LTC Al West Responds to FR Article

Personal Correspondence | 13 November 2003 | Jeff Head

[all_mighty_dollar]

As an Army Enlisted Man I demand that Ltc West be promoted for saving the lives of American Enlisted personnel.

Listening to his story being discussed on KSFO radio this morning by Lee Rodgers and Melanie Morgan.

Rathen than harassing Ltc West, President Bush should purge the JAG section of the military.

Maybe it's time JAG officers pull tours as door gunners and tank drivers before retiring to cushy offices in DC.

[Jeff Head]

I corresponded with LTC West yesterday morning. He is in Tikrit at the 4th Inf. Division HQ where the article 32 is being held.

At this point he just wants to come home honorably and with his full retirement. He believes the Marine Lt. Colonel (Ret.) who is representing him will get him there...and so do I.

Here is a part of the email he sent:

Hearing starts for sure tomorrow and should wrap up on Weds. Then it is just a matter of awaiting final resolution. Please keep up the prayers and God has this under His hand.

Will prayerfully see the shores of America soon! My lawyer LTC Neal Puckett (USMC, Ret) is not leaving without me.

I'll be back in touch with him tomorrow and will copy you all then or the next day on what he has to say.

[Grampa Dave]

Keep us posted, and please let him know that a large chunk of Americans are behind him.

[Jeff Head]

See my post number 242 on this thread for an update.

[Jeff Head]

Roger, wilco, bro.

Continued prayers and effort for LTC Allen West.

[Fred Mertz]

Thanks for the update, Jeff. I'll add a few prayers for LTC West and his family.

[SAMWolf]

Please keep up the prayers and God has this under His hand.

Will do, thanks for the update Jeff

[Jeff Head]

You are both welcome...and thanks for the continued prayers for this fine officer.

[snopercod]

Thanks and bump.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

If Michael Spann had done the same thing, he might be alive today.

[Diver Dave]

Thanks for the update.

Prayer bump.

[calvin sun]

I remember an episode from "Gomer Pyle USMC" (do I ever feel old now). In it, Gomer and his peers were responsible for training guard dogs. Well, at inspection time (with senior military officials present), Gomer and his peers had to demonstrate what they had taught the dogs. All of them displayed the required aggressiveness. But, Gomer's dog was docile and friendly. Sarge of course was furious at Gomer for making the dog this way. But then the senior officer said, "?Private? Pyle, you are to be commended. This dog would never have been able to function in a war situation. Thank you for identifying this problem now, rather than in a war situation."

Do you think that would ever happen in real life?

[mystery-ak]

Yes, keep us updated. Mike is on his way back to Iraq as I type...he was very much interested in this story.

[MileHi]

Thanks for the update, Jeff.

FReegards, sir.

[4CJ]

I'll be back in touch with him tomorrow and will copy you all then or the next day on what he has to say.

I'll keep him in my prayers - he deserves much better than this treatment.

[ForGod'sSake]

Thanks for the update. Will be interesting to see what the army does with this.

FGS

[Libertina]

Nice work, Jeff!

[Travis McGee]

You can bet the results of this hearing are going to have huge consequences at the troop level.

[Jeff Head]

See my post HERE on this other thread where his pretrial article 32 hearing is being discussed.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks so much Libertina!

This issue is SO critical. Are we going to fight this war, or are we going to play patty-cake with our avowed enemies?

Don't get me wrong, I do not condone atrocities...which I view as needless killing, butchery and thugary for their own sakes. In my world, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not atrocities. They were horrible, terrible decisions that had to be made to win the war and preserve more life.

LTC West's actions and decisions were on par with that IMHO, and should not be condemmed. He should be extolled and the rules should re revisited for this type of action IMHO.

Sorry to get long winded...but this is one that strikes way down to the core IMHO.