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Gents, a guard on the battlefield sleeping on duty is a very serious affair punishable by Court-Martial.

In Iraq, we had four snipers who came out of the field and waited at a road junction for pick up. The four snipers were tired after completing a mission and laid down to rest. As is required, they posted one of their team on guard duty while the others fail asleep. The Marine posted on guard duty fail asleep on post. The nearby insurgents were able to walk right up on the Marine snipers and kill them. Three Marines were killed on site while a fourth was captured, tortured, and then killed down the road.

For those of you who have never been in combat, it is easy to second-guess the leadership on why he was not removed. It might just be because they were in deep remote territory while conducting on-going combat missions. Transportation assets might not have been available at the time to pick up one Marine for an administrative run.

Remember, just as was the case of our Marine Snipers in Iraq, this Marine’s actions was a clear and present danger to all his Marines in the field with him. It is regretful the Marine choose this way to end his shame.

Not everyone can stay awake 2 or 3 days. Some can. I still can. Usually by the time you reach 30 years of age you can’t. Which is relevant to this issue ~ I think it was 6 snipers, not just 4, but check this discussion board on the situation: http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/10-853.aspx

AAAARgh I’ve been lurking on this thread and you’re a lying idiot. The Marine Corps does not do security like your local mall cops.
While I’m here,this story stinks of BS. It sounds like a boot camp wet dream.
In a combat unit there are no questions asked about “asleep on watch”. You’re outta there. It’s been like that for about 200 years. (So how old is the Marine Corp?)Born 10 November 1775. The finest fighting force the world has ever seen.

For those of you who have never been in combat, it is easy to second-guess the leadership on why he was not removed.

Your little story does not mean a damn thing. No one here is arguing that the guy was not really screwing up. No one here (that I have seen) is arguing that sleeping on duty in a combat zone is no big deal. All this 'you ain't been there man' macho posturing from former infantry types is just so much hog wash. We don't have to be there to know that this stuff is serious. AND we don't have to be there to know that his CO should have seen what was going on and gotten him out of there. If your guys are shooting eating their muzzle for ANY reason you as the commanding officer are in some way responsible.

I get really sick of all this 'you ain't been there, you don't know' garbage. Don't know what? That it is serious business? We all know that. That you have to trust your buddies with your life every minute of every day? We all know that. That your buddy damn well better step up and be worthy of that trust he is in for a world of hurt? Yeah we all know that too. What we don't know and don't agree with is that torturing and guilting him into shooting himself was better than just giving him an dishonorable discharge or a quite transfer. No one is arguing that he should have been coddled. All this 'you ain't been there' stuff is just insulting. Buncha darn Jack Nicholson wanabes.