FIRST HAND REPORT; MARINE UNDER INVESTIGATION

[lt.america]

Good Morning Everybody. > > The following is an email from my son regarding the NBC report (with > embedded reporter Kevin Sites), concerning the Marine who is being > investigated for "murdering" the insurgent in Fallaja. I will be sending his > mail to every news program's email I can find. I find it sickening that this > Kevin Sites is even allowed to be embedded with our Marines, as this isn't > the first report I've heard from him that took on a decidely unfriendly > tone. My son also gave me permission to release it to anyone that wants to > pass it on, as long as it remains unedited. > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > This is one story of many that people normally don't hear, and one that > everyone does. > > This is just one most don't hear: > A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently > filled with insurgents armed with Ak-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, > another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, > mister! Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!" He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of > his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured > man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split > second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and > the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside > rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles. The > result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the > deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives. > The Marines' remains are gathered by teary eyed > comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only > mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by > someone who hid behind a white flag. But no one hears these stories, except > those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who > loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares. > > This is the story everyone hears: > > A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently > filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, > another wailing in pain. The insugent can be heard saying, "Mister,mister! > Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!" He is badly wounded.Suddenly, he pulls from under > his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, > killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel > in the face. > The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The > young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One > lies on the floor in puddle of blood, another against the > wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the > background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!" > The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead. > > Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the > Marine is being held for commiting a war crime. Unlawful killing. > > And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for > protecting the life of his > brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief, tears streaming down > their face. Brother, should I have > been in your boots, i too would have done the same. > > For those of you who don't know, we Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, > Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think it > is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our > right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can > go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families.

> > For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and > choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say to you. > Get out of you recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle, leave > your family behind and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I have > walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us > alive. > > I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions > and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US > military, or any other. > > Sincerely, > > LCPL > USMC > > > > > > "For those who fight for it, freedom has a flavor the protected never know." > -- Written on a C-ration box lid at Khe Sanh, South Vietnam, 1968 > > "There will be nowhere left for the insurgents to hide.  We will fight them > until there are none of them left to fight."  U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid, > chief of U.S. Central Command > > MGySgt., USMC (Ret.) > Not as lean, > Not as mean, > But still a Marine. > >

[KSCITYBOY]

btt

[4everontheRight]

Here is what I would like to know...what was the mission of this unit? Were these men and women not told to go in there and kill insurgents (God I hate to use that word...they are terrorists!) or were they told to go in there and wound them and bring their poor pitiful bodies out to a medic???? I think the mission was kill! Sorry to those who disagree, but the Marines are over their saving my a$$ every second of every day and I am one damn glad and proud American!
My support is with this soldier and his family and his buddies 100 million percent!!!

[TexasTaysor]

I totally agree with you. My understanding is that another group of Marines had been there the day before and did the fighting, this group was there to "mop up", I take that to mean to clean up that area. When they entered the building this was what they found. I would guess they expected to find only dead there but to look for others who may have moved back in over night. What I don't understand was why any wounded were left there, but if Marines weren't close behind to move out the wounded the first fighting group can't take time to do that. Do we leave wounded terrorists behind to just die, or other terrorists to get them to maybe heal and fight another day, or do we send troops in to somehow "Mop up" and what exactly does that mean?

[4everontheRight]

"do we send troops in to somehow "Mop up" and what exactly does that mean?..........

Good question. To me, that means take out the trash!

I am not in this Marines boots nor the boots of his command so I do not second guess them in any way. I think they know what they are doing. 99% of us would have probably done the same as this Marine did. It is a lot easier for the Old Media to second guess this guy then acknowledge the fact that he more then likely saved not just the lives of other soldiers but the lives of their embedded reporters!

[hobson]

bump

[blackie]

Marine Hero ~ Bump!

Semper Fi!

[windchime]

Bump!

[68 grunt]

http://www.petitiononline.com/as123/petition.html

[Mr. Silverback]

BTTT

[SwatTeam]

Thanks for this post. I will make it more readable when I send it on to everybody. After reading it I am even angrier than I was when I first heard the MSM's story. I knew in my heart that young Marine had made a good judgement call. I sincerely hope and pray that he is heard my an impartial board and then given a medal for doing his duty. And may that embed have nightmares and bad luck the rest of his days.

[Yellow Rose of Texas]

It is to bad the reporter did not thank the Marines who's care he is in. Their bravery and training are keeping him alive, yet, he sends unexplained images out to the world.

This is so sad; It is the reporter's freedom that is at stake, as well as our own.

[FBD]

bump^

[yoe]

BUMP!

Great Tag line FBD!

Keep the petition going. (sign petition)

[Beckwith]

The "prisoners" were left unattended for a period of time.

I have seen theses insurgents described as prisoners in several posts on several threads.

Please freepers, stop referring to these people as prisoners. They were not prisoners of war. They were wounded insurgents.

Please also stop citing the Geneva Convention. "Geneva Convention rules only apply to nonsignatory parties if they observe them themselves.

We are not bound by the GC in this conflict. Any rules of engagement we choose can be applied - for example, as the terrorists have been caught driving Red Cross ambulances to ferry troops and munitions, we can destroy them when we see fit. The same applies to Mosques, schools, hospitals. We do not have to respect truce or surrender as the terrorists have used the same to ambush our troops. Nor do we have to care for the wounded or dead as both have been misused by the terrorists.

The Geneva Conventions are not a suicide pact. At this point, the only laws that constrain us are our own."

(Note: from a posting on another thread.)

[huac]

I agree. Hence, the quotes. I'd take it a step further. Insurgents? How about terrorists?