Interrogating Army Justice, A Soldier’s Dilemma
The recent case of our client, Captain Roger Hill, came up in an Op Ed piece in the Washington Times this morning. Three great Americans co-authored the piece, which takes aim at the current state of Army leadership on the battlefield. The story of CPT Hill’s dilemma is a poignant one. Army commanders, swayed by misguided Army JAG lawyers’ terrible advice, lost a great officer and leader when they chose to jettison CPT Hill from their ranks. Rather than give him the support he needed when his company was facing an insider threat, the Army chose to discipline CPT Hill and his men for seeking information from Taliban spies who were employed on his base to support his company. He was charged with a war crime. Violating the Geneva Convention by inflicting psychological pain on detainees (read: fear). But when CPT Hill called up the chain of command for assistance, he was ignored; left to make his own difficult decisions about preventing the release of the Taliban spies who would otherwise return to the battlefield and kill his soldiers. Inexplicably, the Army refused to release the report of the Article 32 investigation hearing, in which CPT Hill was represented by Neal Puckett, our senior partner. CPT Hill now awaits a decison by the Secretary of the Army as to his characterization of separation from the service. Our hope is that he will receive an honorable discharge.
Tags: detainee abuse, discharge upgrade, honorable discharge, Military Criminal Defense, military law, Military Lawyer, war crime
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Thank you for your defense of CPT Hill. I know him personally and have never met a finer individual. His integrity, love of our country and desire to be an outstanding Army officer were the motivators in his life.
It’s an insult to all men and women who serve our country in hostile environments that they cannot be supported. I thought we learned this lesson after numerous studies of the Vietnam War.
God bless Roger Hill and his men!
March 16th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Get this hero what he deserves.
March 16th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
I saw the interview with Bill Orilley,
I believe that this man needs to have a honorable discharge. If we continue to kick good men out of our service, we will end up with the Taliban spies will be running our military!!!
What did it matter if shot the gun 20 meters away, he needed to blow some heads off!! That is war.
God Bless Roger Hill
March 16th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
what’s going on with this country? the brave men & women of our armed forces deserve the respect & support plus the gratitude of the rest of us in this country even those who object to military intervention or actions taken on the united states behalf,they should remember that military personnel like Mr. Hill defend their right to protest and other freedoms that they have. I encourage all to write to local congressmen or senators & peter geren of the u.s. army to get Mr. Hill his honorable discharge.
March 16th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Tell us whom to write (or email) to stop this travesty. Watched Bill O’Reilly…how can we help?
March 16th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I wonder where our national government is going when the psychological welfare of detainees that are endangering America’s soldiers becomes more important than the care and integrity of our soldiers. It is a shame that a good soldier was discharged because he was looking after his fellow men and women. There is no hiding the corruption in the bureaucracy in the military branches, but it needs to stop now. There is no integrity or pride in a chain of command that supports the decision to release a soldier that fired his weapon 20 meters away from detainees. There have been worse things and much more horrific violations of human rights that have been covered up by chains of command during this war. This is a joke and I hope that this injustice is reversed; CPT Hill deserves an honorable discharge.
March 16th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Capt. Roger Hill should be honorably discharged with all honors available to him. Thank you Capt. for your service and thank you Neal Puckett for defending him.
March 16th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
On CPT Roger Hill, I watch the Factor on Fox and I already knew about this story and I have to say unclog your your dirty ears Mr. Sec.of the Army and do the right thing show Mr. Hill some respect he was there to stop idiots’ like the 911 (19) that took down the towers do you remember ”911” Peter Geren think about it, he was there to stop these jag-off’s from doing anything like this from happening again.
March 16th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
After listening to Captain Hill’s case tonight on Fox News, I find it incomprehensible that he was put through so much for simply doing his job. Good luck in every way in getting justice for this fine soldier.
March 16th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
This Honorable Military man, did something against reg’s, yes. But he was not trying to purposely commit an offense, a premeditated offense like, lets say, stealing. He was faithful to his country, and faithful to his fellow men. Overzealous – yes, dishonorable, other than honorable – NO!!!!
March 16th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
This is America and Captain Roger Hill defended his American soldiers and our great country. It takes guts to do the right thing instead of the popular thing. I ask you to honor him to the fullest and with an honorable discharge. God bless Captain Roger Hill and God bless our great soldiers and our great country!
Respectfully,
Pat Link,
Bearden, Arkansas
March 16th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I have just written to the Secretary of the Army via his web site in support of Captain Hill.
What a travesty! This is a case of political correctness run amok if ever there was, and all those complicit in granting Captain Hill anything less than an HONORABLE discharge should hang their heads in shame!
Captain Hill, you are an honorable man. I salute you and thank you for your service to the people of this great country. God bless you!
March 16th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Capt Roger Hill desires an Honorable Discharge. The disgrace is the action of the Department of the Army.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Marines are the Best of the Best and Capt. Hill didn’t earn a Bronze Star by being a bad Marine. I want to know who I need to contact in order for him to receive an Honorable Discharge. He was trying to protect and serve his unit and our country. What is wrong with this picture? What has been done to him is a disgrace. God Love our Marines and all of our military branches and keep them safe. It appears as if they need to be saved from their our country. Please tell him thank you for all he has done to keep me safe.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
The inmates are not only running the asylum, but writing the rules also.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Give this HERO the discharge he deserves!!! Actually give him a MEDAL!!! This is NOT right. It makes me sick to read this case. Support our troops not desecrate them.
-Brian J.
March 17th, 2009 at 7:05 am
From everything I can determine Capt. Hill deserves a New York city welcome home parade. Formal recognition and thanks from the Commander in Chief would be appropriate.
The words of thanks should read along these lines. “Thank you Capt. Hill for doing what because of you, I and millions of Americans, do not have to do”.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:27 am
It is a national disgrace that the government would consider anything less than an honorable discharge for this fine soldier.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:40 am
I watched Bill O’Reilly and would like to help. Give this hero the honorable discharge he deserves! This is ridiculous!
March 17th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Roger Hill was my next-door neighbor for two years. He is one of the most honorable and patriotic men I’ve ever known. He should not only receive an honorable discharge but a medal for taking swift action and saving countless American lives. Thank you, Roger for your service!
March 19th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Capt. Hill was obviously attempting to protect his command from spies that were responsible for for the deaths of four his men. His record shows him to be a hero in my book. What in the world is wrong with this government that will not back up it’s heros. The pencil pushers that instigated this injustice should be placed on the front line.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Capt. Hill deserves better treatment than this. His action was based upon saving his men. In his place, knowing that one or more of his men may DIE if he did not act, what would any brave man do? Discharge him after first promoting him.
Tom W
February 19th, 2010 at 3:20 am
you try being leadership in a warzone. be in charge of fifty plus men(18-50 years old) that just want to se their families again… they(and you) would all kill in cold blood for their men.