Directories
Quick Searches
Find a Job
Quick Search
For Employers
Yahoo! HotJobs Local Search
Wuterich was leader of squad
By: WILLIAM FINN BENNETT - Staff writer | ∞
On the same day that Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich was charged with 13 counts of unpremeditated murder, making a false statement and soliciting another to commit a crime, his wife, Marisol, was in the hospital, awaiting the birth of the couple's third child.
Wuterich, 26, was the squad leader in Haditha the day of the civilian killings. If convicted of the most serious offense he is accused of, he faces the possibility of life in prison, a dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of all pay and allowances.
Wuterich attended Orville H. Platt High School in his hometown of Meriden, Conn. He was an honor-roll student, drama club president and a member of the school jazz band who dreamed of a career in music.
After joining the Marines in the late 1990s, at the age of 17, Wuterich first went to Iraq in September 2005.
Two months after the Haditha incident, an officer recommended Wuterich for a medal.
In his memorandum recommending Wuterich for the decoration, the officer wrote that Wuterich's "calm and confident decisiveness that day doubtlessly prevented further injury or death to fellow Marines and innocent civilians."
Meriden Mayor Mark Benigni was Wuterich's high school soccer coach. He said he was always impressed by Wuterich's work ethic and his willingness to help his teammates who were struggling.
"Frank led by example," Benigni said. "It didn't matter if we were losing 7-0, Frank gave his all. Frank gave his all ---- when others might quit, he kept on playing."
Benigni said he was shocked when he learned that Wuterich faced charges in the Haditha case.
"The first thing that went through my mind was here's a war that went completely out of control ---- Frank is the kind of guy who would never hurt an unarmed civilian," Benigni said.
One of Wuterich's former classmates said he was surprised by the allegations against the Camp Pendleton Marine.
"I didn't think he would be capable of doing that," Chris Seelig, 25, who graduated from high school with Wuterich, told The Associated Press. "I guess people are capable of doing anything if they have it in them, but I didn't think he would be the kind of person who'd kill civilians."
Contact staff writer William Finn Bennett at (760) 740-5426 or wbennett@nctimes.com.
More Stories
Advertisement
- Burst pipe causes 70-foot-deep sink hole in Carlsbad (2501)
- REGION: State green power plan will cost consumers billions (1487)
- HOUSING: Fraud victims struggle to regain cash, credit (1412)
- REGION: Talk of new immigration bill gets mixed reaction (1130)
- VISTA: Grocer brothers suspected of threatening former butcher (1049)
Advertisement