Ray Hrdlicka – Host – Attorneys.Media
Welcome to Part 6 of Save the Sailors Career
We have to assume you are up to speed on everything that has happened thus far, in Part 1 to Part 5. Before we move forward to further highlight the illegal, unjust, and unequal treatment of Grant Hrdlicka…former ETN3 Electronics Technician Nuclear Petty Officer 3rd Class, who was reduced in rank to Electronics Technician Nuclear Seaman as part of the severest punishment awarded to any student at the Naval Academy Preparatory School, again…simply because he was the ONLY student to ask to speak to an attorney BEFORE making a written or an oral statement, we can start to show you how two Navy Commands, the Naval Academy Preparatory School and the United States Naval Academy itself, is trying cover their illegal actions.
A week after submitting the appeal, Grant was informed by a student that Chief Ashcom was looking for him. Remember, Chief Ashcom is the same person who voiced the threat from Command that Grant will be punished harsher if he involves an attorney. Grant finds Chief Ashcom and is told that his appeal was denied. Of course Grant is shocked. He knows the voluminous supporting material he submitted for the appeal review versus just the simple one-page appeal from the other student, an acquaintance who gave Grant a copy of course….which was granted. That appeal was granted.
So, Grant asks Chief Ashcom why his appeal was denied, after only ONE day review, and the other sailor, who went to a Captains Mast for the nearly exact same violation, had that appeal granted by Superintendent Admiral Sean Buck, remember…after 60 days review.
Now, Chief Ashcom says because that sailor’s violation occurred earlier in the year, and “the Academy is making examples of students in order to stop these alcohol related issues”.
It’s important to remember this statement, this ridiculous statement, by Chief Ashcom was made BEFORE the appointments came out for the Naval Academy, in just a week or two. Those appointments will also make this statement look just plain stupid. But let’s just look at the statement on its face. Two parts. First, violations occurring earlier in the year are treated differently? Really? So many problems with that reasoning. Where’s the cutoff? One month, two months, four months, five months? Who decides? And what will be the difference in punishment? Again, who decides? Sure sounds arbitrary to me. Which is, in fact, an illegal application of the rules and regulations. You cannot apply them arbitrarily.
The second part? The Academy is making an example out of you? Seriously? We’re at the end of the school year. Who is going to see the example? And what is the example? Remember earlier in the year…well over a dozen students were disciplined for similar violations without losing their appointment to the Academy. So what exactly is the example? Break the rules early on and we won’t destroy your career?
But even that idiotic example does not ring true when you review the appointments to the Naval Academy a couple of weeks later. The other student involved in Grants violation, charged with similar violations, received an appointment. Well now, there goes both of those stupid reasons offered by Chief Ashcom, right? In further proof of the absurdity of that statement, in Part 7, we’ll tell you about another student, charged with aiding and abetting similar violations, also recommended for separation and no appointment, which occurred after Grant had learned about his appeal denial, that student had the punishment ignored by Command and was appointed to the Naval Academy.
Now, in Part 5 we told you about the retired MCPON, a Master Chief Petty Officer Of The Navy, the most senior enlisted member of the entire U.S. Navy, getting involved to figure out what is going on in those two Command, the Naval Academy Preparatory School and the United States Naval Academy itself. As the MCPON made contact with various staff at both Commands, he kept contemporaneous notes. Those notes provided a timeline of communications to the various staff members. Those contacts provide an insight into how those staff members used FALSE information, LIES, to disseminate amongst NAVY Commands, in order to punish Grant and destroy his future career.
Let’s start off with the MCPON’s conversation with the highest-ranking Chief at the Naval Academy Preparatory School. That Chief told the MCPON that Captain Bahr took Grant to a Captains Mast, and gave him the punishment that he did, because it was Grant’s second violation and Captain Bahr felt that Grant did not learn anything in nine months. It’s a lie. It was Grant’s first and only violation. But that’s not what Command is saying. Making up lies to defend their illegal and unjust action of punishment for exercising the constitutional right to due process, the 5th amendment, the right to counsel. I am going to deny you that right, punish you for asking for that right, and now lie to defend my actions.
Furthermore, that Chief told the MCPON that the other student involved in Grants violation laid all night in his vomit and could have died. Again, a blatant lie! Meant to portray Grant in such a bad light in order to defend their illegal actions. More falsehood meant to demean the subject of their punitive actions. So I ask you, what truly is the purpose of all this deceit, this dishonesty?
Lastly, that Chief told the MCPON that NAPS, the Naval Academy Preparatory School, did recommend Grant for the Naval Academy and the Admissions Board turned him down. Do I even need to say it? Again, a blatant lie! Command at NAPS, the Naval Academy Preparatory School, purposefully denied Grant the ability to submit his admissions package to the Admission Board of the Naval Academy. In fact, Grant actually sent his cover letter to the Dean of Students at NAPS for inclusion with his admission package, which was never sent to the Naval Academy.
Now let’s jump forward to the conversation between Superintendent Admiral Sean Buck and the MCPON. Remember in Part 5 I said Admiral Buck called the MCPON? That telephone call was in response to a letter the MCPON wrote to Admiral Buck attempting to correct the injustices toward Grant. And Admiral Buck asked if the MCPON had knowledge of two pieces of information: that the other student involved in Grants violation had to be hospitalized and that Grant’s performance on restriction was not good.
As I have previously stated several times over, both of those statements are a lie and easily provable to be so. And the MCPON did exactly that. Shortly thereafter, he called the student at home to ask about the incident. The student adamantly denied being hospitalized, or even going to a hospital, or even going to sick bay.
The MCPON also called Grant’s direct supervisor, a Petty Officer First Class, at the facilities division. Remember, the restriction periods for ALL the students on restriction were dramatically shortened the day after the graduation ball, where Captain Bahr ostensibly was chastised by Superintendent Admiral Buck. That Petty Officer First Class told the MCPON that Grant was a great asset, works hard, has taken over submitting work requests, and does extra-curricular work. He described Grant as a good sailor.
But of course we could prove those statements to be false. But we’re missing an important fact here. Admiral Buck made the decision to deny the appeal. The decision to allow Grant to continue to the Naval Academy rested with him. And now he is the one who provides us with these lies. Who confirms he has knowledge of those lies. Offers those lies as a defense for his action to deny the appeal!
In further proof that something is really wrong in the entire situation, which of course is what we know to be their punitive actions after Grant asked to speak to an attorney, his constitutional right….the conversation between the MCPON and Admiral Buck takes a dramatic turn. Rather than discussing the situation, Admiral Buck explodes and begins to yell at the MCPON. Says the MCPON is a total disgrace to the US Navy’s Chiefs, and that the MCPON has no credibility. Think about that. Is that how a three-star Admiral is supposed to act? Is that how a senior active-duty Flag Officer is supposed to treat a honored retired MCPON? You have to ask yourself…what really is going on here? What are they trying to hide by all the lies and subterfuge. All that emotion.
Needless to say, that conversation did not go well. A few months later, I learned from the MCPON that Admiral Buck apologized at a function they both attended. But even that apology has to be viewed in a cynical light, once you consider the lies Admiral Buck continued to widely disseminate about Grants situation in those months. And we will explore those lies in detail in later videos.
Here’s a hint. Those lies come in the form of written communication to our legal representation. Those lies come in the form of written communication to US Senators and a US Congressman. That’s right. We’ll show you proof.
Next, in Part 7, we will conclude the terrible disparity of treatment between Grant and other students at the Naval Academy Preparatory School. You’ll shake your head in disbelief.
Go to our petition page at Attorneys.Media/SaveTheSailor. Sign your name to the appropriate petition, retired/former military, donors to the USNA, lawyers, elected officials-staff, and the general public. Show your support to correct the actions of those few people, military personnel in command authority, who not only abuse their rank, but violate the Constitution and other areas in our nations rule of law.
See you in Part 7
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