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Way Back in 1996

I was a new private in the army. On Fort Benning.

I was assigned a new team leader. A young and eager E-4.

He wrote up a counseling statement. We sat down on a metal picnic table. And he laid out his expectations.

One of his expectations was that I follow his orders. Any order. Even if it was illegal.

I laughed. And signed it.

Later, my squad leader asked me why I would sign such a thing.

“He told me to,” I said.

“You can’t obey illegal orders,” this staff sergeant told me.

Way back in 1996.