Posted on 07/02/2008 2:26:25 PM PDT by RedRover
A Marine sniper charged with two counts of manslaughter in the shooting deaths of two men he suspected of planting a roadside bomb in Iraq said Wednesday that he was doing his best to protect his troops.
"I did this action in defense of my Marines," Sgt. John "Johnny" Winnick II said at the conclusion of an investigative hearing that will help determine if the charges against him stand.
Winnick, 24, a veteran of four Iraq deployments, said he decided to shoot when he suspected the men were about to place a bomb near an intersection about a mile from a Marine outpost in the Anbar province.
Winnick said he had seen too many Marines killed and injured by roadside bombs and acted to protect his fellow service members.
"I didn't want them to end up like other Marines I have seen," the 2002 graduate of Del Mar's Winston High School said in a clear, calm voice.
Winnick faces as much as 40 years in prison if tried and convicted of the two counts of manslaughter, assault and failure to follow the military's rules of engagement.
Winnick headed a sniper team that was watching an intersection near an outpost on June 17, an area that had been his with two roadside bomb attacks. As he and his five men watched, two vehicles stopped and the men inside appeared to be preparing the surface of the roadway for a bomb, according to testimony during the two-day hearing.
A short time after those vehicles departed, an 18-wheel semi-truck stopped in the same spot. The driver got out, according to testimony, crawled under the truck and appeared to be preparing to place a jug on the roadway. At that point, Winnick fired at the man, killing him. His men also began firing at the truck and three other men who emerged from its two-seat cab.
As Winnick and another Marine from his squad ran up to the truck, a second man who had been shot was crawling toward a cell phone, prompting Winnick to fatally wound him with a shotgun blast, according to the undisputed testimony.
The two other men were evacuated by U.S. forces and treated for their wounds.
A subsequent search of the truck that appeared to be carrying soft drinks did not turn up any weapons or any bomb-making material. Testimony showed that the truck disappeared from the site within a day and was never fully searched.
Winnick was subsequently accused of failing to adhere to the military's rules of engagement when he decided to open fire.
Much of the hearing focused on confusion about those rules with Winnick's platoon commander, Lt. Dominic Corabi, testifying Monday that about a general confusion over their meaning.
Capt. Oliver Dreger, the intelligence officer for Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment that included Winnick's platoon, testified Wednesday that the failure to secure the truck for a full-scale search left a hole in the investigation.
"It would have been nice to know precisely what was in the back of that truck," Dreger said.
Dreger said roadside bombs in the area were considered a "significant threat" and that the types of jugs Winnick reported seeing were increasingly being employed by insurgents to transport chemical compounds for roadside bombs.
But Dreger also testified under questioning from the prosecutor, Capt. Nicholas Gannon, that he was disappointed in Winnick's decision to shoot rather than call for help.
"I would have preferred he call the (quick reaction force) as it didn't appear to be an immediate threat," he said.
The Marine officer presiding over the hearing, Capt. Jeffrey King, asked Dreger of his overall view of Winnick's actions.
"I think he was acting honestly out there and trying to do the right thing," Dreger responded.
King will write a report to Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, head of Marine Corps forces in the Middle East and the convening authority over the case, stating whether he believes there is sufficient evidence to warrant ordering Winnick to court-martial. King has the option of also stating whether he believes the evidence would likely result in a conviction if the case went to trial.
During his unsworn statement Wednesday morning, Winnick said he appreciated the legal review the shootings are undergoing.
"I understand it has to go forward in the name of justice, but sir, I am eager to get back in the fight and serve my country," he said.
No one is disputing what happened on the day of the shootings. The only thing at issue, they agreed, is whether Winnick's actions constituted a crime or was a lawful response to a perceived threat.
* snicker *
Thanks, Ma. I hadn’t connected him but now I remember him. He’s up in it alright, to his chin.
I haven’t seen the spring promotion list, but word was that Ewers was up for brigadier general. Don’t know what effect that’d have on his billet.
I haven’t seen the spring promotion list, but word was that Ewers was up for brigadier general. Don’t know what effect that’d have on his billet, but I assumed it would change.
Girlene, you do such fantastic legwork, how about coming over and taking a look at mine? At least hold my hand and “Pat” me on the head when they stick that big needle in my knee. I asked Red, but all he could do was *snicker*.
Shouldn’t Ewers get a battlefield promotion for testifying in or about the Chessani case? That alone should “net” ( A Navy term I learned from Lily) him his first star.
Well I think we can agree to disagree. I think no matter what he says (or doesn’t) he will be hated by someone. But fundamentally, whether people see it as such or not, I think the president saying that the process should play out and that these troops are innocent until proven guilty is a true and unpolitical message. The process SHOULD play out and they ARE innocent until proven guilty. I suppose where we disagree on is how the president’s statement is interpreted which ultimately leads back to whether he should say it at all. Just my thoughts.
That’s an honest, honorable position on your part. BTW, welcome to FR. Your posts prove you to be an asset.
Thank you. I always try to be respectful even if I disagree. It’s not always returned but I appreciate your compliment and your responses throughout our little debate.
Just to add my two cents—thanks for keeping it cordial.
Who knows. However, being at the center of UCI dismissal (without prejudice) may not bode well.
Going out on a limb here ( I still have one good one, thanks) but I’ll take that as a not in this lifetime. I’m hoppy to see that you skipped right over the first question. But at least you refrain from any knee-jerk reactions, or leaping to unfounded conclusions. All you say has at a foothold in reality.
And (without prejudice) I agree completely that it may not bode well. His actions may be viewed as a stepping on of toes, the kicking of shins, and will harm his chances at promotion.
And yes, you know I am just needling you (surprise) LOL. Take comfort in the fact that soon enough they will be needling me. :-)
You may have lucked out, fred. If Girlene was your doctor, she might have amputated by now. She loves working the saw.
Speaking of amputations, IED's are some nasty devices. One of the detriments to media blackouts, or nonpublication of intensely graphic video, pictures of victim's of IED"S is that people don't have any real sense of the horror they cause. So there is an insulation from that devastation, and many people just don't understand that reality. But I understand, so that when a repeat combat veteran like SGT. John Winnick says "I did this action in defense of my Marines," and "I didn't want them to end up like other Marines I have seen," then my reaction is to not only believe him, but to put him on a pedestal and declare him to be one of the finest representatives of the people who REPRESENT me in WAR.
I work in a dangerous industry, speaking of amputations and saws, et al. A week ago last Monday, one of MY men was not following proper training and safety and chewed off most of all four fingers of his right hand in a shaper accident. So I get to hold a screaming man in my arms , carrying him to a waiting vehicle for immediate medevac.
It is not exactly combat, but again, when a man trained, and, with the experience of SGT. John Winnick chooses to act in the manner he did, and other people who have no real understanding of that reality attack him I want to stick various parts of their anatomy in a grinder.
I meant, "What I do, 'it is not exactly combat'" Don't mean for any confusion there.
Bump and grind.
;-)
Yea, but the ex Marine could care less of things dealing with the Marine Corps.. Greenbacks and power is all that rattles around in his little mind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.