Ladies and Gentlemen,
(FORMER INFANTRY FIRST SERGEANT)
JOHN E. HATLEY
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As of July 30, 2009 John is now 41 years old
Born in Decatur, Texas in 1968
Proud parents Ann and Darryl Hatley
John has 4 sisters; Gwyn, June, Tammy and Rhonda
Graduated Army basic training in Dec 1989 (Fort Benning, Georgia)
GED, 47 semester hours at Univ of Maryland / 4.0 GPA
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Achievements: Henry Caro Leadership Award, Sergeant Audie Murphy Club Member, Order of St. Maurice (Centurion level)
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Awards and decorations:
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Meritorious Service Medal (2)
Valorous Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Commendation Medal (3)
Army Achievement Medal (7)
Ranger Tab (was oldest recruit in his Ranger Class)
Combat Infantryman Badge (2)
Expert Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge (Airborne)
Air Assault Badge
German Marine Schutzenschnur Badge (gold)
Army Service Ribbon
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal w/Bronze Service Stars (2)
Saudi Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Saudi Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi)
National Defense Service Medal (2)
NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3)
Korean Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal (5)
Overseas Service Ribbon (5)
Kosovo Service Medal
NATO Medal (2)
Overseas Bars (5) (Combat stripes)
Marksmanship Badge (expert)
(Note: The unit 1-18 Infantry has been redesignated as 1-2 IN, 172nd BCT.)
IN – Infantry
BCT – Brigade Combat Team
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Overseas Deployments / Assignments:
1990 Feb 101st Airborne Div Fort Campbell (Also 1st deployment to 1st Iraq war / Operation Desert Storm/Shield Iraq)
1992 Panama
1993 Camp Hovey, Korea 1-5 Cav
1995 Fort Hood, Texas 1-5 Cav
1997 – (then deployed 6 months to Bosnia / Operation Joint Forge Bosnia)
2000 Germany B.Co. 1-18 IN ((This unit, B. Co. 1-18 Infantry has now been redesignated as: 172nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st INF Divison))
2001 – (then deployed to Kosovo for 6 months / Operation Joint Guardian II Kosovo)
2003 Germany 1st IN Division G-3 Master Gunner
2004 Germany 1st IN Div (served as a Sergeant Major slot for Division G-3) (Then deployed to Operation Iraqi FreedomII – Tikrit, Iraq)
(While deployed to Tikrit, 6 months later took over A. Co. 1-18 while deployed to Tikrit, Iraq.)
2006 – 2008 Still the A.Co. 1-18 IN First Sergeant – (then deployed to Baghdad, Iraq for a total of 15 months)
2008 USAG (United States Army Garrison) Schweinfurt, Germany. Housing NCOIC (John was placed in this temporary position until the trial date approached. He immediately gained respect and admiration for his leadership abilities, strong work ethic and contagious attitude in a very unique, if not temporary position working along side civilians.)
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Stateside assignments:
Fort Campbell, Kentucky 101st Airborne Division
Fort Hood, Texas 1-5 Cav
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Wife:
Kim Hatley
44 years old
Veteran (US Army)
Kim currently resides in Texas
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Son:
19 years old
Currently serving / U.S. Marine Corps
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As a vietnam era veteran, I am not surprised at this action!! Look at the US leadership from the top down….they will sacrifice any/all to make themselves look good to these enemy countries. YOU DO NOT BETRAY THE SOLDIERS…Period!!!!
Ex Navy Veteran
Dallas, TX
I can not believe this situation. Why we are using a role model as a Political excuse…When did we start leaving our own behind?
For sure I’ll be writting my congressmen.
This blows my mind, as a navy brat all my life, this is unbelievable!!!! Serve your country and you might go to prison as a POW in your own country.
What kind of message are we send to our troops? Just be shot and take your chances on being alive but do not shoot back because you will be a POW in your own country!!!!! I will be telling my brother who will be deploy to Iraq this year.
But to remind us, We have the right to bear arms. This makes me sick to my stomach!!!!
I just discovered this site today and was completely blown away by the story. I have read many comments and agree with the ones that say it is terrible the military is putting our heroes in prison. They send the soldiers over there to protect the innocent from the radicals and when the job gets done, the soldier is punished!! I have read the update on MSG Hatley’s status and was disturbed to see his clemency was denied. What civilians and soldiers need to do now is write their state senators and congressmen/women to encourage them to stand behind MSG Hatley. If the military won’t look kindly upon him then maybe the government will and speak up for him. Maybe his story will carry to the ears of our President and a pardon be granted.
After reading his creditentials, it warmed my heart to see he was at Camp Hovey. My husband has been at Hovey for 18 months and I for 15 months. I know when MSG Hatley was here, the area was quite a bit different than now. The area has grown-up a lot.
I was John’s team leader at Ft Campbell and in Desert Storm. I know his character and he is NOT a murderer. He IS the guy that will give you the shirt off of his back though.
Let’s start by continuously writing and emailing the U.S. Senators for Texas, Kay Bailey Hutchison Web address (http://hutchison.senate.gov/contact.cfm ) and John Cornyn. Web address http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm Bug them until they check into it. You all know that the squeaky wheel gets the grease…
Rakkasans Lead the Way!
David Schaum
god bless you john I serverd with you Bco 118 inf 2000-02 you are a man of honor.
How can we allow a man with such a great record to be railroaded into prison? What are the names of the Jury members and/or Judge? We should bombard them with mail and ask for an accounting of their decision. Who was the JAG officer that prosecuted this case?