The US Army has reportedly denied a request to return medals of valor to a retired major accused of murder in Afghanistan who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump.
Retired Maj. Mathew Golsteyn, who was pardoned in November 2019, was denied his December 2019 request to an Army review board to restore his Distinguished Service Cross, USA Today reported, citing documents obtained by the newspaper.
Golsteyn initially was awarded a Silver Star for heroism, but it was upgraded following a review, USA Today reported.
The Army also rejected his request to restore his Special Forces tab that distinguished him as a member of an elite unit. The decision was made in June, but wasn’t announced by Army officials ahead of Trump’s final months in the White House, according to the report.
Golsteyn was charged with murder in late 2018 for shooting and then burying a suspected Taliban bomb-maker in Afghanistan during a deployment eight years earlier. He was awaiting trial when Trump pardoned him in November 2019.
Trump intervened in the case after tweeting that he was reviewing the case of the “highly decorated” Green Beret.
“We train our boys to be killing machines, then prosecute them when they kill!” Trump tweeted.
Thank you President Donal J. Trump for again doing the right thing. The good Major should never have been questioned not alone charged for doing the governments dirty work. Thank you for your great service sir. Looks like it’s going to get tougher and tougher as time goes to enlist good candidates for the military. The way these simpleton “so called leaders” carry themselves. We have lost our way and have the good guys confused with the bad boys.
What a shame! This hero did all Americans a favor by eliminating this terrorist threat and burying him. Democrats are going to make sure that no military or police officer. F Democrats!
Army struts to a different tune and unless there is outcry heard by Congress – this will never be fixed.