I posted it on DOM, but not FR, because I didn't fights to start breaking out. But I thought I'd link it here and also a response I received from Bob Weimann (which I'll publish later today on DOM. Bob's piece starts below the line...
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As Marines, SSgt Frank Wuterich's Haditha Court Martial tears at our souls. If asked; "is SSgt Frank Wuterich any less of a Marine in your eyes?" I suspect most Marines would answer with a strong; "No!"
I personally think SSgt Wuterich is a hero. Other Marines can say that he did not fight to the end, not only for his own honor but also for the honor of the other accused Marines. Like those Marines, I also would have preferred that SSgt Wuterich continue to fight for a not guilty declaration. Those two feelings are the basic elements that cause conflict in our Marine psyche and ethos.
The Marine Corps senior leadership threw everything they had at this Marine and with those actions they compromised the loyalty and responsibility that they owe to all who serve and call themselves Marines. SSgt Wuterich held his post under tremendous pressure for over six years. For the last two years, he was basically alone in his legal foxhole without his leaders and fellow comrades. Folks like the defendourmarines crew and readers provided what support we could but it is not the same as fighting shoulder to shoulder in the same crucible. Our legal system is based on the rights of the individual and therefore, it forces the accused to stand alone. Six years is an amazing amount of time when you realize that the Haditha incident lasted longer then World War II.
In my opinion, the Marine Corps leadership, at its highest levels, bears the most responsibility for this mess. Instead of using their often touted leadership skills, the generals deferred to their political cronies and lawyers. It pains me tremendously to make that statement because, besides being a retired Marine, Dad is a retired Marine Sgt Major. I was born on Quantico making the "Cross roads of the Marine Corps" my home town. My brother was a Marine and we both served together in Desert Storm. I was married in the Quantico Chapel and Dad is buried at the Quantico National Cemetery next to the Marine Corps Museum. Marine Corps pride and honor is part of me.
I believe LtCol Chessani, Major McConnell, 1stLt Grayson, LCpl Sharratt, LCpl Tatum, and Capt Stone have demonstrated the leadership and courage that exceeds any definition of valor. I would also include Major Jeffery Dinsmore in that group. He is also a hero and as a Marine he humbles me. I can comfortable saying I know how the Major feels. I have been wrestling with those same feelings since the announcement of the court martial deal. The SSgt's decision and Major Dinsmore's feelings that the SSgt should have continued to fight represents that inner conflict in our Marine soul that, no matter which way we turn, it leaves no peace. The smart folks would call it cognitive dissonance. The conflict between the loyalty and honor, taught and instill in us by the Marine Corps, and a piece bad generalship is its basic essence that tears and eats at our hearts.
As Marines, we are taught that leadership is getting the right people to do the right thing for the right reason in the right way. In the tactical combat case of 3/1 in Haditha, the Marine Corps senior leadership succeeded; they provided a well trained Marine Battalion that took a city back from a terrorist organization and returned it to its people with honor and bravery. However, in the strategic political arena, the Marine Corps senior leadership failed miserably.
The Haditha case is not about the SSgt's personal decisions; it is about failed leadership at the highest levels of the Marine Corps. Instead of following the examples of Marine General Officers like Waller, Vandergrift, Shoup, and Puller, the leadership followed a bad politician and a former Marine officer without honor. In my mind that brings the Marine Corps senior leadership's moral courage into question.
The other issue is this extends pass the Marine Corps and includes the highest leadership of DOD. This country now has the "Leavenworth 10" and the "10" could have easily become the Leavenworth 11, if SSgt Wuterich was conviction. These 10 Soldiers and Marines are serving sentences in Leavenworth Federal Prison for killing enemy combatants. They are serving substantially longer sentences then LT Calley from Viet Nam's My Lai Case. Calley was convicted of killing 22 civilians in a massacre of a possible 400 to 500 victims and he served three years in his BOQ room. This country's strategic war fighting leadership has turn from its warrior's ethos and instead, embraced political leadership in the worst way and our Marines and Soldiers are paying the price.
At the end of Viet Nam, the Marine Corps prosecuted a "war crime" court martial where the leader of a five Marine "kill team" accused of murder was acquitted and found not guilty at court martial. As the Marine's defense team was celebrating, they received a call from the senior member of the court martial board, a Marine Colonel. This Marine leader stated to the defense lawyers: "I'm not going to tell you how we voted, but I?ll tell you this: if we send the little sons of bitches out there, then we sure as hell have to take care of them." As both the Iraq and Afghanistan War have progressed, our leadership has lost that attitude and our generals are no longer taking care of our Marines and Soldiers.
Semper Fi,
Bob Weimann USMC Ret.
Outstanding piece by retired Lt. Col. Bob Weimann, USMC.
Semper Fi
Well, there you have it. This is what it was always about.
Well said, LtCol Weimann.