The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA —
Family of American soldiers killed in Afghanistan have wanted answers. Not only to why their sons had to die in one of the war’s bloodiest firefights, but why the Army recently decided not to punish officers for a series of command failures.
Now five U.S. senators, including Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., may get those answers for them.
Readers of The Valdosta Daily Times have followed a series of articles by reporter Johnna Pinholster on the battle of Wanat. South Georgia’s Cpl. Pruitt Allen Rainey was among nine soldiers killed.
The soldiers’ families have endured not only the loss of their sons, brothers, husbands and fathers but the slow process of a military investigation.
Earlier this year, the investigation led to letters of reprimand being issued to three Army officers for their involvement in Wanat.
Gen. David Petraeus’ report deemed Wanat’s supervision, planning, and research as inadequate. This “culpable inefficiency” constituted a dereliction of duty” on the part of the three officers, Petraeus noted. The investigation found the three officers negligent in numerous ways.
In June, however, the Army retracted the letters of reprimand. Dereliction of duty findings had been dropped against the three officers. Any charges filed against the officers would be dropped.
The families were stunned, but they received no viable answers as to why things changed so swiftly.
Perhaps, the five senators will have better luck.
Chambliss, and Sens. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Jim Webb, D-Va., have asked Army Secretary John McHugh why the Army overrode the investigation’s findings. The families deserve answers, and our military men and women willing to sacrifice themselves deserve better.
