Posted on 09/04/2006 3:52:55 AM PDT by leadpenny
James H. Webb Jr. rarely mentions on the campaign trail his efforts to clear the name of a black Marine convicted of mass murder in Vietnam.
But the incident tested his sense of leadership, justice and social fairness, and is deeply ingrained in the psyche of the Democratic nominee for one of Virginia's U.S. Senate seats.
"I didn't [represent Samuel Green] so today I could tell you that," says Mr. Webb, 60. "I just did it because I believed it was right."
In 1971, a year after returning from the Vietnam War as a wounded hero, Mr. Webb was languishing at his desk job in Navy Secretary John H. Chafee's office.
The 24-year-old former platoon commander was responsible for responding to inquiries into cases involving Marines convicted of war crimes in Vietnam.
"Less than a week after reporting in, he called his monitor and pleaded for a transfer," Robert Timberg wrote in a 1995 book, "The Nightingale's Song," an examination of the careers of Mr. Webb, John Poindexter, Bud McFarlane, Oliver North and John McCain. "'You got to get me out of here.' he said. The monitor just laughed."
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
"..whereby a woman or child would take up arms against our forces..." - Webb
Mr. Webb is running as a Democrat. How surprising with this particular view of things. I suppose it would follow then, this nations policies (and Israel's, of co;urse) have resulted in the terrorists using women and children as human shields and some of those women and children strapping on explosives to kill other women and children.
Is this sort of thinking a mental condition, passed on from parent to child? Is ignorance contagious? Can these people not see the enemy and the total ruthlessness of that enemy?
When those guardians of freedom, the independent media, reinforce such ideas, it is not really surpising that some people are still out to lunch, their entire waking day.
Jack Murtha needs to read this...
Unfortunately, this or anything else won't be the topic on any news program between now and Nov 7. It will be "Macaca" 24/7.
Why does thjis article use "MR." so often when it refers to this politician (not to the otheres) and to the Marine convicted of murder?
Just wondering ... is it the "plantation mentality" so often refered to by democrats & Hillary? Mr is derived from "master" after all.
http://www.law.duke.edu/lens/publications/050698.html
A more revealing article (leans liberal) on the events with the murder charges.
NOT written by this democrat politician who all he did was to write an article that accomplished nothing but made him feel better.
He does have a valid heroic USMC history:
http://www.jameswebb.com/about.htm
James Webb grew up on the move, attending more than a dozen different schools across the U.S. and in England. He graduated from high school in Bellevue, Nebraska. First attending the University of Southern California on an NROTC academic scholarship, he left for the Naval Academy after one year. At the Naval Academy he was a four-year member of the Brigade Honor Committee, a varsity boxer, and was one of six finalists in the interviewing process for Brigade Commander during his senior year.
Graduating in l968 he chose a commission in the Marine Corps, and was one of 18 in his class of 841 to receive the Superintendent's Commendation for outstanding leadership contributions while a midshipman.
First in his class of 243 at the Marine Corps Officer's Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, he then served with the Fifth Marine Regiment in Vietnam, where as a rifle platoon and company commander in the infamous An Hoa Basin west of Danang he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts. He later served as a platoon commander and as an instructor in tactics and weapons at Marine Corps Officer Candidates School, and then as a member of the Secretary of the Navy's immediate staff, before leaving the Marine Corps in l972.
I'm assuming you were in I Corps. Do you know where "Son Thang 4 . . . hamlet" is in relation to Danang or any other major city?
I was in I Corps with the Army from Nov 69 to Nov 70 on my 2nd tour. The incident involving Green would have happened when I was based out of Hue, Phu Bai. In April, I believe, we moved to Marble Mountain when the Army took over control of I Corps from the III MAF. Have to admit I didn't know anything about it then or when the Courts-Martial took place.
wow time has changed this man, now a member of the DNC, and yes i do ? there patriotism
The man was certainly a good Marine but that does not make his political analysis of the US involvement in Viet Nam valid.
You have to note that he blame the US policy for the North Viet Namese viciousness and use of women and children in combat.
He totally avoids mention of Communist North Viet Nams force conscription at the point of a gun of women, children, old and young the murder of uncooperative village leaders, the theft of crops from substance farmers.
No to this man US policy is at fault for women and children carrying arms in Viet Nam.
Thanks, I'm still on dial-up, so it took a while. Still having trouble orienting myself. Where is HIEP DUC in I Corps?
I'm basically through fighting the Vietnam War but I'll say this; the 58,000+ names on the Wall belong to LBJ's legacy. May he not rest in peace.
I'm not sure who I'll be voting for in November but the last thing I would ever do is question the patriotism of a man who earned the awards Webb did. Do you question his patriotism because he's a democrat?
NO doubt LBJ mismicro-managed the war and that led to unnecessary US deaths and the ultimate loss of the war, but I am really tired of the Blame America crowd getting free and unfettered press for their views.
Sorry I forgot the warning "HUGE files" on those maps - they are detailed.
Hiep Duc - well - trying to search fading memories - about 30+ miles SE - SSE
Google Hiep Duc - I just found a good article about the first battle I was involved in - my first day in the field - We were sent in to help the Army - I think that's where we got the nickname "Med-Evac Mike" I was one of 21 (out of an entire company) that walked out of that valley.
http://www.hodierne.com/sandssplash.htm
The article is honest but should NOT have been written as it was in the Stars & Stripes.
Unfortunately yes they have become the party of sedition and possibly treason there actions during wartime is disgusting, so yes i do ? there patriotism too include skerry
Thirty miles sse of, I assume, Danang. That battle would have happened before my 2nd tour. The article mentions the Americal Division (23rd ID). They were, of course, in the south of I Corps. I was flying for the 24th Army Corps HQ - the Corps Artillery CG, to be exact. Even after the hand off from III MAF to the 24th Corps, I can remember once or twice when I carried the general to the south of Danang and Marble Mountain. He always concentrated on the area north of Hue to the DMZ, and especially out near Khe Sanh where the North was hacking out more trails into the South. Arc Lights, air strikes, 175 and 155mm Howitzers couldn't stop them. Gotta respect them for that.
Who said anything about Kerry?
I did lets never forget what a fraud he is too
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