Posted on 12/17/2004 5:55:45 PM PST by Former Military Chick
PHILADELPHIA - Police have arrested a soldier they say had his cousin shoot him so he wouldn't have to return to Iraq.
Army Spc. Marquise J. Roberts, of Hinesville, Ga., suffered a minor wound Tuesday to his left leg from a .22-caliber pistol, police said. He was treated at a hospital, then arrested after he and his cousin allegedly admitted making up a story about the shooting.
After giving differing accounts of the incident, "they just broke down and confessed that they concocted the whole story so he didn't have to go back to the war," Philadelphia police Lt. James Clark said Thursday.
Police charged Roberts with filing a false report and charged his cousin, Ronald Fuller, with aggravated assault and other charges.
Roberts, who was visiting family in Philadelphia, initially claimed he was shot during an attempted robbery, but Fuller had said the incident occurred at another location during an argument, according to Clark.
Roberts, 23, was on a two-week leave from the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, which led the assault on Baghdad in 2003. He is scheduled to return to Iraq within the next few months. The division has been home since the summer of 2003.
Police said Roberts, a supply specialist who had spent seven months in Iraq, was distraught about having to return to combat duty and wanted to stay with his family.
Lt. Col. Cliff Kent, a 3rd Infantry spokesman, said Roberts had been scheduled to return this week to Fort Stewart, Ga.
Roberts could face military discipline if the charges prove true, Kent said, but the civilian case probably would proceed first.
This is all Bush's fault! :)
You don't want to know what I really think.
How about coward, lame, pathetic, sorry excuse for a US soldier who swore an oath!
Now Chris, we all know you are a man of words, don't hold back now!
Damn shame he didn't go for a head shot.
This stuff never happened in the revolutionary war, the war of 1812, the civil war, the Mexican war, WWI, WWII, the Korean war, the Viet Nam war, Desert storm. Or any other war I might have forgotten. 24/7 news sometimes gets real old.
If he had been brave enough to have his buddy shoot him in the crotch, he might have gotten away with this, LOL!
Though, "bravery" obviously isn't in this guy's vocabulary.
Make him pay back his Enlistment Bonus!
Too bad cuz didn't aim a bit higher. We don't need this guy protecting the US and freedom.
Has the "victim" contacted Senator John Kerry (d-Mass) on the requirements for a Purple Heart? With valor??
IMHO, the military should do the job properly for him -- firing squad...in front of his entire assembled unit.
Our Iraq warriors probably don't need somebody that stupid working beside them.
Are you serious? I've heard of this happening before.
There was a book out not too long ago about this happening in WWI. The guys were taken out and shot in front of the other soldiers.
Was a 1SG in a training Co (77F) when Desert Shield started. We were graduating whole classes to Saudi. Had one kid take a whole bottle of Tylenol. Read him his Article 15 in ICU during CO's traditional visit to hospitalized soldiers. Head Nurse, a black female Major stopped me on the way out and shook my hand. Shipped his butt 1 week later. Left myself the next week (volunteered).
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