Fraternizing of Officer, Enlisted Man Held Crime

Washington Star

WASHINGTON The nation's highest military court has declared it is a crime for an officer in the armed forces to fraternize

with an enlisted man.

The opinion by the U.S. Court of Military Appeals holds that fraternization between the officer corps and the enlisted ranks is a violation not only of military cus-

tom but also of military law. The unanimous ruling upholds the con-

forbids fraternization itself, the court said that fraternization goes against a regulaviction of a Navy Lt. Carl R. Pitask, 28, of tion governing "acts prejudical to good or Boston, who was sentenced by court-marder and discipline in the armed forces."

tial to dismissal from the service.

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It is the first time the high military tribunal has considered the issue of fraternization as a violation of the law.

Although no specific military statute

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The military taboo dates from the crea tion of the Continental Army in 1773, but the court suggested that violations are rare and usually corrected by administrative action

when they do occur.

In the case, decided Monday, Pitasi was alleged to have tried to establish homosexual relations with a seaman stationed at the Great Lakes, Ill., Naval Training Station. Although those charges were later dismissed, Pitasi was convicted of “fraternizing" with the seaman.

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