Haditha Article 32: LCpl. Stephen B. Tatum

Defend Our Marines ^ | July 12, 2007 | David Allender

[lilycicero]

"I think he was serious," Dela Cruz said

Hey Hey Dela Cruz your mama is lucky she didn't need your SGLI to pay for a funeral. Was this the ping of shame?

[RedRover]

So what is Mendoza talking about?...It doesn't add up.

No, it doesn't. Seems to me that the prosecutors are trying to get a conviction on the basis of Tatum being a bad Marine.

But all of it is easily overcome.

In the Sharratt case, LCpl Prentice, LCpl Casiday, LCpl Graviss, LCpl Wright, HN3 Lopez, and HN3 Whitt ALL gave incriminating testimony against Justin and none of it mattered.

And none of those Marines and hospitalmen had the motive to lie that Mendoza has.

[RedRover]

As e-mailed, please help Don find post 30 above.

[Girlene]

And ak-47 shell casings are not evidence that the enemy was there? Aside from a body that's as good as it gets.

Well, you would think so. But, no, NCIS and the prosecutors have a couple of Marines who were granted immunity after admitting to killing some of these "civilians" They can provide the lurid headlines. Doesn't matter that what Mendoza claims doesn't begin to match with the charges, doesn't matter that it's all hearsay. Doesn't matter if there was idle chit-chat about how a war should be run months later. No, the lurid headlines will stick in enough minds.....or at least that is the prosecution's hope, it seems.

[xzins]

I want to know how he knew there were just women and children in the room. I want him to say he went into the room to check without firing.

In the middle of a firefight he walked into an unknown room unannounced. Not flippin’ likely. He’s lying.

Tatum should simply say, “He did not say there are ‘women and children’ and he should say, ‘I didn’t reply “shoot ‘em”.’ if that did not happen.

If he did say something similar, he should clarify, “Mendoza was just guessing, because he didn’t walk into that room. He didn’t take a head count. He didn’t count noses. He was basing what he knew simply on SOUND. PLUS, he had no idea if they were armed, BECAUSE other women and children had fired or been human IEDs. The rules called for us to clear a room. Period. And I wanted to make it home. But not in a body bag for some stupid mistake of not clearing a room.”

[Eagles6]

Yeah, this is the first time we have heard this and I don’t believe it. ‘Course we don’t know if Mendoza is lying or if the AP is lying about Mendoza’s testimony.

[pissant]

Well said.

[freema]

We also don’t know how smart Mendoza is. Methinks he’s not an idjit ; ) This is far from over. Let’s not crucify him.

PING to Post #30.

[Girlene]

Good points about Mendoza's testimony. Who knows how the whole exchange went down in the hearing.

xzins, Re. your comments ...Tatum should simply say, “He did not say there are ‘women and children’ and he should say, ‘I didn’t reply “shoot ‘em”.’ if that did not happen. Tatum will have his chance at the end of the hearing with a statement. In between, these quotes remain. Another point from this report was this:

According to a report by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service dated May 17, 2006, Tatum told investigators that he shot women and children because "women and kids can hurt you too." He went on to say he later felt remorseful about the incident.

The report describes an interview with Tatum, but it was not signed by the Marine.

Sounds like more NCIS shennanigans that the prosecution is taking advantage of to try to convict Tatum. Would this report be one of those untaped, we write up what sounds good types? I am reminded of a sentence in Lt. Col. Ware's report from Justin Sharratt's hearing where he states

The practice of NCIS agents typing up complete statements then having a witness review can often lead to Special Agents "assisting" with language and coloring the intent of the witnesses.

[xzins]

It can also lead to lots of “typed up testimonies” lying around that “accidentally” get mixed up with the case file.

[freema]

Very good points, both of you. Girl, you know I loooove your brain!

[RedRover]

Don's back at Camp Pendleton!

Don Dinsmore is back to Camp Pendleton for the LCpl Tatum hearing!

Don was en route today and so he missed today's testimony but I filled him in. He's going to find the Tatum family, on what could rank as one of the worst days of their life, and give them support.

Don should be there through Friday so I hope we'll get better info than can be had through the media. As usual, there will be things better left unposted, so people can also get on my e-mail distribution list by e-mailing me at WarChronicle@Verizon.net.

[Girlene]

WOO-HOO! Don’s on the job! He’s a good man to give the Tatum family some much deserved support. Don’s reporting should be a breath of fresh air, hopefully providing more of the total picture.

[freema]

Don Dinsmore is back to Camp Pendleton for the LCpl Tatum hearing!

[Chickenhawk Warmonger]

OK Red - I’m trying not to jump headfirst with my emotions but Mendoza’s testimony (as reported) just doesn’t add up. According to previous reports grenades were tossed into the rooms in both houses before firing. How in the world could Mendoza have known BEFORE shots were fired in the houses that it was only women and children?

As far as DelaCruz’ testimony...How does a conversation in January 2006 relate to the events of November 19, 2005?

And 24 markings? Maybe Tatum was a Jeff Gordon fan.

Something stinks here and it’s not my husband’s socks...

Geez Louise I’ve got a headache... Any news from testimony during defense questioning?

[jwalsh07]

All ROE are subjective. A marine taking fire has a different perspective on the ROE than a JAG reading about it 3 years later. The marine taking fire has the right and the duty to fight back. Sadly, sometimes the innocent get killed. Somebody should tell the Colonel to take his paper card with the ROE on it and stick it where the sun don't shine. It's tough to get out the reading glasses when IED's and AK rounds are disturbing the peace.

Why is the MArine Corps intent on criminalizing mistakes in battle?

[pinkpanther111]

Yes indeed...

We certainly are not getting the total picture now!

[Girlene]

Those “typed up testimonies” are not only part of the case file, they were offered as evidence during the hearing today. They weren’t signed by Tatum. They could have said anything.

I’ve noticed more and more references to NCIS’ habit of not taping “interviews” in media reporting on these cases - And that the “interview reports” are questionable since there’s no proof. Also there have been instances where those statements have later been denied by the interviewee. NCIS is getting a reputation.

[RedRover]

Stand by for ping! A new piece by Nat Helms has just been posted here.

[jazusamo]

All very good points, Chaplin. Hopefully the IO can understand.