Review of Military Records Raises Doubts About Peter Parente’s Marine Corps Service

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Peter Parente was demoted and received a reduction in pay in 1990 after testing positive for cocaine and THC (marijuana) while serving in the U.S. Marines Reserves shortly before deploying to the Middle East for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, according to military records seen by Talk of the Sound.

In March 1990, Parente received a “Company NJP” for Article 92 and Article 112. He was reduced in rank to E-3, and forfeited $13 per month for one month. NJP is “non-judicial punishment”. NJP permits commanders to administratively discipline troops without a court-martial.

Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice is “Failure to Obey an Order or Regulation”. It is considered a dereliction of duty when unable or unwilling to perform the job assigned to military personnel.

Article 112a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice is “Wrongful Use, Possession, etc. , of Controlled Substances.”

Parente’s DD-214 Service Record stands at odds with the public persona he has cultivated over the years.

Parente has for years served as the President of the United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association which, under the City of New Rochelle Charter, is responsible for organizing patriotic events and displays such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies and flag raising ceremonies.

Parente was removed from the New Rochelle Veterans Advisory Committee earlier this year after he published a xenophobic rant against immigrants and Muslims, calling for an armed militia to bar them entry to the City of New Rochelle. He labeled Democrats “communists” who are “cock a roaches” who should be “exterminated”.

Parente was appointed to the the New Rochelle Veterans Advisory Committee at the recommendation of his brother-in-law, Council Member Louis Trangucci

On February 17, 2019, Parente posted remarks on Facebook about the Oath of Enlistment he took in April, 1985:

This is the oath I swore to in 1985. Still holds true today. Let’s make this go viral all across FB!! Then let’s stand by it!!!

I, state your name (Peter Parente), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

I think even civilians can and should take this oath. Matter of fact…EVERY TRUE RED, WHITE AND BLUE AMERICAN SHOULD TAKE THIS OATH, COPY, PASTE AND SHARE !!

Records seen by Talk of the Sound show that Parente did not honor his oath. He plead guilty to the charge of “Failure to Obey an Order or Regulation”.

Parente was eligible for promotion to corporal but passed over. According to Parente’s DD-214 he was not only passed over but required to sign a document acknowledging that he was being passed over and that he understood why he was being passed over.

The DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, generally referred to as a “DD 214”, is a document of the United States Department of Defense, issued upon a military service member’s retirement, separation, or discharge from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States.

The records show that Parente tested positive for marijuana and cocaine. He might have faced an Administrative Discharge from the Marines. However, the military needed people to deploy to the Middle East. It appears Parente’s going to Desert Shield/Desert Storm was allowed to cancel out his drug bust.

The DD Form 214, or DD-214, is a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. It is provided to every service member of the U.S. Military upon discharge.

A DD-214 is available in two different versions for review. The “short” version, or redacted copy, provides basic information like the nature and type of discharge, as well as a re-enlistment code. The Member Copy 4, or “long” version of a DD-214 contains far more information that details the type of service as well as reason for separation. The U.S. Military only provides one copy of this form, and offers no replacement copies.

Talk of the Sound has seen the long version of Parente’s DD-214

The records indicate Parente mobilized to Desert Shield/Desert Storm right after he was busted for drug use (and received rank reduction).  When he de-mobilized from Desert Storm he had an honorable discharge with a favorable discharge code.

It appears he left the reserves later due to a civilian job issue. Talk of the Sound did not see a DD-214 from the reserves from that discharge.  It appears he joined the reserves again for 6 months after that, but then stopped by which time he would have completed obligated service. 

Talk of the Sound asked an expert in military justice to review Parente’s DD-214. He provided a summary timeline for Parente’s service in the Marines.

Timeline:

• 30 Apr 1985: Signs enlistment contract
• 4 Oct 1985: Initial training begins
• 6 March 1986: Completed ITB, discharged from active duty. Honorable RE-1A.
• 1 Apr 1986: Promoted to PFC
• 1987: 199 days of active duty
• 10 Jan 1988: non-rec for LCpl for not meeting training prereqs
• 17 Apr 1988: non-rec for LCpl for not meeting requirements
• 1 May 1988: promoted to LCpl
• 21 Jan 1990: Pro/Con: 4.0/4.0
• 2 Feb 1990: NDSL report: cocaine and THC
• 3 March 1990: Certifies had chance to speak to lawyer for 92/112. Accepts NJP.
• 4 March 1990: Receives Company NJP for 92 and 112. Reduced to E-3, forfeit $13 per month for one month.
• 4 March 1990: Counseled for positive urinalysis for cocaine/THC. No response. Pro/Con 3.0/4.7
• 22 Aug 1990: 4.7/4.7
• 1 Oct 1990: Promoted to Cpl (??)
• 13 Nov 1990: Mobilized on active duty (Desert Shield)
• 4 Jun 1990: De-mobilized from active duty. Total of 6 months 22 days mobilized. 4 months foreign. DD-214: Honorable Discharge. RE-1A. Reservist released from active duty
• 3 July 1991: While with RCT5 was exposed to burning oil, took nerve gas pills,
• 15 Sep 1991: Transferred to IRR due to conflict in civilian work obligation.
• 20 Jan 1993: Joins Wpns 2/25 as a reserve mortarman.
• 29 Jul 1993: Discharged from 2/25 (No DD214)

The expert analysis noted there are records which indicate Parente received a Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Version of the Kuwait Liberation Medal, Marksman badges and unit decorations.

There is no record among those seen by Talk of the Sound that Parente received a combat action ribbon from Desert Storm. In photos taken over the years, at various ceremonies, Parente can been seen wearing some sort of Saudi medal, a National Defense Service Medal and a combat action ribbon from Desert Storm.

The analysis concluded that whatever Parente did on active duty, it was “non-kinetic”; in warfare, “kinetic” capabilities are those that focus on destroying enemy forces through application of physical (explosive, impact, tactical maneuver) effects while ‘non-kinetic’ describes everything else.