Or, maybe, the Sgt Maj was attempting to save a former Marine from a $250.00 fine and up to 6 months in prison:
MCO P1020.34F
MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS
11002. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DIRECTIVES PERTAINING TO UNIFORMS
1. Implementing 10 U.S.C. 772, the President, by Executive Order 10554 of 18 August 1954, delegated to the Secretary of Defense the authority to prescribe regulations under which persons may wear the uniform. The following excerpts from DoD Directive 1334.1 of 11 August 1969 outline these regulations:
b. Former Members of the Armed Forces. Unless qualified under another provision of this Order or under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 772, former members who served honorably during a declared or undeclared war and whose most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions may wear the uniform in the highest grade held during such war service only upon the following occasions and in the course of travel incident thereto:
(1) Military funerals, memorial services, weddings, and inaugurals.
(2) Parades on national or state holidays; or other parades or ceremonies of a patriotic character in which any active or reserve United States military unit is taking part.
‘Wearing of the uniform or any part thereof at any other time or for any purpose is prohibited.’
11004. LAWS PERTAINING TO THE UNIFORM
1. Per 10 U.S.C. 771, no person, unless other-wise authorized by law, except a member of the Marine Corps may wear the uniform or a distinctive part of the uniform of which is similar to a distinctive part of the Marine Corps uniform.
2. According to 18 U.S.C. 702, whoever, in any place within the jurisdiction of the United States or in the Canal Zone, without authority wears the Marine Corps uniform will be fined not more than $250 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/mcub/library/MCUR/URCh11.htm
Something else I don’t think most folk get. The chucklehead with the DI cover had called around to various persons on the base to get permission to wear the cover and was roundly refused by one and all, as well as got informed of the appropriate law forbidding such.
The Sgt Maj might have been a bit hotted up by the fact that he’d already had that “discussion” with the numbnut over the phone.
The Sgt Maj never laid hands on the idiot. He took possession of a USMC uniform item that was being illegally used. Those are his “crimes”.
He was a bit abrupt in his demeanor. Tough. Marines tend to be like that when they’re doing what needs be done... especially when it’s with members of the same tribe who should damned well know better already.