[Banjoguy]

..seems we lost a good one here. Ex squad Ldr Sgt Coburn should be taken to task for his version of what happened..he really did not see anything.

[jocon307]

A complete disgrace, this entire episode. The leftist media continues its quest to destroy our military and the quislings in the Pentagon enable them.

At least this man's mom will be happy to have him home. She fought like hell for her son's honor.

And, since when does the Wash Times require registration?

[Jet Jaguar]

..seems we lost a good one here.

Agreed.

[CrawDaddyCA]

Second Lt. Ilario Pantano announced his resignation from the Marine Corps yesterday...

America and the Corps lost a true WARRIOR and leader of men.

[prairiebreeze]

Bound to happen when we insist our guys fight a PC war.

It's America's loss and I thank this Marine for his service.

[USMCVet]

I disagree.

Sgt Coburn was correct in reporting what he believed happened. The Lieutenant in question emptied two magazines into the suspected insurgents and then left a sign on them - both indications of this Lieutenant's instability and potential wrongdoing.

Since when do you need to change magazines for a total of 60 shots when you are being "threatened" by two unarmed men? Two to four aimed shots would have done the trick just fine.

Since when do you empty your weapon in an area where you believe there may be additional enemy combatants nearby? Why didn't the Lieutenant use his NCOs to deal with the suspected insurgents?

Lt. Patano had a screw loose and did not serve as good example for his troops or for us.

Don't bother with the "you can't know because you weren't there" junk: I have served in combat and for a lot longer than Lt. Patano.

[BillyCrockett]

We have indeed lost a good Marine here. However, considering what he's gone through, I'd say he's more than entitled to getting on with his life. I hope the anti-American MSM and the liberal lefties, eager to tell his story, shower him with money so deep he needs a truck to haul it all to the bank!

[evad]

Ahhh...the MSM.

Destroying our military...one at a time.

If this keeps up we'll be just like the french.

[lionheart 247365]

I can just see the recruiters explaining this to a prospective recruit now .. .. ..

[PGalt]

Thanks Lt. Patano for battling foreign enemies.
Domestic enemies are much harder to defeat.

[Malesherbes]

The man is a patriot. It's the Marines' loss.

[Non-Sequitur]

How can he just resign? I thought that there was a stop-loss on that froze discharges. What does this say to all the enlisted that have reached the end of their enlistments but can't get out?

[OldFriend]

What a sad commentary. There really are no words to express our disappointment in the very fact that this case was ever brought against this hero.

[R. Scott]

I can’t blame the Lieutenant.
About 25 years ago we had a good Buck Sargent (E-5) on the list to make Staff. He was knowledgeable, a good leader and very straight-laced. He showed positive on a drug test and was busted to PFC. His attitude immediately went to hell. When he was near his discharge date a letter came down saying his drug test was a false positive. I was ordered to talk him into reenlisting. When I mentioned the bust I was told he would be put on the top of the list for promotion to Specialist E-4. I tried – I really did. For about 2 or 3 minutes.
Too often our military’s efforts to make Congress happy result in good people leaving. In this case the drug test used was about 90% accurate – meaning that 1 in 10 results would be false. Drug users might skate, and those who didn’t use would be nailed.
But we Had to DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING! about illegal drug abuse.

[Reconray]

It's a good thing for him that he was an officer and not an enlisted man...

[Parmy]

bump

[ken21]

those in charge should be embarrassed for believing coburn in the first place. their lapse of judgement cost the marines an excellent officer.

[infocats]

Second Lt. Ilario Pantano announced his resignation from the Marine Corps yesterday, a week after he was cleared of charges of murdering two Iraqi insurgents in the "triangle of death" south of Baghdad.

Can't say I blame him. I don't know whether this is just an American phenomenon or part of the human condition...but we seem to love putting people on a pedestal...and then cheering when they fall.

Keep the faith Lt. Pantano!