Posted on 10/01/2009 7:50:44 PM PDT by Saije
Before soldiers leave on missions in Iraq or Afghanistan, they often are ordered to do everything in their power to bring their buddies back. "Leave no man behind" is the motto.
But does that military ethos apply to soldiers heading out for a rowdy weekend in the United States?
That question is being raised at an unusual court-martial on this massive Army base, where a young paratrooper who struggled to bring a combative, drunk soldier back to the barracks has been accused of causing his death.
Pfc. Luke Brown died after a night of drinking at the Ugly Stick Saloon in nearby Fayetteville, N.C., in July 2008. Sgt. Justin Boyle, whose lawyer has said he was only trying to help an incapacitated buddy, was charged with involuntary manslaughter after using a chokehold to subdue Brown.
The case...is providing a rare inside look at how unit solidarity and commanders' orders play out in noncombat situations.
During testimony this week, soldiers described a wild, hourlong chase through dense woods at night as Boyle and fellow soldiers in his intelligence unit tried to corral Brown, 27, a hulking soldier built like an NFL lineman.
They also talked about their regular Friday safety briefings, in which they said commanders order those bound for weekend revelry to "do whatever it takes" to bring everyone back to base. One soldier testified that commanders have told troops "to choke someone out if you have to."
And that, according to testimony, is exactly what Boyle did after an enraged Brown threw one soldier into a pickup truck, choked and dragged another under a chain-link fence, and punched a third in the face.
But military prosecutors have said Boyle went far beyond orders, continuing to choke Brown after he stopped resisting.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
It's an old, old refrain. Soldiers will get into trouble. I think some prosecutorial judgment is in order in this case.
/johnny
They were from an MI unit. Lovely.
Dammit! I blame the unnamed officers who told the men to “choke him out if necessary”.
The police gave up the chokehold for the sleeper hold over twenty years ago because of all the deaths it caused and lawsuits it led to. I’m dumbfounded anyone would use it nowadays
Stay home in the barracks.
But I’ve been in their situation that night as well.
Been the drinker, the helper and the Sgt of The Guard (Old days at Ft Bragg) at different times.
Sad case.
What reason on earth would these soldiers have for wanting to deliberately kill him? They were doing their best to help him keep out of trouble.
“What reason on earth would these soldiers have for wanting to deliberately kill him?”
The charge is involuntary manslaughter. The prosecution’s not alleging that it was intentional, more along the lines that it was criminally negligent or reckless behavior that lead to the Pfc’s death.
Thanks for the correction.
My heart goes out to those soldiers. They had no ill intent. They were just trying to help a friend.
Even Brown's family understands this. I hope they are all declared innocent. It's a shame that they have to endure this at all.. It should now be over.
I don’t think the dead man would have wanted his buddies charged.
I know crimes are against society, and need to be prosecuted to protect all of us.
But I don’t think society is in danger from this soldier.
Horrible command guidance. Probably delivered by a 25 yr old company commander that's been out of college for 4 years.
If a solider wants to go out and get drunk and do something stupid, that's his choice. They are all legal adults. Soldiers will, without question, get drunk and do stupid stuff and there isn't a damn thing anybody can do about it.
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