Truth Prevails

"We are a nation at war … We continue to focus on the close, personal, violent … fight and we will improve training whenever and wherever necessary to train our Soldiers in the leadership, sustainment and fighting skills they will need as they go about destroying our nation’s enemies." ~Major General Walter Wojdakowski - Chief of US Army Infantry

According to published reports - with resolute fearlessness, fortitude and endurance Special Forces Captain Dave Staffel and Master Sergeant Troy Anderson traveled to the edge of the 5th world and found a hostile Taliban village in the remote reaches of Afghanistan. Upon arrival, Anderson set up a protective over watch position while Staffel approached the village and called out their leader. Recognizing and confirming the man who approached him as one of the ten most wanted by the US Armed Forces in that country, and knowing he had threatened to martyr himself to inflict casualties on US Forces, Staffel called for and Anderson fired the shot that killed this enemy soldier.

As described in the epic poem, "I Am The Infantry", Staffel and Anderson fought through the foe to the objective and triumph. They were willing to fight to their own death. Neither forsook his mission, his comrades, nor his sacred duty.

In accordance with "The Special Forces Creed", Staffel and Anderson fought where our nation required, performing tasks in isolation and far from familiar faces and voices; and they did not fail those with whom they serve.

Two independent investigations, including one by the independent Criminal Investigation Division determined their combat actions were appropriate. Nevertheless they were charged with premeditated murder. Strangely our service initiated and pursued the charge but failed to protect our own community, as one would normally expect, by placing these men in pre-trial confinement.

After a third investigation, Major General Tom Csrnko, the Special Forces Commanding General dismissed the charges. Finally we saw one general willing to stop the buck. We should ask, did those who managed this case prior to General Csrnko abdicate their responsibility and authority by refusing to make a concluding decision, and instead attempt to refer this case to a jury inappropriately?

Captain Stafford and Master Sergeant Anderson’s names have been cleared, however all the damage created and inflicted by the Army has not been repaired.

The families of these men suffered during this debacle and they likely lost personal assets because they paid for their men’s defense. Remember both men were cleared by two investigations and the charges were filed after the conclusions of both of those investigations were known. The US Army should reimburse Stafford and Anderson for all the expenses they incurred in their own defense.

It is now clear that Stafford and Anderson acted intrepidly. Their resolute willingness to find, fix and destroy America’s enemies as demonstrated on that remote battlefield was certainly gallant. The US Army should recognize their acts of heroism with appropriate awards.

SF24D - 10/1/07