Frank Wuterich
Frank Wuterich (* 1980 in New London , Connecticut ) is a member of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) who was charged with complicity in the Haditha massacre in Iraq.
Life
Wuterich grew up in Meriden , Connecticut, and joined the Marine Corps in 1998 after graduating from high school . He was initially stationed in Hawaii , where he met his future wife Marisol, with whom he now has three daughters. He then served temporarily as an instructor at the USMC base Camp Pendleton before becoming a group leader in III. Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment took part in the Iraq operation ( Operation Iraqi Freedom ).
Haditha massacre
On November 19, 2005, an incident occurred in Haditha in which 24 Iraqi civilians were killed. While the US soldiers involved reported a firefight was later revealed that a unit led by Wuterich (then Staff Sergeant - corresponds to the field and sergeant of the Bundeswehr) for a bomb attack on their convoy defenseless Iraqis killed. An investigation initiated on the basis of a report in TIME magazine led to charges being brought against Wuterich and seven other soldiers. The defendants have been charged with murder or with covering up a crime.
On January 24, 2012, Frank Wuterich was sentenced to 90 days in prison by the Military Court at Camp Pendleton for violating duty. He did not have to serve this sentence for procedural reasons. Since Wuterich had pleaded guilty to having violated his official duties, the charge of manslaughter against him was dropped in return. The military court downgraded Frank Wuterich from staff sergeant to ordinary soldier. Due to the family situation, as a single father, no wage cuts were imposed.
The relatives of the victims were outraged by this judgment. Chalid Salman, councilor in Haditha and lawyer for the victims, called the court's decision "an attack on humanity".
On February 17, 2012, Frank Wuterich was dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.nachrichten.ch/detail/526488.htm
- ↑ http://www.n-tv.de/politik/US-Soldat-kom-davon-article5311436.html
- ↑ MILITARY: Frank Wuterich no longer in the Marine Corps The San Diego Union Tribune dated February 20, 2012
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Wuterich, Frank |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American NCO in the United States Marine Corps |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1980 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | New London , Connecticut |