H/T: Drillanwr at Pat Dollard
By Chris Hill 12/30/2008
THE HADITHA CASE IN BRIEF...
Eight Marines were originally charged Dec. 21, 2006, with crimes related to the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians during a bloody, door-to-door sweep in the town of Haditha. The deaths occurred after 1 Marine was killed and others were wounded by a roadside bomb Nov. 19, 2005. Evidence of a massacre never materialized, and the original reports by the news media, as well as slanderous comments by Congressman John Murtha (D-PA), have been thoroughly discredited.
Initially, four enlisted men were charged with unpremeditated murder, and four officers were accused of failing to properly investigate. To date, charges have been dismissed against six Marines, while one was found not guilty on all counts in courts-martial. In June 2008, a military judge dismissed charges against Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani, who was the battalion commander at the time, after finding the case was improperly influenced by an investigator. Prosecutors have sought a new trial and a decision is pending. The sole remaining defendant is the squad leader, Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, whose court-martial is not yet scheduled.
This Marine needs our help or he will become the sacrificial lamb. With only a couple of weeks left in the Bush Administration, I am asking that every one of you call the White House public comments line at 202-456-1111, fax the President at 202-456-2461 or send an email to comments@whitehouse.gov and ask that Staff Sgt Wuterich be pardoned. Better yet, take five minutes from your day and do all three. As I have said many times before, if you ever wonder if our brave men and women in uniform would do the same for you, remember: THEY ALREADY ARE.
We have proven we can shape policy with our collective voices. Now let's prove that we can right wrongs. You have your marching orders troops. Let's give Staff Sgt Wuterich the fire support he deserves. Manchu.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/nationworld/story/578770.html
http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm
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2nd Lt. Christopher Loudon graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Baccalaureate Degree in Environmental Health in 2005. Upon graduation, he entered the United States Army on September 9, 2005. He received his commission as an Infantry officer and was assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq in July 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 2nd Lt. Loudon’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Ranger Tab.He was KIA in Baghdad, Iraq when an IED detonated near his vehicle. Also killed with him were; Corporal David M. Unger, 21, of Leavenworth, Kansas ;Corporal Russell G. Culbertson III, 22, of Amity, Pennsylvania and Specialist Joseph C. Dumas Jr., 25, of New Orleans, Louisiana.He leaves behind his parents, Randy and Susan Loudon ; his wife, Jacey Loudon ; a daughter, Isabel Loudon ; two brothers, First Lieutenant Nicholas Loudon ,and Jonathan Loudon ; his paternal grandmother, Florence Loudon and his maternal grandfather, Everett William Campbell.
