Posted on 11/21/2008 9:50:18 AM PST by Military family member
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — A former Army cook convicted of multiple rapes and murders is set to die next month in what would be the U.S. military's first execution in nearly 50 years.
The military said Thursday that former North Carolina soldier Ronald A. Gray is to be executed Dec. 10 at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Ind.
Gray was arrested in connection with four slayings and eight rapes in the Fayetteville, N.C., area between April 1986 and January 1987, while he was stationed at Fort Bragg. He was convicted of murdering two women.
(Excerpt) Read more at tribstar.com ...
Let justice be done.
It means Terre Haute will be quite busy Dec. 10.
Wasn’t the last one Private Slovik? He was played by Martin Sheen if I remember...
/johnny
Hasan Akbar needs to be next, for his traitorous, treasonous killing of Major Stone at the onset of the iraq wart.
what took so long?
Slovick was the last one executed for desertion.
Aaahhhh..that’s right. Thanks for correction.
He was the last person executed for Cowardice. John Bennett was hung in 1961 for killing an 11-year-old girl.
Good.
“Danny Deever”
Rudyard Kipling
“What are the bugles blowin’ for?” said Files-on-Parade.
“To turn you out, to turn you out”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
“What makes you look so white, so white?” said Files-on-Parade.
“I’m dreadin’ what I’ve got to watch”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
For they’re hangin’ Danny Deever, you can hear the Dead March play,
The regiment’s in ‘ollow square — they’re hangin’ him to-day;
They’ve taken of his buttons off an’ cut his stripes away,
An’ they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.
“What makes the rear-rank breathe so ‘ard?” said Files-on-Parade.
“It’s bitter cold, it’s bitter cold”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
“What makes that front-rank man fall down?” said Files-on-Parade.
“A touch o’ sun, a touch o’ sun”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
They are hangin’ Danny Deever, they are marchin’ of ‘im round,
They ‘ave ‘alted Danny Deever by ‘is coffin on the ground;
An’ ‘e’ll swing in ‘arf a minute for a sneakin’ shootin’ hound —
O they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’!
“’Is cot was right-’and cot to mine”, said Files-on-Parade.
“’E’s sleepin’ out an’ far to-night”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
“I’ve drunk ‘is beer a score o’ times”, said Files-on-Parade.
“’E’s drinkin’ bitter beer alone”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
They are hangin’ Danny Deever, you must mark ‘im to ‘is place,
For ‘e shot a comrade sleepin’ — you must look ‘im in the face;
Nine ‘undred of ‘is county an’ the regiment’s disgrace,
While they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.
“What’s that so black agin’ the sun?” said Files-on-Parade.
“It’s Danny fightin’ ‘ard for life”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
“What’s that that whimpers over’ead?” said Files-on-Parade.
“It’s Danny’s soul that’s passin’ now”, the Colour-Sergeant said.
For they’re done with Danny Deever, you can ‘ear the quickstep play,
The regiment’s in column, an’ they’re marchin’ us away;
Ho! the young recruits are shakin’, an’ they’ll want their beer to-day,
After hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.
Do we hear calls for his pardon?
This also answers the question of what will happen should anyone at Gitmo be tried and convicted of murder. They’ll died here in Terre Haute.
This guy was the last one
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Bennett
BTW-He had somthing in common with this guy Gray, Hassan Akbar, and 9 of the last 10 military personnel executed by the U.S.as well as many of those American soldiers executed by us in WWII for rape and murder.
Spec 4 disgrace to the uniform.
getting the hot shot. No firing squad or rope available. we wouldn’t want him to feel too much pain.
Read article on Drudge - last military execution was in 1961. Guy was hanged. Raped and almost killed a young girl in Austria.
I’ve never read that poem. Thanks for the posting.
BTW, that poem puts a bit of Starship Troopers in context too. Thanks again! I haven’t read enough Kipling.
I don't recall how I found out that "Danny Deever" was a Kipling poem, but reading Starship Troopers inspired me to look it up.
Should’ve happened a LONG time ago.
Public execution by hanging or firing squad would be more appropriate.
ping for home
Committed the crime 22 years ago and is just now going to pay the piper. It is good that he will get the shot in December before Ayers convinces the new President to pardon Mr. Gray.
I think I have a new rule. I like anyone who loved Starship Troopers.
The book, that is. If you loved the movie, you have problems. Seek help.
Are you saying he won't be executed by firing squad? Now that is a disappointment. I was hoping it would be on Pay for View...
Firing squad is for purely military offenses, such as desertion. And hanging’s not an option because hangman is very much a skilled trade, and there’s no one left who knows how to do it properly.
“there’s no one left who knows how to do it properly.”
I’ll bet I could learn in about 10 minutes or less!
“...and there’s no one left who knows how to do it properly.”
“Properly” means he’s dead at the end. I can guarantee that result.
Death will be by lethal injection.
This is what happens whenever the military goes for quantity over quality.
“Death will be by lethal injection.”
Well, guess that will do...
Anybody know why he is in the military system? If his crimes were committed off-post, it seems he should have been tried and punished in the civilian courts and prisons.
The military services reserve the right to try their personnel for violations of the UCMJ.
Looks like several of his victims were other service members. Even though the offenses were off post, local authorities will frequently defer exercising jurisdiction when such is the case.
If a crime is committed off post that option lies with the civilian authorities; not the Army.
Thanks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.