Posted on 04/07/2009 12:18:54 PM PDT by Dubya
CAMP PENDLETON ---- A Marine Corps hero showered praise Monday on a comrade who is on trial for killing an unarmed prisoner of war.
Navy Cross recipient Sgt. Maj. Brad Kasal said the accused Marine, Sgt. Ryan Weemer, was a skilled warrior who always displayed "excellent" military characteristics.
Kasal was given the Navy Cross, the second-highest award a Marine can receive, for saving fellow Marines despite suffering severe wounds during the "Hell House" battle in Fallujah, Iraq, on Nov. 13, 2004.
Both Kasal, now head of a five-state recruiting region based in Des Moines, Iowa, and Weemer were injured that day.
It was four days before that battle that Weemer and two other men from Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment are accused of executing four unarmed prisoners captured inside a home during the opening hours of the battle for Fallujah.
Weemer, 26, is charged with one count of unpremeditated murder and four counts of dereliction of duty for reportedly ignoring the military's rules for safeguarding enemy detainees. He has pleaded not guilty.
Kasal told the eight Marine officers composing Weemer's jury that the enemy in Fallujah was nothing like the Marines had been told to expect before they left Camp Pendleton a few months earlier. In Fallujah, he said, they confronted insurgents who faked surrender, were high on cocaine and other drugs and often hid weapons beneath their clothing.
"It was a whole different story," Kasal said on the sixth and final day of testimony. "We were facing fanatics who had one goal, and that was to kill us. Every step of the way was a house-to-house, room-to-room battle."
One of only two defense witnesses to testify, Kasal said Monday was the first time he had seen Weemer since both were injured.
Weemer was shot three times in the leg, while Kasal was shot seven times and hit with 43 pieces of shrapnel. A now-famous picture shows Kasal being carried out of the house with a bloody leg and a pistol in his hand.
But Kasal wasn't there when prosecutors say Weemer and two other members of his Kilo Company squad executed four suspected insurgents. Prosecutors contend Weemer killed one of those men, whose names have never been determined and whose bodies have never been found, as retribution for his best friend being killed by an insurgent's bullet earlier that day.
Defense attorneys argue that Weemer shot in self-defense when the man reached for his 9mm pistol. They also contend Weemer's squad leader that day, Sgt. Jose L. Nazario Jr., directed the killings after being instructed by a superior to "take care" of the prisoners.
The defense further argues that Weemer, then a corporal and rifle team leader, fought Nazario over that directive and would not have shot anyone without cause.
Nazario was acquitted last year for his role in the incident. A third man, Sgt. Jermaine Nelson, faces trial at Camp Pendleton later this year.
Kasal wasn't the only witness to lavish praise on Weemer Monday.
"If I had to deploy today, I would take Sgt. Weemer back with me in a heartbeat," Sgt. Maj. Alan Miller of Murrieta, a 1st sergeant at Fallujah who served with Weemer, told the court.
Weemer has sat quietly throughout the trial. His wife, sister and a former English teacher have attended each day, sitting behind him.
Weemer did not testify, but has acknowledged the shooting in two taped interviews with investigators. In one of those tapes, he maintained he did nothing wrong in Fallujah. Two of the men with him that day have testified that Weemer told them he shot the man when the prisoner "lunged" for his pistol.
If convicted, Weemer could be sentenced to life in prison. Under the military justice system, two-thirds of the eight jurors must agree in order to convict. If that happens, the jury will decide his punishment.
Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.
Navy Cross recipient Sgt. Maj. Brad Kasal testifies on behalf of Sgt. Ryan Weemer.
The head prosecutor who pursued these charges is the only criminal here. That scumbag should be tried for giving aid and comfort to the enemy...
That's all I need to know. CASE DISMISSED!
The only way Weemer gets convicted is if some ass-ki$$ing, ticket-punching, POS REMF ossifer decides he wants a colonel's bars.
"In him" at the time: several dozen bullets and pieces of shrapnel.
"Not in him" at the time: over half his blood.
Thank you for your post.
I agree with you.
Whoops, same pic!
Big AMEN
Thanks for your post.
Thank you for the information.
You’re welcome.
So will I.
Please keep Sgt. Ryan Weemer in your prayers. He should not even be on trail.
You betcha, Girl. I'll take the word of a USMC Sgt. Major over the word of just about anybody, except my wife. ;-)
(I'm not that crazy!)
For DAYS before going into Fallujah, we warned people to get out... so that the only people who chose to stay were those choosing to fight. Prayers for this Marine to be vindicated....
Spoken like someone who got a less than honorable discharge.
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.