Court Opinion

ID: 9455863
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 19:35:48.991739+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:34:45.966681
License: Public Domain

GEWIN, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
With full deference to the views expressed by my brothers of the majority, I am compelled to dissent. In my view the majority has erred in concluding that there was no basis in fact for the Army’s action as found by the district court. If there was a basis in fact for the denial of the Lieutenant’s application for discharge, the judgment of the district court must be affirmed. Pitcher v. Laird, 421 F.2d 1272 (5th Cir. 1970). It should also be remembered that he has no constitutional right to exemption from military service. United States v. Crouch, 415 F.2d 425 (5th Cir. 1969).
In addition to the statement of Captain Hart, who was closely associated with Tavlos and was his immediate supervisor, the majority opinion overlooks many inconsistent statements made by Tavlos as well as his thoroughly inconsistent actions. Actions or statements which are at variance with the exemption claimed can provide a basis in fact for the denial of such claim. Inherent in the question also is the timeliness with which the alleged religious belief in opposition to military combat is embraced by the applicant. Carson v. *864United States, 411 F.2d 631, 633 (5th Cir. 1969).
Although appellant claims to have been deeply religious since childhood and to avidly follow the tenets of his particular denomination, he apparently excuses his delay in making his views known to a lack of understanding of his own faith. The record clearly demonstrates that he voluntarily participated in R.O. T.C. programs in college, received his commission and entered upon active duty and continued such active duty for sometime before he decided that he should be relieved of any further military obligation to his country. It does not seem right to permit an army officer, who has participated in the military program over a long period of time, and who has received the pay, education and care provided by the army, to be relieved of all military obligation to his country based upon his own vague and conflicting assertions supported by the ambiguous and equivocal statements of immediate members of his family. Considering all the facts and circumstances the court goes much too far in holding that there is no basis in fact for the action taken by the Army and for the decision of the district court.
It is important to remember that the Government is also entitled to justice in this case. All of the expenditures of the Government have been freely accepted by Tavlos, but when he was called upon to respond he belatedly refuses to do so. Such action appears to be inconsistent with the claimed religious beliefs upon which he now relies so heavily. Moreover, it would appear that such tenants would dictate different action in view of the sacrifices made by so many other citizens to preserve the very system to which Tavlos appeals to relieve him of his obligation to his Government. Now that he is free from all of his military obligations perhaps he will find some other way to balance the scales of justice within the religious concepts which he so avidly claims to espouse.