(dissenting):
I dissent.
The question certified by The Judge Advocate General of the Navy in the case at bar is not one of first impression in this Court. My views on the subject may be found in United States v Doherty, 5 USCMA 287, 17 CMR 287, and my dissenting opinions in United States v Kaylor, 10 USCMA 139, 27 CMR 213, and United States v Story, 10 USCMA 145, 27 CMR 219. Obviously, those concepts lead me to a different conclusion than that here reached by my colleagues. However, while I still subscribe to the views I set forth in the previously mentioned cases, I see little utility in rearguing my concepts in the case at bar. Accordingly, under ordinary circumstances, I would be content merely to record my dissent. However, even when I attempt to apply the principles the majority set out in United States v Kaylor, supra, I must still disagree with the disposition here ordered by the Court.
In that case my associates found, inter alia, that no instructions on sentence were given and that there was no indication the court-martial knew it need not impose a punitive discharge. Here that cannot be the case, for the court was properly instructed on sentence, and the court members demonstrated that they knew they need not adjudge any particular ingredient of the punishment allowable, for they imposed no forfeitures on accused. It is clear from that fact alone that they were familiar with the permissive nature of the various forms of punish-jnent. Moreover, here the court-martial merely recommended that a hardship discharge “be considered.” (Emphasis supplied). That in and of itself presents a marked difference from Kay-lor, where the court members requested outright remission of the punitive discharge. But in addition, it would seem to indicate additional investigation was deemed advisable before accused was considered for relief, whereas in Kay-lor my brothers found that “the mitigating circumstances expressed by the court in its recommendation for clemency . . . were presented to them before they announced their sentence.” Furthermore, in that case the Court held that the court-martial could have reached the result recommended as clemency merely “by the simple expedient of not including a bad-conduct discharge as a part of the sentence.” And my colleagues commented:
“It should be noted that our decision here should in no way discourage clemency recommendations where appropriate, nor does it affect the situation where the court-martial recommend clemency in the form of a suspension or conditional remission of a discharge. Recommendations for complete and unqualified remission of a portion of a sentence are clearly distinguishable from recommendations for suspension. A court-martial does not have power to adjudge a suspended sentence. United States v Marshall, 2 USCMA 342, 8 CMR 142. If the suspension of a punitive discharge is considered appropriate, there is no way that the court-martial, acting alone, can accomplish it. Power to suspend is vested in the convening and supervisory authorities. On the other hand, total remission of a portion of the sentence can readily be accomplished by not adjudging that portion in the first instance.”
In this case I believe we have exactly the situation suggested in the above quoted paragraph, and I would not reject the concept so recently announced therein. Here there can be no question but that the court believed it appropriate that accused be discharged — both the sentence they adjudged and their clemency recommendation so indicate. *498And just as with a suspension, as distinguished from outright and unqualified remission, a court-martial is without power to accomplish a hardship discharge, for an administrative separation is a type beyond its authority to impose as punishment. This record demonstrates that the court members fully appreciated their sentencing powers and duties, and that they were aware reviewing authorities could, and might if investigation of the circumstances so indicated, give consideration to a less severe type discharge — which action the court-martial was powerless to take. Accordingly, it is patent that the clemency recommendation of the court did not impeach or impugn its sentence in the slightest.
In conclusion, I can only wonder, in view of the disposition ordered by the Court, what kind of clemency recommendation can be made by members of a court-martial without rendering their sentence inconsistent. While a majority of the Court indicated in Kaylor they “would not sanction any curtailment of the absolute freedom of a court to make recommendations for clemency,” and that “when such a recommendation is made, it should not subject the court to the risk of having its sentence set aside,” I can only conclude that the present holding greatly weakens those assurances. Moreover, I might also observe that not infrequently a court-martial, after having imposed a sentence it believes appropriate, has sought to “temper justice with mercy,” by recommending a form of clemency it is without authority to grant. The impact of this decision may reduce the number of those recommendations.
I would answer the certified question in the negative and reverse the decision of the board of review.