Directories
Quick Searches
Find a Job
Quick Search
For Employers
Yahoo! HotJobs Local Search
Father of detained Marine: 'I am firmly convinced of his innocence'
By: TERI FIGUEROA - Staff Writer | ∞
John Jodka Jr. shows the dog tag of his Marine son John Jodka III who is being held in the brig at Camp Pendleton.
BILL WECHTER Staff Photographer
Order a copy of this photo
Visit our Photo Gallery
ENCINITAS ---- The father of a local Marine being investigated for war crimes said Thursday that his son was "a consummate Marine and consummate professional," and said he was "firmly convinced" of his son's innocence.
John Jodka III, who was born and raised in Encinitas before joining the Marines last year, is sitting in the Camp Pendleton brig, one of eight service members being investigated on allegations of killing an Iraqi civilian.
From his home in Encinitas, Jodka's father, John Jodka Jr., said his son "is convinced that the system will exonerate him and his fellow Marines."
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is looking into allegations that on April 26, the eight detained troops, all from Camp Pendleton, conspired to kidnap and kill a 52-year-old Iraqi civilian in the village of Hamdania, west of Baghdad, and then staged a scene to make it appear the man was armed and planting a roadside bomb.
Jodka, who attended school in Solana Beach before graduating from San Dieguito in 2004, moved out of the college dorms in Riverside at the end of that year.
In May 2005, he shipped off to boot camp. And by January, he had landed on the sands of Iraq.
The young man enlisted, his proud father said Thursday, "based on a profound and deep philosophy that, as a citizen, he owed service to his country.
"He could think of no better service than to be the 'tip of the spear.' Intellectually, he could have taken any occupation in the military, but it was his choice to be in the infantry as a rifleman."
The Marine turned 20 in April in Iraq. A little more than a month later, the private first class and at least seven other Camp Pendleton troops were back on American soil.
But there was little time to celebrate their return. Within a day of arriving in Southern California, Jodka and the other troops ---- a total of seven Marines and one Navy corpsman ---- were put in Camp Pendleton's brig, or jail.
No charges have been filed, but attorneys for some of the detained men have said they expect the military to do so shortly.
Jodka said his son was keeping his spirits high. Visits to the brig, he said, are limited to the weekends, and are always through a glass barrier.
"When I go visit him, when I leave, even though he's the one in chains, I am the one who is uplifted," Jodka said. "I come to buck him up on his morale ... and I am the one who is lifted. He is my hero."
The young Marine was born and raised in Encinitas, along with his 17-year-old brother and 15-year-old sister. He also has two older stepbrothers, one of whom is a deputy sheriff in North County.
The elder Jodka said his son, "a precocious child," attended elementary and middle school at St. James Academy, a Catholic school in Solana Beach.
The younger Jodka had the grades to land not just in college, but at a University of California campus.
But, after a quarter at UC Riverside, the pull was just too strong. He wanted to be a Marine.
Ask John Jodka Jr. what he thinks of when he thinks of his son, and the first thing that comes to mind is his boy's interest in history and philosophy.
John Jodka III, his father said, is one of those people who sees the bigger picture and the deeper meanings, one of those well-read, well-spoken, mature-for-his-age kind of kids.
He's also "hilarious," dad said. And a big fan of Star Wars.
Jodka fought tears as he spoke of his son, his voice catching on the words.
"The best memories I have of him are of playing baseball, playing catch with him," the elder Jodka said, his breath catching as he fought tears. "We'd just throw the ball together as father and son."
Dad works at a San Diego-based ship construction yard, but on his own time, he is a personal trainer ---- a skill he used to help get his namesake son ready for boot camp, strength training so he could hit the required number of pull-ups and the like.
The elder Jodka said his son expects to be exonerated.
"And the first thing that he wants to do," Jodka said, "is go back and be with his battalion in Iraq."
Jodka has a website tell his boy's story and ask for financial help with his legal defense: http://www.innocentmarine.com/
Contact staff writer Teri Figueroa at (760) 631-6624 or tfigueroa@nctimes.com.
More Stories
Advertisement
I agree with dad wrote on Jun 8, 2006 10:27 PM:This Dad is right! Let this guy go free! He did his duty. Is the President doing his duty by letting the invasion of illegal aliens into the nation and breaking our laws and then giving them amnesty and benefits he is paying for from our taxes. I was taxed 10,000 last year. Just so Bush can give it away. Now this Marine gave his life to the nation to serve and he is being put up for sale to the opposing forces as a pawn. Please America make your voice heard that this Marine should be set free.
Political Scapegoat wrote on Jun 9, 2006 12:22 AM:All of this finger pointing is making me sick. How would anyone "prove" that for some unknown reason 7 Marines and a Corpsman decided to plan and plot the kidnap and murder of a stranger? What is the motive? Even if they did it, it will never be proven beyond a reasonable doubt because America knows that our government is throwing Marines to the wolves to cover their behinds and try to keep good relations with Iraq. These political scapegoats should be let free. This Marine is still a boot if he wants to put all his faith in the system. The Courts Marshall will sacrifice these lambs for political gain and public opinion.
April wrote on Jun 9, 2006 7:01 AM:Support our Troops!!! The dedication these men have for our country and to be treated like this is a disgrace. Our service men our doing a exceptional job in Iraq! My newphew returned in March and is preparing for another tour soon and the stories he told us are never shown by the media. Our military are the true HEROS of this Country!To the Jodka Family, Thank you for your sons protection and sacrafice for this country!! I support him 100%!
Larry wrote on Jun 9, 2006 7:12 AM:This soldier is a political prisoner. President Bush is trying to make political gain by imprisoning our soldiers. The hypocrisy is amazing. He does nothing to catch and deport illegals. He does nothing to get extradition of killers who have fled to Mexico. Free our heroes.
esteban wrote on Jun 9, 2006 8:53 AM:we will lose this war because our politicians only want political power at the expense of the soldiers. The enemy is laughing at us right now. It's war...guess what? People die sometimes. Unbelieveable!!!!
GFN wrote on Jun 9, 2006 9:59 AM:Vietnam...again...hypocritical, political BS where our leaders will sell out a few soldiers to prove we are a just country. Please rent the movie, 'Breaker' Morant, 1980, Bryon Brown, for an insight into the agony a soldier who has a weapon and who is trained to kill, and kills in a war. Train a man to kill; put him in a foreign land, different language, customs, and where the people hate him, even though he is helping them build schools and hospitals; have him watch his soul-mates blown into pieces right in front of his eyes...right in front of the same foreigners who knew the attack was to take place, but said nothing...then arrest him for having a normal human reaction. Get the hell out of there now. No more, "Stay the course" BS; change the course and let the Iraqi people govern themselves. Who the hell do we think we are to believe that they will not survive without our superior thinking? In fact, it is our hubris, arrogance, Manifest Destiny self-importance that has created another quagmire. Sorry, but the whole situation is wrong. Treat our Marines and Navy with the respect you use for the Muslim prisoners. As a citizen of the US, I insist on this. And, get us out now. Let them have the hell hole in the desert.
Dan wrote on Jun 12, 2006 6:18 AM:The media as usual is peddeling the al quaida propaganda. They sell news wether it's true or fabricated as long as it sell's. These MARINE'S have been tried and convicted in a kangaroo court with out so much as a wisper from our congress,senate or libral media as to the constitutional protections of innocent until proven guilty, right to a fair trial, right to be judged by a jury of our peer's. They're being treated far worse then our terrorist prisoners held at gitmo in cuba. Where is the ACLU now. Perhaps if these MARINES were illegal alians they would be givin the benefit of the doubt as well as amnesty for their mock trial and conviction in the media. God help our country because we need it . God bless the USA. SEMPER FI.
Chuck wrote on Jun 23, 2006 9:39 AM:As a Marine combat engineer in Vietnam (1967), I feel compelled to comment on the incarcerated Marines from 3/5. The stress these Marines have experienced, is unknown to those who have never been to war. Guilty or innocent, I think they are most definitely being sacrificed on the alter of public opinion. By the way, where are the upper ranking defendants? Aside from a wave of patriotism, I say release them immediately and impeach Bush for stupidity in continuing this conflict. How can we change radical idiots to a democratic system while they are stuck in the sixth century? Semper Fi!
- ESCONDIDO: Man shot dead at Fourth of July party (19)
- FALLBROOK: Peruvian chocolatier living sweet American dream (12)
- TEMECULA: Parade, fireworks draw thousands on nation's birthday (11)
- CARLSBAD: Golf benefit raises $20,000 for Conner's Cause (9)
- SAN PASQUAL VALLEY: Animal park offering extended hours, extra shows and activities (7)
Advertisement