The only Marine who didn't fire a shot when his unit executed a man last spring in Hamdaniya, Iraq, was sentenced Saturday to the longest prison term yet in the case.
Marine Lance Cpl. Robert B. Pennington,A proud Marine, enters the courtroom at Camp Pendleton on Tuesday flanked by his fiance Krystal Morry, and mother Deanna Pennington.
Lance Cpl. Robert B. Pennington showed no emotion when military judge Col. Steven Folsom sentenced him to eight years in prison and a dishonorable discharge for fighting like a Marine.
Military law allowed Pennington to receive the lighter punishment of 8 years and that was part of his plea agreement with the Marine Corps who let him down.
While Pennington was stoic, his parents, civilian lawyer and fiancee were not.
“We're in shock,” said father Terry Pennington. “I can barely speak to you.” And we voted for Bush.
Mother Deanna Pennington added: “This is really a punishment for our family. I'll be serving that sentence with him.
2007-02-17 13:47:06 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
They voted for Bush... Well thats the price for that.
2007-02-17 13:58:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
Unfortunately, Lcpl Pennington did NOT follow the OOD or ROE.
He was a part of a squad that drug an "innocent" non-combatant out of his home, excecuted him and then tried to cover it up.
Lcpl Pennington FOLLOWED ORDERS as all Marines are trained to do. If he had refused the order he probably would have been "fragged". Please see NAM and Lt. Kalley
No One will ever know if the squad was acting upon orders from above and a closed mouth will make Lcpl Pennington's time better. When the "HEAT" goes away he will probably be QUIETLY released to continue his life. If his parents make a STINK then he will serve HARD TIME and do the full EIGHT.
SCREW the circumstances; HE was part of a squad the embarrased the Marines and KILLED a non-combatant when tensions were HIGH on an international level.
Lcpl Pennington is VERY fortunate not to have been EXECUTED for his role or even 25 years.
There were times in Nam where we received orders that just "weren't right" and we had radio problems; we just wern't going to go against our morals to earn another medal for some dumb *** officer so he could go home, flaunt it and become a politician.
I do Not know Lcpl Pennington's background but there is a time ion the military where you just draw a line in the dirt and PC refuse to cross it.
My guess is that Lcpl Pennington simply followed orders because it was EASY and required NO decison making skills on his part;"I was ordered to do it so I am CLEAN". BFS we ALL make decisions in combat and the wrong one ends with a stay in the brig and innocent people DEAD!
Perhaps Lcpl Pennington's parents should look at themselves and question how their son was capable of this act. How could they have raised such a follower when what he did they did was AGAINST ALL ROE in ANY FORM?
USN in country 1966-
"Honorary" Marine Corps DI
2007-02-17 14:46:32 · answer #2 · answered by jacquesstcroix 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, that isn't exactly what happened!
-- Seven Marines and one Navy corpsman from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment were charged Wednesday with murder and kidnapping in the April 26 shooting death of an Iraqi civilian in the town of Hamdaniya, west of Baghdad. Other charges include conspiracy, larceny and providing false official statements -- they allegedly tried to make it look as if the man tried to attack them.
The Marine Corps identified the eight as: Marine Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III, Marine Cpl. Trent D. Thomas, Navy Hospitalman 3rd Class Melson J. Bacos, Marine Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Jackson, Marine Pfc. John J. Jodka, Marine Lance Cpl. Jerry E. Shumate Jr., Marine Lance Cpl. Robert B. Pennington, and Marine Cpl. Marshall L. Magincalda. They are being held at Camp Pendleton (San Diego County).
It was premeditated murder and covered up! Those are crimes, and you would get more time if he was in a civilian court!
His UNIT didn't execute anyone! He and 7 other people did! Many people in the US have been executed for being an accessory to premeditated murder!
2007-02-17 13:54:04 · answer #3 · answered by cantcu 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Pennington was part of a group of Marines who dragged an innocent civilian out of his home, murdered him, then threw him in a ditch with a gun to make it look like he was trying to plant a bomb.
That's not "fighting like a marine" and it has nothing to do with liberals.
That was a war crime and should be prosecuted as one.
2007-02-17 13:59:15 · answer #4 · answered by AlphaMale 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Part of the essence of being a soldier is being expected to act under pressure at the limits of human decency. There are no winners in this one. He's getting eight years for not ratting out his brothers in arms.
2007-02-17 13:53:36 · answer #5 · answered by bullwinkle 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is yet another tale of those people hostile to THE conflict IN IRAQ, ok in the adventure that they say we are no longer prevailing besides properly the actual reality is this can be a conflict THAT THE PRESIDENT DID SAY the type of marvelous number of situations which will TAKE a lengthy, lengthy time period and not in any respect WINNABLE. the point THAT we are HAVING a secure AND SECURED existence in this u . s . is solid AND WIN sufficient for each voters OF THIS u . s . including those who hostile IT. thanks AND a huge SALUTE to those SERVING THIS u . s . and would YOU ALL COME domicile secure AND SOUND.
2016-12-04 07:48:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If only one person in the group fired a shot, they are all equally guilty for not reporting the incident. They are accomplices.
2007-02-17 13:52:30 · answer #7 · answered by normobrian 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because spineless liberals want to meddle in military affairs and not let our military do what it was trained for, to kill the enemy. This only weakens our military by making soldiers second guess killing an enemy combatant and that could very well be the reason we might not win. It's the liberals, stupid!
2007-02-17 13:50:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 3⤋
he probably broke a military code
2007-02-17 13:55:40 · answer #9 · answered by miztiffany 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes it is sad. i feel bad for the poor guy. no American should be in jail because of some Iraqis or afghans.
2007-02-17 13:52:55 · answer #10 · answered by Fido 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Here is a news story about it...
2007-02-17 15:46:27 · answer #11 · answered by roadwarrior 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋