Hearing to decide medic's fate in (Iraq) killing

[Divernan]

This article notes that there is a general order to refrain from drinkng while in Iraq. Now there's no local liquor stores. There would be no liquor available in the PX. So who's providing the alcohol? Could it be . . . . Halliburton? Even though they couldn't provide drinkable water, their many many employees may have a nice little side business with liquor. The article noted that the accused sat stoically throughout the trial, with his hands at his side and never said a word.

www.post-gazette.com/pg/06145/693044-85.stm
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Thursday, May 25, 2006

Hearing to decide medic's fate in killing
Thursday, May 25, 2006

By Mick Walsh, Special to the Post-Gazette

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- An Army medic will learn within the next few days whether he will face a court-martial and possible life sentence without parole for the shooting death of a fellow soldier from Beaver County.Spc. Chris Rolan, a medic with the 3rd Brigade Troops Battalion, is charged with the murder of Pvt. Dylan Paytas, 20, of Freedom. Pvt. Paytas was shot four times with a military issue 9 mm Beretta.

The shooting occurred in November while the 3rd Brigade was stationed near Baqouba, Iraq. Spc. Rolan, 23, faces five other charges, including the attempted murder of his roommate at Forward Operating Base Warhorse.


The Albuquerque, N.M., native was charged with the murder of Pvt. Paytas, the attempted murder of Mr. Ramsey, an assault on a third soldier -- Spc. Richard Scarlett -- and three other violations, including ignoring a general order to refrain from drinking while in Iraq. Drinking was at the heart of what happened on the evening of Nov. 15 and in the early-morning hours of Nov. 16, according to most of the witnesses who were either questioned in person, or in Mr. Ramsey's case, given a taped deposition.

Mr. Ramsey testified that the three men listened to music, played PlayStation games and drank heavily, mostly gin and whiskey, on the night of the shooting. It is against Army regulations to consume alcohol in Iraq. What began as a fun evening turned violent. . . .Spc. Rolan's blood alcohol content that night was measured at 0.17, more than twice the 0.08 threshhold for drunken driving. Pvt. Paytas was to have been separated from the Army for an August incident in which he allegedly assaulted a civilian at Warhorse.

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. Could be arriving in care packages

I know an ex-Marine who regularly sends care packages to the troops. He usually includes a couple of girly magazines and some booze - well packed and hidden among other items of course.

[Divernan]

2. A Marine officer/evac.helicopter pilot in Nam told me

that their most dangerous assignments were night rescues when they had to go in and land without lights - could land on a fence or a cliff or a cow, whatever and couldn't see who might shoot at them. They had regular daylight shifts, and the night calls were added on, so in addition to the danger, they were chronically exhausted. A lot of the pilots would get drunk so they couldn't be made to fly the night trips. My friend (& my oldest child's godfather), who didn't drink, was therefore getting sent out night after night. He finally started sleeping on a pew in the chapel - they didn't look for him there and it was the only place he could get some rest. He started out as an enlisted man and won some kind of Corps wide competition and got a full scholarship for 4 years of college, Navy ROTC w/Marine option and went to Nam as an officer. He loved the Corps and was planning on a lifetime career, but did not continue after his first tour in Vietnam. He knew if he stayed, he would be sent back and was convinced he wouldn't survive a second tour. He was lucky that he had the option of leaving and wasn't dragged back the way our National Guard and regular military forces are to Iraq.

[saigon68]

3. The more things change

The more they remain the same.

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