thedrifter
08-15-07, 06:37 AM
BAND OF BROTHERS
Marine to go to trial in slaying
August 15, 2007
BY JOE SWICKARD
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
As a member of Charlie Company's Quick Reaction Force, Lance Cpl. Delano Holmes was steady rolling on a moment's notice last fall when the 1/24th Reserve Marines got its sniper and roadside bomb reception to downtown Fallujah in Iraq.
"He was motivated, a hard worker with all the hallmarks of somebody who appeared to be a guy who would rise to the challenge," said Capt. Mike Mayne, who ran Lansing-based Charlie Company.
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Holmes now is charged with murder for stabbing an Iraqi soldier at least 10 times with his bayonet as they manned an outpost. Held in military custody at Camp Pendleton, Calif., pending trial in December, Holmes also is charged with lying to investigators when first questioned about the Dec. 31, 2006, incident.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to investigators, Holmes claimed that the Iraqi soldier, Pvt. Munther Jasem Muhammed Hassin, took out a cell phone as they stood post and starting using the keypad, illuminating them. Holmes said that he got Hassin to put the phone away, but then he started to light a cigarette.
The loyalty and sympathy of the Iraqi soldiers was a source of concern to some Marines during their deployment at that Forward Operating Base.
Holmes said he and Hassin, armed with an AK-47, grappled as a second Iraqi soldier tried to grab him. Hassin fired a burst and Holmes -- according to his first statement -- shook off the second Iraqi and stabbed Hassin.
Under later questioning, Holmes reportedly told investigators there was no second Iraqi and that he fired the AK-47 himself.
Holmes, 21, of Indianapolis was assigned to the 1/24th last spring and was headquartered at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township. The experiences of the men in combat were chronicled by the Free Press as Michigan's Band of Brothers.
Contact JOE SWICKARD at 313-222-8769 or jswickard@freepress.com.
Ellie
Marine to go to trial in slaying
August 15, 2007
BY JOE SWICKARD
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
As a member of Charlie Company's Quick Reaction Force, Lance Cpl. Delano Holmes was steady rolling on a moment's notice last fall when the 1/24th Reserve Marines got its sniper and roadside bomb reception to downtown Fallujah in Iraq.
"He was motivated, a hard worker with all the hallmarks of somebody who appeared to be a guy who would rise to the challenge," said Capt. Mike Mayne, who ran Lansing-based Charlie Company.
Advertisement
Holmes now is charged with murder for stabbing an Iraqi soldier at least 10 times with his bayonet as they manned an outpost. Held in military custody at Camp Pendleton, Calif., pending trial in December, Holmes also is charged with lying to investigators when first questioned about the Dec. 31, 2006, incident.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to investigators, Holmes claimed that the Iraqi soldier, Pvt. Munther Jasem Muhammed Hassin, took out a cell phone as they stood post and starting using the keypad, illuminating them. Holmes said that he got Hassin to put the phone away, but then he started to light a cigarette.
The loyalty and sympathy of the Iraqi soldiers was a source of concern to some Marines during their deployment at that Forward Operating Base.
Holmes said he and Hassin, armed with an AK-47, grappled as a second Iraqi soldier tried to grab him. Hassin fired a burst and Holmes -- according to his first statement -- shook off the second Iraqi and stabbed Hassin.
Under later questioning, Holmes reportedly told investigators there was no second Iraqi and that he fired the AK-47 himself.
Holmes, 21, of Indianapolis was assigned to the 1/24th last spring and was headquartered at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township. The experiences of the men in combat were chronicled by the Free Press as Michigan's Band of Brothers.
Contact JOE SWICKARD at 313-222-8769 or jswickard@freepress.com.
Ellie