wasn’t simply defending a military symbol.
He was defending the memory of a father he’d lost as a child.
That didn’t excuse his behavior.
But it helped me understand it.
The colonel explained that Reese would receive formal disciplinary counseling and that the incident might affect his upcoming promotion.
I asked that he be held accountable but given an opportunity to learn.
Then I requested a private conversation.
At 1:30, Tyler entered the conference room.
Once the officers stepped outside, he sat opposite me, looking deeply embarrassed.
“Ma’am, I
