[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 44 (Thursday, April 14, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H2084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN SUPPORT OF LIEUTENANT PANTANO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken several times 
about Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano, a Marine who served our Nation 
bravely in both Gulf Wars and who now stands accused of murder for 
defending himself and this country.
  During his service in Iraq last year, Lieutenant Pantano was faced 
with a very difficult situation that caused him to make a split-second 
decision to defend his life. He felt threatened by the actions of two 
insurgents under his watch; and in an act of self-defense, he had to 
resort to force; 2\1/2\ months later, a sergeant under his command, who 
never saw the shooting, accused him of murder. Lieutenant Pantano now 
faces two counts of murder.
  Mr. Speaker, what is happening to this young man is an injustice. 
Lieutenant Pantano has served this Nation with great honor. My personal 
experiences with him and his family convince me that he is a dedicated 
family man and a man who loves his corps and his country.
  But I am not the only one who believes he is innocent. Yesterday, I 
read excerpts of pieces from the Washington Times and respected 
journalist Mona Charen defending Lieutenant Pantano.
  I have received letters and e-mails from Vietnam veterans who 
sympathize with him and ask that I do something to help him. They know 
what it is like to be in battle with an unconventional enemy. One 
second can make the difference between life and death.
  I have read excerpts from his combat fitness report in which his 
superiors praised his leadership and talent, even recommended him for 
promotion.
  Mr. Speaker, Lieutenant Pantano was, by all accounts, an exceptional 
Marine.
  Yesterday, Lieutenant Pantano and his attorneys waived his right to 
have an article 32 hearing and had decided that they want to go 
straight to trial. They are so convinced that he will be proven 
innocent that they want to speed the process along.
  In a letter yesterday, Lieutenant Pantano's mother wrote: ``My son, 
our family, and millions of concerned citizens, Marines and soldiers 
were assured that the article 32 pretrial hearing would bring 
everything out in the wash, and we have been patient with a process 
that has been grueling for my son's family. The problem is that if the 
government is the machine and my son is the laundry, they are not 
adding any water.''
  Thus far, the prosecution has not presented the witnesses and the 
evidence that they claim to have, and Lieutenant Pantano had no reason 
to believe that they would do so at the hearing. No such evidence 
appears to exist.
  Mr. Speaker, I have put in a resolution, House Resolution 167, to 
support Lieutenant Pantano as he faces trial. I hope that my colleagues 
in the House will take some time to read my resolution, look into this 
situation for themselves. Lieutenant Pantano's mother also has a Web 
site that I encourage people to visit. The address is 
www.defendthedefenders.org.
 Mr. Speaker, as I close, I ask the good Lord in heaven to please 
bless our men and women in uniform whether in Iraq or Afghanistan, to 
bless them and their families across this country, and also I ask the 
good Lord to please be with the family of Lieutenant Pantano and that I 
believe he will be exonerated, and he is a great man, a great Marine; 
and God bless America.

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