On this Veteran’s Day, I would like to thank all past, current, and future fellow service members for their service to our country.

On Saturday, Nov. 8, I attended an Army football game at West Point.  During halftime, thousands of us in the stands were privileged to witness the re-enlistment of five soldiers.  As I listened to their oath of enlistment, I couldn’t help but recall having the honor to administer that same oath many times to enlisted members of the US Naval Reserve as their Commanding Officer.

“I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

As a senior officer in the US Navy and Naval Reserves, I made a similar oath several times over a 32-year span:

“I, _____ , having been appointed an officer in the _____ (Military Branch) of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.”

Notice the similarities – and the differences?  Both oaths include the affirmation to support and defend the Constitution.  The oath of an officer does not include the commitment to obey the President. 

Now look at the Presidential oath of office prescribed by Article II of the Constitution:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

I am gravely concerned about several actions of the current holder of the office.  He has pardoned many who were involved in clearly unconstitutional activities on Jan. 6, 2021.  His administration is purging senior officers who do not support his political agenda, and he is requiring the armed forces to perform duties that have traditionally been “off limits.”

The man has violated his oath of office — or maybe he is just not as capable as he should be?  If you support him without questioning this, how can you wave the flag as a symbol of your allegiance to him?

Policy does not trump character — and does not excuse the violation of the oath that so many of my fellow veterans have taken and fulfilled.

One can respect the office without respecting the officeholder.

James M. Fredrickson, Sharon
Captain, U.S. Navy Reserve (Ret.)

James M. Fredrickson was commissioned as an Ensign in 1972 after completing the Navy ROTC program at Cornell University. He served four years on active duty as an officer aboard a guided-missile destroyer, one of only two U.S. Navy ships stationed in the Red Sea during the October 1973 Yom Kippur War. He continued his career in the U.S. Naval Reserve for 24 more years, retiring at the rank of Captain (O-6). As he likes to say, “One more mistake and the Navy would have made me an admiral.” His Reserve service included multiple command billets, including several as commanding officer of NATO staff units. His Reserve service included multiple command billets, including several as commanding officer of NATO staff units. Reading U.S. and political history remains one of his favorite pastimes. He has been on the ConVal School Board since December 2016.