The Webster Smith Story is an American tragedy. It is not just the story of a Black Coast Guard Academy cadet; it is the story of an American family. It is the story of his mother, Belinda; and his father, Cleon; his wife, Lindsey and their daughter; and of his sister and brothers. It is the story of the friends of Webster Smith. They have all been harmed by the violence directed at their son, brother, husband, father and friend.
At the Coast Guard Academy, Webster Smith was a member of the Eclipse, Track Team, Football team, Regimental Staff, and a Swab summer Staff. He represented the Coast Guard in Washington DC concerning fitness and nutrition programs. He received numerous silver stars and never received a demerit prior the incident and investigation in 2005 that led to his court-martial.
To his classmates, teachers, and coaches Webster Smith appeared to be a magnetic, charming and gifted man, who had risen above his circumstances. Yet, in a moment, as if in the twinkling of an eye, a swift series of events diminished his popularity, vilified his name, and assailed his honor. His image was converted by senior Coast Guard officers from a popular athlete and nice guy to that of a sexual predator and public enemy number one at the Coast Guard Academy.
Webster Smith had dared to dream some big dreams. Like Alex Haley he had dared to believe that he could rise in the USCG to the highest level to which his talents and initiative could take him.
His parents were middle class African Americans. His father, Cleon Smith, was a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy in the Class of 1978 along with Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown.
His mother, Belinda Ingram Smith, believed in God and a good education. After attending college at WSSU for four years she went on to become the first Black female Crime Scene Investigator in the history of the Winston-Salem police Department.
This unbelievable turn about in what had been a Black success story is a singularly American tragedy.
That a cadet so deeply respected and loved by his coaches and classmates could evoke such an outpouring of hate and anger from the senior officers at the Coast Guard Academy is a Coast Guard tragedy and an American tragedy.
All of the female cadets involved with and associated with Webster Smith escaped clean without any consequences for their actions or their behavior. Mother Nature was the only one who exacted a penalty. Natural Law resulted in a pregnancy for his girlfriend. An abortion followed.
If women are equal, they should be treated as equal. Not a single woman was disciplined under the UCMJ or the cadet regulations. All of the female cadets involved in the Webster Smith case graduated and were commissioned as Coast Guard officers. Their testimony at the court-martial painted a picture of female cadets who were untrustworthy, arrogant, and certainly not ladies. Their conduct was unbecoming an officer and a lady. (Read more at http://judgelondonsteverson.com)
These women were witnesses at a public trial yet they were accorded the equivalent of rape shield protection. This was not a rape case. Not one of the women had been raped. There was testimony of consensual sex acts. Some of the consensual sex acts were unlawful because, among other things, they occurred in Chase Hall, or at Academy functions. How could unlawful consensual sex acts result in charges against only one of the participants? It takes two to tango.
Is it wrong for Black people to ask if there is a double standard? Would that amount to paranoia on the part of Black people? Or would that be considered playing the race card simply to inquire? Is it absurd to believe that anything more than pure chance resulted in the court-martial of Webster Smith? The fact that he was court-martialed speaks to a social reality that African-Americans are acutely aware of in America. Race is not a card to be dealt, but it determines whom the dealer is and who gets dealt a losing hand.
According to a 2008 General Accounting Office Report, from 2003 to 2006 there were NO sexual-harassment complaints at the Coast Guard Academy, but there were 12 incidents of sexual assault reported to the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), with one incident in 2003, one in 2004, “NONE” in 2005 and 10 in 2006. It is hard to conceive of the facts relied upon by, Captain Douglas Wisniewski, the Commandant Of Cadets when he asserted in 2005 that there was a climate of fear of sexual assault in Chase Hall.
The 10 incidents reported in 2006 would appear to have occurred after the Webster Smith court-martial. Webster Smith was removed from Chase Hall in 2005. Who was doing all of the sexual assaulting in 2006? Why were none of these people brought to justice? They could have been tried along with Webster Smith.
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of Webster Smith. The justices declined to hear the case without comment. The decision of the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) became the final decision in the case.
Thirteen female cadets and 11 males at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (CGA) reported anonymously in an April 2008 survey that they experienced “unwanted sexual contact,” ranging from touching to forced sexual acts, during the 2007-08 school year.
More than three-quarters said that alcohol or drugs were involved and that the offender was a fellow cadet.
None of the women sought professional help and only 7 percent discussed the incident with authorities.
When Alexander Hamilton organized the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790 it was established in the Department of the Treasury. Later it became known as the Coast Guard. In 1966 it was placed in the Department of Transportation. Today it is the nucleus of the Department of Homeland Security. Webster Smith's case is currently being reviewed for clemency by the Secretary of the Department of Home Land Security, Janet Napolitano.
Webster Smith would have made an excellent military officer. It is Webster Smith and people like him that I want on the wall as our last line of defense for our American way of life protecting us from the great unwashed horde that is coming. Secretary Napolitano who do you want on that wall?
(Read more at http://judgelondonsteverson.com)
CONDUCT UNBECOMING an Officer and a Lady: A Case That Will Live In Infamy. The Conviction of Webster Smith. by Judge London SteversonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Webster Smith Story is an American tragedy. It is not just the story of a Black Coast Guard Academy cadet; it is the story of an American family. To his classmates, teachers, and coaches at the Coast Guard Academy Webster Smith appeared to be a magnetic, charming and gifted man, who had risen above his circumstances. Yet, in a moment, as if in the twinkling of an eye, a swift series of events diminished his popularity, vilified his name, and assailed his honor. His image was converted by senior Coast Guard officers from a popular athlete and nice guy to that of a sexual predator and public enemy number one at the Coast Guard Academy.The Webster Smith case was a litmus test for justice in America. Every once in a while a case comes along that puts our humanity as a people on trial. Everything that we profess to stand for as Americans was on trial. I am ashamed of our justice system. This was a tragedy and a travesty.
I wanted to know why Webster Smith was court-martialed? Now I know. This book is the full story.
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4 comments:
The Coast Guard appears to be trying to put as much distance between it and the Webster Smith Case as possible. There appears to be a desire to forget everything and everybody associated with the case. It is absolutely amazing how the new administration is trying to return to business as usual BWS, Before Webster Smith. The Smith family was deemed expendable. The case is now history, both American and Coast Guard. But Coast Guard and American history will keep bumping up against the Webster Smith case for a thousand years, just like America's history keeps bumping up against Civil War history. Here it is 150 years later and we are still trying to sort it out. We still have trouble confronting our uniquely American disease. MLK said it is a disease unto death. The healing must begin some time and some where. In the Webster Smith Case, healing could begin with an apology to the Smith Family from the Coast Guard, and a grant of clemency from Secretary Janet Napolitano.
Hi ichbinalj,
My husband and I have been fighting for our human, civil and legal rights in Southern Ca. ever since the ranch we were moving to burned in the wildfires of 2007.
We had to board our 10 horses and 2llamas out at the recommendation of Riverside county animal control beginning on Nov. 9, 2007.
Franklin, my husband is a 100% Service disabled Vietnam Veteran. So our plan was to camp at the Ca. state Parks using his Distinguished Veteran Pass - in order to save money to find another ranch.
We are very easy going friendly, quiet law abiding senior citizens. What franklin and I completely ignore is that he is Black and I am Irish.
We were followed to our campsite and harrassed by a very hostile ranger immediately upon entering San Elijo State Park in SAn Diego. There is a very small group of well documented Bullies who work for the State Parks. And we happened to fall prey to their evil.
These rangers stalked us, stole our vehicle, ambushed me and a 13 yr. old boy, arrested me - I was literally tortured - on video - in the Orange County Jail on Feb. 28, 2008.
Meantime, our horses were being starved by the Animal Control contrator, Jason Lopez. The Rangers had contacted Riverside Animal Control, so Riverside Animal Control agent, Lesley Heunnekens stole Franklin's Throroughbred race horses and seized our horses and charged us with Felony animal cruelty.
What I have found out is that law enforcement misconduct is completely covered up,and protected by the judicial system. There are 25 or so Orange County attorneys who all participated in the blatant Railroading and many judges. The OC case went to trial without me even being there anf Judge Margaret Anderson ruled that "NO witnesses, no defense testimony and no defense were allowed at the trial which resumed the next day with me in attendance. I demanded to represnt myself and the judge stated "absolutely Not!"
A few days after I was found guilty by the jury who stated "there was no defense" I learned that we were being charged with felony animal cruelty in Riverside county. This case is over 700 days old with 43 continuances. The "Conflict" attorneys never spoke to us, did not return phone calls or call any witnesses.
What i have recently discovered is the "CONTRACT FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE" FOR RIVERSIDE COUNTY. THIS CONTRACT MAKES THESE SAME ATTORNEYS THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS FOR ALL RIVERSIDE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
SO NO WONDER THERE WAS NO DEFENSE. I HOPE YOU TAKE AN INTEREST IN THIS ONGOING NIGHTMARE. MY PHONE NUMBER IS 951 6935161. THE BLOGS TELL SOME OF THE STORY.THANKS, TREA
Typical whining.
Webster Smith demonstrated by his actions that he was not fit to hold an officer's commission.
He put the gratification of his own urges ahead of his duty to his comrades. He is exactly the sort of person who should not be placed in a position of trust and authority.
This time it was banging other cadets after getting them drunk. What do you honestly think he would be doing when he had access to 18 year old female enlisted Coasties and he was their commander?
Dear Sailor Of The Knee-Deep Navy, Thank you for your comment. You are more than kneee-deep in self-righteousness ignorance now. You have never met Webster Smith, I would wager. Yet, you presume to judge his character and predict his future behavior. Based on what? What you read in the newspapers, or what you read in my book? Would you have made the same or similar predictions concerning General David Patraeus of Commander Dave Koss, or any of the other high ranking military officers who have been forced to resign from lofty position recently because of sexual scandals? You obviously read the internet news. I will not recite a list of names. Suffice it to say that General David Petraeus resigned as head of the CIA in the wake of revelations that he had carried on an extramarital affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell; and, Commander Koss, voluntarily resigned after revelation that he allowed those around him to engage in politically incorrect hanky-panky. Koss was a 1991 Naval Academy graduate and veteran naval aviator and who has amassed more than 3,000 flight hours and 740 arrested landings on carriers, and garnered two awards for leadership during his career. What a waste of talent. I believe that Webster Smith would have had a similarly distinguished career. But you believe that Webster Smith demonstrated by his actions that he was not fit to hold an officer's commission. You speculate that he put the gratification of his own urges ahead of his duty to his comrades. And then you declare that he is exactly the sort of person who should not be placed in a position of trust and authority. You are running over with stereotypical conjecture and devoid of any evidence of critical and objective thinking. I have met your type of mentality many times in my 24 year military career, and I am happy that there are not many like you left out there. Well, you are entitled to your own opinion; but, you are not entitled to make up your own facts. Nowhere was it reported that Webster Smith was banging other cadets after getting them drunk. In all of the incidents reported in the case, it appeared that the cadets involved took advantage of lax Academy policies and Regulations concerning off base alcohol consumption. I honestly think that Webster Smith would do the same as most college graduates once they past through the phase of teenage drinking and sexual exploration; that is, that he would move on to more mature and career enhancing pursuits. Webster Smith was an exceptional cadet with a magnetic, charming personality. He was a gifted man, who had risen above his circumstances. I suspect that as a commissioned officer he would continue to distinguish himself. I doubt that he would soil his record with any of the 18 year old female enlisted Coasties that I have seen. Not because they are not worth it, but because he is a better man than that and none of them could hold a candle his wife Lindsey. Thank you for your opinion, but you should wade a bit further out into deeper water until it covers your brain, clears your vision, and refines your thinking. I hope I have not insulted you or burst your bubble. I respect your courage to come forward and take a position on the record. It is so hard to get an open and frank discussion of sensitive subjects in this politically correct age of left leaning liberalism. You and I differ on our opinions of Webster Smith, but I believe we share old fashioned sentiments concerning duty, honor, patriotism; and, love of God and country. We respect the sanctity of borders, languages and culture. I would like to hear from you again on this Blog. So, I wish you fair skies, favorable winds, and a following sea out there on the Sea of Life. And remember, if you do not have a destination, there can be no favorable wind.
Judge L. Steverson, USALJ (Ret.); LCDR, USCG (Ret.)
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