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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
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July 3rd,
2007 - Arrest of GI from Laredo Stuns Family News article by San Antonio
Express-News |
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Arrest of GI from Laredo Stuns
Family By Mariano Castillo San Antonio Express-News July 3, 2007 Laredo - At Martin High
School, Jorge Sandoval Jr. was known as one of the most dedicated members of
its JROTC unit - the type of kid who participated in everything from the
Color Guard to the Armed Drill Team. But after last week, when
Sandoval was arrested here and charged with murder in the death of an Iraqi
civilian and accused of trying to cover it up by placing a weapon by the
body, family and friends are trying to reconcile the young man they know with
the soldier accused of killing an unarmed civilian. Sandoval and Staff Sgt.
Michael Hensley of Candler, N.C., were charged the same day with murder,
obstruction of justice and planting a weapon, according to a military news
release. Three Iraqis were killed in
separate incidents between April and June near Iskandariyah, 30 miles south
of Baghdad, the military said. The investigation stems from
"three alleged unjustified killings during recent military operations in
Iraq," the Army statement said. "He's just a
straight-up guy," the accused Laredo soldier's sister Sandra said. Sandoval, a specialist, had
been back home on a two-week leave from Iraq - he celebrated his 22nd
birthday and became a godparent to his baby niece - before being arrested at
his home and moved to Kuwait, the Army said. Sandoval had never been in
trouble with the law and had appeared to make many right choices, his sister
said, leaving those who know him scratching their heads about what happened
near Iskandariyah, Iraq. The killings happened in
that mostly Sunni Arab city south of Baghdad in April and June of this year,
officials said. "When he would wear the
uniform, he looked like he was already a seasoned soldier," said Sgt.
Maj. Velton Locklear, a JROTC instructor at Martin High who admired
Sandoval's "hard-charging" attitude in the program. "I'm almost
speechless" at the news, he said. Meanwhile, on Sunday a third
soldier from Sandoval's unit was arrested and faces similar charges. Sgt. Evan Vela, of Phoenix,
Idaho, was charged with murder, making a false official statement and
obstruction of justice. All three soldiers are
assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501st
Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, based at
Fort Richardson, Alaska. If convicted of murder, the
trio could face the death penalty. That possibility sounds
incompatible with the reputation Sandoval earned from his family and among
his peers. Sandoval had enlisted right
out of high school and had started his first tour in Iraq last September,
Sandra Sandoval said. "He does not deserve to
be in custody," she said. His parents were too
distraught to speak - Jorge Sandoval Sr. became physically ill as a result of
the news - but the family believes Sandoval is innocent. "Deep down I would say
I'm a little disappointed," Locklear said, but added, "I don't
think any less of Jorge." The Associated Press
contributed to this report. External link: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA070307.01A.soldier_reax.363209b.html Soldier Claims Innocence in
Iraqi Deaths The Associated Press July 3, 2007; 11:08 PM Candler, N.C. - A soldier
charged with killing Iraqi civilians and trying to cover up the deaths told
his parents he is not guilty, and that "all my kills are
legitimate," a newspaper reported Tuesday. Staff Sgt. Michael A.
Hensley, of Candler, N.C., and Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval Jr., of Laredo, Texas,
are accused of killing three Iraqis and placing weapons on their bodies to
portray them as combatants. "First thing all of you
should know is that all my kills are legitimate and I am innocent of these
charges," Hensley wrote in an e-mail to his parents Thursday, the day he
was charged, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported. Hensley's parents are
missionaries in Macedonia. They told the newspaper that the e-mail was the
last communication they had with their son, who revealed nothing about the
circumstances around the deaths. Military prosecutors said
the deaths occurred separately between April and June near Iskandariyah, a
mostly Sunni Arab city south of Baghdad. The investigation began
after military authorities received reports of alleged wrongdoing from fellow
soldiers, the Army has said. Hensley and Sandoval were
charged last week with three counts each of premeditated murder, obstructing
justice and "wrongfully placing weapons with the remains of deceased
Iraqis." Sgt. Evan Vela, of Phoenix,
Idaho, was charged Sunday with one count of premeditated murder, making a
false official statement and obstruction of justice, the military said. All three soldiers are
assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501st
Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, based at
Fort Richardson, Alaska. They are being held in pretrial confinement. © 2007 The Associated Press External link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/03/AR2007070302472_pf.html |