Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Friday, September 4, 2020
Only In America, Living The Dream, Vol 03, Nr 05
Only in America could
my Life Story have been possible. God has blessed me and my family. We rose
from abject poverty and climbed several rungs up the Socioeconomic Ladder.
Trying to write a book about my life is like trying to describe the landscape by looking out the window of a moving train. The events continue to unfold faster than one can describe them. My life is a work in progress.
Only in America can a family escape poverty in one generation. America is unique. God has blessed America. I rose from abject poverty and climbed several rungs up the Socioeconomic Ladder. I was the first person in my family to complete high school, college and graduate school.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CXCJ9N9/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Only+in+America%2C+Living+the+Dream+by+Judge+London+Steverson&qid=1594706308&s=books&sr=1-1#reader_B08CXCJ9N9
Living in America is not always “peaches and cream”, if you are a Person of Color (POC). Life is not a Rose Garden for Black People no matter how well off you are economically. America can appear to be a Police State for a POC. Just going about your normal daily activities anywhere in America, chances are you are going to come into contact with police and other law enforcement personnel.
Trying to write a book about my life is like trying to describe the landscape by looking out the window of a moving train. The events continue to unfold faster than one can describe them. My life is a work in progress.
Only in America can a family escape poverty in one generation. America is unique. God has blessed America. I rose from abject poverty and climbed several rungs up the Socioeconomic Ladder. I was the first person in my family to complete high school, college and graduate school.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CXCJ9N9/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Only+in+America%2C+Living+the+Dream+by+Judge+London+Steverson&qid=1594706308&s=books&sr=1-1#reader_B08CXCJ9N9
Living in America is not always “peaches and cream”, if you are a Person of Color (POC). Life is not a Rose Garden for Black People no matter how well off you are economically. America can appear to be a Police State for a POC. Just going about your normal daily activities anywhere in America, chances are you are going to come into contact with police and other law enforcement personnel.
I have had many encounters with white cops. Most of them
have been pleasant, some not so pleasant. It did not matter what I was wearing
or the time of day, it was the character and education of the cop that
determined how the situation was resolved. Sometimes I was wearing my military
officers' uniform, other times I was wearing a suit and tie, but the manner
that I was treated usually was determined by how comfortable the cop felt in
dealing with a POC. I have been disrespected. I have been insulted. I have
received Traffic Tickets. I have never been hand-cupped. I have never been
arrested. I have never been beaten like Rodney King in California.
Religion was an
integral part of our lives. We were taught to pray as soon as we learned to
talk. We talked to Jesus and thanked Him for our Blessings. It started with
saying Grace before our meals. We would not dare touch the food before it had
been “blessed” by the Head of the Household.
I am a Storyteller. This is my story. It is my
Life. Looking back, I am convinced that God was in charge of my Life. He guided
me as a Father would guide his child. He protected me when I ventured off the straight
and narrow path. He endowed me with the Power of Choice and placed me in a
Country where I had the Freedom To Choose. I am happy with the choices I
made.
(Visit Amazon Author's Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006WQKFJM
(Visit Amazon Author's Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006WQKFJM
amazon.com/author/cgachall.blogspot.com
Friday, May 1, 2020
Officers' Club Named For First Black Grad
Coast Guard Academy renames officers club after first black graduate, retired Cmdr. Merle Smith
Merle J. Smith Jr., left, pictured with his
father, U.S. Army Col. Merle J. Smith Sr., and then Coast Guard
Commandant Willard J. Smith at the Coast Guard Academy commencement in
1966. (U.S. Coast Guard)
The Coast Guard Academy announced
Tuesday that it is renaming its Military Officers Club after retired
Cmdr. Merle J. Smith of New London, the first black graduate of the
academy.
The 75-year-old Smith graduated from the academy in 1966 and went on to become the first African American sea service officer to receive the Bronze Star. Following his Coast Guard career, he became general counsel for Electric Boat, one of the first black general counsels for a Fortune 500 company.
He is included in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
Smith’s classmates, in a letter congratulating him on the recognition, said “in recent years, as the emphasis on diversity and inclusiveness grew within the Coast Guard, you became a beacon of inspiration within the academy community encouraging others to strive for the unimaginable and forge new paths of greatness in the face of adversity and uncertainty.”
Rear Adm. Bill Kelly, superintendent at the academy, said in a video message Tuesday that he first met Smith and his wife, Lynda, earlier this year, and talked about opportunities to recognize and honor his legacy.
“They would come back here to meet with family, with friends, with faculty members, with cadets. It was an anchor for them, if you will.” Kelly said of the officers club, adding that Lynda told him they also enjoyed coming to the club on Friday nights to hang out.
In an email thanking Kelly for renaming the building after Smith, Lynda said her husband "not only feels honored but also humbled by this significant recognition of a building being renamed in tribute of his accomplishments."
POSTSCRIPT:
( It is ironic that Merle was not recruited as a Black High School Student. He was recruited as a Football Player into the Class of 1962. The first Black American Cadets were not recruited until 1964. Football Coach Otto Graham said he was looking for Tight End, or a Defensive End for his football team.(Merle himself pointed this out in his Acceptance Speech in 2016 at the Genesis Awards Ceremony at the Academy when his Portrait was unveiled.) Moreover, he was not recognized or classified as a Black Cadet during his 4 years at the Academy. In point of Fact, he did not appear to be a Black American. His hair was straight; his nose was sharp; and, his skin was lighter than Donnie Winchester, Phil Carbone, Ray Baylor, and others in the Class of 1966. It was not until the early 1970s when Commandant (G-PMR-3) started to emphasize Minority Recruiting that Statistics started to mention the Ethnicity of the Recruits. It was at that time that the Director of (G-PMR-3) proffered the Statistical Fact that Merle was, in fact, a Black American and the First Black Graduate. The Commandant (G-P) did not know that the USCGA had graduated a Black Ensign. His Classmates in their Letter are being a bit disingenuous when they impute altruistic motives after the fact. If we are writing or making History, we should, at least, try to be accurate and honest. His Career has been spectacular and he has had a distinguished tour of duty.)
(I love the
article. I love Merle J. Smith. But I’m a little confused....there is
already a Smith Hall, it’s the science building. (Pictured Below is Smith Hall, The Science Building at the USCG Academy.) Does it make sense to
name two buildings on the same campus Smith? What is the actual name of
the new building? The Merle J. Smith Officers Club? The blog post doesn’t say.
And although I realize he spent a lot of his time at the O club and what an honor it is to have a building named after him or anyone for that matter.....for a long time black Americans could only be mess cooks in the military. Does it bother him that being named on a dining facility seems to point to that legacy?) (Talisha Rosen-Kellogg)
Not pictured in the newspaper article is Vice Admiral Thomas Sargent.
Above is Admiral Thomas Sargent graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1938. He was then assigned to the USCGC Tahoe.
Below is Admiral Willard John Smith who is pictured in the Graduation Ceremony picture. Upon graduation from the academy in 1933, he was assigned to a Galveston, Texas-based Coast Guard cutter and later served as an aide to Commandant Russell R. Waesche from 1936 to 1939.
The 75-year-old Smith graduated from the academy in 1966 and went on to become the first African American sea service officer to receive the Bronze Star. Following his Coast Guard career, he became general counsel for Electric Boat, one of the first black general counsels for a Fortune 500 company.
He is included in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
Smith’s classmates, in a letter congratulating him on the recognition, said “in recent years, as the emphasis on diversity and inclusiveness grew within the Coast Guard, you became a beacon of inspiration within the academy community encouraging others to strive for the unimaginable and forge new paths of greatness in the face of adversity and uncertainty.”
Rear Adm. Bill Kelly, superintendent at the academy, said in a video message Tuesday that he first met Smith and his wife, Lynda, earlier this year, and talked about opportunities to recognize and honor his legacy.
“They would come back here to meet with family, with friends, with faculty members, with cadets. It was an anchor for them, if you will.” Kelly said of the officers club, adding that Lynda told him they also enjoyed coming to the club on Friday nights to hang out.
In an email thanking Kelly for renaming the building after Smith, Lynda said her husband "not only feels honored but also humbled by this significant recognition of a building being renamed in tribute of his accomplishments."
POSTSCRIPT:
( It is ironic that Merle was not recruited as a Black High School Student. He was recruited as a Football Player into the Class of 1962. The first Black American Cadets were not recruited until 1964. Football Coach Otto Graham said he was looking for Tight End, or a Defensive End for his football team.(Merle himself pointed this out in his Acceptance Speech in 2016 at the Genesis Awards Ceremony at the Academy when his Portrait was unveiled.) Moreover, he was not recognized or classified as a Black Cadet during his 4 years at the Academy. In point of Fact, he did not appear to be a Black American. His hair was straight; his nose was sharp; and, his skin was lighter than Donnie Winchester, Phil Carbone, Ray Baylor, and others in the Class of 1966. It was not until the early 1970s when Commandant (G-PMR-3) started to emphasize Minority Recruiting that Statistics started to mention the Ethnicity of the Recruits. It was at that time that the Director of (G-PMR-3) proffered the Statistical Fact that Merle was, in fact, a Black American and the First Black Graduate. The Commandant (G-P) did not know that the USCGA had graduated a Black Ensign. His Classmates in their Letter are being a bit disingenuous when they impute altruistic motives after the fact. If we are writing or making History, we should, at least, try to be accurate and honest. His Career has been spectacular and he has had a distinguished tour of duty.)
And although I realize he spent a lot of his time at the O club and what an honor it is to have a building named after him or anyone for that matter.....for a long time black Americans could only be mess cooks in the military. Does it bother him that being named on a dining facility seems to point to that legacy?) (Talisha Rosen-Kellogg)
Not pictured in the newspaper article is Vice Admiral Thomas Sargent.
Above is Admiral Thomas Sargent graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1938. He was then assigned to the USCGC Tahoe.
Below is Admiral Willard John Smith who is pictured in the Graduation Ceremony picture. Upon graduation from the academy in 1933, he was assigned to a Galveston, Texas-based Coast Guard cutter and later served as an aide to Commandant Russell R. Waesche from 1936 to 1939.
Monday, April 13, 2020
Costa Rica Trip
Letter to Señor Martino, Proprieter of Martino
Resort and Spa, Allajeula, Costa Rica (circa 1999)
Dear Señor Martino and Staff,
Mr. George Bernard Shaw said that "The great advantage of a hotel is that it is a refuge from home life". This is to say that your hotel, The Club Martino, provided me and my fellow members of the Association with more than a refuge, but a veritable paradise while we were in Costa Rica. Everything about your hotel is first class. The rooms are luxurious. The grounds are immaculate. The spa well equipped. The food is scrumptious. The service is professional. The view is breathtaking. The flora and fauna are soul satisfying. The owner (referred to Alfonso Martino) is a man of arts and letters and quotes George Bernard Shaw. Our stay was unforgettable.
Warmest regards to you and all the Staff.
Judge London Steverson - Apr 1999
chez Martino Resort and Spa, Allajeula, Costa Rica
Mr. George Bernard Shaw said that "The great advantage of a hotel is that it is a refuge from home life". This is to say that your hotel, The Club Martino, provided me and my fellow members of the Association with more than a refuge, but a veritable paradise while we were in Costa Rica. Everything about your hotel is first class. The rooms are luxurious. The grounds are immaculate. The spa well equipped. The food is scrumptious. The service is professional. The view is breathtaking. The flora and fauna are soul satisfying. The owner (referred to Alfonso Martino) is a man of arts and letters and quotes George Bernard Shaw. Our stay was unforgettable.
Warmest regards to you and all the Staff.
Judge London Steverson - Apr 1999
chez Martino Resort and Spa, Allajeula, Costa Rica
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
THE FAITH OF A FATHER, CLEON SMITH
THE FAITH OF A FATHER, CLEON Smith
Cleon Smith is a Coast Guard Academy Graduate in the Class of 1978. He was a Classmate of Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown, the Coast Guard’s first African-American 3-Star Admiral.
Cleon is also the Father of Cadet Webster Smith, the first Coast Guard Academy cadet to be punished by a General Court-martial. Cleon Smith never lost faith in his son. He knew his son was not guilty of a Crime under the Uniform Code Of Military Justice (UCMJ).
He tried very hard to resolve the matter. He went to meet with Douglas Wiznieuski, the Commandant of Cadets. CDR Wiznieuski was hell bent to Court-martial his son. He would not settle for a Summary Court-martial, or a Special Court-martial That could have sentenced his son to 6 months in jail. No, CDR Wiznieuski wanted a General Court-martial that could have sentenced his son to jail for 20 years to Life. He wanted to make an example out of Webster. He had the backing of The Academy Superintendent Admiral James Van Sice and Connecticut Congressman Christopher Shays. They wanted to send a message to the World. They did not care whether Senior Cadet Webster Smith was Innocent or Guilty.
The
Coast Guard Academy had been the first Military Academy to admit female
cadets. In the era of complaints of sexual assaults on female cadets,
these men wanted to be the first Academy to punish a male cadet for
assault and harassment. The Academy wanted to reassure the Alumni of
female cadets that their daughters were safe, and Congressman Shays
wanted to get re-elected. He saw this as a great Election Year issue.
Unfortunately he was wrong. He lost his next election.
(Pictured above USCGA Class of 1978. Cleon Smith is Top Row, Farthest Right. Manson Brown is Bottom Row, farthest Left.)
Cleon Smith is a Coast Guard Academy Graduate in the Class of 1978. He was a Classmate of Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown, the Coast Guard’s first African-American 3-Star Admiral.
Cleon is also the Father of Cadet Webster Smith, the first Coast Guard Academy cadet to be punished by a General Court-martial. Cleon Smith never lost faith in his son. He knew his son was not guilty of a Crime under the Uniform Code Of Military Justice (UCMJ).
He tried very hard to resolve the matter. He went to meet with Douglas Wiznieuski, the Commandant of Cadets. CDR Wiznieuski was hell bent to Court-martial his son. He would not settle for a Summary Court-martial, or a Special Court-martial That could have sentenced his son to 6 months in jail. No, CDR Wiznieuski wanted a General Court-martial that could have sentenced his son to jail for 20 years to Life. He wanted to make an example out of Webster. He had the backing of The Academy Superintendent Admiral James Van Sice and Connecticut Congressman Christopher Shays. They wanted to send a message to the World. They did not care whether Senior Cadet Webster Smith was Innocent or Guilty.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Belinda Smith The Wonders Of A mother's Love
THE WONDERS OF A MOTHER'S LOVE.
The Court-martial of Cadet Webster Smith was just too much for Belinda, Webster’s mother. She exhibited great dignity and restraint. She was the most gracious lady under pressure while in the public spot light since Coretta Scott King, Myrlie Evers, and Jackie Kennedy all rolled into one. They mourned the death of their husbands. Belinda mourned the sacrifice of her son, and the death of his Coast Guard career.
The civilian employees at the Coast Guard Academy could not help but notice, her poise and dignity under such enormous pressure. They were mothers and sisters. Webster could have been their son or brother. They were so moved that they were compelled to act. They had to reach out to her in a practical way. They presented her with a note and a gift. The card read,
"We are so proud of the way you have carried yourself here, with much dignity and poise. Please take this small token of respect and do something nice for yourself. “
The Court-martial of Cadet Webster Smith was just too much for Belinda, Webster’s mother. She exhibited great dignity and restraint. She was the most gracious lady under pressure while in the public spot light since Coretta Scott King, Myrlie Evers, and Jackie Kennedy all rolled into one. They mourned the death of their husbands. Belinda mourned the sacrifice of her son, and the death of his Coast Guard career.
The civilian employees at the Coast Guard Academy could not help but notice, her poise and dignity under such enormous pressure. They were mothers and sisters. Webster could have been their son or brother. They were so moved that they were compelled to act. They had to reach out to her in a practical way. They presented her with a note and a gift. The card read,
"We are so proud of the way you have carried yourself here, with much dignity and poise. Please take this small token of respect and do something nice for yourself. “
Belinda Smith found some relief in writing a journal. She reduced her thoughts to writing. This is a sample:
QUOTE:
“ If you could only feel what I have felt for these past 6 years, I have a strong relationship with JUSTICE that I am not able to shake. People say, "get over it, get a life!" I cannot! I closely watch Webster's life and all of my children's lives after this tragedy, and I am amazed by the spirit within them."
QUOTE
QUOTE:
“ If you could only feel what I have felt for these past 6 years, I have a strong relationship with JUSTICE that I am not able to shake. People say, "get over it, get a life!" I cannot! I closely watch Webster's life and all of my children's lives after this tragedy, and I am amazed by the spirit within them."
QUOTE
THE WONDERS OF A MOTHER'S LOVE. (PART 2)
The Court-martial of Cadet Webster Smith was just too much for Belinda, Webster’s mother. She exhibited great dignity and restraint
PART 1.
QUOTE:
“ If you could only feel what I have felt for these past 6 years, I have a strong relationship with JUSTICE that I am not able to shake. People say, "get over it, get a life!" I cannot! I closely watch Webster's life and all of my children's lives after this tragedy, and I am amazed by the spirit within them."
“ If you could only feel what I have felt for these past 6 years, I have a strong relationship with JUSTICE that I am not able to shake. People say, "get over it, get a life!" I cannot! I closely watch Webster's life and all of my children's lives after this tragedy, and I am amazed by the spirit within them."
UNQUOTE
Continued:
PART 2.
QUOTE
"I sometimes think, I use to be able to overcome obstacles, (I
had so many). If this is possible, I gave my spirit, my soul and my mind to my
children, and they are using it to go on in life. Today though, I felt that in
many ways I failed......I became an empty shell at one point in my life, soon
after the death of my brother. Looking back, those are the moments when I knew
my children's firm foundation was in place. I see it now in Webster,
Brittney and the twins. They have been through a lot and look at them,
still achieving and motivated to make it. That's why I said I failed them, I
lost that! God's grace is sufficient. “
“The two weeks
of the court-martial was very difficult for me, because as I've said before; I
knew in my heart that Webster was being setup and I was sure when the evidence
was heard, he would be exonerated. Somewhere along the way, I begin
to tell myself, these people are not going to allow my son to walk out of here
an innocent man that he is, because this would bring the Coast Guard to their
knees. There is a lot I could say about this but I will not. Would
I let another one of my sons go to the Academy, well, one of my twin sons was
determined to go the CGA, actually Alex was in the prep program a NMMI, until
Capt. B decided not to accept him because he had a 2.4 GPA but accepted other
cadets at NMMI that had a even lower GPA to go to the academy. That same
year Kristen Nicholson’s younger brother was accepted. Kristen said in an
email to my daughter and me, and she actually said, I am doing what I was told
to do and went on to say as I understood, you do what those over you tell you
to do, There were two female cadets that came to the court-martial in
support of Webster, but were afraid to say so, They would always come up
to me and give me a hug. One even alluded to the fact that Jesse Harms
would go from the court-martial to the upstairs law office where the girls were
to tell them what was said in court. One day, I waited at the end of the
stairs and yes he came down the stairs just as they said. I was also told
that Shannon and Shelly were spending time together during the court-martial,
and we actually saw them together at Panera’s Bread when we all went to
eat. I bought this up to LT
Kirkby, Webster’s Navy lawyer, and he did nothing about it. During the
Court-martial, Admiral Van Sice came up to Webster and me, and he spoke to Webster
and said something to the fact that , everything will be alright it will take
some time.”
“This is
LIPSTICK JUSTICE that we have witness. Lipstick covers the lips in order
to make them beautiful and when it wears off, you will see all the
imperfections that is always there. The girls in this trial wore that
lipstick and I will not rest until I see their bare lips. You may not
understand my analogies, but it make sense to me. I know for sure that as
I read further the record of trial, that night that those girls met, LTJG
Miller said that there were 7 girls and so did the first reporting in the
news. Then at trial she said there were seven (7) girls and later changed
it to five (5) because the judge said and lead her to change it to 5, You
know why, the second meeting that they had, Katie had told them about Shelly
and Sheri and Kristen went to get those two. I know they are hiding that
lie. Katie was the only person that knew about Shelly and Stacy was the
only one that knew about Katie, When Stacy met with Kristen in their
private meeting, Stacy told Kristen about Katie and that's how Kristen found
out. They then went to Katie and confronted her about Webster and all she
could do after that was to join in because she was angry possibly that Webster
had told Stacy. Katie knew she had to save her face so she wrote a
statement to keep her and her father out of trouble to appease them, but she
had enough integrity not go alone with the "witch hunt". The
biggest secret isn't Shelly's. it's the fact that they are covering up why
Shelly did not want to come forward and bring charges against Webster until she
was confronted by her regimental commander and the legal team, especially after
they threaten to charge her with
disobeying a direct order and article 125. They either falsified the date
of Shelly's statement which is Feb.16th or they had to use undue command
influence to get her to testify either way; it was unethical. Even then, if the
statement was written on Feb 16 why did they not give this to the Defense upon
their Discovery Request? No, the defense did not know about Shelly until
March 8th when Anderson sent a letter stating, all witness has to on the list
by March 10th. This caused the defense to have to delay the Article 32 to
compose themselves. Sometimes, I think this was a plan to delay the trial
so that they all could graduate before the trial began in order to convince
Shelly she could get her degree, even if she was charged with any crime.
At least she had her degree if they gave her walking papers.
“I know I will
find a way to be heard! I am missing something! I pray for Katie
and the other girls in this case and when I feel it's time, I will reach
out. I have noticed that Katie no longer has friends from the Coast Guard
on her Facebook. That may be because she has broken ties with them.
I am researching and studying as much as I can from information from these
sites. I have also noticed, that Kristen, Shelly, Kristen's friend
"Jersey" who also testified are all pregnant or had babies before
there 5 years were up. Kristen married Howard Baker the guy who told her
about Katie's relationship with Webster.
UNQUOTE.
Most
people know the basic premise of the story, the collusion of several young
women that resulted in the court-martial of the first cadet at the U.S. Coast
Guard Academy. Shelly Raudenbush Wyman was the lone victor of the several women
that accounted for the 22 charges against Webster Smith. Why did she come
forward over two months after Webster Smith was removed from classes, following
the allegations by then Regimental Commander-Kristen Nicholson, her two best
friends Shannon Frobel, Kristin Strizki and Nicholson's subordinates: Stacy
Chmielecki, Keri McCormack, and Katie Colella?
During
the Court-Martial, Webster was represented by LT Stuart Kirkby and Merle J.
Smith. Neither believed that the charges would prevail for the government. They
did not pursue details of Shelly's relationship with the other female cadets. They
could not mention Katie Colella or call her to the stand, Captain Judge, the
Trial Judge at the court-martial, denied her as a defense witness. Besides
Kristen Nicholson, she was the only person who could detail how and why she
came forward. Her father had just been appointed the Dean of Students at the
Academy and wanted no part of it. This was not the only reason that Smith's attorneys
did not further pursue Shelly. Shelly Raudenbush Wyman was charged with two
UCMJ violations--including disobeying an order--by the Coast Guard Academy, to
push her to cooperate. She consulted with an attorney before the Smith trial
and would not testify in the May pre-trial hearing so that she would not
incriminate herself. The academy did not give her prosecutorial or testimonial
immunity until the day she testified.
Why did she come forward?
Why did she come forward?
The
only cadet that knew about Webster and Shelly's sexual relationship was
then-cadet Katie Colella.
Katie
Colella and Webster went out several times in November of 2005. Over
Thanksgiving Break when Webster decided to stay at the Academy, he picked her
up from Captain Colella's home in Ledyard, Connecticut. They went out on the
first of two or three dates, with the blessing of the Captain. The first night,
they went to a club called Complex and outside of the Complex Webster told
Katie about Shelly. Katie asked Webster to end it if he wanted to hang out with
her.
Before the investigation, as the evidence revealed, Katie had not told the Regimental Commander about Shelly.
Before the investigation, as the evidence revealed, Katie had not told the Regimental Commander about Shelly.
Katie
played as integral a role as Kristen Nicholson did in pushing the charges
but when it came time to end Webster's career, she was nowhere on the charge
sheet. The circumstances around their relationship could not be crafted for a
charge sheet and maybe she had a little more integrity than the others.
In
February of 2006 when CAPT Wisniewski realized that Webster was not going to
plead guilty to the original charges, he stood before the Corps of Cadets in
the Chase Hall wardroom and asked for any additional female cadets to testify against
Webster Smith.
Katie Colella, Shelly's track teammate, told Kristen of the conversation about Shelly. Kristen, the acting Regimental Commander, approached Shelly (Shelly admitted in trial) and several days later, she was interviewed by CGIS.
Katie Colella, Shelly's track teammate, told Kristen of the conversation about Shelly. Kristen, the acting Regimental Commander, approached Shelly (Shelly admitted in trial) and several days later, she was interviewed by CGIS.
Not
only was there a question of criminal prosecution for Shelly, she squelched
rumors to save her engagement to Grant Wyman by agreeing to help the girls with
Webster Smith. Shelly's fiancé was not there to support her during any of the
hearings or the trial. Shelly did not attend or testify against Webster at the
sentencing hearing Katie Colella was later kicked out on an Honor Violation;
but, she was readmitted later in the Spring of 2008. Several other senior
officers’ kids were readmitted after being kicked out. (Another cadet who was
kicked out of the Coast Guard Academy because of an honor violation was the son
of Admiral James Loy (retired). He was readmitted to the Academy in about1992, and then kicked out again for
another Honor Violation. Then he goes through OCS and earns a commission
despite his Academy background.)
Webster's
continued relationship with Shelly was never allowed into evidence in court. Her
lobbying Webster to join the track team, and her frequent trips to Webster's
dorm room to comfort him after several issues that Webster had had with his
ex-girlfriend, Kristen Nicholson, in early November were never allowed into
evidence.
The Court of Appeals majority ruling stated that there was no reason for Shelly to misrepresent the truth in trial.
The Court of Appeals majority ruling stated that there was no reason for Shelly to misrepresent the truth in trial.
Even
in civilian life, after a conviction and serving time in jail, Webster was not
free from Coast Guard interference in his life. A web site was set up for his
friends and family to keep in touch. It was shut down.
This
entry was posted by cgreports.wordpress.com on June 11, 2009 at 6:26 pm and is
filed under Uncategorized.
QUOTE:
"We were notified today that Webster Smith, the first cadet to ever
be courts-martialed at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy has had his site blocked by
the U.S. Coast Guard. Smith’s website “Friends of Webster” is not accessible
inside the Coast Guard domain. We reviewed the site and couldn’t find anything
in our cursory review that would warrant being blocked."
UNQUOTE
(See-http://cgreport.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/webster-smith-former-u-s-coast-guard-academy-cadet-blocked-inside-coast-guard-domain/)
UNQUOTE
(See-http://cgreport.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/webster-smith-former-u-s-coast-guard-academy-cadet-blocked-inside-coast-guard-domain/)
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