Two U.S. Marines have been charged in connection with a video our sources posted, showing at least two American soldiers urinating on the corpses of deceased Taliban fighters, our sources has learned … and the men are also facing allegations involving a grenade launcher.
According to the USMC, the Marines — Staff Sergeants Joseph W. Chamblin and Edward W. Deptola — have been charged for “violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice” for their involvement in the urination incident.
The USMC says the incident is believed to have taken place during a counter-insurgency operation in Afghanistan on or about July 27th, 2011.
Chamblin and Deptola were also charged with other misconduct that allegedly took place, which includes:
– Being derelict in their duties by failing to properly supervise junior Marines
– Failing to require junior Marines to wear their personal protective equipment
– Failing to stop and report the misconduct of junior Marines
– Failing to report the negligent discharge of a grenade launcher
– Failing to stop the indiscriminate firing of weapons
Deptola is also charged with failing to stop the unnecessary damaging of Aghan compounds, and wrongfully and indiscriminately firing a recovered enemy machine gun.
Both Marines belong to a regiment based out of Camp Lejeune, NC. They are now facing trial.
The USMC says there are other pending cases related to this incident.
The USMC says, “We will be as forthright as possible while preserving the rights of the accused and fairness and integrity of the military justice process.”