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Showing Original Post only (View all)U.S. Airman Got the Boot for Pointing Out that his Boots Were Made in China [View all]
Master Sergeant Steven Adachi became the center of a military controversy and a congressional investigation because he refused to put his boots on.
Prior to his deployment to Afghanistan, Adachian Air Force reservist based in Hawaiiwas given a pair of sage green boots by his unit, which, he discovered, were made in China. He complained, got another pair made in China, complained some more, and asked for boots made in the U.S.
He says he was told that it was impossible to get U.S.-made boots.
Eventually, the Air Force reprimanded Adachi, and he now faces administrative demotion or termination of his position in the military.
Congressional investigators are probing the matter with the Air Force, as is the inspector general for the military. A bipartisan inquiry is seeking to determine if Adachi, who has a 32-year career (pdf) in the armed forces, was retaliated against for being a whistleblower.
http://www.allgov.com/news/us-and-the-world/us-airman-got-the-boot-for-pointing-out-that-his-boots-were-made-in-china-130704?news=850469