Season 5 Discussion Thread

[Dowel Jones]

1 hour ago, Sarah 103 said:

For those of us without a strong background of military knowledge, can you explain the difference between dishonorable discharge and being relieved of his duty? 

I'm not of military background either, but it would seem that 'relieved of duty' is removing someone from a command position as an officer.  General Fredenhall was relieved of command in WWII by Patton, and he went back to the US as a training unit commander.  MacArthur, on the other hand, probably had nowhere to go when he was relieved of duty in Korea and so retired from the Army.  A less-than-honorable discharge (there's probably a few categories) means that you were basically kicked out of the Army with a black mark on your service record.  Depending on the era, that could have serious negative consequences in post-Army life.

[possibilities]

If he had refused an order to spear an animal, I think he would have told Seigfried and James, and they would have supported him. So, if he does have a secret, I don't think that would likely be it.

[Kenzie]

Because Tristan was a real-life person I don't think even a fictionalized version of his life would include any story line that could possibly impune his character and embarrass his living descendants.

I chose to think that even though Tristan primarily worked with animals he just wasn't ready to talk about the other bad parts of war and death that he certainly must have seen.

[Orcinus orca]

For what it is worth, there was no fighting in Cairo in WWII.  That's not to say Tristan could not have been sent to some front, but if he was in Cairo the whole time he would not have seen actual fighting.