A trying year for Marine Corps [Hamdania, Haditha, Fallujah]

North County Times ^ | December 29, 2007 | Mark Walker

[RedRover]

Key dates in cases against Camp Pendleton troops

By Mark Walker, North County Times

Fallujah case

Nov. 9, 2004: Four detained insurgents allegedly killed by a Camp Pendleton squad.

Nov. 19, 2006: Naval Criminal Investigative Service probe begins.

Aug. 16, 2007: Former Marine Sgt. Jose L. Nazario Jr. charged by civilian prosecutors in U.S. District court with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Aug. 20, 2007: Murder charge filed by Marine prosecutors against Sgt. Jermaine Nelson.

Sept. 12, 2007: Charges against Nelson withdrawn by the Marine Corps pending review of investigation.

Dec. 6, 2007: Murder charge and dereliction of duty filed against Nelson by the Marine Corps.

Haditha case

Nov. 19, 2005: A four-vehicle convoy containing U.S. service members from 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, K Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division and Iraqi forces encounter a roadside bomb and small-arms fire ambush near Haditha, Iraq. One U.S. Marine was killed and two wounded. Twenty-four civilians killed by Marines searching for their attackers.

Nov. 20, 2005: Military issues news release stating that 15 civilians were killed by an improvised explosive device and that U.S. Marines and Iraqi forces killed eight insurgents in the ensuing firefight.

Jan. 24, 2006: Time Magazine reporter contacts the Multi-National Force-West (2nd Marine Division) public affairs officer, claiming he is investigating the deliberate killing of civilians during an incident in Haditha, Iraq, on Nov. 19, 2005.

Feb. 14, 2006: Multi-National Corps - Iraq directs an investigation concerning the circumstances of the civilian deaths.

March 12, 2006: Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigation launched into possible criminal conduct.

Dec. 21, 2006: Murder and related charges against four Marine enlisted men are announced. Dereliction of duty and related charges against four Marine officers for their failure to properly report and/or investigate the deaths also announced in briefing at Camp Pendleton.

April 2, 2007: Murder charges against Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz dismissed in exchange for his testimony.

Aug. 8, 2007: Murder charges against Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt dismissed after finding he acted within rules of engagement.

Aug. 9 2007: Dereliction of duty charges against Capt. Randy W. Stone dismissed.

Aug. 30-Sept. 6, 2007: Article 32 hearing for enlisted men squad leader at Haditha, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich. Result pending.

Sept. 12, 2007: Dereliction charges against Capt. Lucas M. McConnell dismissed.

Oct. 19, 2007: Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum ordered to trial by court-martial in homicide and related charges.

Oct. 19, 2007: The battalion commander at Haditha, Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani, ordered to trial by court-martial for dereliction of duty.

Nov. 13-17: Article 32 hearing for 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson conducted. Result pending.

Hamdania case

April 26, 2006: Hashim Ibrahim Awad taken from his home and killed.

May 2006: Complaints from Awad's relatives result in investigation.

May 25, 2006: Seven Marines and one Navy corpsman placed in Camp Pendleton brig.

June 24, 2006: All eight troops are charged with murder, kidnapping, conspiracy and other offenses for Awad's death.

Oct. 6, 2006: Corpsman Melson Bacos pleads guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy. Murder charges are dropped.

Nov. 17, 2006: Lance Cpl. Tyler Jackson sentenced to 21 months in jail for conspiracy and aggravated assault.

Nov. 18, 2006: Pvt. John Jodka sentenced to 18 months in jail for conspiracy and aggravated assault.

Nov. 22, 2006: Lance Cpl. Jerry Shumate sentenced to 21 months for conspiracy and aggravated assault.

Feb. 17, 2007: Lance Cpl. Robert Pennington sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to murder and related offenses.

July 21, 2007: Cpl. Trent Thomas sentenced to time served after military jury convicts him of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder.

Aug. 2, 2007: Lance Cpl. Marshall Magincalda sentenced to time served after being convicted of conspiracy to commit murder.

Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins II sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of murder.

Aug. 8, 2007: Lt. Gen. Hames Mattis orders early release of now-Pvts. Shumate and Jackson.

Aug. 10, 2007: Lt. Gen. James Mattis orders early release of now-Pvt. Robert Pennington.

[Just A Nobody]

Thank you for posting this and for your concise list of events.

the prosecutions are sending a dangerous message

Yes they are. "Win the War" should be the only message

[freema]

Scott Silliman, a Duke University law professor and another recognized military law expert, told a conference in October that Ware, who was picked by Lt. Gen. Mattis to hear the cases, went beyond his responsibilities as a hearing officer in commenting on the evidence. Instead, Silliman said, Ware's only job was to determine if there was sufficient evidence to believe a crime may have been committed.

That's rich.

[freema]

/sarc

[RedRover]

Looking back over 2007, the outstanding individual who deserves the most applause for his defense of our Marines is Phil Brennan of NewsMax.

Long-time Haditha watchers will remember how bleak things looked a year ago. After charges were announced on December 21, there were a series of leaks damning the Marines.

It was Phil Brennan who struck back with Haditha Accusations Unmasked and other NewsMax articles beginning in late January that brought much needed perspective and accuracy (imagine that!) to the situation.

Additionally, it was through Phil Brennan's efforts at NewsMax that more than $200,000 was raised for the enlisted Marine defense funds.

For those reasons, Phil Brennan is the Defend Our Marines Man of the Year!

[RedRover]

Looking back over 2007, the outstanding individual who deserves the most applause for his defense of our Marines is Phil Brennan of NewsMax.

Long-time Haditha watchers will remember how bleak things looked a year ago. After charges were announced on December 21, there were a series of leaks damning the Marines.

It was Phil Brennan who struck back with Haditha Accusations Unmasked and other NewsMax articles beginning in late January that brought much needed perspective and accuracy (imagine that!) to the situation.

Additionally, it was through Phil Brennan's efforts at NewsMax that more than $200,000 was raised for the enlisted Marine defense funds.

For those reasons, Phil Brennan is the Defend Our Marines Man of the Year!

[Brad from Tennessee]

Our flag’s unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in ev’ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job—
The United States Marines.

[RedRover]

Sorry about the double ping! My ‘puter got stuck in the “post” cycle.

[RedRover]

For more on Phil Brennan, see this thread: And the Party Goes On [Happy Birthday, Phil Brennan: Journalist, Conservative, Marine!].

[lilycicero]

In the end, however, Coakley said the cases do serve as a lesson for present and future Marines

[Just A Nobody]

and another recognized military law expert

Recognized by whom? (or is it who?)

[Dick Vomer]

All this is, is showing the after action reports on the legal war against the Marines fought by the press, the libs and the other low life parasites that want to destroy the Marines fighting ability by introducing doubt at a critical time in a battle.

Don't ping me, don't reply to me about the sanctity of the legal system, don't try to convince me otherwise cause I've read the reports, I've served in combat, I've made decisions that lead to deaths of the enemy and others.

I've also got faith in the "system". It's just a cr#ppy way to treat a man that was willing to give his life for his country to be sold out by reporters, JAG ticket punchers, liberals, jihadist propaganda fighters and the rest of the democrat party like psuedo-Marine Murtha. (may he rest in a special sewer in hell)

[Dick Vomer]

Thank you Phil Brennan and thanks Rover for your posts.

[RedRover]

My pleasure, Dick. Happy New Year to you!

[bray]

Our men are fighting a War, let them fight.

Pray for W and Our Marines

[freema]

I think in this case it’s ho.

Nifong, perhaps.

[Girlene]

Gary Solis, a military law professor at Georgetown University and a recognized scholar on the subject, said in an interview that he does not believe the Marine Corps has lost its way. But he and others said they do worry about the impact the prosecutions may be having on troops in the field. ...

.....and we have to be careful that the aggressive approach does not become a case of eating our young."

Seems even Gary Solis is realizing the full impact of all these prosecutions.

[Just A Nobody]

LOL! I agree!

[lilycicero]

If it is true “you are what you eat”...then Solis is a waffle.

[NormsRevenge]

Phil Brennan is the Defend Our Marines Man of the Year!

—

Sounds good to me.

Semper Fi