Posted on 09/05/2004 6:49:01 AM PDT by leadpenny
TIGER FORCE - Ex-officer may face justice for atrocities - Army lawyer calls for war-crime charge
By JOE MAHR, BLADE STAFF WRITER
Three decades after an Army platoon repeatedly executed unarmed civilians and prisoners in Vietnam, a military lawyer has recommended the unit's former commander be brought up on a war-crime charge. In what would be an unprecedented event, retired Maj. James Hawkins could face a military court-martial regarding his actions commanding a platoon known as Tiger Force that killed hundreds of unarmed men, women, and children 37 years ago, The Blade has learned.
As the scope of war crimes in Vietnam becomes a key question in the presidential election, the military lawyer recommended this spring that Army officials charge Mr. Hawkins, who led Tiger Force between July and November, 1967.
The recommendation came during a broader Army review of Tiger Force prompted by a four-part series in The Blade in October. The series revealed the platoon's seven-month rampage through Vietnam's Central Highlands in 1967.
(Excerpt) Read more at toledoblade.com ...
Looks like the "kerry defense" - yes, indeedy, there were atrocities committed in RVN - trying to come into play. Unreal that they dredge this up.
How interesting...Timing is everything.
So this is the article that is supposed to exonerate Kerry for his testimony before Congress.
Kerry's problem is that he claimed that war crimes were systematic, part and parcel of what soldiers did every day in Vietnam, and under government orders to do it.
It's my understanding that there's no statute of limitations on warcrimes and if I'm not mistaken there might be another confessed war criminal out there.
My brother, in Toledo, just alerted me to this article. I told him I was going to start a thread and that I thought I could predict the early comments. Thanks for supporting me.
BTW, Mr. Hawkins needs to get a list of everyone who is still alive and who were part of LBJ's administration and had anything to do with Vietnam. Robert Strange McNamara comes to mind first.
No, that would be much more eventful. It would go more like:
"Sorry for everything, I lied, I am a filthy , un-American Liar, I am dropping out of the campaign and turning it over Leiberman"
Army to interview witnesses of Vietnamese deaths
| ... The Blade of Toledo first reported in October that the Army's 101st Airborne Division Tiger Force killed civilians -- including women, children and elderly ... freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1078535/posts - 37k - Supplemental Result - |
Former Green Beret Tackles John F-in Kerry Again!
| ... and sent back to hospitals in "The World." Although You, Mr. Kerry, painted all of us Vietnam veterans with the yellow brush of My Lai and Tiger Force, most of ... www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1102180/posts - 37k - Supplemental Result - |
John "Ketchup" Kerry (P*ssed off VN Vet disagrees)
| ... sent back to hospitals in “The World.” Although You, Mr. Kerry, painted all of us Vietnam veterans with the yellow brush of My Lai and Tiger Force, most of ... freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1093501/posts - 54k - Supplemental Result - |
I don't remember any Tiger force in the central highlands. If I remember right the rock pile and Khe Sanh were in the central highlands. The HoBo woods is also there. I was around there back then but had little contack with anyone.
The Blade goes to bat for its guy.
On, Off, or grab it for a Media Shenanigans/Schadenfreude/PNMCH ping:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~anamusedspectator/
The Toledo Blade is as "left' as it can get. I live here and it's disgusting to read. I only take it because it's the only paper in town.
I was in the Highlands the entire year of 67 and did not hear of it either.
Did they kill them more than once? Or is this just badly worded?
When the series first ran last year I wrote a letter to the editor which they refused to print. My complaint was that in the entire series LBJ was never mentioned once. Nixon, and an implied cover up, was mentioned many times. I even had a phone conversations with one of the reporters. He was sympathetic but they still refused to run my letter.
My brother says the same thing - that it is a leftie paper. Of course, he still listens to milquetoast Mitch Albom on WJR also. (I know he's going to read this) Sorry Bro!
Funny you mentioned Leiberman. I thought he was the best man in the whole bunch. Doesn't have that Presidential appeal though.
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