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I have held back for quite some time about sharing an experience concerning a court martial I went through.I had been given the day off to see my wife and daughter off on their return to the states.It was unit policy as well as company policy,even to the point of bringing you from the field to say goodbye.I had what would be called a mean and vindictive Company Commander who thought it was his job to bully and terrorize the men under his command.
My Platoon leader and Platoon SGT.had given me permission to see her off.The Company Commander was livid and attempted to give me an article 15,which I denied because I knew I was in the right.The charges for the court martial amounted to six charges,any,if convicted of would have sent me to Leavenworth for the rest of my life.During the court martial in front of a 24 year old Captain,I had my 2nd.LT.,PLt.SGT.,E=7,and the entire platoon testify that I had been given the day off.
After all were dismissed,the Captain closed the door and this is what he said.I truly believe you had permission for the day of,but here is the reality of the situation.The same man who wants you court Marshalled is the same man that appointed me to be your judge,and if I do not find you guilty of something,it is my ass.I was found guilty of the less of all charges,which amounted to being five minutes late for work.The fine was one hundred dollars,recommended suspension.I had never spoken to an officer with such disrespect as I did that day.Do I think that the trials of these Marines will be fair and just?After what you have read,what do you think?They are screwed.

Yes the Commander took the one hundred dollars,and yes he ended up being relieved of his command for getting drunk in a German bar and getting the daylights beaten out of him.To bad that he had the opportunity to ruin other good men's careers.

Is this called "Command Influence" in your case? In your case, it sounded like it was a vindictive personal motive. Yikes! I would have hated to be in your shoes.

Now imagine if the motive is political, from much higher up, to show the US really polices its own troops to prevent any "atrocities" in Iraq. NCIS has lots of resources to present evidence the way to want, to prove their case. How can the accused, in the Haditha case, afford all the experts it would take to counteract their presentations?

It will be tough. They need some pro bono physical evidence experts!