Marine Faces Expulsion For Puppy Video

The Marine Corps on Wednesday said it was expelling one Marine and disciplining another for their roles in a video showing a Marine throwing a puppy off a cliff while on patrol in Iraq.

The 17-second video posted on YouTube drew sharp condemnation from animal rights groups when it came to light in March.

The clip shows two Marines joking before one hurls the puppy into a rocky gully. A yelping sound is heard as it flips through the air.

"That's mean. That's mean, Motari," an off-camera Marine is heard telling the Marine who tossed the black and white dog. The off-camera Marine snickered slightly afterward.

Lance Cpl. David Motari, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment at Kaneohe Bay, is "being processed for separation" from the Marine Corps, the Marine Corps said in a news release. He also received unspecified "non-judicial punishment."

The Marine Corps didn't say what role Motari played in the clip.

The video was viewed tens of thousands of times before YouTube took it down due to a violation of the site's terms of use.

"The actions seen in the Internet video are contrary to the high standards we expect of every Marine and will not be tolerated," Marine Corps Base Hawaii said in a news release. "The vast majority of Marines conduct their duties with honor and compassion that makes American people proud."

The second Marine, Sgt. Crismarvin Banez Encarnacion also received unspecified "non-judicial" punishment.

Encarnacion is assigned to the Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

First Lt. Binford Strickland, a Marine Corps Base Hawaii spokesman, said the service may not reveal what roles the two men played in the video because that was part of the investigation. He said releasing such information would violate the Privacy Act.

Strickland declined to provide details about the disciplinary measures taken against the men for the same reason.

[jegibbons]

Processing out the Lance Corporal may be a quick solve for the Marine Corps'' PR Department but when Lance Cpl. David Motari becomes Mr. Motoari his thinking problem becomes the community''s problem.

A Viet Nam Veteran, myself I appreciate these youngsters for their service and I realize that for many they may have trouble turning off what has been cranked up. Seems like the younger the soldier or Marine the more likely this is a problem.

I hope the Marine Corps mandates some VA treatment for the young Lance Corporal.
I would hope this kind of animal cruelty was not in him prior to his Iraq War experience. If not it is the Marine Corps'' responsibility to fix whatever''s broken.
If not at some time far in the future, at a place yet to be determined when the young Corporal is an old veteran, he might realize the full reality of his heinous deed with dire consequence.

[patriot12436]

Just a note of interest.My daughter told me that the Iraqui''s kill dogs whenever they see them, just for the hell of it. Doesn''t sound to me like they are worth defending. Another note. It is a well known fact in Russia that Sadaam was the illegitimat don of Stalin. Put their pictures together and they look identical.

[patriot12436]

codymac4
I don''t support the war in Iraq. My daughter just returned from duty there. I do support all our troops. I am 100% disabled Vietnam vet, my oldest son is 100% disabled from getting hurt with the rangers, my daughter is active duty, and my youngest son is geting ready o join the rangers. I could not be more proud of our troops than i am, hopwever this act of animal cruelty is not forgiveable. The puppy has nothing to do with politics or starting this senseless war.

[patriot12436]

I believe that our service members are held to a high standard. He has brought dishonor to all our members. There is no excuse for his behavior. I am glad they printed his name so everyone will know him wherever he goes. This man is a dangerous person as he has no soul. I hope that Budhism is real as they believe everything you do in life, good or bad, comes back to you tenfold. I can''t wait to see this man get what he deserves.

[freescopic]

all too typical of the nationalist, power-needy Christian soldiers that our tax dollars support every day. they''re not defending freedom, they''re just thirsty for blood to compensate for their own deficiencies, and some days, if they can''t kill Muslims to get that rush of superiority, a puppy will do. Imagine what doesn''t get on youtube!

[daiseylu]

Once again, the subject is,,,a marine threw a puppy off a mountain,,this is not about the war,,who started it , who didn''t,,9/11,,,put blinders on and stick with the subject,,just focus on one thing, this ARTICLE IS ABOUT A GOOF AND A PUPPY....only,,,that''s it,,,

[sgtrds-e4]

So, let me get this right, codymac4, now your blaming the Iraq puppy for 9/11?

Posted by Kodiak8881 at 06:19 PM : Jun 12, 2008

Actually they shot the video in Hawaii. It was an American puppy that they killed.

[ixoye_02]

I see that this blog is filled with idiots who would suggest that we shouldn''t condemn bad behavior from soldiers just because they are "protecting our freedoms". There is never an excuse for bad behavior, but I realize that some folks were raised by animals instead of parents and learned everything on the street or from Fox News. Fortunately for many of us, we have the choice to ignore their comments and not respond to their idiotic babble when someone else offers common sense rebuttals.

[sgtrds-e4]

All deserved need some serious time in the brig before they get dis-honorably discharged! They''re disgusting!

[daiseylu]

excuse me, am I missing something? What is the name of the marine who threw the puppy over the mountain, so it could break its bones and die?? Or maybe it didnt die, maybe it died, 6 hours later, What a horrible human being he is,,and you know whats more sick, the puppy was probably jumping around these freaks trying to play, as all puppies do,,what an ***.