crime

U.S. Marine fights conviction for suicide attempt at Okinawa's Camp Schwab

24 Comments

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All the haters here need to get off their high horses. The young man made some mistakes, one of which may have been enlisting in the first place. I said MAY have been. The first confirmed mistake was his apparent choice of friends, namely the one who allegedly stole something, putting this young man on the hook. It all went downhill from there for him. As forgiving as some of the posters here have been is the tip of the iceberg he got from USMC. It's no wonder he had self-destructive thoughts. Had he sought help, he would have still been stigmatized. The best mistake he made was NOT being successful at taking his life.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Really nice of them to prosecute him for mental illness denying all medical treatment. He got jail time, the big chicken dinner and no treatment for his medical condition from his government service. The Marine corps should be ashamed of themselves.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I hate it when people support indentured servitude by pounding the letters of rules written by thick skulled jack-booted authoritarian types rather than exercising principle, sense and foresight.

Just because a war is on does not make that war just. I will support any man that abandons a war that is not direct self-defense and scorn any man that shoots and bombs people just because he was ordered. Anything other way of thinking guarantees far flung unjust and unnecessary wars such as we have now. Wars any soldier should be ashamed to take part in, and for the sake of honor, should abandon, and to HELL with the government.

Truest words I've ever seen on this site.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

All of this is really sad. I feel the Marine Corps is letting him down. Prosecuting him for attempted suicide? Give the man the help he needs (but still prosecute him for the other crime he committed) and let him do whatever time he has to, then set him free.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Thank you for the thumbs down on a post declaring justice comes before duty. This shows why I despise the run of the mill military type as everyone should. I just wish you had the HONOR to comment so that we can know exactly who you people are.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

being teased by her fellow brothers and sisters for having such a weak husband.

The tough talkers are often the first to pee their pants and cry in the corner when the shooting starts. You got sunburned? Please.

My advice to anyone is to do justice, not duty. If you only focus on doing duty you will find yourself doing injustice, guaranteed.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

To the people calling him a nutter for trying to kill himself due to the state his was/is in. Have you ever suffered depression or known someone who suffered depression and tried to or even have committed suicide? Its people like you that brand them nutters which makes them feel they can't go to anyone about it so they do end up killing themselves.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This boot was just trying to skate out of duty. These kids sign the dotted line and then they want to go home when they realize the life of a Marine is more difficult than hanging out on the block with Suzie R. C. Some boots try to off themselves, say their gay, runaway, and so on just to void their contract. This kid's plot failed and now his poor wife has got to deal with his problems as well as being teased by her fellow brothers and sisters for having such a weak husband. I was warned with the same article of the UCMJ when I got badly sunburned. I ignored the pain and did my job, not like this pog.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I hate when people join the military and then cry about being asked to do something or fight, YOU ARE IN THE MILITARY do what you are supposed to do or don't join.

And I hate it when people support indentured servitude by pounding the letters of rules written by thick skulled jack-booted authoritarian types rather than exercising principle, sense and foresight.

Just because a war is on does not make that war just. I will support any man that abandons a war that is not direct self-defense and scorn any man that shoots and bombs people just because he was ordered. Anything other way of thinking guarantees far flung unjust and unnecessary wars such as we have now. Wars any soldier should be ashamed to take part in, and for the sake of honor, should abandon, and to HELL with the government. Not that I think this guy even knows what true honor is.

Next, do you really want an unwilling mental fool like this in your unit? Come on! Think! The only war you will ever see me participating in will be one of direct self-defense. But I would not want this clown anywhere near me with a gun or any weapon. In fact, I would rather he was in the forces of the enemy than watching my back!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Wouldn't getting trashed drunk, and smoking a pack of smokes a day be considered intentionally harming oneself? All drinkers and smokers can be held for breaking the code of conduct.

Drinking and smoking are usually ignored, unless the drinking is so bad that the serviceman can't perform his duties the next day. The Code prohibiting harming yourself was mainly put in there to address "malingerers" - people who would do ANYTHING - including harming themselves - to get out of doing their duty.

That said, when I was stationed on a ship based in Hawaii, we had a guy get so sunburned he couldn't work and they sent him to "Captain's Mast" using this section of the UCMJ. "Captain's Mast" is shipboard judiciating for things that don't warrant a full Courts-Martial. Punishments are usually much lighter too - forfeiture of liberty for a set amount of time and/or a dock in pay were the most common punishments at Captain's Mast.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Does JAG really think this prosecution will deter self-mutilation by the members of the service while not in combat?

Threatening to prosecute servicemen with psychological problems seems to only treat the symptom.

But we all know that the USN would never publicly admit that some of their sailors and marines may be mentally ill, that would not necessarily lower the reputation of the service, but could expose the top brass to a load of allegations from how they recruit people and run their lives.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

to await trial on charges including larceny for allegedly helping a friend steal a belt from a local shop.

Does USFJ inform Japanese government about military that have been discharged for criminal offenses.

Will Caldwell be able to return to Japan since he wasn't convicted of the theft from the local shop?

This ex-navy man was known by the US Navy to be a drug user/dealer. If Japan knew his record they wouldn't have let him back in.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120125p2g00m0dm086000c.html

The man sought by Japanese police was dishonorably discharged in 2003 for a separate drug offense committed on the base. The former sailor left Japan for the United States on Aug. 6, 2004 ...

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I don't know how many times I heard announcements on Armed Forces Radio imploring military members not to commit suicide, and to seek help if they are considering it. Never heard them say you'll be prosecuted for it, though.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

PTSD isn't only caused by being in combat. To all the jerks posting on here heartlessly about how you never had problems in the military, or how it's voluntary, just shut the **** up. No one needs your snide remarks. Suicide is a serious problem and is indicative of serious mental health problems. It doesn't make him a bad person, it means he needs help. Imprisoning someone for having mental problems is ridiculous. It makes about as much sense as jailing someone for getting food poisoning. Until the military stops ignoring the problem and punishing and stigmatizing mental illness,the problem will never be solved.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Hmm, punishing someone for hurting himself. Great stuff. Sound like just the kind of person the US needs as a marine......not. Sad that it takes such behaviour to be able to get out of one's job.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Wouldn't getting trashed drunk, and smoking a pack of smokes a day be considered intentionally harming oneself? All drinkers and smokers can be held for breaking the code of conduct.

Anyone agree?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

This guy sounds like a nutter, instead of jail time, more like psychological help??

1 ( +2 / -1 )

this guy was a nut case obvioulsy , access to hand guns etc and chooses to slash his wrists, when a bullet to the head would have ensured he was alteast a success in killing him self, he even failed at suicide as well as life and at being a soldier, guy seriously is in need of mental help.

Wasted valuable millitary resources and time as well.

Never deployed and had PTSD, id say he is too full of BS.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Hmmm. Unless Marine boot-camp is radically different from the Navy boot-camp I attended in 1978, this guy is lying through his teeth if he claims he was surprised they charged him. As part of our instruction on the uniform Code of Military Justice, it was made clear that if we intentionally harmed our self in any way, we were subject to a Courts-Martial. The boy got off light yet it seems he wants to keep poking a stick at the organization that COULD have jailed him for the rest of his enlistment, THEN given him a BCD. Hey dipwad, you're still getting the BCD for helping with a robbery.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

People who attempt suicide need help not jail time. You can have PTSD from training, some people are not meant for the military.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

I was in the Marine Corps for 8 years, you are hardly a slave and this guy claims to have PTSD without deploying to a combat area? Sounds like someone trying to milk some money out of the government. Also KingBasil you said it yourself: "YOU VOLUNTEERED" I hate when people join the military and then cry about being asked to do something or fight, YOU ARE IN THE MILITARY do what you are supposed to do or don't join.

0 ( +3 / -4 )

Certainly, once they've fulfilled their enlistment.

Like die in the name of some corporate *^(**%% , opss i mean freedom?

4 ( +7 / -2 )

KingBasil

Anyone who wants out should be showed the door.

Certainly, once they've fulfilled their enlistment.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

You voluntarily join up, but then they make you a slave. Its entirely inconsistent with the principles of freedom. Anyone who wants out should be showed the door.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

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