Frank Wuterich
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| Frank Wuterich | |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Meriden, Connecticut |
| Allegiance | USMC |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines |
| Battles/wars | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
Frank Wuterich, age 26, is a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and is alleged to have participated on 19 November 2005 in a war crime in Haditha, Iraq, where the Marines are accused of having murdered 24 civilians after one of them had been killed in an insurgent attack.
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[edit] Background
Wuterich grew up in Meriden, Connecticut, and graduated from Orville H. Platt High School in 1998. He was well known as an honor student, jazz trumpet player, and drama club president. In his senior year of high school Wuterich enlisted in the Marine Corps. He originally intended to join the Marine Corps Band, but was not accepted.[1] Before going to Iraq, Wuterich was stationed in Hawaii, and later at Camp Pendelton, California, as an instructor in advanced infantry. In Hawaii he met his wife Marisol, and they have since had two daughters.[2] During the Iraq War Wuterich has served two tours of duty: the first in the town of Fallujah and the second in the area of Haditha.
[edit] Haditha killings
According to news reports Wuterich was the senior Marine on patrol (no officers being present), and after the killings, lied to his commanding officers by stating that 15 of the dead Iraqi civilians were killed in the same IED explosion that touched off the incident.[3] He is currently under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to determine whether he was involved and or lied to cover up the killings. Already Time magazine reported that military investigators had placed Wuterich in at least two of the houses in which the killings took place.[4]
On 11 June 2006, the Washington Post reported Wuterich's version of events as related through his attorney, Neal A. Puckett. According to Wuterich, after the initial IED explosion killed Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas, the entire convoy halted, and Wuterich surveyed the area. Soon after, a group of 4 or 5 men in a nearby white car were spotted fleeing the scene as Marines ordered them to stop, and in compliance with the rules of engagement, they were shot and killed by the squad. Wuterich then radioed headquarters for a Quick Reaction Force, which came quickly with reinforcements and a platoon leader. Soon after their arrival shots were seen coming from a nearby house, so Wuterich led a 4-man group to investigate. While clearing the first rooms several civilians were killed, but because a door was left open leading to a second house, Wuterich continued on, clearing the second house as well. After this incident Wuterich was stationed on a roof close by. From this vantage point one suspected insurgent was killed, and another group was spotted and then assaulted by Marines on the ground. Wuterich claims to have never lied about the fact that his team did kill civilians during the engagement.[5]
Many news reports have contradicted Wuterich's version of events, stating that the Marines entered several houses and deliberately killed civilians. Besides photographic evidence of the killings provided by Iraqi journalism student Taher Thabet, a young Iraqi girl who survived by hiding described watching the Marines shoot her family members systematically.[6]
Since being named in news reports in connection with the killings, several of Wuterich's family members have spoken out in his defense. Wuterich's father, Dave Wuterich, told the Associated Press that “I just don't believe that he [Frank Wuterich] would do something like that.”[7] Wuterich's sister Maria Wuterich also came to his defense in a discussion at thinkprogress.org. Previously, Marisol, Wuterich's wife, had praised her husband in blog postings.[8] On 19 June, Marisol and Dave Wuterich were interviewed on the Fox News Channel show Hannity and Colmes. They both said that they back Frank Wuterich “100 percent”.[9]
Captain James Kimber, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey R. Chessani, and Captain Luke McConnell according to a report by The Times on 29 May 2006 were all removed related to the Haditha incident.[2]
On 2 August 2006, Wuterich filed a lawsuit naming Representative John Murtha (D-PA) as a defendant in a libel case. Wuterich's lawyers claimed that Murtha harmed Wuterich's image by his campaign of popularizing the Haditha incident.[10]
More recently Wuterich's lawyers admitted at a news conference that Murtha identified Wuterich's squad and not Wuterich himself.
Murtha also has said said he does not blame Wuterich for "lashing out,"
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Chedekel, Lisa. “In Defense Of A Son”, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2006. Accessed 13 June 2006.
- ^ Tanner, Adam. “Family, colleagues praise Marine in Haditha probe”, Reuters, 14 June 2006. Accessed 16 June 2006.
- ^ Ricks, Thomas. White House braces for damning report on Haditha, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 June 2006. Accessed 4 June 2006.
- ^ Duffy, Michael, Mcgirk, Tim, and Ghosh, Aparisim. “The Ghosts of Haditha”, Time Magazine, 4 June 2006. Accessed 16 June 2006.
- ^ White, Josh. “Marine Says Rules Were Followed”, The Washington Post, 11 June 2006. Accessed 16 June 2006.
- ^ Mcgirk, Tim. “Collateral Damage or Civilian Massacre in Haditha?”, Time Magazine, 19 March 2006. Accessed 22 June 2006.
- ^ Eaton-Robb, Pat. “Father Supports Marine in Haditha Probe”, Washington Post, 12 June 2006. Accessed 16 June 2006.
- ^ Tanner, Adam. “Family, colleagues praise Marine in Haditha probe”, Reuters, 14 June 2006. Accessed 16 June 2006.
- ^ Transcript of Hannity and Colmes, 19 June 2006. Accessed 22 June 2006.
- ^ [1]
[edit] References
- "One friend says Marine isn't capable of atrocities " by Alex Roth, The Union-Tribune. Accessed June 3, 2006.
- "Friends Ponder Marine's Role In Haditha Killings" by Lisa Chedekel, The Hartford Courant. Accessed June 3, 2006.
