Marines standing behind Wuterich in his Connecticut hometown

Associated Press via Newsday ^ | August 28, 2007 | PAT EATON-ROBB

[RedRover]

Ronald Perry and Bill Hesse have never met Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, but they consider him a brother.

They will be watching with interest as Wuterich, a native of this small New England town, goes before a military judge in California this week charged with the unpremeditated murder of 18 Iraqi civilians...in the village of Haditha.

The two Vietnam-era Marines have donated to Wuterich's defense fund and helped convince the city's Marine Corps League to do the same.

Like many this small central Connecticut city, Perry and Hesse view Wuterich not as a killer, but as a patriot and hometown hero, caught in the political turmoil of an unpopular war.

"He was in charge of a group of men, Marines, and it was his job to protect them," said Perry, sitting in his office above the Marine Corps League's thrift shop downtown. "As the sergeant in charge, he did, I think, what he was supposed to do. I've been in situations relatively close to that in Vietnam, and we did the exact same thing."

< snip >

Jim Bancroft, with the pro-war group Gathering of Eagles, said the group approached Wuterich's parents about organizing a rally or fundraiser and were instead directed to a Web site to donate money.

"They are very private people," he said. "When push comes to shove, people do support his actions....We all regret the deaths of innocent civilians, but there is no proof that anyone meant to kill any civilians."

< snip >

Hesse said he believes Frank Wuterich is being made a scapegoat, and he said that is the real crime.

"You can hate the president or Congress, and love this country," he said. "You can hate war, and love a Marine."

On the Net: www.frankwuterich.com

[RedRover]

The hearing starts on Thursday. We'll have our usual "live thread" and exclusive dispatches from Pendleton.

Please consider helping the Wuterich family with a donation for their legal expenses, if you can.

[RedRover]

[pissant]

Great advice!!

[jazusamo]

Please consider helping the Wuterich family with a donation for their legal expenses, if you can.

Big BUMP!

If you would like to help with the civilian lawyer’s legal fees for the
Haditha Marines you can do so by going to these sites.

Defend Our Marines

Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt

SSgt. Frank Wuterich

Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani

NewsMax Fund Drive

[Snickersnee]

The town in question is MERIDEN, also where Snickersnee lives. The Marine in question went to the same HS as the 3 little Snicks, (all of whom have been to Iraq and/or Afghanistan by now, BTW!) Meriden is a blue-collar town between Hartford and New Haven on I-91.

[athelass]

Thanks for keeping us up on everything RedRover. It’s great to see support for this family. Holding them in prayer.

[lilycicero]

Tell your 3 little Snicks thank you for their brave service.

[lilycicero]

This Thursday?

Thanks for the ping of local support!

[brityank]

Thanks, Red. Will be watching.

[Marine_Uncle]

Any fully sane person hates war. We rationalize because it is standard issue based on our fallen state with God.
This Marine Lord willing is going to meet the same destiny as the other members of his patrol. Dropped charges.
He served with honor and bravery and will be vindicated.
For many years in the background of my mind I have thought how so many people otherwise perhaps fine folk, can sit back and place judgement upon our military folk who often have to put their hides out each day and attempt to survive brutal combat, thinking they are brutal by nature of something.
If it where up to me, I would have every teenager boys and girls have to go through Marine Corps. basic training.
Let them pass in review in the graduation ceremonies, with pride and accomplishment in their hearts.
Then let them go forth in their choosen path in life realizeing these Marines are trained for a purpose, and that is to fully obey and carry out within the ROE whatever is required to win a given conflict between them and their enemy.
With all the frigen news showing anyone that does not have their heads in the sand, how brutal and bestial so many of the Arabs in Iraq and elsewhere conduct themselves, killing their own people(s), how could anyone with a sane mind not consider just how tough these Marines and Soldiers have it in these two battle grounds.
These trials are frigen political charades and nothing more.
This sargeant had better have his good name clear in the near future. He did what he had to do to keep his patrol alive and functional within the battle that occured.
With that being said. I have to hit the sack. Have a great upcoming day.

[smoothsailing]

"He was in charge of a group of men, Marines, and it was his job to protect them," said Perry,

God Bless Frank Wuterich, we all must stand for him now. To do less, is to ignore the reason we are free.

You go Rover, a lot of us here have your back.

G'Night Brother.

[ChildOfThe60s]

To be accurate, it should be referred to as an “unpopular war with liberals”. Take them out of the mix and the situation is very much reversed.

[stylin19a]

Jim Bancroft, with the pro-war group Gathering of Eagles

pro war ? how about pro-freedom ?

[freema]

Ping

[xzins]

can sit back and place judgement upon our military folk who often have to put their hides out each day and attempt to survive brutal combat, thinking they are brutal by nature of something

That is the heart of this, Uncle; you've nailed it dead center.

The truth is that even a combat veteran cannot know what was happening in that town on that day. How much less can a civilian, or the media, or military desk jockeys have any idea.

The events, the dangers, the emotions, and the decisions of that day were entrusted into the hands of this young leader, SSG Wuterich. The attempt to recreate that years later is an affront, because it can never encompass everything that needs to be factored in. For example, I've not seen one report yet that attempted to focus on the daylong battle that was going on all around this one little squad of SSG Wutterich. They paint this as if his action was the only action ongoing that day. But that entire company and battalion was engaged. By the media giving the impression that this house-clearing was all that was happening, the "judges in armchairs" are deceived into thinking this was an isolated incident. It is an ommission of ubsurd proportions; it would be like focusing on one squad on D-Day and pretending nothing else was going on around them that had any impact on them.

May the good Lord help the leaders: SSG Wutterich, LTC Chessani, Cpt McConnell, and the others. They were called to make split second decisions as part of a larger operation and purpose, and very few media outlets are allowing that larger operation and purpose to be seen.

[pissant]

Well stated.

[xzins]

Many outlets paint this as if this squad were driving through “Walden Glenn Townhouses” and kids were playing on the playgrounds, ice cream trucks were ringing their bells, families were strolling with each other and pets.

Then there was this explosion and an unfortunate Marine was killed, (and we support our Marines — drat it, what awful luck for that family.)

Enraged by that “bad luck,” SSG Wutterich led crazed, glaze-eyed killers into the homes of kids playing video games, moms making meals, students driving home from school, and grandpapa’s leaning on canes.

They killed them all.

This is Walter Cronkite, and that’s the way it was.

[Marine_Uncle]

"It is an ommission of ubsurd proportions; it would be like focusing on one squad on D-Day and pretending nothing else was going on around them that had any impact on them."
Amen to all your comments on this issue. Hopefully, yet again, general Mattis shall see there simply are no grounds for a court martial nor any lesser charges in this case, and all charges should be dropped.

[xzins]

absurd

not

ubsurd

(I think I’m awake now.:>)

[Marine_Uncle]

Correction noted, but not required.