Marine's punishment scaled back in urination case

This still image made from a video posted on YouTube purports to show U.S. Marines urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban militants in Afghanistan. / CBS

WASHINGTON A Marine general who decided to court-martial a Marine for urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters and posing for pictures with them in Afghanistan will scale back the punishment announced Thursday by a military judge.

Staff Sgt. Joseph W. Chamblin's case stems from the disclosure in January of a video showing four Marines urinating on the bodies of three dead men in July 2011.

Play Video

Political fallout over Marines video

As CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reported then, the Marines in the video were members of a 1,000-man battalion that had completed a combat tour in Afghanistan and returned to Camp Lejuene, N.C., where they apparently started showing the video around as a war trophy.

A Marine spokesman, Col. Sean Gibson, said Lt. Gen. Richard Mills had agreed before the court-martial was held Wednesday that the maximum sentence he would approve against Chamblin is the forfeiture of $500 in pay for one month and reduction in rank to sergeant.

The judge, who was not aware of the pre-trial agreement, had initially announced a harsher sentence: 30 days confinement, 60 days restriction, forfeiture of $500 per month in pay for six months, a fine of $2,000 and a reduction in rank to lance corporal, which is two pay grades below sergeant.

Gibson said Mills will limit the punishments to those he set before the trial. Mills is the head of Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

The Marine Corps said Chamblin pleaded guilty before the military judge at Camp Lejeune. He admitted to wrongful desecration, failure to properly supervise junior Marines and posing for photos with battlefield casualties.

Chamblin is assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune.

In September, the Marines announced that Chamblin and Staff Sgt. Edward W. Deptola would be court-martialed. Deptola's case is pending.

[PourpaixPourpaix]

Isn't it nice all the soldier boys have an older fellow to look out for them and save them from judicial finding? No wonder these Muslim fellows will go to any extent to kill Americans.

[mandiegracetaylor]

It's hard to forget what hardened marines are exposed to at all times - how they are trained - and their motto "Get Some..." It's hard to stand down after mowing down the very people who shot your comrades dead in front of you - blew off some of their limbs, etc. and then as you look upon their dead bodies become civil and say, "okay, we're Marines, we are a country of law, let's get some sheets and perform a proper Muslim burial like the seals did for Osama." They are just not in the mindset....but taking pictures and posting them on Facebook - they are going to have to learn... People here stateside getting drunk in bars and posting it on facebook on Friday are getting fired on Monday and this was a Corporal....

[kope1975]

Soldiers and Marines, remember that you can kill an insurgent, shoot him several times if you have to, but just don't pee on him. Uncle Sam will have your hide.................lesson learned, killing an insurgent will get you praised, but peeing on insurgent will land you in a brig!

[preacherbob1]

Let me see, please tell me if I am wong. It is fine to kill our enemies and thus preserve our freedom and nation. I agree with you so far. Then, you equate peeing on the enemy, the same as killing him. Well, how does peeing on the enemy or anything else help or further our preserving our freedoms? I suspect KOPE1975, the 1975 is your birthdate--if so, remember it is better to be pissed off than pissed on.

[wolfmagic2012]

These immature little beaaches SHOULD have been thrown in the brig. Their conduct was effing disgusting and unacceptable for a Marine.

[catsmilee]

Sounds to me like the general mills is the only one with a clue. This judge is ridiculous!! My god - he wants to punish these dudes like they were rapists or murderers or generals bopping mistresses or something. The only embarrassment this country has had is watching our POLITICIANS, MEDIA and COMMANDANT/PROSECUTER/JUDGE side with the enemy over our own boys! AND - why the heck are they dragging all of this out with all these individual trials, etc. Just plea them out. Do we really need public report after public report of this same old story going back in the face of the enemy? SERIOUSLY?

[takacrat]

This Judge will be working for ALJ soon. The Judge that Burned the Pilots for dropping bombs on friendlies is now a ALJ Judge that is Burning Civilians for AIG on the LHWCA, Defence Base Act and War Hazard Act, so that AIG will get there Bonuses and to give Gifts to these ALJ Judges!!

[friend2008]

Mikep62

It is very easy to call you names too and lose the point of the discussion. The idiot person who do not even know how to read and jump to conclusion that was not there.

Who on the earth said that the Marines had a retribution to the enemy in WWII?

On the other hand, you said "...shoot anything that move." For the best of my knowledge, dead bodies do not move.

Few days ago a White American Catholic adopted your idea of torturing the enemy, and the end was as all what we know.

There is no Muslim Citizen American committed any
massacre all the entire history of the United States. Noe of Sept. 11 members was a Muslim American citizen.

[Meezermom1951]

Aren't those Taliban extremists the same ones who have no problem beheading our guys and dragging their bodies through their muck filled streets while throwing garbage and other things on their bodies?? They don't care how they treat our service men and women so please, explain why we should treat them any better than they treat ours?

[friend2008]

No they are not. Mutilation of dead bodies is not an Islam priciple by all means. Prophet Muhammad never did it, even if with the person who cut the dead body of his dead uncle, and took his liver.

However, suppose these are the evils of the evil, if someone took the low road, you must take the high road. In other words, respecting dead bodies is human conduct, we mustn't even discuss it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY9NZYR2f94

Watch this movie to see the real American soldiers in WWII.

[preacherbob1]

Simply because we Americans are better, more humane,than these rejects of the human race. Then too, your mother taught you better. I hope.

[judymar14]

They should have pooped on them!

Good ol' USA...Send men/woman to Afghanistan to kill the enemy, but if you do, don't pee on them. I can imagine what the Taliban would do to our dead soldiers taking into consideration what the do when captured alive.

[friend2008]

I am not going to ask you to change your mind, but be careful about what you write. I do not think we have a movie for Taliban, while they are doing the same act.

I hope you do not forget that the United State is a country of law. I hope you hate for some guys, do not let you to lose being a human.

[judymar14]

Please, get real! We don't have a movie of the Taliban peeing on anyone, just cutting their heads off.

The US is a country of law? As much as I love my country, it is not one of law. Read more articles written by CBS columnists and it will open your eyes to what's around you.

[mentalist65]

Next time...no pictures.

[jtdev1]

Marines know better, the proper way is $hitting on them...

Don't worry, he'll be promoted next month...

[imnho]

To urinate o dead bodies can be used to recruit people to kill other marined. There actions were dangerious to their fellow service personnel.

[takacrat]

What about Videoing Americans having there heads Cut Off!!