Staff Sergeant Raymond Girard accused of ordering subordinates to kill three Iraqi detainees should be sentenced to 10 years in prison, a military jury ruled on Monday.
Staff Sgt. Ray Girouard could have received up to 21 years in prison. He avoided a life sentence when he was found not guilty of premeditated murder. He refused a government a plea bargain deal to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a lesser sentence.
Girouard testified during the trial that he lied to investigators about the slayings to protect his soldiers, and that he never told two of his soldiers, Spc. William Hunsaker and Pfc. Corey Clagett, to kill the detainees.
After he discovered the slayings Girouard said he decided to help them fake an attack, cutting Hunsaker and punching Clagett in the face, and lying to superiors by saying his soldiers shot the detainees in self-defense.
What has not been widely reported is the communication and training given to Girouard and his men by commanding officer Col. Michael Steele as they prepared for the realities of war in Iraq.
Film footage was obtained of Col. Steele giving a pep talk saying things such as "Don't let them live to fight another day. They’re going to breed, multiply . . .,’You'll be eaten unless you act like the dominant one on the food chain...rely on your training to do what's right, do not hesitate...you’re the hunted … don't bring any of them back. "
"I believe you create the perfect storm out there", said defense attorney Anita Gorecki. "To think that all those things (words, combat stress, adrenaline, fatigue, etc.) together do not have an effect on some 20 or 21 years old, who is newly coming into the military and find themselves in this very difficult situation there, I think is absurd."
The panel also recommended a reduction in his rank, a dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of pay, with a recommendation that the money go to his wife and 4-year-old son.
Girouard showed no emotion during the reading of the sentence, but afterward, he hugged his attorney. His family filed out of the courtroom without speaking to him.
His attorney, Anita Gorecki, called the case a victory, considering that her client could have faced life in prison.
"I
believe it does work to fight the system," Gorecki said. "In Sgt.
Girouard's case not only does it show you can fight for your day in
court, it was never a possibility for him to plead. He was never going
to take a deal."
She said that he will likely be eligible for parole in three to four years.
Girouard's sister, Joy Oakes, had mixed emotions. "We are sad. We really wanted him to come home," Oakes said. "It's a sad day for our family, but I do feel we got a fair trial.
"I made a bad decision, and I fully accept my responsibility," Girouard said.
Girouard's family and hometown of Sweetwater, TN have remained staunch supporters throughout and rallied to raise money for his legal defense.
I received this touching email from Girouard's grandfather a few weeks ago:
"RICK,
WE HAVE RAISED $17,000.00... ALL WE NEED IS $8,000.00 WE ARE ONLY LOOKING FOR THAT AMOUNT...IF WE GET MORE WE WILL USE IT ON OUR MOTELS AND EATS FOR RAYS TRIAL...WHICH SHOULD LAST 8 DAYS THEY TELL US...AND ALL RECIEPTS WILL BE SAVED. BUT WE ARE ONLY LOOKING FOR $8,000.00
BUT I HAVE COME DOWN WITH LYNFORMA CANCER AND HAVENT WORKED SINCE JAN.10TH SO MONEY WILL BE SHORT FOR OUR TRIP THANKS FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US RON & PAT GOD BLESS "
Staff Sergeant Girouard and his sister Joy Oakes were raised by their grandparents. His grandfather and sister had both appeared as gracious guests on my radio show prior to receiving the email.
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Posted by: beereeasten | December 12, 2011 at 01:23 AM
I'd be interested in hearing. The TOS seems rather clear that it is not unless expressly approved by Amazon. I guess if the library got it in writing then they would be ok.
Posted by: Moncler Jackets | November 06, 2011 at 01:54 AM
So imagine the NFL, these guys are in a totally different mind set on the field, a take no prisoners
mentallity, they hold no bars and the media "highlights" the big hits, like the receivers that catch a pass mid-field and are subsequently bashed by a corner with no regard to breaking this guy in two. Point being - they are trained to have this mind set on the field, anything less is not doing the job they were put out there to do. Why is a soilder in a warzone any different? The mind-set in a "game" situation is so much different than any other situation in life - where training (or practice) breeds instinct, the Leaders (or coach)prepare with motivation (PEP Talk) and actions come before reason to meet the goals of survival (or victory)
Posted by: Anthony | March 20, 2007 at 09:45 AM