Tim Sumner

Haditha, John Murtha, Political wind

John Murtha dare not cut and run from Haditha

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I visited John Murtha’s Congressional district office in Johnstown yesterday and delivered these emails, as promised, with Darryl Sharrett’s on top of the stack.

For the benefit of anyone new to this web site or to this thread:

On May 17, 2006, Congressman Murtha said Marines had, “killed innocent civilians in cold blood,” in Haditha, Iraq.

Darryl Sharratt lives in the district that Congressman Murtha represents.

Mr. Sharratt’s son, Marine Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt, is under investigation for the November 19, 2005, deaths of civilians in Haditha.

The investigating officer has strongly recommended that the charges against LCpl Sharratt be dismissed.

On July 10, 2007, Congressman Murtha’s office stated that, “Congressman Murtha doesn’t have a statement because the investigation is still ongoing.”

I went to Congressman Murtha’s office yesterday to inquire, not to protest.

While his greeting was professionally friendly, the eyes of man at the reception desk slightly narrowed as I stated my purpose. He could not comment, took the emails, and disappeared for ten minutes beyond a closed door.

The man he returned with was courteous and our 30-minute conversation was conducted in a civil tone throughout. He mostly listened and reinterated Congressman Murtha’s position: the “killed innocent civilians in cold blood” comment was often taken out of context and the stress our troops were under contributed to the deaths of civilians.

If I had spoken with Congressman Murtha directly, I would have asked him to describe the honor he felt last year when he publicly prejudged United States Marines as cold blooded murderers, long before the investigation was complete, and in light of the investigating officer’s recommendation to dismiss LCpl Sharratt’s charges.

His senior aide never said it yet I left believing that Congressman Murtha’s silence now, his refusal to comment this year about an ongoing investigation is a rock and a hard place, an untenable political position of his own choosing. He can never apologize.

We are beginning to learn that some or perhaps all of the Haditha Marines were engaged with the enemy or perceived threats. They could not cut and run. Their oath, training, and rules demanded that they engage and stay in the fight. (You can learn more here, at the War Chronicle.)

John Murtha, the civilian politician, is up for reelection next year. I believe that if he breaks political “cover,” if he fails to act “bravely” and hold his position, he thinks he will be caught out in the open during a primary or the general election next year. The only “honorable” thing to do, in John Murtha’s mind, is to dig in, fight and win, or die a politcal death in place.

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Related previous posts:

July 23, 2007: Haditha Marine Father has a Conversation with John Murtha

July 22, 2007: Officer’s case dismissal recommendation for Haditha Marine: NY Times misleads

July 18, 2007: Father of slandered Marine emails Congressman Murtha

July 16, 2007: A presumption of innocence: I’ll deliver your email to suddenly silent John Murtha

July 13, 2007: Marine’s Parents Want Murtha Censured for Haditha Remarks

July 12, 2007: Congressman John Murtha should apologize or resign, or both

Iraq, Keeping the faith, War on Terror

Marine’s Memorial in Michigan Vandalized

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Northern Michigan’s 9&10news.com (CBS TV affiliate) has the story:

“Its the idea that somebody vandalizing something that means so much to so many, I have trouble understanding,” an anguished Linda Fabian said while viewing a memorial to a fallen Marine from Mt. Pleasant, MI, that had been vandalized.

Lest they be forgotten memoria Mt Pleasant MI

When Lance Corporal Justin Ellsworth died in Iraq on November 13, 2004, Fabian got to work making sure Ellsworth and all the troops who put their lives on the line would not be forgotten. Fabian’s own son served two tours in Iraq.

Lance Corporal Justin M. Ellsworth

“It wasn’t about how big it was, it wasn’t about how extraordinary of a monument, its what it meant and what it represented,” Fabian said.

Lest they be forgotten memorial Mt Pleasant MI

Police say someone twisted what it represents. They bent a twenty-foot flagpole, draped that flag on the monument, burned a part of the flag, stole a bronze eagle, and destroyed a lot of the flowers and plants that surround it.

Lest they be forgotten memorial Mt Pleasant MI

“So many kids from around here have been to Iraq, are going to Iraq; they’re protecting the very people that are doing this to our monument,” Fabian said.

Lest they be forgotten memorial Mt Pleasant MI

The Mount Pleasent Police Department is investigating yet, “At this point it’s pretty wide open. We don’t have any suspects or major leads to go on,” a spokesman said. Police hope the community will bring them answers to who did this to their community’s monument.

Lest they be forgotten memorial Mt Pleasant MI

Fabian said the strange thing is, in all the damage that was done, the daisies here are the one thing that survived. They were Justin Ellsworth’s favorite flower. “Justin loved daisies and if you look, they only thing that really survived are Justin’s daisies,” Fabian pointed out.

Lest they be forgotten memorial Mt Pleasant MI

If you would like to donate money to help fix the memorial in Mount Pleasant, there is an account set up at Isabella Bank & Trust under the name Justin Ellsworth.

The memorial in Mount Pleasant was designed by Gregg Garvey, of Florida, as part of the Lest They Be Forgotten memorial effort. Mr. Garvey began his not for profit campaign to create, establish and help maintain hometown remembrances of our men and women who have lost their lives defending the United States of America in our war against terrorism after his own son, Army Sergeant Justin W. “Hobie” Garvey, was killed in an ambush in Iraq on July 20, 2003.

A video report by 9&10 News’ Mona Nair and photojournalist Bridgette Pacholka can be viewed here.