"Birther" Army Doctor Terrence Lakin Pleads Guilty to Disobeying Orders to Deploy to Afghanistan

FORT MEADE, Md. (CBS/AP) Army doctor and "birther" Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin pleaded guilty in military court Tuesday to a charge that included not meeting with a superior when ordered to do so and not reporting to duty at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Lakin, who disobeyed orders to deploy to Afghanistan, believes his inaction is justified because as a "birther" he questions whether President Barack Obama is a natural born citizen of the United States.

Lakin, who serves as a flight surgeon, told the military jury he had gone to a chapel to do some soul-searching and felt he had no choice but to disobey orders.

"I believe there is a valid question that needs to be asked and answered," he said, referring to Obama's eligibility to be president.

In videos posted on YouTube, Lakin aligns himself with the so-called "birthers" who question whether Obama is a natural-born citizen as the Constitution requires for presidents.

Officials from Obama's home state of Hawaii say they have seen and verified Obama's original 1961 birth certificate which is on record with that state.

Despite the documented proof, Lakin believes that any rational person would question its authenticity because the certificate does not list the name of the hospital where Obama's mother gave birth or the physician who delivered him.

Lakin refused to deploy to Afghanistan for what would have been his second tour of duty.

Members of the military jury that was asked to hear the case were questioned Tuesday as to whether they had heard of the birther movement and their feelings about individuals who identify with it.

Several said they had heard of the term, and all but one said they had at least heard of the case of a military doctor refusing to deploy because he questioned the president's eligibility for office.

Lakin's parents and his two brothers along with other supporters audibly scoffed when one of the potential jurors said based on the evidence that Obama was eligible to be president.

Lakin pleaded not guilty to a second charge of missing a flight he was required to be on, and the court-martial proceeding continued on that count.

He faces up to 18 months in prison and dismissal from the Army when he's sentenced on the first charge.