Email post (#2) by H. Hamilton – A report written by a concerned CA citizen attending the Board of Inquiry for LtCol Jeffrey Chessani. Posted on 12/11/2009 12:30:25 PM PST by Gene Eric
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“Grunt Civilian” Gives Account of LtCol. Chessani's many Character Witnesses
December 10, 2009
Email post (#2) by H. Hamilton – A report written by a concerned CA citizen attending the Board of Inquiry for LtCol Jeffrey Chessani.
IF the Board of Inquiry doesn't find Lt Col. Chessani INNOCENT of all charges, accusations, and wrong doing, it won't be the fault of Thomas More Law Center! Lead by Col. Shelburne and Robert Muse, this is one of the BEST, nothing gets by, DEFENSE TEAMS this court observer has ever witnessed.
A finding other than "DROP THESE RIDICULOUS CHARGES BECAUSE CHESSANI IS ACTUALLY SUPERMAN!" would be because the Board is deaf, dumb, and blind! (or the fix is in...)
As I entered the court room, late, a phone caller was giving information on how he would figure out Chessani's retirement based on his 22 years, 3 months service with regards to the Board's decision of IF he had to retire, and IF as a LtColonel or a Major. (Considering Chessani was a fast tracked officer who would have been at least a full Colonel by now, punishment has already been instituted and THAT is a travesty! Anything lower is double indemnity if you ask me...)
Today may have been the easiest day for the Defense... One after another, a parade of long term Marine co-officers and friends, even his pastor, as character witnesses, barraged the Board and prosecution with a long list of detailed compliments to the great Lt. Colonel...
Colonel Paul Greg Allen (ret.), a formidable man with a 30 year 8 mos. career, said Chessani was a "Natural leader on one of the most demanding tours (both Battles of Fallujah) and I was excited to get him there..." Chessani is, "Proactive... Quality exceptionally high... Never an over reaction as a commander..." When asked if there was a noticable difference when Chessani was relieved of duty -- "There was never a grievance, his work product was no different..." (And something like) lesser men sacrifice their integrity -- Not Lt. Col Chessani! (I couldn't write fast enough!) "Highest moral integrity -- Absolute integrity!" Allen had seen "many opportunities to stumble and fall and he (Chessani) has never done that." "Command confidence under extreme conditions -- no stripping Marines of their dignity when chastised -- Top 1% or 2% of ALL Marines I've served with -- ONE OF A HANDFUL OF OFFICERS I'D TRUST IN COMBAT WITH MY ONLY SON, MY WIFE'S LIFE, AND MY OWN..." (Yeah, WOW!!!)
Pastor Ernest Ferdinand (Marcus?) Merritt, an exceptional man with an exceptionally more than pleasant disposition, who had coincidently served in the USMC... Admittedly, I was spellbound... I took no notes -- I was also watching the Board Members to see IF they had any reaction, any signs of humanity, with all of the BEAUTIFUL things said so vividly about the Chessani Family, the devotion, the close friendship of their wives and kids, Mrs. Chessani's Sunday School teaching, the Congregation always giving the most votes to Jeffrey Chessani for the top committees which Jeffrey turned down 3 years ago so as not to blemish the Congregation -- at the Congregation's insistence, he has since accepted the 2 posts... A Man For All Seasons...
Sgt. Maj. William Shaw -- BAM! (They had to slow him down at one point for the court stenographer's sake! Mine too!!) 20 years active duty and a ton of duty including amphibious assault... GREAT ENERGY! Spoke to Chessani's always being out amongst the men, never micro-managing, "Very Patient like a father... ALWAYS open and willing to talk about concerns..." LtCol. Chessani was one of the top 2 commanders out of all 20 he'd ever worked with... "Great character, Moral compass, Warrior, Trainer..." When asked if he'd ever want to serve under the LtCol. again? "I WOULD SEEK IT OUT!"
Lt. Col. Carla Maureen(?) Jessup, now Provost Marshall in K. Bay, HI... A WOMAN OF GREAT SUBSTANCE! Anti-terrorist, Battalion Commander, Perris Island, a whole bunch of stuff!! She's known the LtCol. and his family for almost 25 years BECAUSE THE CHESSANI'S ALWAYS HAD THE NON-MARRIEDS OVER TO THEIR HOUSE FOR MEALS AND FOR CERTAIN, CHRISTMAS!! "Most honest leader of Marines... Genuinely cares for the people around him... HE ALWAYS DOES THE RIGHT THING 'CAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO..." Has never known him to or would never expect him to ignore ANY kind of problem..." "He cares for everybody the same... MY FAITH HAS BECOME STRONGER BECAUSE OF HIM... I BELIEVE JEFF HAS VALIANTLY SERVED THE CORPS AND HIS MARINES."
Colonel B. Byrne: (After A 40 minute break, I entered late... Then it was hard to keep up, I'm no pro...) Byrne was in charge of fitness reports of Majors, (GUESS WHO WAS AND STILL HOLDS THE #1 PLACE of ALL Majors reviewed?! Yup, Chessani!) RE 1st and 2nd Fallujah fights -- "Exceptional!" He described a number of circumstances in a very large battlespace that included Fallujah, Abu Ghraib, Zadon, etc. where information had to be communicated to his Bravo Command, 4 Marines killed in complex attack ambush... (not unlike Haditha...) The Battle for Fallujah occurred within 10 days of Chessani's arrival, no question he knew what to do, had experienced a child being killed in a house and he knew to report up the command, Regimental Command would make the decision to investigate, if not, you move forward... As to Military Character, "Jeff is an exceptional officer." As to Personal Character, "Jeff has a personal sense of honor that motivates him." (It is important to note that Chessani is accussed of never having "investigated" the civilian deaths in Haditha... RIDICULOUS!) After Byrne had explicitly said that Reg Command makes the decision to investigate after the reports are "pushed up and pushed down," General Craparata asked the absurd -- "But don't you think that it is your duty to investigate every civilian death?" Answer: NO! NOT IF IT IS A BONAFIDE COMBAT ACTION and you CAN'T investigate IF YOU'RE IN THE FIGHT! (AS IN HADITHA!!) Then Byrne added something very poignant, "And if one of YOUR Marines is thought to be culpable, YOU MAY NOT INVESTIGATE IT YOURSELF! (obvious reasons -- but that's exactly what the Board wanted!)
Since there was a long break before General Toolan's testimony and my children needed me, I had to drop the ball................. We'll find out tomorrow -- AND TOMORROW IS (ARE?) CLOSING ARGUMENTS!!
IF ANYONE IS WONDERING IF THEIR DONATION TO THOMAS MORE LAW CENTER ON BEHALF OF LT.COL.CHESSANI WAS WORTH IT -- IT'S THE BEST MONEY YOU EVER SPENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chessani list ping
Ping!
Thanks for the post and ping, Gene.
Eric needs an friendly email:
double indemnity jeopardy
I find it interesting that Lt. Col. Chessani’s wife is concerned that he be allowed to retire with some dignity. IMO, that fear should be unfounded. On the other hand, ALL THOSE who have and are standing against this man are not fit to wear the Uniform (where applicable), aren’t fit to judge the actions of combat Marines (where applicable). In fact, in my most humble opinion, they are NOT FIT to stand in this country before the Flag of the United States of America and have the ba!!$ to call themselves CITIZENS. They be the ones TOTALLY BEREFT of dignity and honor! (SPIT)
The "fix" has been in from the beginning. All we will find out now is who, if anybody, currently in the upper ranks of the Marine Corps has any shame, integrity, or common decency at all. They have already handed the enemy a victory by taking Chessani off the field of battle. Now let's see if they truly are the weak little girls they appear to be (no offense to girls), and the traitorous losers they've been since they started this disgraceful "Haditha massacre" fiasco over three years ago.
And oh, by the way, pictured below is the Marine who was killed in the ambush at Haditha, LCpl Terrazas, and the two Marines who were wounded. The Marine Corps brass and the politically correct, panty-waist Pentagon have forgotten all about them but we must not.
Great update Gene. Thanks. Been following this one for what seems like years - donated once or twice.
If Chessani and the 3 Seals don’t get off with nothing negative in their records we all need to go ballistic [in writing] to the powers.
If we want to have men step up and defend this country we can’t treat them with greater distain than enemy combatants.
Damn Obama and those that run in his circle.
Prayerfully awaiting news. It is the work of the enemy of our souls that this man is sitting in a court room instead of out saving the lives of Marines. Now it’s the three Navy Seals. What a waste, what a travesty. This is no way to run a country. I have donated to Thomas Moore many times through this ordeal and will again now. Thanks for the reminder. Any chance the family will know the verdict before Christmas?
Thanks for the update.
(It is important to note that Chessani is accussed of never having "investigated" the civilian deaths in Haditha... RIDICULOUS!) After Byrne had explicitly said that Reg Command makes the decision to investigate after the reports are "pushed up and pushed down," General Craparata asked the absurd -- "But don't you think that it is your duty to investigate every civilian death?" Answer: NO! NOT IF IT IS A BONAFIDE COMBAT ACTION and you CAN'T investigate IF YOU'RE IN THE FIGHT! (AS IN HADITHA!!) Then Byrne added something very poignant, "And if one of YOUR Marines is thought to be culpable, YOU MAY NOT INVESTIGATE IT YOURSELF! (obvious reasons -- but that's exactly what the Board wanted!)
There it is again, exactly what Bob Weimann has explained to us (See Sins of the General's Part 6: When Doctrine becomes Dogma).BG Craparotta is substituting dogma for doctrine, in an attempt to blur the truth about what should have guided Chessani's actions.
No Marine officer worth his salt will fall for Craparotta's twisted game. We are definitely going to find out what kind of stuff the two Colonels on that BOI are made of.
Amen! Craparotta has already telegraphed his finding and if he finds wrong doing on Chessani's part it only means the general was not truthful when saying he could set his personal opinion aside.
Thanks for this latest update. Hopefully the good Lord shall honor the many prayers that have gone up to HIM regarding this honorable Marine, and shall have the BOI drop the case at this point. No Marine can take all the damage this LtCol has taken for so long without walking away wounded, where he did nothing to deserve such treatment.
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