Please don’t get me wrong, my blood boils over what they’ve had to endure as well. As a former squid and a good friend to many Marines in Oceanside, these men are patriots beyond a doubt. However, the system has worked in clearing the men of their charges. I will retract my comments if someone could please educate me with first-hand knowledge as to whether their careers have been tarnished as a direct result of the procedings.
Ask Frank Wuterich how his life has been these last 3 years.
Are you kidding? Chessani, one of the most capable infantry officers in the Marine Corps, can't wait to get this fiasco over with so he can get the hell out and try to build a new life. How is that for "tarnished"? If you want to educate yourself on this abyssmal disgrace, just search the Free Republic archives. "Haditha".
Well, gee, jettester, you don't really want to go there, do you?
Perhaps the best source of information available anywhere in the world on Chessani and the Haditha Marines can be found at Defend Our Marines.
If you think that this “persecution” hasn’t tarnished Frank and the others then here’s a “FEW” examples:
1. He has been turned down for promotions until this incident is settled.
2. He has been turned down for advancement-type courses until this is settled.
3. It has ruined his marriage.
4. It has made his life and his family’s life a “living hell.”
Is that enough tarnishment for you?
I suggest that you take some time to read all there is to read about “Haditha” before you make such a statement and live “just one day” in his shoes!!!! Then tell me nothing has been “tarnished.”
Ditto, Jettester. The process is often too slow, but the system WORKED. I’ll still put the UCMJ up against any other system of military justice in history.
Colonel, USAFR