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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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August 28th,
2007 - Marines Standing Behind Wuterich in his Connecticut Hometown |
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Marines Standing Behind
Wuterich in his Connecticut Hometown By Associated Press August 28, 2007 Meriden, Conn. - Ronald
Perry and Bill Hesse have never met Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, but
they consider him a brother. They will be watching with
interest as Wuterich, a native of this small New England town, goes before a
military judge in California this week charged with the unpremeditated murder
of 18 Iraqi civilians - including women and children - in the village of
Haditha. The two Vietnam-era Marines
have donated to Wuterich's defense fund and helped convince the city's Marine
Corps League to do the same. Like many this small central
Connecticut city, Perry and Hesse view Wuterich not as a killer, but as a
patriot and hometown hero, caught in the political turmoil of an unpopular war. "He was in charge of a
group of men, Marines, and it was his job to protect them," said Perry,
sitting in his office above the Marine Corps League's thrift shop downtown.
"As the sergeant in charge, he did, I think, what he was supposed to do.
I've been in situations relatively close to that in Vietnam, and we did the
exact same thing." The Iraqis died when a
Marine squad launched a house-to-house assault Nov. 19, 2005, following a
roadside bomb blast that killed a Marine driver. Wuterich was among four
Marines charged with murder, while four others were charged with dereliction
of duty for failing to investigate the deaths. Prosecutors have since dropped
charges against several Marines in the case. Wuterich joined the Marines
while still attending Platt High School in Meriden in 1997. A musician and
actor in high school, he wanted to play in the Marine Corps band, but did not
make the cut. He had never been in combat
before Haditha. In Wuterich's hometown, a
city of about 60,000 that was once a major silver manufacturing center, there
are plenty of American flags, yellow ribbons and other visible tributes to
the troops in Meriden. In one instance, a home on the Chamberlain Highway displays
more than a dozen flags and signs of support behind a red, white, and blue
picket fence. He had never been in combat
before Haditha. His parent's pride in their
son can be seen in their blue ranch-style house with red shutters and white
doors. It is decorated with an American flag quilt with the Pledge of
Allegiance stitched into it that is attached to the front door. Bumper
stickers on the family car read, "My son is a U.S. Marine,"
"Semper Fi," and "Defend the Defenders." They did not return telephone
calls or respond to knocks on their door seeking comment for this story. Jim Bancroft, with the
pro-war group Gathering of Eagles, said the group approached Wuterich's
parents about organizing a rally or fundraiser and were instead directed to a
Web site to donate money. "They are very private
people," he said. "When push comes to shove, people do support his
actions, and the actions of the other Marines over there. We all regret the
deaths of innocent civilians, but there is no proof that anyone meant to kill
any civilians." Many in town don't even know
Wuterich is from Meriden. There are no jars on local convenience store
counters to contribute money for Wuterich's defense, no banners proclaiming
his innocence. Paul Demato, 38, was
surprised when he learned of the accusations, but acknowledged the troops
must be under intense pressure and fear, never knowing when a roadside bomb
will go off. "It's just a big
mess," Damato said. "I could tell you, 'Yeah they need to be nice
to the people there,' but me, I'd shoot anything that moved." Hesse said he believes Frank
Wuterich is being made a scapegoat, and he said that is the real crime. "You can hate the
president or Congress, and love this country," he said. "You can
hate war, and love a Marine." External link: http://tinyurl.com/ys7f6l |