Soldier gets 7 months in blindfold death deal

Did anyone evaluate these soldier for PTSD? Did anyone even wonder why they did this? If the soldiers involved in this do have PTSD, what kind of justice would this be for them?

I am not defending what they did but I am wondering what the reason is behind what they did. When you think of the character of the men and women who serve this nation, something like this does not fit right. Is it possible they just snapped? Sure, but more than likely this is a case of wounds of war, PTSD. If you understand what PTSD is and what it can do to them, then you'll be wondering about all of this as well.

What happens if it is PTSD and Spc. Ramos goes to jail and never receives treatment for PTSD when time is the enemy? The longer PTSD goes on without treatment, the more damage is done. Would it be justice if that is the reason behind this? Would it be justice to toss someone into jail who would have been sent to a mental hospital for treatment if he had been a civilian?

If Spc. Ramos comes out of jail without treatment, again if it is PTSD behind all of this, then he won't be able to receive treatment by the VA after either. What will happen to him then or the others if they are found guilty as well? When it comes to war, we are not dealing with cut and dry facts at all. If it was not in their character before war, then why assume it is now?

Soldier gets 7 months in blindfold death deal

By George Frey - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Sep 18, 2008 9:14:41 EDT

VILSECK, Germany — An American soldier was sentenced to seven months in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to murder in the slaying of four Iraqi prisoners who were bound, blindfolded and shot.

The relatively lenient sentence for Spc. Belmor Ramos was part of a deal that will see him testify against the others alleged to have been involved in the killings last year.

Ramos, of Clearfield, Utah, told a judge at his court martial that he stood guard as the men were killed.

The 23-year-old, of the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, had faced a possible sentence of life in prison for conspiracy to commit murder.

Judge Lt. Col. Edward O’Brien said that, had it not been for the plea agreement, he would have sentenced Ramos to 40 years in prison. Ramos will also have his rank reduced to private and be dishonorably discharged from the Army.

His defense attorney, Capt. Patrick Bryan, who had asked for his client to be formally reprimanded and allowed to stay in the Army, had little to say about the sentence.

“It is what it is,” he said, noting that the case would be automatically reviewed, a process akin to an appeal.

The four Iraqi men were blindfolded, shot in the head and dumped in a Baghdad canal in April 2007 — allegedly in retribution for casualties in Ramos’ unit.

Three other soldiers in the unit — Sgt. John E. Hatley, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph P. Mayo, and Sgt. Michael P. Leahy Jr. — were charged Tuesday with premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and obstruction of justice.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/ap_soldiercharged_091808/