In the so-called Uniform Code of Military Justice, there is one word that absolutely does not belong, and that word is Justice! Justice in the United States military is a long running joke.
I will give my readers a little sample of common military injustice before going to the bigger injustices. A few years ago, an acquaintance of mine was being transferred to Japan from McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas. We’ll call him Ken, because that really was his name. After making his way from Wichita to the port he was to depart from, I believe it was near San Francisco, he was denied boarding, arrested, put in chains, removed from the airport, and held in confinement for several weeks, before being returned to Wichita, shackled and accompanied by two air policemen on a military aircraft commandeered for this sole purpose.
So you may wonder what this arch criminal’s crime was. Sedition? Murder? Espionage? Bank robbery or some other high crime? In reality it was no such thing. Prior to his transfer, he elected to take his 30-day leave to go visit family in North Dakota. His mail addressed to McConnell AFB was already being forwarded to Japan, where it successfully arrived, also containing his monthly statement from Mobil Oil Corporation, which was by this time in arrears by over 30 days, and the user friendly Mobil Oil Corporation contacted the lad’s squadron commander, who immediately pressed charges against poor Ken for bringing dishonor to the USAF.
After his return, a hearing with the colonels was held, and they found that there was cause to court martial him, in spite of the fact that he had paid the $38 bill the moment he received it back from Japan. A court martial was held, and he was of course convicted, sentenced to one year at Ft. Leavenworth, loss of all pay, and a reduction in rank to Airman Basic, then drummed out of the military under a dishonorable discharge. Needless to say, this idealistic young man’s life was ruined forever.
More recently, several U.S. Marines stood trial for the murder of 24 men, women, and children, including an elderly man in a wheelchair. Their attack on a private residence was payback for a roadside IED that had gone off, dismembering Lance Corporal Miguel Terraza, a 20 year young marine. It is quite understandable that the squadron’s leader, Staff Sgt. Frank G. Wuterich, was angry. But he lost it, ordering his men to attack anybody and anything that moved. “Shoot now, ask questions later,” he ordered.
This criminal act took place in November of 2005, over six years ago, and it took the military all that time to investigate (?) this massacre, which has been declared to be the My Lai massacre of Iraq.
On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, so called Justice was finally meted out to the instigator of this horrific war crime, a maximum of 90 days in the brig, but due to a plea deal he will serve none of that, plus a reduction in rank and subsequent pay grade. It all amounts to not even a slap on the wrist.
The mass murderer originally faced 152 years in prison on a variety of charges related to so-called “involuntary manslaughter” as well as assault with a deadly weapon and three counts of dereliction of duty. Had this been a German soldier after WWII, he would have been brought before the Nüremberg trials and promptly executed. But the victors write the history books, as always, and mete out the punishments to those they feel are the ones responsible for “war crimes.” They are also the ones that define war crimes to suit their own purposes, and in this instance, taking bloody revenge on 24 innocent civilians in their home obviously was not considered a crime.
Jamie Douglas
San Rafael, Mendoza
I encourage you to write to me, jamie@expatdailynews.com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel related business. My advice is based on my own experiences, and is free of charge. (Donations accepted). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.
To read more of Jamie’s opinion articles, see Voices From Exile. You can also contact Jamie at jamie.douglas [at] yahoo.com
See more expat articles at Expat Daily News Latin America
See more expat articles at Expat Daily News Latin America
I don't believe it, at least not the first part of the story. First, half the @#$^&^ American army is late on their bills and they don't get court martialed for it. Second, Mobil Oil does not contact squadron commanders over $38 bills. If this were a true story at least the media would have been all over it.
ReplyDeleteIt is showing how American's feel about the truth: Nobody gives a damn about the murders of the 24 Iraqis committed but I received several messages questioning the veracity of my description of the Airman involved. I attended his quickie court martial with his pseudo defense attorney, with the poor guy from Mobil Oil having been subpoenaed all the way from I believe is was. When he tried to correct the record, that the bill was paid, his remarks were struck. And why would the press cover such a trivial affair? The barely cover murder.
DeleteOne USAF man goes through a court martial, one year in military prison then drummed out of the military under a dishonorable discharge - a ruined life - because of an unpaid oil bill and, US Marines receive less punishment for murdering 24 unarmed civilians? Sounds perfectly reasonable, right?
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of people in the States who are outraged over the lack of appropriate punishment, but they do not get the media attention. The actual case itself barely got traction and now most people have forgotten about it, thanks to the election, American Idol, and a million other things.
ReplyDeleteAll the monday-morning-quarterbacking here. Who gives a rats ass about the Iraqis? They don't care about themselves, how many have died since we left at they'er own hands? I don't hear any uproar about Muslim on Muslim violence/murder happening in that cat box every day. But one young Marine loses it because of the bullshit/stress he has to deal with everyday trying to keep his squad alive and he is crucified in the liberal media. I say unless you have been there, keep your mouth shut. Enough said by me.
ReplyDeleteTrace, US Army, Retired
By your flawed logic, 15,000 American kill each other every year without the help of the Iraqis! But I am sure you don't give a rat's ass about that either. As long as your membership to the NRA does not lapse. Funny how Americans always have the best excuses for their young soldiers in unjust wars from Vietnam, to Grenada, to Panama, to Iraq.Remember My Lai? Panama City?
Delete"Who gives a rats ass about the Iraqis?"
DeleteAmerican exceptionalism at it's finest ....
Congratulations though 'Trace' on living up to Henry Kissinger's description of military men....
Henry Kissinger was speaking about you when he referred to military men as "dumb, stupid animals to be used" as pawns for foreign policy.
You're a barbarian 'Trace' and you would be the first to cry out if 24 of your UNARMED buddies were slaughtered by an Iraqi 'terrorist'
this is so intresting post to read it..
ReplyDelete