Frank Wuterich no longer in the Marine Corps (Haditha Marines)

North County Times ^ | 2-20-2012 | Mark Walker

[smoothsailing]

MILITARY: Frank Wuterich no longer in the Marine Corps

Mark Walker

February 20, 2012

[EXCERPTED]

The Camp Pendleton Marine at the center of two dozen Iraqi civilian killings in 2005 has left the service. Former Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich's last day in the Marine Corps was Friday, said a base spokesman, Lt. Col. Joseph Kloppel.

Wuterich pleaded guilty Jan. 23 to one count of negligent dereliction of duty for his role in the killings.

That ended his high-profile court-martial at Camp Pendleton, where he was being tried on manslaughter and related charges in the deaths that took place in the city of Haditha.

The Murrieta resident was reduced in rank to private as part of the plea deal, but spent no time in behind bars.

Efforts to reach Wuterich were not immediately successful. His lead attorney, Neal Puckett, confirmed that his client is now a civilian and was given a general discharge under honorable conditions, one step down from an honorable discharge.

Wuterich had remained on duty at Camp Pendleton as his case wound through the military justice system. ...

Two weeks after Wuterich's trial started at Camp Pendleton on Jan. 9 ---- and after a parade of prosecution witnesses essentially defended Wuterich and his squad's actions ---- prosecutors agreed to the plea agreement.

Some of the most damaging testimony for prosecutors came from Wuterich's immediate superior at Haditha, former Marine 1st Lt. William Kallop, who testified that he gave the order to "clear" houses where the 19 Iraqis died.

That testimony made it unlikely that the jury hearing Wuterich's case would have convicted him...

Wuterich, a Connecticut native, intends to pursue a career in information technology and has said he intends to remain in Southern California.

[bigheadfred]

Used to be about the time the party got started, the charcoal was out. But not anymore. Here's an updated photo of a new and improved Murtha.

He will burn for an ETERNITY.

[Marine_Uncle]

The long ordeal is finally over. Lord willing he will now be able to pursue a future that can feed, cloth and send his girls to college, if they so choose that route, in due time.

[CodeToad]

He could send his resume my way. He got a raw deal and behaved with honor.

[Lancey Howard]

In an effort to minimize their losses, the government offered a plea deal – one count of negligent dereliction of duty. SSgt Wuterich, who from the initial investigation of the incident in 2006, has always taken full responsibility for the actions of his squad that day. He agreed to accept this misdemeanor offense.

Man, that really bothers me. I cannot make sense of it. Wuterich took responsibility for WHAT actions of his squad? The actions where the squad responded to a deadly ambush as they were trained to respond? The actions they took when they obeyed the lawful order of Lt. Kallop to clear those houses? WHAT actions, exactly?

Yikes... I'm getting agita all over again. I'll always feel like all of us supporters of the Haditha Marines ran twenty-five-and-a-half miles of a marathon and then just stopped when the lawyers said, "Okay. That's good. Great run. Thanks for everything. It's over now. You can go home."

Oh well.. The good part is that it really is over, and Frank Wuterich can piss in the general direction of the military commanders who betrayed him.

[gibsosa]

Indeed.

[Jeff Head]

BZ, Frank, and God's speed. It's a disgraceful travesty what they did to you and your comrades. A PC bunch of rear-echelon types trying to make names for themselves, and high ranking individuals doing the same, who have hurt this nation by depriving us of brave and committed fighters on the point of the sword, and discouraging others form becoming that way.

God help us as a nation turn this mentality around and reject it...and then eject it so we can fight and destroy the enemies of this nation and anyone who would support, hide, abbett, or assist them.

AMERICA AT THE CROSSROADS OF HISTORY

[TheOldLady]

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[smoothsailing]

POLL-What do you think of Wuterich’s punishment?

1.What Punishment? He should have gone to jail for life!

2.Reduction in rank and the discharge is good enough.

3.He acted appropriately in a combat situation and his career should not have been interrupted.

http://camppendleton.patch.com/articles/poll-last-haditha-defendant-receives-general-discharge

3 works for me!

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for the ping.
Voted.
By the way, I see that there’s one vote from an Iraqi insurgent terrorist.
Or a Democrat, whatever..

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[smoothsailing]

By the way, I see that there’s one vote from an Iraqi insurgent terrorist. Or a Democrat, whatever..

LOL, probably McGirk.

[EDINVA]

He’s so young, and the Marine Corps took those six years of his life for nothing. I don’t know what’s happened to the USMC, but I would no longer recommend joining to any of the young men I know. They want Marines to go out and risk their lives and limbs, that’s understood; but for the Corps to then prosecute and work actively to destroy the lives and reputations of those carrying out their duties in a war zone is unforgivable.

He made the right decision for himself and his family, to go with the plea bargain, to separate from the Corps, and to get on with his life. God bless him.

[brityank]

Last Haditha Ping indeed!
Happy yet sad to come to this end of the journey.

I dropped a note into Dan Woolfolk's poll:

The prosecution was based on lies invented by the insurgents and parroted by Tim McGirk and Jack Murtha. Nothing SSgt. Wuterich did that day was outside of the ROE in effect at that time and the deaths were a direct result of known enemy tactics. I have followed this debacle since it started, and used the info from http://DefendOurMarines.org - that site has all of the documentation laid out, warts and all, in sequence, from numerous sources, and any info not verified was noted.

There were three groups that gained from this trial:

• 1) The Prosecution - got a 'Guilty' star to hang on their wall.
• 2) The Defense - got a "Minor Misdemeanor' star to hang on their wall.
• 3) The General Staff and the Perfumed Princes of the Pentagon - got to claim the UCMJ provides 'True Justice'.

There were three groups that lost with this trial:

• 1) SSgt. Wuterich - lost his career, his family, and his security, and gained an enormous debt to pay for his case.
• 2) The Marines on the ground - their belief in the Corps.
• 3) The Public - that no longer believes that "no Man is left behind".

Sad to say, as a Vet myself (Navy) with loads of respect for all my Brothers-in-Arms - I can no longer counsel others to join our Services without a caution.

Many thanks to everyone for the details and insights you've all provided over the years, it's really been appreciated. I hope someone pings us again when either Red Rover or Nat Helms or whoever writes this saga up in a book - one guaranteed sale here!

[smoothsailing]

I hope someone pings us again when either Red Rover or Nat Helms or whoever writes this saga up in a book-

Rumor has it Red Rover is holed up in a bunker high in the mountains in an undisclosed location plunking away on an old Underwood this very minute! :)

[smoothsailing]

3 Responses to “Pvt. Frank Wuterich Receives General Discharge”

Charlie Gittins says:
February 21, 2012 at 7:20 pm (Quote)
He gets a GUHC for a GCM resulting in an NJP sentence. What total BS. That the Commandant can look himself in the mirror explains why he is an aviator. Weak sister is an understatement. But the good news is that the next breed of flag officers can shoot down an Air Force F-4c and still make flag rank in the DoN. Does anyone other than me see how f’d up this is? Please tell me I am not hallucinating . . . Please!

Phil Stackhouse says:
February 21, 2012 at 8:51 pm (Quote)
Nah Charlie…you’re good.

Charlie Gittins says:
February 21, 2012 at 9:56 pm (Quote)
Thanks, Phil. I just thought I may have had too much crack tonight.

http://www.caaflog.com/2012/02/21/pvt-frank-wuterich-receives-general-discharge/

http://www.charleswgittins.com/Attorney/

[jazusamo]

You couldn’t have said it any better, brityank! And I’m not throwing the list away. :)

#3 works for me too, Smooth just as it did for 75% of the voters just now. Charley is right on the money!

Thank you all for all that you’ve done over the last six years for these Marines!!!

[jazusamo]

Charley = Charlie

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for the pings.
Good comment from Charlie Gittins. Agree completely.

[Semper Fi Mom]

Yes, one last ping on this subject. Thanks all of you for your good wishes for Frank and his girls.

Thanks again to all of YOU for standing beside us for such a very long time (an eternity)!

Thanks to Defend our Marines for the best coverage anywhere.

We couldn’t have made it without all of you.

We are so happy this is over!!

Now, it’s time to help some of our other servicemen/women in similar situations.

Semper Fi

[smoothsailing]

Mom, those of us at Defend Our Marines and all of us here at Free Republic are happy for you, David, Frank and the whole family!

And like my favorite aunt used to say, you can't buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream!!!