, 33, of Valparaiso, Ind., who served under Scheller from 2011 to 2014, told The Post Saturday. “He was a magnificent leader, a breath of fresh air, who was always going to do what’s right, even if it goes against the grain.”
Scheller’s father, Stuart Sr., told The Post his son was “the real deal, a Marine’s Marine. People will follow him to the ends of the earth. He has put his life on the line for fellow Marines so putting his career on the line like this does not surprise us.”
Stuart Scheller Sr. said his son idolized his grandfather, a World War II vet who landed on the beach at Normandy, and always wanted to go into the military.
“He’s still on the battlefield protecting his men and women,” Scheller Sr. said. “It’s interesting that no one (in the military) has answered his call for accountability. Their answer was to fire him I guess. It’s a sad day for America.”
Yes, it is. But maybe a little less so than might otherwise be the case, thanks to your son’s courageous stand against the corruption, fecklessness, and ass-covering endemic in our increasingly-dysfunctional military establishment. Obviously, your boy was brought up right, and you should be damned proud of him.
A married father of three boys who lives in Jacksonville, NC, Scheller seemed to have had a brilliant military career before he did the unthinkable and broke rank with the Marine Corps. He received a Combat V for Valor and a Bronze Star.
But now he’s a hero to many in the military and among civilians for, as one person commented, “coming out with what everyone was thinking but was afraid to say.”
Scheller said some of his fellow officers, while supportive, urged him to take down the video.
“Obviously I didn’t take it down,” Scheller wrote in a later Facebook post. “I’ll offer this…we can’t ALL be wrong. If you all agree…then step up. They only have the power because we allow it. What if we all demanded accountability?”
More than 30,000 people, some of whom served under Scheller, have liked and commented on his video.
“Proud to have served under your command sir, we’ll follow you to the pits of hell and back,” wrote Zach Olbrys of Worcester, Mass.
Ryan Holland of Lexington, Ky. wrote: “I see a seat in Washington in your near future!! It was always an honor serving with you sir! Semper Fi!”“It took big brass balls to do what you did…[knowing] it came at a huge risk to your career personally,” wrote Paul Zedalis. “An Officer with integrity…hard to find at the senior levels these days. My hat is off to you Sir!”
Mine too.
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