The Haditha Marines-The Squad Leader-A Final Chapter (SSgt Wuterich-Master Thread)

1-2-2012

[smoothsailing]

January 2, 2012

The Haditha Marines-The Squad Leader-A Final Chapter

It certainly seems appropriate that the last defendant in the Haditha case is the squad leader, SSgt Frank Wuterich. Leaders take responsibility, and SSgt Wuterich has taken full responsibility for the actions of his squad in Haditha. His stance from the outset has remained clear:

"My Marines responded to the threats they faced in the manner that we all had been trained", he has steadfastly maintained. "I will bear the memory of the events of that day forever, and will always mourn the unfortunate deaths of the innocent Iraqis who were killed during our response to the attack."

As the last Marine originally charged in the deaths of Iraqis in Haditha, Iraq in 2005, SSgt Wuterich will be seated at the defense table in his general court-martial two days from now, Wednesday, January 4th. Barring last minute motions or outright dismissal of charges, jury selection will begin Wednesday or Thursday. SSgt. Wuterich will be tried by a jury of combat-experienced Marines, and the panel will include at least two Marines from the enlisted ranks.

Much has been written over the last six years about Haditha, and links to some of the most recent news articles and commentaries are included at the bottom of this post to help bring readers up to date. For older Free Republic postings, please use this link or enter the keyword Haditha in the Free Republic search engine.

The purpose of this Free Republic thread is to serve as a "Master Post" where trial news and updates can be brought together in one place for easy reference by those interested in following the proceedings as they unfold.

Freepers Smoothsailing, Red Rover, and Jazusamo will monitor the thread, post updates, and attempt to answer questions or direct readers to information sources. Jazusamo maintains the Haditha Marine Ping List. Please ask Jazusamo to be added to the ping list if you wish to be alerted to updates.

Recent News and Commentary:

MILITARY TIMES-Haditha Marine Faces Trial

Count Down to the Last Haditha Trial

MILITARY: Two high-profile cases set for Pendleton courtrooms

Remember SSgt Frank D. Wuterich: The last Haditha Marine goes on trial

Don’t rewrite Murtha’s legacy (Haditha Marines)

[RedRover]

As xzins recalls, Tatun's testimony is consistent with his statements at the Article 32 hearing:

There are some points I’d like to bring to light.

The reason I fired in house 1 is that I knew small arms fire was coming from the south. I didn’t see where it was coming from, but I saw an M203 round hit house 1. My squad leader told me on the way to house 1 to treat it as hostile.

I heard a Marine engage a target after entering the house, and I knew Mendoza engaged a target to the right inside the house. I heard an AK-47 being racked in the room to the left, and me and Cpl Salinas threw grenades in that room. 

After the grenade went off, I went in and followed my training firing in my sector.

The visibility was horrible. There was dust and smoke. I really couldn’t make out more than targets. Someone yelled there was a runner, so I followed my fire team to house 2. Before we entered, Mendoza engaged someone through the door. Inside, I was told to frag a room. When I saw that room was clear, I heard another Marine engage in the next room. My duty was to help that Marine, so I went in and engaged targets.

It was dark, I couldn’t make out a whole lot. Just targets. I only went in each room a few steps, and the shooting lasted only seconds in both houses.

I did not tell NCIS I knew there were women and children before I fired. I did not know there was women and children in that house until I went back later in the afternoon with SSgt Laughner. Otherwise, I would have physically stopped everybody from shooting. The conversation Mendoza said happened never happened.

I am not comfortable with the fact that I might have shot a child. I don’t know if my rounds impacted anybody. That is a burden I will have to bear.

[xzins]

Not sure how it could be classified since we've all read about it.

I agree. We've read about it. Many times. We've also read about the eyes in the sky that observed the battles in Haditha that day. I would not be surprised to learn that the prosecution/government has exhonerating pictures stashed in some vault someplace.

I assume that the court/panel is instructed not to consider what isn't presented, and in some cases they might specifically be instructed not to consider certain information.

[smoothsailing]

It’s a powerful update from Nat, Red. How would you like to handle it, a thread of it’s own?

[smoothsailing]

Please Bump this thread to the top of the sidebar! Thanks!

[RedRover]

That's right: House 1. Tatum told NCIS he heard the AK being racked and it was on the map he drew of the engagement recreated here...

[Gene Eric]

>> North County Times didn’t bother to point out the two versions.

LH posted a few articles from NCT that exemplifies this ongoing problem with reporting.

[smoothsailing]

And the beauty of it is that it has been entered as sworn testimony by a witness for the prosecution! Gannon and Sullivan didn’t want this!

[RedRover]

Just for clarity, below is the original map of House 1 that Tatum drew. I added that the room was where Tatum heard an AK being racked.

[smoothsailing]

Excellent!!!

[jazusamo]

Thanks, Red...So much time has elapsed it's very difficult, at least for me, to remember prior testimony and it's clear that the prosecution is trying to take advantage of the time factor.

Thank goodness SSgt. Wuterich has the lawyers he does, it's early but so far this looks to be a blowout for him.

[Girlene]

As xzins recalls, Tatun's testimony is consistent with his statements at the Article 32 hearing:

I know, and I remember Tatum's statements from the past...I was pointing out in my earlier post that NC Times reported that Tatum said the only reason he knew there was hostile intent was because of SSgt Wuterich firing his weapon. (Although, you would think Kallop telling him to clear the house would indicate hostile intent.)

I'm assuming that statement came from statements he made after the 12-16 hours interrogation back in Haditha.

The two versions contradict each other. NC Times didn't report where their version came from. I'm assuming it came from prosecutor Gannon asking Tatum, (paraphrasing), "Isn't it true you said, blah, blah, blah in your deposition with NCIS?" Since Tatum can't remember exactly what he said or signed to, he can only take their word that he did say that.

[Gene Eric]

It’s really important that Helms repeatedly interjects the facts of that November day, 2005 into his reporting. Too many have been dismissive of the circumstances.

[RedRover]

I thought maybe we’d wait so we don’t bombard people with threads. Let’s see what happens tomorrow! Night all!

[Lancey Howard]

Nat Helms is a really, really good writer.
Clear, concise, easy to read. His writing flows very nicely.

[jazusamo]

Talk atcha tomorrow, looks to have been a good day for SSgt. Wuterich.

[Gene Eric]

I just looked back at some earlier reports from 2009, and came across this characterization put forth by NCT's Walker:

The storming of those homes resulted in the deaths of men, women and children, none of whom were later proven to have any ties to the bombing or the Iraqi insurgency.

I recall this shading of events was not uncommon.

MILITARY: Haditha case back in court Wednesday March 10, 2009

[Girlene]

Well, obviously NC Times neglected to include Tatum’s memory of an AK-47 being racked....an obvious indication of hostility.

On top of that they keep ignoring the fact that it was Lt. Kallop who ordered the Marines to clear the house. SSgt Wuterich was following HIS orders.

It’s obvious the prosectuion has nothing new except in the way they package/phrase their accusations.

Although they decided to go after 8 Marines for everything from obstruction to murder, since they couldn’t get any convictions, the prosecution has now decided those Marines weren’t really ever guilty.....it was all SSgt Wuterich’s fault because as prosecutor Gannon said, “He (Wuterich) lost control of himself”.

[Girlene]

San Diego Tribune article, They feared hidden insurgents, Marine says in Iraq trial

[RedRover]

Dela Cruz testifying now. Crucial testimony.

[Lancey Howard]

Dela Cruz didn’t provide mixed stories in the past and may have a credibility issue. I hope the defense gets into the original interrogation of Dela Cruz. IIRC, he was treated the way Tatum was and may have said anything the investigators wanted to hear.