thedrifter
01-12-04, 07:50 AM
Federal prosecutor called to duty in Iraq
Walt Green to serve as staff judge advocate
By PENNY BROWN ROBERTS
proberts@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff writer
For more than two years, federal prosecutor Walt Green has been on the front lines of anti-terrorism efforts in Baton Rouge.
But at the end of the month, he's going to the real front lines.
Green -- the 39-year-old anti-terrorism coordinator and deputy criminal chief for the U.S. Attorney's Office -- has been called to Iraq as a staff judge advocate for the U.S. Marine Corps. He leaves Jan. 21 for Camp Pendleton, Calif.
He'll be stationed in an infantry battalion outside Baghdad in an area known as the Sunni triangle, where support for ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is still strong.
As recently as Thursday, at least five people were killed and 37 injured in the explosion outside a Shiite Muslim mosque in that region, and a contractor working for the U.S.-led coalition was shot dead in an attack on a convoy.
"I think it's going to be hard and arduous, but I think it's going to be real rewarding," Green said. "It's basically a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to be involved in so many of those things. And hopefully whatever we do will stay there long after we're gone."
Green will be one of nine staff judge advocates who will represent the commander on traditional military justice issues like whether to attack certain targets and applying the rules of engagement during combat.
But given the focus on rebuilding the war-weary country, he'll also be heavily involved in the legal aspects of civil affairs. That includes handling claims against the United States for property damage, overseeing the rebuilding of the infrastructure and helping to establish a new court system and judiciary for the country.
In many ways, the Ferriday native is up for the challenge.
He comes from a long line of Marines -- his father joined shortly after World War II; one uncle won the Bronze Star at Iwo Jima and another was stationed in China during World War II. A third uncle was featured on a Marine Corps recruiting poster in 1952, which hangs in a frame in Green's office.
Green joined the Corps in 1989 while attending LSU as an undergraduate. While studying at Tulane University Law School, he took the Platoon Leadership Course. He's been a judge advocate since 1993.
While serving in Okinawa for a year, he acted as a lawyer for a peacetime operation in Thailand. While stationed at Camp LeJeune, N.C., Green served as defense counsel for those accused of military crimes. And in Naples, Italy, for nine months, he worked on international treaty issues.
After joining the reserves, he joined the U.S. Department of Justice as a federal prosecutor in Las Vegas for 31/2 years before former U.S. Attorney L.J. Hymel brought him to Baton Rouge three years ago.
After 9-11, Green was named the anti-terrorism coordinator for federal agencies in Baton Rouge. For the past two years, he has overseen the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, a coalition of law enforcement agencies in the Baton Rouge area that identifies and investigates terrorist threats in the region.
He's also the local liaison to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, which oversees American counter terrorism efforts.
As deputy criminal chief, Green also oversees all narcotics, firearms and other special federal prosecutions in Baton Rouge.
Most recently, he prosecuted William Muhammad Bilal, the 53-year-old former stepfather of an Army sergeant accused in a deadly attack on fellow soldiers in Kuwait in March. Bilal pleaded guilty to possessing firearms and was sentenced last month to 18 months in prison.
In Green's absence, U.S. Attorney David Dugas said, the anti-terrorism duties will be handled by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyman Thornton. Green's other responsibilities will be picked up by criminal chief Stan Lemelle.
"He's been on the front lines for two years as the anti-terrorism coordinator, and now he'll be on the front lines in Iraq," Dugas said. "He's always calm under fire, and his men are going to be fortunate to have him."
Green wasn't surprised to discover he would be going to Iraq. Since the war began, he said, he's been called to drills from New Orleans to Atlanta an average of twice a month.
That hasn't made it any easier on his new wife, Katherine -- a law school student he married just six months ago -- or his mother, Charlene.
But Green tells them he's ready to take his turn on the front lines.
"What we do is going to outlast us a generation or two -- hopefully even more," he said. "I think what we contribute over there hopefully may spread in a much bigger picture. If we can contain that country and make them more friendly to us, who knows where that's going to go?
"Is it going to help? We don't know. Is it going to turn out right? We don't know that either. But the promise of it is worth taking the chance."
http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/011104/new_judge001.shtml
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Walt Green to serve as staff judge advocate
By PENNY BROWN ROBERTS
proberts@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff writer
For more than two years, federal prosecutor Walt Green has been on the front lines of anti-terrorism efforts in Baton Rouge.
But at the end of the month, he's going to the real front lines.
Green -- the 39-year-old anti-terrorism coordinator and deputy criminal chief for the U.S. Attorney's Office -- has been called to Iraq as a staff judge advocate for the U.S. Marine Corps. He leaves Jan. 21 for Camp Pendleton, Calif.
He'll be stationed in an infantry battalion outside Baghdad in an area known as the Sunni triangle, where support for ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is still strong.
As recently as Thursday, at least five people were killed and 37 injured in the explosion outside a Shiite Muslim mosque in that region, and a contractor working for the U.S.-led coalition was shot dead in an attack on a convoy.
"I think it's going to be hard and arduous, but I think it's going to be real rewarding," Green said. "It's basically a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to be involved in so many of those things. And hopefully whatever we do will stay there long after we're gone."
Green will be one of nine staff judge advocates who will represent the commander on traditional military justice issues like whether to attack certain targets and applying the rules of engagement during combat.
But given the focus on rebuilding the war-weary country, he'll also be heavily involved in the legal aspects of civil affairs. That includes handling claims against the United States for property damage, overseeing the rebuilding of the infrastructure and helping to establish a new court system and judiciary for the country.
In many ways, the Ferriday native is up for the challenge.
He comes from a long line of Marines -- his father joined shortly after World War II; one uncle won the Bronze Star at Iwo Jima and another was stationed in China during World War II. A third uncle was featured on a Marine Corps recruiting poster in 1952, which hangs in a frame in Green's office.
Green joined the Corps in 1989 while attending LSU as an undergraduate. While studying at Tulane University Law School, he took the Platoon Leadership Course. He's been a judge advocate since 1993.
While serving in Okinawa for a year, he acted as a lawyer for a peacetime operation in Thailand. While stationed at Camp LeJeune, N.C., Green served as defense counsel for those accused of military crimes. And in Naples, Italy, for nine months, he worked on international treaty issues.
After joining the reserves, he joined the U.S. Department of Justice as a federal prosecutor in Las Vegas for 31/2 years before former U.S. Attorney L.J. Hymel brought him to Baton Rouge three years ago.
After 9-11, Green was named the anti-terrorism coordinator for federal agencies in Baton Rouge. For the past two years, he has overseen the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, a coalition of law enforcement agencies in the Baton Rouge area that identifies and investigates terrorist threats in the region.
He's also the local liaison to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, which oversees American counter terrorism efforts.
As deputy criminal chief, Green also oversees all narcotics, firearms and other special federal prosecutions in Baton Rouge.
Most recently, he prosecuted William Muhammad Bilal, the 53-year-old former stepfather of an Army sergeant accused in a deadly attack on fellow soldiers in Kuwait in March. Bilal pleaded guilty to possessing firearms and was sentenced last month to 18 months in prison.
In Green's absence, U.S. Attorney David Dugas said, the anti-terrorism duties will be handled by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyman Thornton. Green's other responsibilities will be picked up by criminal chief Stan Lemelle.
"He's been on the front lines for two years as the anti-terrorism coordinator, and now he'll be on the front lines in Iraq," Dugas said. "He's always calm under fire, and his men are going to be fortunate to have him."
Green wasn't surprised to discover he would be going to Iraq. Since the war began, he said, he's been called to drills from New Orleans to Atlanta an average of twice a month.
That hasn't made it any easier on his new wife, Katherine -- a law school student he married just six months ago -- or his mother, Charlene.
But Green tells them he's ready to take his turn on the front lines.
"What we do is going to outlast us a generation or two -- hopefully even more," he said. "I think what we contribute over there hopefully may spread in a much bigger picture. If we can contain that country and make them more friendly to us, who knows where that's going to go?
"Is it going to help? We don't know. Is it going to turn out right? We don't know that either. But the promise of it is worth taking the chance."
http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/011104/new_judge001.shtml
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: