Quote:
Originally posted by Munchkin03
[B]The soldier's actions sound not unlike those of one Lieutenant William Calley--another person who received a relatively light sentence and eventually had it revoked. The rules of wartime are different from the rules of peacetime--and sometimes that turns into people receiving light punishments for heinous or reckless things.
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Whoa... hold on there.
Comparing the actions of Calley to those of Schimdt is like comparing those of a murderer to a drunk-driver. Calley knowingly ordered his men to commit murder, by ordering them to fire on and kill unarmed civilians. Schimdt disregarded his ROE and SOP which led to the deaths of the Canadians. Schimdt did not know that his actions would lead to the death of friendlies, while Calley certainly knew that his actions would lead to the death of innocents.
I do agree with you that Calley should not have been granted a pardon, as that doesn't set a very good example or precedent. However I also believe that more should have been said about the helicopter pilots and crew that disobeyed orders and put themself between Calley men and the civilians in order to protect them; these are men that should be honoured for their actions.
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