Posted on 11/23/2006 3:12:54 PM PST by RedRover
Darryl Sharratt often breaks into tears when trying to start sentences that include the word "Haditha."..."I love my son. He's my hero," Theresa Sharratt says calmly. "He's not what they're portraying him as. I can't believe that this is happening to us. To him."
The Sharratts have remained silent until now because they did not know what to say....They have privately fumed about politicians -- such as Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) -- who have publicly stated that their son was part of a brutal, vengeful slaughter. And they are livid that no one in the Marine Corps has stepped forward to defend their son.
"He's very confident he did nothing wrong, and we believe him," Theresa Sharratt said in a recent interview in the family home in Canonsburg, Pa., which is south of Pittsburgh. Her husband wiped his eyes and added: "He felt he was doing his job. And, now, the Marine Corps has betrayed these guys. All of them."
Marine Corps officials have declined to comment about the case, as a nine-month investigation rests in the hands of prosecutors who have not yet decided on charges.
In [an]...account, recently obtained by The Washington Post...Marines in the squad reported seeing, hearing and feeling gunshots flying over their heads in short bursts immediately before they entered the houses. The scenes inside, according to the account, were chaotic, as Marines threw fragmentation grenades and then fired shots through the dust and smoke.
One Marine...said that no one overreacted to the death of their friend, Cpl. Miguel "TJ" Terrazas, and that the troops focused on the mission. Answering written questions under the condition of anonymity, the Marine said no one seemed to be out for revenge. Instead, he said, the men wanted to make sure comrades came out from the ambush alive.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Wonder if you boys know Canonsburg. Is that in Murtha's district?
Sgt. Wuterich's version of events, as told by his lawyer, sounds reasonable and true.
Kinda funny donchathink, the enemy slaughtered 161 civilians today and no outrage from the msm. No investigations by reporters from time magazine. Just wish these rags were printed on non-glossy, absorbent paper more appropriate for the best use.
Thanks for posting this, Red. It's the first article I've seen in a while on the Haditha Marines and I've been looking.
The article says the decision whether to bring charges is up to the prosecuters but in previous articles it has been stated the commander of the First Expeditionary Force who is now Lt. Gen. Mattis will make the decision. I don't know which is correct.
Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving and any info I find on this I will relay to you. Keep me on that ping list. :-)
Now they worry that he is caught up in a political storm.
Yes, that is exactly what it is.
But Darryl Sharratt says America has already convicted his son and the other Marines...
No, America has done no such thing. One politician and his komrades in the enemedia are the only ones that have done that.
I fear for a country that trains its men to kill, sends them into battle to do just that and then punishes them for doing it. If we aren't willing to do what is necessary then we aren't going to win the war.
President Bush, Marine Commandant, SHAME ON YOU ALL! Free our Marines NOW!
Yes, it was a Thanksgiving that just couldn't be beat. Lots to be thankful for. Let's hope the pings bring good news for the brave Marines and their families.
No they haven't. Most Americans are waiting to see what the prosecutors come up with, and are withholding judgment pro or con until after a full investigation.
The allegations in Haditha are certainly quite serious - the execution of unarmed civilians. Let the JAGs do their jobs, and then we'll know what to think. If the soldiers did what was alleged, hang 'em out to dry - but only if the evidence shows they did as they alleged.
The issue isn't "killing people in battle." The alleged misdeeds in Haditha were the execution of unarmed noncombatant civilians.
Terry Pennington (father of a Pendleton 8 Marine) believes our government wants convictions just to please the Iraqis.
As you say, if the Iraqi gov't won't move in force against the lawless militias, what the heck are we doing to our own men and women who are following ROE?
All the "allegations" have been made by John Murtha and Iraqi sources. You can't truly be taking these "allegations" on face value. If you are, you're doing our men and women in uniform a grave disservice.
"The issue isn't "killing people in battle." The alleged misdeeds in Haditha were the execution of unarmed noncombatant civilians."
I repeat: If we insist on being lace-cuff-dainty in fighting this war, the enemy has all the advantage, because he's not fussy about who he kills.
In WWII we killed millions of "innocent" civilians. That was before political correctness. We also won that war on both fronts. If we had demuured from killing "innocent" civilians we would certainly have lost the war and you and I would be Sig-Heiling our way to the labor camps.
These "lace-cuff dainties" are what keep our servicemen soldiers, and not terrorists. Ask a soldier about targeting civilians - they will agree that it is unconscionable.
And the NCIS has raised questions regarding those accounts. The self-serving statements of the accused carry little weight.
Please add me to your Haditha ping list.
God bless you.
"These "lace-cuff dainties" are what keep our servicemen soldiers, and not terrorists. Ask a soldier about targeting civilians - they will agree that it is unconscionable."
Sir, our soldiers are not trained to target civilians. The enemy is. Don't you get it yet?
Good to see you, Justa! Hope your day with our heroes was glorious. You're right that the enemedia, with their airs of superiority to God and country, do not speak for America. And as for Gibbering Jack Murtha, don't get me started.
Are you confusing Haditha with Hamdaniya? No charges have been brought against the Haditha Marines so I don't know what you're talking about.
John Murtha proclaimed these Marines guilty back in May. For six months, they and their families have suffered terribly--caught up in a politically motivated smear. If you think we should just sit back and let Murtha and the MSM go unchallenged, you couldn't be more wrong.
You're in, Bear! Prayers up that there'll be good news to report.
So Jude is just like an Islamofascist. Makes it kind of hard to find common ground for a conversation!
"Read Jude's smug tagline if you haven't already: "I will oppose the sword if it's not wielded well, because my enemies are men like me".
So Jude is just like an Islamofascist. Makes it kind of hard to find common ground for a conversation!"
Y'know. I was just thinking "What if I'm arguing with the enemy? He seems awfully contents with our Marines being shamed before the whole world on the say-so of some Arab punk."
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