He is the medal-winning former Army doctor from Greeley who became a hero to "birther" conspiracy theorists like
Denver radio talker Peter Boyles when he refused to deploy to Afghanistan, demanding to see his commander-in-chief's birth certificate. Lakin didn't get to see any birth certificate. He was court martialed, stripped of his rank, salary and pension and hauled off to Leavenworth. After six months in prison, he is coming home. His supporters are trying to organize a rally to greet him at the airport in Baltimore, where his wife and three children live. As
Salon's Justin Elliot reports, the Lakin saga is perhaps the most tragic story so far to "emerge from the birther carnival."