Canadian Sniper Hero Faces Court Martial

The London Daily Telegraph ^ | April 25, 2002 | David Rennie in Washington

[Slam]

THE Canadian military has been accused of excessive "squeamishness", after recalling a sniper hailed for his bravery in Afghanistan to face a court martial for shouting at a chaplain.

Master Cpl Arron Perry is one of five Canadian snipers nominated for a Bronze Star by American commanders for saving the lives of US troops during missions to root out die-hard Taliban and al-Qa'eda fighters in mountains.

Cpl Perry has been sent back to Canada to face, instead of a hero's welcome, a court martial on discipline charges, reported to be in connection with threatening remarks he is alleged to have made to the Canadian chaplain during a "stress debriefing".

The sniper is also under investigation in connection with a photograph showing the corpse of an Afghan fighter with a cigarette in its mouth and bearing a sign reading "F*** terrorism". He denies responsibility for the photograph, which was taken during combat.

Cpl Perry is now confined to the city of Edmonton, forbidden from carrying a weapon, and working in a supply role.

"Look at what they did to me," he said. "This is how they show their appreciation to me, by sending me back to Canada."

Military experts yesterday denounced what they called Canada's culture of disdain for its armed services, despite their courageous record in two world wars, as well as in the Korean war and numerous peacekeeping operations.

Canadian commanders have been unusually sensitive to any hint of misconduct since a scandal involving Canadian commandos serving as peacekeepers in Somalia, who beat a teenager to death while he was in their custody.

American plans to award Bronze Stars to all five Canadians have now been delayed.

[Slam]

War is the ugliest of all businesses. It is the worst, the most despicable thing we humans do to each other. We ask young men to do the work of the devil For US (we sanction it)and then are amazed when they don't act like angels?

[RippleFire]

a court martial for shouting at a chaplain

What next, failure to raise a pinkie while sipping tea?

[My Identity]

"This is how they show their appreciation to me, by sending me back to Canada."

Oh, the horror, the horror.

[Argus]

American plans to award Bronze Stars to all five Canadians have now been delayed.

Why? These guys deserve not just medals, but instant US citizenship. If Canada doesn't want her own heroes, we should welcome them here.

[Bigg Red]

Maybe this young man should have gone to Pali and al Queda combat school where he would do less shocking things such as disemboweling and dismembering dead combatants and targeting civilians.

[Slam]

Absolutely...and from what I understand there was some mighty fine shooting involved....a perishing skill.

[AUgrad]

Cpl Perry has been sent back to Canada to face, instead of a hero's welcome, a court martial on discipline charges, reported to be in connection with threatening remarks he is alleged to have made to the Canadian chaplain during a "stress debriefing".

A sniper has one of the most stressful, dirtiest and least appreciated jobs in the world. So what if he blows a little steam. They should cut him some slack.

[Camerican]

Just one more reason that I FLED Canada for the U.S. 2 years ago. Too bad the news story didn't include a copy of the oh-so horrible photo. It would have been a good psy-op drop for the Taliban holdouts.

[general_re]

...and from what I understand there was some mighty fine shooting involved...

Indeed, if he's the one who made the shot described on this thread.

[DSHambone]

I'd trade any chaplain for his weight in main gun ammo - about four rounds.

[Tacis]

Perhaps, the Cpl. should suggest that the chaplain fondled him and made inappropriate advances, as chaplains do, and that is why he yelled at the pervert.

[jlogajan]

This is the same logic that football players at high schools and colleges use to get favored treatment.

Look, in the military there is a chain of command. MacAurthur might have wanted to chew Truman out, but the chain of command works the other way.

[Demosthenes]

No doubt, and by the way, I'd LOVE a coppy of that picture....

[Slam]

1700 metres...yup, not bad, not bad at all.

Uh, come to think of it, rather good.

Quite.

[Slam]

huh?

[spunkets]

"We ask young men to do the work of the devil For US...

It's not the work of the devil at all. It's a person's work of defending Life and Freedom against the onslaught of muderous jihadist will. There's nothing sinister, or evil about the deliberate destruction of the forces of evil.

[Slam]

okay.

[norton]

Read the article - they cite a "stress counseling session" or some similar warm fuzzy activity.
From the other comments (quotes) I'd guess the Corporal yelled out that he didn't much need the chaplain's "counseling".
Guy sounds like he likes his job and resents wasting his training and skills while the rest of the team remains on line and under threat of similar punishment for it.

[Grig]

The 'culture of distain' belongs to the Liberal Party of Canada (who recently bought old broken down subs for the military and shiny new executive jets for themselves) not to the nation of Canada.

[another cricket]

"We ask young men to do the work of the devil

What do you want to bet the chaplain said something similar?

a.cricket