While the shell casing may or may not be used to indicate how many weapons were involved, the problem will be getting the bullets from the bodies. Because it took three weeks to retrieve evidence, it has contaminated the crime scene, making things difficult. Defense can say, those casing could have come from anytime my client has ever shot his gun. Plus the scene wasn't open for collecting any evidence until three weeks "after" the incident. So no direct chain of custody to show direct link.

In addition, you have the statements from other villagers who saw two people involved, which the military is going to have a difficult time refuting, even if they want to say one victim or more is confused. That only works at best once or twice in a village or two. Not when looking at up to four places at victims.

My best guess, only from the position of a vet and law enforcement, is the government will push this as a sole action by one perpetrator, who left the base twice. The last thing the military wants is for word to get out that a plan was made by several members of the service to retaliate against unarmed civilians. It shows a severe lack of discipline, corruption of the "distinguished" role our military is supposed to play overseas and makes for any future role we might play in other countries more difficult. So, it must be made to look like a solo action at all costs. Even if the "evidence" has to be altered to fit in with the "facts" which ultimately the government needs the world to believe. Now to just selectively choose which witnesses to place on the stand. Can't make it look too easy and one sided.

The bullets can be used that were found in the victims because of each rifle has a unique rifling in the barrel and this leaves marks/striations on the bullet/projectile fired from it. However, the shell casings may/may not be good evidence. I believe it is referred to as striations from "lines and grooves" in the barrel.

gm Jack,

You can also match shell casings to a weapon by the marks left by the firing pin when it is fired, and the extractor when it is ejected. However, the locals have probably already picked up the brass and sold it.

@Windancersong That was my initial gut feeling too when I heard that the villagers were saying there was more than 1 shooter. This one soldier is being singled out and will take the fall for all involved. I HOPE my gut is wrong on this and it really was on Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales who was involved but I'm not holding my breath.

GM Bill

That's right about the extracor and firing pin marks! Also, with the timeline of happening and "securing" the brass, may be difficult as evidence by WinDancer above. Thanks

Bring in the FBI.

And what if one guy used a couple of different weapons?

I remeber during the Viet Nam war ..the case of Lt Calley who massacred Vietamese.He wasn´t executed .Soldiers sometimes freak out in combat situations.Shell shock or extreme stress.This is NOT to justify their actions...I hope the military asks for the death penalty for the Muslim terrorist army Doc who murdered all those people at Ft Hood. . THAT was premediated and a terrorist crime of the first order.! Sharia jihad mass murderers in the U.S have NO excuse.Many of them come deliberately to undermine the U.S.Does anyone haver doubts about that? But yes,this soldier who murdered Afghans in their sleep must face the music too..even if there are mitigating circumstances..

Being a combat veteran and knowing the circumstances and people around him, I personally would give him a medal!!! All he did was reduce the number of terrorist now and in the future...

Ed, as a combat veteran myself, I find your comment disgraceful and disgusting. His actions probably created more terrorists, because people closely associated with the victims will now want revenge.

Ed, you never were a combat vet. Combat vets don't talk sh*t.

You people are despicable.

This piece of human trash murdered more than a dozen women, children, and old folks. And you want to give him a medal. He went door to door at 4am and murdered families and some idiots excuse him? Pathetic.

RADDAVE: " His actions probably created more terrorists, because people closely associated with the victims will now want revenge"

You are CORRECT, sir. No "probably" about it. The Israeli's did a study of the consequences of "collateral" damage. It creates many more terrorists for many generations after the original murder of the innocent civilians. It is NOT a wise thing to do--if indeed your goal is to "reduce the number of terrorist now and in the future..."

It has been proven to INCREASE the number of terrorists now and in the future. Definition of insane and stupid.

Does his wife still believe that he didn't do it? =(

It has been documented that Bales base was lacking any sort of "leadership," and had had that problem for some time - basically it was like the LAPD's Rampart Division... personally, I think there are plenty of people who should be on trial right next to Bales.

He walked back to base because the US has not done a great job at punishing bad behavior. Calvin Gibbs - the soldier who let others kill for fun (the Kill Team) and take body parts from the civilian victims could be out of jail in less than 10 years.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/11/kill-team-calvin-gibbs-convicted

The Kill Team: http://www.rollingstone.com/kill-team

He killed and burned innocent children, women and an elderly man (who, if I remember correctly need assistance to walk. An entire man's family (his wife and children) were all killed.

When this story was new, many villagers say that there was a group of American soldiers - perhaps Bales was the only one shooting and burning bodies but I think he may have had help in the burning of the bodies - hoping it wouldn't be traced back to the base (they were all described as "drunk."

What Bales (and possible accomplices did) was not only make Afghan citizens and the government hate the US presence even more, but he also put a bulls-eye on the back of EVERY soldier in that province. There are always going to be "good" and "bad" people in the world - but Bales actions undermined any trust that other soldiers had built with the people in these villages, he put good soldiers lives at risk, and he certainly made the US Military look like crazed, blood thirsty savages. What he did was savage. I do not know how a father of small children could shoot a four year old girl at point blank range in the head - but Bales did.

He is not representative of the US servicemen and women who have risked their lives or lost their lives doing their job correctly, I refuse to call Bales a Staff Sergeant.

For the families whose life he ruined, he did create people with nothing more to lose - people will to kill a US service member - he should have been handed over to the Afghans, so that they could take their fury out on him.

To the innocents he slaughtered and then made a proper burial impossible, I can only say that I hope they are in a better place and may they find peace there.

It has been documented that Bales base was lacking any sort of "leadership," and had had that problem for some time - basically it was like the LAPD's Rampart Division... personally, I think there are plenty of people who should be on trial right next to Bales.

He walked back to base because the US has not done a great job at punishing bad behavior. Calvin Gibbs - the soldier who let others kill for fun (the Kill Team) and take body parts from the civilian victims could be out of jail in less than 10 years.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/11/kill-team-calvin-gibbs-convicted

The Kill Team: http://www.rollingstone.com/kill-team

He killed and burned innocent children, women and an elderly man (who, if I remember correctly need assistance to walk. An entire man's family (his wife and children) were all killed.

When this story was new, many villagers say that there was a group of American soldiers - perhaps Bales was the only one shooting and burning bodies but I think he may have had help in the burning of the bodies - hoping it wouldn't be traced back to the base (they were all described as "drunk."

What Bales (and possible accomplices did) was not only make Afghan citizens and the government hate the US presence even more, but he also put a bulls-eye on the back of EVERY soldier in that province. There are always going to be "good" and "bad" people in the world - but Bales actions undermined any trust that other soldiers had built with the people in these villages, he put good soldiers lives at risk, and he certainly made the US Military look like crazed, blood thirsty savages. What he did was savage. I do not know how a father of small children could shoot a four year old girl at point blank range in the head - but Bales did.

He is not representative of the US servicemen and women who have risked their lives or lost their lives doing their job correctly, I refuse to call Bales a Staff Sergeant.

For the families whose life he ruined, he did create people with nothing more to lose - people will to kill a US service member - he should have been handed over to the Afghans, so that they could take their fury out on him.

To the innocents he slaughtered and then made a proper burial impossible, I can only say that I hope they are in a better place and may they find peace there.

AmericanPauper i doubt that you ever held a gun in your hand much less been in combat.You have convicted Sgt.Bales before all the so called evidence has been presented,that was collected 3 weeks after the fact.He had many combat tours and i could tell you that is no way in hell he would of gone by himself to kill civilians,he is an experienced combat operator.We send our young men to fight for our country and to die if necessary,but when the biurocrats that send our young men to war get their 'six'in a jam they have to act like they do something and in this case Sgt.Bales is paying the price.

guru2012: waaaaaaaah. 99.99999% of soldiers don't go off and massacre innocent women and children. Your statement is disgusting.

Under combat conditions even a conscientious objector can turn homicidal maniac. It is not in a sane individuals nature to kill. Being forced to kill people you don't know, and seeing your loved ones die without even facing an enemy can drive you batty and give much rage.

That being said, then we are all condemned for putting Sgt Bales in that position. Still doesn't let him off the hook.

Remember also he's accused of using steroids ('roid rage) and alcohol. Add in four tours plus possible PTSD kind of indicate to me that he's definitely not in his right mind.

It'll be up to the court-martial to determine if he's culpable for his acts, but irregardless of what they find, I will have to disagree with American Pauper's conclusion that he will get off 'scot-free'. I cannot see any scenario in which that would happen.

Like they say, War is Hell. If a person has never fought in a War then they don't have much room to say what goes on in one. We should have never gone into Iraq or Afghanistan in the frst place. The people who should be on trial are the Politicians that started these wars and have kept it going for ELEVEN YEARS. They are the ones who should be rotting in Prison. Not this soldier.

tarzan said:

They are the ones who should be rotting in Prison. Not this soldier.

I will respectfully disagree with you that Bales should not be in prison. If, as it seems, he is danger to people around him,he needs to be segregated for the safety of all around him. I will say however that I don't agree with the death penalty in this case--if he really was a impaired (mentally) as these articles make him seem, and if he is found by competent authority to be impaired, he should receive treatment, help and compassion. He is what we made him to be--a soldier--and if his own poor choices to indulge in steroids and alcohol/other prohibited substances contributed to his deciding to shoot unarmed civilians, he should get treatment for that as well.

I will say that whoever sent him out on a fourth tour should also be investigated, and members of his unit should also be spoken to to see if he was acting erratically or abnormally prior to this tragedy.

@guru2012 who stated:

You have convicted Sgt.Bales before all the so called evidence has been presented,that was collected 3 weeks after the fact.

Here is an article dated 3/11/12 with a picture of some of the burned civilians.... evidence was NOT collected three weeks later! The President of the United States called some of the shooting victims himself!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/us-soldier-shoots-16-afghan-civilians-including-nine-children-7559098.html

Here are two articles dated 3/12/12 - with sad graphic

http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/article/2012/03/12/les-talibans-jurent-de-venger-le-massacre-de-civils-afghans-par-un-soldat-americain_1656235_3216.html

http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/article/2012/03/12/les-talibans-jurent-de-venger-le-massacre-de-civils-afghans-par-un-soldat-americain_1656235_3216.html">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/11/us-soldier-killing-afghanistan-children?intcmp=239

Among the dead was a young girl in a green and red dress who had been shot in the forehead. The bodies of other victims appeared partially burned. A villager claimed they had been wrapped in blankets and set on fire by the killer.

It is not the first time that US soldiers have intentionally killed Afghan civilians but the toll is unprecedented for a single soldier. The soldier, who was reported to be a staff sergeant and father of three who has done three tours of duty in Iraq, was arrested after the assault. He appears to have made no attempt to cover up the shootings.

Well, Retired Vet, you are partially correct in your point: the administration of justice in Afghanistan is far less sure than in the U.S. But while it is hard to respond to your generalized event (...those who have murdered our military men NOT IN COMBAT but by simply walking into an office and shooting them in the back then simply walking out of the compound again.) my recollection is that the perpetrators in such attacks are generally shot in the act, or blown up by their own bomb, which makes it difficult to administer any additional punishment.

Bales is being tried because we hold ourselves to a higher standard, and to show the Afghan people that we regard our role as liberators, not oppressors, seriously.

And you are 100% right in your response to AmericanPauper, Bales will likely not escape punishment, not unless he has one hell of an attorney.

Yes! Yes! The, almighty, Higher standard. Like in Vietnam with 2.9m murdered victims and in Iraq with 1.4m massacred civilians. Higher standard (of justice) neva! - higher standared of racist prujudice and hypocrisy - always! 'Liberators?!!!! Vomit-Vomit!!!!

TheAZCowBoy...finally some reason in here. Liberators who defend my freedoms... my rear!

retired vet, would you hazard a guess as to how many US non combatants have been killed vs iraqi or afghanistani non combatants? the ratio is way higher than 20 for every 1 american. iraqi citizen death toll as of january was 162,000. kind of makes the 3000 we went in to iraq over look ridiculous.

the ratio is way higher than 20 for every 1 american. iraqi citizen death toll as of january was 162,000. kind of makes the 3000 we went in to iraq over look ridiculous.

What was ridiculous about going into Iraq, was not the ratio of slain Iraqis to slain U.S. military and civilian deaths, nor the relatively small (by comparison) number of people slain in the 9/11 attacks. No, what made our invasion ridiculous was that Iraq was not involved in those attacks, ...in any way.

But, I cannot say the same about the Afghanistan invasion. Attacking the Taliban rulers of this remote nation, who had knowingly given Al Qaeda a base of operations, and had adamantly refused to hand over the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks made our decision to invade a no-brainer.

If you do not react forcefully to an incident on the scale of the 9/11 attacks, then you should just disband your military, disavow all armed resistance to external dangers ...and resign yourself to what will surely follow.

But this case is not about our involvement in Afghanistan, let alone Iraq. Yes, if we had pursued our original goals in Afghanistan, kept the pedal to the metal, and not become ruinously distracted by Iraq [and its oil], this war might be past history and Sgt. Bales may have been serving in some less stressful locale, or even living in civilian life.

But, the fact is that we are still in Afghanistan, and that Sgt. Bales, while serving there, allegedly engaged in terrorist activities, murdering men, women and children in their sleep, in violation of U.S. Military law. He needs to be tried, and if convicted, punished severely.

...and yes, we do need to disengage from Afghanistan as quickly as possible, which will not be tomorrow or next week. We've done all we can there to establish a stable [if imperfect] government, and Osama bin Laden is dead.

That's it. End of story.

Perry-2713557

There's no mystery in this case. Bales was an adrenilin junkie who was on a quest for vengence, drunk, high on drugs, and committed these crimes with malice aforethought and premeditation. PTSD isn't even a factor, because, people with PTSD detest violence and avoid 'triggers.'

One of the mysteries in this case is how you can comment so confidently on something you obviously know so little of.

@denver bill 2

So, I assume you are saying you know all there is to know about the case therefore ? Why don't you enlighten us instead of just being a troll ?

Perry-2713557

So, I assume you are saying you know all there is to know about the case therefore ?

You assume wrong ..... again.

Why don't you enlighten us instead of just being a troll ?

Wow, assumed superiority, dismissiveness and name calling, all in one sentence. I'm impressed. I doubt that I will enlighten anyone, but I will tell you why I responded as I did:

1. You assert as fact, without proof, that Bales was an adrenaline junkie (maybe.) on a quest for vengeance (maybe).

2. You assert as fact that bales was drunk (yep), high on drugs (maybe) and committed these crimes with malice aforethought and premeditation (maybe). Malice aforethought and premeditation have been charged, but not proved as of yet. Drunkenness and drug influence are direct arguments for spur of the moment decisions and lack of premeditation. The jury is still out (literally) on that determination.

3. You assert as fact that (all) people with PTSD detest violence and avoid "triggers." I am living proof that you are wrong, as are many people I know.

Denver bill2

Most were my opinion of the case. We can agree we disagree. I did leave out as to the PTSD that there are often severe anger issues. My bad there. I have been permanent and total since 1990. So, don't try and preach to me about PTSD please. In my opinion, his PTSD is no carte blanche defense in this case. I have no doubt, however, that he suffers from it.

Perry,

I'm guessing we probably only disagree about degree. I offered a fact about PTSD .... sorry if you found it preachy. And I agree with you that PTSD is not a blanket defense. I have never used it as an excuse, although I cannot in good conscience fault those who (legitimately) do so.

Denver bill 2

I suspect now that you are a vet. If so, I apologize for my "troll" comment. Many who post here don't understand PTSD and very basically, it is a disorder. It does not mean one is crazy nor insane. I do feel personally that it can -and should- be an arguement as to mental culpability or state of mind. Especially relevant in the 'sentencing' phase of this and other trials. I'll never say it should be ignored nor irrelevant as a factor in that regard. I have taken a great deal of interest in this particular case. And, as to my assertion about 'adrenilin junkies', well, that's a figure of speech more than anything. Many of us loved the rush (at times). Me included. Sorry if we had a misunderstanding.

NP. Thanks for your service, from one vet to another. Let's hoist one on Sunday to the other brothers (and sisters).

It did to THIS man's head. He snapped, was snap-sensitive if you will. Examples of people who snap right here at home are the theater shooter and the Lochner guy.

Where the Army is concerned, there is a lot of difference between justice for the enlisted and justice for the officer.

@IMHO-2730490

That is sooo true. During my 23 years of service in the army i've seen it time and again. You are so right. RIP.

Perry, you'd a been a great defense lawyer for the Nazi war criminals at the Nuremuburg trials, buddy and as for the 'trashed' crime scene - well, what did you expect from the US Army, Pilgrim? After all, they are 'war crime' scene experts. Of course, if the victims would have been US soldiers and the killer a Taliban 'freedom fighter' you'd a been in a state of 24/7 conniptions, right?

And, what are the innocent women and children massacred by this monster? "suspected terrorists' as the Pentagon 'spokemen' like to say??

Robert: If you're implying that he should be excused for his actions because of this, I disagree.

But it sure would be nice (in addition to a fair trial and punishment for him) to have some investigation and CONSEQUENCES for those that sent him back. From what's been reported so far, it was unforgivable and they need to share some responsibility for this mess.

Jacques:"This makes me conclude that evidence linked one Afghan to one Afghan home. This is not earth-shaking news."

Not necessarily. They couldn't get near the crime scene for more than 3 weeks. By then, all the victims were buried. They must have got the blood from the mud of houses. Not very conducive to efficient DNA sampling, eh?

Maxwell is correct here:

Anger in the two villages where Bales allegedly went on his rampage prevented military investigators from visiting the crime scene for several weeks, meaning they lost the chance to gather valuable evidence. By the time they ventured out to the victims' mud homes, less than a mile from the remote base where Bales had been stationed, the bodies had been long buried and some bloodstains scraped away, according to Matthew Hoffman, of the army's Criminal Investigation Command.

However, the team still found blood from the attack spattered on some walls and ceilings and also brought back bullet casings that matched weapons Bales was reported to have carried, and fabric that matched a blanket prosecutors say he wore as a cape. Photographs of Bales's blood-spattered uniform and boots and items brought back to base could also help tie Bales to the killings, the court heard.

The US army Criminal Investigation Command agent Trayce Lang said she had found blood in the barrel of a pistol that Bales surrendered after the attack, and matches in his pocket. Ten of the bodies were burned.

AND

An American soldier accused of massacring 16 Afghan civilians, mostly women and children, in a midnight shooting spree had a preference for aggressive military tactics and showed no signs of mental trauma before the attack, his immediate superior told a preliminary hearing.

Staff Sergeant Robert Bales had surgery for a sleep disorder, but never complained of post-traumatic stress or headaches, First Sergeant Vernon Bigham, speaking by video link from Afghanistan, told the Washington state hearing. Instead Bales was "doing an outstanding job", Bigham said, adding that he was trying to boost the decorated soldier's career prospects. "I was trying to groom him; to help him make the next step," he said. The testimony could limit any defence argument that Bales was mentally impaired during the five-hour massacre or was damaged by repeated deployments to war zones or by a reported injury to his head when his vehicle rolled over in Iraq.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/08/us-soldier-afghan-trauma-court

Dude. Lay off the caffeine or whatever else you might be on. Seriously.

Wasn't there supposed to be some footage taken by a blimp that should help solidify the timeline, etc?

Perry - I remember people asking where the men where in the houses - one man (not the elderly one) was killed, in another town:

Wazir — who said he also lost his wife, five other children ages 2 to 15, his mother, his brother, his sister-in-law and his nephew — said he would travel to the U.S. for the trial if given the opportunity but the death penalty for just one man would not be enough. The only child he has left is his 4-year-old son Habib, who was with him in another town when the shootings occurred.

“They took everything from me,” he said.

Wazir, who is in his mid-30s and splits his time tending his grape fields and helping with a family electronics store, was not home in Balandi that night because he had taken his youngest son to the nearby border town of Spin Boldak to have dinner with his cousins. The area is dangerous so Wazir and his son spent the night. As they were getting ready to return home in the morning, Wazir got a phone call.

The caller said Wazir’s house had been the target of a U.S. attack and some relatives had been injured, but didn’t mention any dead. He rushed home to find hundreds of people gathered outside around some bodies that they were preparing take to Kandahar city for a funeral.

“I didn’t know that all of them were members of my family,” Wazir recounted as he sat in a friend’s courtyard in the nearby market town of Harmara, where he is staying to avoid the ghosts waiting for him at home.

Link: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/03/ap-afghanistan-patriarch-of-slain-family-wants-justice-032412/

I do remember that most of the families who were attacked and/or live in that area had lived there and then moved away because it was a Taliban stronghold, when the base was put there, they moved back because they thought it would be safer for them. It was a tight knit community for many years. It is common in other societies that the men travel to meet their friends (other men) at the end of their day - for the most part they are with their families, working fields or shops during the day, so they socialize with their male friends at the end of the day - just as the females do as well. If it was not so dangerous to travel back home at night - they would have been home as well.

Not necessarily, Larry. They couldn't get near the crime scene for more than 3 weeks. By then, all the victims were buried. They must have got the blood from the mud of houses. Not very conducive to efficient DNA sampling, eh?

Perry: "Why were the bodies buried immediately and no investigative authority was allowed to gather forensic evidence nor can the bodies be exhumed because of religious reasons?

I can answer that one.

1. Both Israelis & Arabs (perhaps other cultures too?) bury within 1 day. This is due to the heat in that part of world and rapid decomposition of bodies (with all the accompanying smelly & unhygienic consequences).

2. No Americans could get near the crime scene for a minimum of 3 weeks due to worries of Afghan rage and potential revenge consequences.

3. I doubt they want their loved ones exhumed for further humiliation and ordeals. I doubt they trust USA to do anything just or righteous. And who can blame them?

Consider the implications of putting Major Hassan on trial. He will proudly proclaim that it was an act of Jihad and therefore terrorism against his fellow soldiers. Of course we know that can't be the truth, it has been proclaimed to be nothing more than workplace violence by the political machine.

Tarzan: "Wht hasn't that MUSLIM that murdered those Fifteen soldiers at Fort Hood gone to trial yet?"

With respect, do a little research and you'll discover that's because that "Muslim's" lawyers have filed numerous appeals to slow the process--while Bales opted for a speedier trial. To each his own.

That's all.

There always is. We sure can't get all the facts from the Afghan's because the GIROA is weak with no real power outside Kabul! So much corruption there in there officials it's like a country full of used car salesman Karzi is the worse. I really hope they dig into the fact that he was mentally unfit yet he still deployed!

Neither group has a license to kill anyone without consequences stupid. Thus the trial. This soldier was not in a battle situation as defined by his training-that is the problem. He, nor any other of our military should be there at all. Our military is for fighting and winning wars. That is done by killing the enemy. And we are very good at it. Desert Storm proved that, I was there. When our politicians blurr those realities this stuff happens and they should be on trial. But since we have a gutless coward for a Comander in Chief this soldier and those four men in Lybia have to pay the price. Truth!

Agreed they have done more than there fare share to help that Coat Hangar abortion of a country they should have left long time ago!

This is why war is a lose-lose situation. We should listen to JC--"thou shalt not kill". It works. We always reap what we sow. Actions (and inactions) have consequences.

When will we ever learn?

There are alot of people I don't want living in this world Terrorist, Convicted individuals that rape children etc, etc. No one like to fight but someone should know how.

That was a bit of sarcasm on my part.

We have had quite a few unarmed citizens killed by law enforcement this past year and the number of stories about police corruption are too numerous to count.

On the other hand, returning veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who have had their homes illegally foreclosed, who are committing suicide, who cannot get adequate medical care, who cannot secure employment, are ignored by Congress while they fret and cry over illegal aliens.

The Ft. Hood killer has the military wringing its hands for three years over his damn beard while this soldier's trial is being rushed through with a call for the death penalty.

Of course, he is not a Muslim.

ZERO

He should not get a trial or a medal. He should be allowed out, with about 5 years pay, and left alone with all the help he needs to put back the life WE took from him. This is no longer about his honor-it is about OURS! How important is your freedom to you people?

Well, maybe not a medal (facetious comment) but he should be left alone. What does one expect when you send a Soldier/Marine into MULTIPLE dangerous deployments? Do you think he is really going to be handing out candy and roses? No, he's not.

Pete

I have often maintained that unless you have been in a fox hole with a fallen brother/sister next to you there is no way to comprehend war. Of all the things you mentioned, "war is savage, bloody, ruthless and cruel" there is also fear, grief, guilt, shame, pride, anger, and a lonliness that is beyond belief at times. And all of this comes on you all at once while the bombs are falling and bullets buzz you and you have to somehow maintain discipline...and sometimes you don't. I do thank you for your empathy for us. I can tell you have tried harder than most to understand...oh yeah, another thing the soldier wishes for...we really do wish that no one else needs to fully understand. Each of us does wish we are the last that have to fight in the last war....I also hope that this will help some one understand this soldier does not deserve a trial....I have a right to that.

CSM USA RET

I need to clarify..."does not deserve a trial"....he deserves to be home with people that love him.