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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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June 7th,
2008 - Marine Hero Now Accused of Crimes |
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Marine Hero Now Accused of Crimes By Tony Perry Los Angeles Times June 7, 2008 Marine Sgt. John Winnick II
is charged with voluntary manslaughter in the killing of two Iraqi civilians
last year in the Lake Tharthar area of Anbar province. An Article 32 - the
military's equivalent of a preliminary hearing - may be held as early as next
week at Camp Pendleton. Winnick is a sniper attached to the 3rd Battalion,
1st Marine Regiment. In 2004, while also serving
with the Three-One, his quick thinking and aggressiveness during the battle
for Fallouja were extolled by author Bing West in his book "No True
Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah." From page 291, describing the
action as Marines were in a house-to-house fight with insurgents: "They rushed down to
the street. As they moved up the alley, Lance Corporal John Winnick, a
machine-gunner, ran toward (Lt. Jesse) Grapes with an RPG (rocket-propelled
grenade) launcher and a bag full of rockets. 'Sir can I shoot these back at
them?' Winnick yelled. 'Do you know how to use that
thing?' Grapes asked. Winnick had never held or
fired an RPG. "Yes, sir. Fired one in a threat weapons course!' Winnick
said. 'Then start firing!'" Winnick fired twice, blowing
open a gate and then hitting a fuel drum inside a house as Marines cheered.
"In minutes the fire had spread through the first floor, and the
insurgents had fled." External link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/06/marine-sgt-john.html |