United States v. Wilson

12 C.M.A. 165, 12 USCMA 165, 30 C.M.R. 165, 1961 CMA LEXIS 291, 1961 WL 4416

• Court: United States Court of Military Appeals
• Decided: January 27, 1961
• Docket: No. 14,408
• Status: Published

Opinions

Opinion of the Court

ROBERT E. Quinn, Chief Judge:

Among other offenses, the accused was tried for, and convicted of, disobeying an order by his squadron commander “not to drink liquor.” At trial, he moved to dismiss the charge on the ground the order was illegal. The motion was denied, and the ruling was sustained by intermediate appellate authorities. We granted further review.

The accused was suspected of stealing a tape recorder from the Air Force Exchange. Interrogated by agents of the Office of Special Investigations, he at first denied, but later admitted, that he stole the recorder while under the “influence of alcohol.” The accused’s squadron commander was informed of the accused’s confession. He immediately arranged for a meeting with the accused and at the meeting he “restricted . . . [the accused] to the billets” and ordered him “not to indulge in alcoholic beverages.” Under the terms of the restriction, the accused was to go to work at eight o’clock in the morning, remain at work during normal duty hours, and then return to the billets and “remain there.” The commander explained the purpose of the order as follows:

“A: ... I heard Airman Wilson had signed a confession, according to the OSI to the effect that he had stolen this tape recorder and that he was under the influence of alcohol or alcoholic beverages while he did this. I thought that for his own good, sir, and for his protection and the best interests of the service that I would restrict him and confine him to his quarters and order him not to induge in alcoholic beverages.

“Q: Now, would you elaborate a little bit? You have stated that this was to the best interests of the organization, to order him not to indulge in alcoholic beverages. Would you explain this to the court?

“A: The OSI report indicated that the man had committed a crime while under the influence of alcohol. So I exercised my power as commander and ordered him not to indulge in alcoholic beverages to protect him. In my opinion this might prevent something similar to that happening again.”

It appears from the evidence that at an earlier time consumption of alcoholic beverages in the billets was prohibited to all personnel. About a week after the order to the accused, he was found in an apparently intoxicated condition, and “smell [ed] of alcohol.”

Both parties agree that obedience to orders is fundamental to the operation of the military establishment. They also agree that every order is presumed to be legal, but if the order imposes limitations on the personal rights of an individual, it must be connected with the “morale, discipline and usefulness” of the military service. United States v Martin, 1 USCMA 674, 676, 5 CMR 102; see also United States v Milldebrandt, 8 USCMA 635, 639, 25 CMR 139. However, they disagree as to the scope and effect of the order in this case. Appellate defense counsel maintain the order is illegal because it is without limit as to “time or place or . the reasonable requirements” of the military service. See United States v Wysong, 9 USCMA 249, 26 CMR 29. On the other hand, the Government contends the order merely required the accused “to refrain from drinking while on duty and while in barracks, the only two places he was authorized to be,” and it, therefore, was directly connected to the needs and purpose of the military.

In our opinion, the testimony of the squadron commander shows unmistakably that the order was to apply in all places and on all occasions. If the order was as restricted as the Government contends, it was plainly unnecessary as regards drinking in billets because the consumption of liquor in the billets was already prohibited, and it is unlikely the squadron commander would order the accused to refrain from doing an act which was already forbidden to him. As far as drinking during working hours is concerned, there is no suggestion in the circumstances which prompted the order to indicate the accused drank while on duty. The commander testified the order was specifically intended to “prevent” and “protect” the accused from again becoming involved in some misdeed while under the influence of alcohol. The misdeed which was reported to him indicated that accused’s alcoholic indulgences took place outside of duty hours. It is also significant that by its terms the order made no exceptions. A single drink of beer would violate the order as definitely as the consumption of a fifth of whiskey; and a drink to toast the health or welfare of a friend in the privacy of his quarters was as much prohibited as a drinking spree in a public tavern. In the absence of circumstances tending to show its connection to military needs, an order which is so broadly restrictive of a private right of an individual is arbitrary and illegal. United States v Wysong, supra.

A situation substantially similar to the instant case was before the board of review in United States v Wahl, 4 CMR 767. There, as here, the accused was restricted and ordered “not to indulge in alcoholic beverages.” Shortly thereafter he was found in an intoxicated state at the Officers’ Club. He was tried for several offenses, including that of violating the order not to drink. The board of review set aside the finding of guilty on the ground that, in its operation and effect, the order was unrelated to military duty and, therefore, illegal.

Accordingly, the decision of the board of review as to Charge III and its specification and the sentence are set aside and Charge III and its specification is ordered dismissed. The record of trial is returned to The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force for submission to the board of review for reassessment of the sentence on the basis of the remaining findings of guilty.

Judge FERGUSON concurs.