Young Marines on Trial, Older Marines Say Enough!

Conservative Thoughts ^ | 6-18-07 | kathywms

[pinkpanther111]

Three Marines in the Camp Pendleton brig will soon reach their thirteenth month of pretrial confinement. These men are Marines and will not flee. They should not be detained any longer before their trials in the Hamdania case.

Several of the members of K/3/5 Pendleton 8, stated they were refused the right to have an attorney present while being interrogated in Iraq. Miranda is applicable under military law: MRE 305(d)(1)(A). Their “confessions” were illegally obtained and should be inadmissible.

Over the past several months, Marines have sworn in court that their statements had been falsified by NCIS agents. In the Lt. Nathan Phan case, crucial exculpatory evidence was destroyed in NCIS custody.

As the Haditha hearings unfold, we learned late last week that murder charges were preferred against LCpl. Justin Sharratt solely on the basis of Iraqi hearsay testimony. LCpl. Sharratt passed a polygram yet it was Iraqi testimony, not a Marine lance corporal’s word, that was called “consistent and truthful”.

Many Marines have had enough.

Captain Don Greenlaw, Marine mustang, has led an e-mail campaign. He has asked retired Marines to express their concerns directly to Lt. Gen. Mattis and his chief legal counsel, Lt. Col. Riggs.

There are only two rules:
1. Do not be disrespectful.
2. Do not use any profanity.
Here are some examples of e-mails sent:
_____________________________________

LtCol Riggs:

I, for one, have a strapping young grandson, who lives here in Oceanside and, at this point in time, I would not recommend that he join the Corps. If this everlasting circus going on with K/3/1 & K/3/5 continues much longer, the Commandant is going to experience rough days ahead on recruiting and I don't think these huge bonus' he's offering will entice these young, very intelligent, Marines to extend or reenlist, as we did years ago, when we were sure our leaders were watching our 6'oclock & not locking us up for doing the job we enlisted to do and that is to fight this country's wars.

When I read some of these articles where the Prosecutor gets some witness on the stand and they discuss bullet holes in the heads of civilians, etc., that tells me that the Prosecutor or the witness has never been in a fire fight with lead flying all around you. You put a weapon on full automatic and start firing at enemy positions that you are receiving fire from and some innocents are bound to get killed. War is hell. Some body ought to educate this Mr. Parks, the DOD expert, who supposedly wrote the "rules of war". Give this Mr. Parks an M-16 & Flak Jacket, send him in- country, put him on the line with the Sgt's, Cpl's, Pfc's & 2ndLt's and let's see what he can do. I think he will come back and re-write the book. I've attended 3 or 4 of these hearings and the Bacos trial. Very rarely, if ever, do you see a Defense Counsel get up and object or do anything. It has all appearances of a well scripted Broadway Play.

It would now appear we have lost two good 2nd Lt's. First, it was Patano and if Phan is smart, he will resign his commission. His career has now been wrecked by thoughtless actions of those who should have stood by his side. V/R & S/F,
Don Greenlaw Captain,
USMC(Ret'd) Marine Mustang
_____________________________________
Dear LtCol Riggs,

I have always been on the firing line touting our Marine Corps to young folks wherever I go and encouraging them to enlist in the finest. I have to admit that I have not been doing that for over a year now - quite frankly, have been very po'd off about the way the Haditha Marines have been treated and think its a damned shame - it seems like they are getting railroaded and have been since the very beginning. There are two young folks that I visit with at the local grocery store (Sprouts) and they see me with my MC shirts and covers and are continually asking me about whether or not they should join the Corps. I have not been very encouraging in light of the forementioned.

I served in Korea during 1952 with E 2 7, 1st Mar Div as a machine gunner receiving a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. I guarantee you we had great leadership back then - very firm but also always taking care of us. Semper Fidelis,
Troy Watson
www.e27Marines-1stMarDiv.org
_____________________________________
ColRiggs:
Sir,

I am a former Marine Sgt.who saw action in Korea including stints on Bunker Hill, Reno, Carson and Vegas. I am familiar with the ROEs and believe me when you are fighting any enemy, you must engage when fired upon. We did not have the same restrictions as today’s troops have.

I am the Sr. Vice Commander with the Orange county D.A.V. Org. I am also a member of two Marine Clubs and the reunion coordinator for,B-1-1-1 vets.

In my daily communications with combat Marine veterans, I have yet to find one that is not appalled at the treatment of the Haditha Marines and spouses.

First, it appears that they were convicted before they got back from Iraq. Yes, convicted by Congressman Murtha, and the press. I still remember seeing, LtCol Chessani holding his new baby when they returned. He wasn't allowed to finish his leave before being releaved of duty for lack of confidence. I have spoken to most of his troops before and after deployment and they would follow him to hell as I would. This is such a tragedy. When did the Corp. start eating it's own? This is too political. I am afraid of what is happening to our Corp. I am sure that recruiting will be affected because of, "lack of confidence."

The young men volunteering to extend their deployment is commendable, but I am afraid it is out of loyalty to their buddies and not to the Corp.

Sir, I apologize for rambling but my feelings are strong, as are those of my friends.

We know and respect Gen. Mattis and his fine reputation as a excellent and fair leader. If possible, I would appreciate it if you would forward this letter to him on his return. I know the ultimate decisions on this whole trial event will end up in his hands.

It is my sincere feelings that he will make the correct judgment on these men.

I know there must be alot of political pressure on this case, but as a group of combat vets we all believe this whole thing was a farce and unjust to all Marines.

Lets correct this in the name of justice.

God bless these men and our Corp.

S/F
Respectfully,
Harry D.Brunke,former Sgt. USMC
Sr. Vice Commander
D.A.V.Orange County,Chapter 23
_____________________________________

The disservice and damage the MSM and Rep John Murtha have done to the Armed Forced and to the Haditha Marines in particular is shameful. Equally shameful is the Marine Corps reluctance to take care of their own.

Military members and family: Please take a few moments to express your concerns about this case to Col Riggs and Gen. Mattis at kathywms111@gmail.com. All emails will be packaged together and forwarded to Col. Riggs and General Mattis.

[Plains Drifter]

bump

[BIGLOOK]

Everywhere I served, I served with Marines. Navy stands with these Marines.

[RedRover]

BTTTTT!!!!

[freema]

I found this a little ironic:

Darwin Awards

(3 January 2005, St. Maurice, Switzerland) It was the first week of a weapons refresher course, and Swiss Army Grenadier Detachment 20/5 had just finished training with live ammunition. The shooting instructor ordered the soldiers to secure their weapons for a break.

The 24-year-old second lieutenant, in charge of this detachment, decided this would be a good time to demonstrate a knife attack on a soldier. Wielding his bayonet, he leaped toward one of his men, achieving complete surprise.

But earlier that week, the soldiers had been drilled to release the safety catch and ready their guns for firing in the shortest possible time. The surprised soldier, seeing his lieutenant leaping toward him with a knife, snapped off a shot to protect himself from the attack.

The lesson could not have been more successful: the soldier had saved himself and protected the rest of the detachment from a surprise attack. The lieutenant might have wished to commend his soldier on his quick action and accurate marksmanship. Unfortunately, he had been killed with one shot.

And this, kiddies, is why we don’t play with knives or guns. Ever. Even if we are trained professionals, and especially if our target is a trained professional.

[lilycicero]

Or hide in closets half open.