MONROE — While the U.S. Marine Corps is discharging her son, a mother’s love defines a life beyond the military.
“A moment of using bad judgment does not portray the true character or integrity of my son David,” David Motari’s mother said in a statement Thursday. “It does not show that when he was home on leave, the last thing he would do was buy soft dog food for our aging dog ‘Bear’.”
The 17-second video showing Lance Cpl. David Motari throwing a puppy into a gully doesn’t change the 22-year-old’s service in combat for his county, the family said.
“It does not show the kind and gentle heart of a young man who served his country for 3½ years of his life,” the family said. “Nor does it show the battles he fought in Afghanistan or Iraq; that he fought for the freedom of the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United States of America!”
Motari is being kicked out of the service after the Marine Corps wrapped up a three-month-long investigation of the circumstances surrounding the video. The Marine Corps released a statement Wednesday, formally deploring Motari’s conduct.
“This was a very detailed, very thorough investigation that went through the entire chain of command,” said Maj. Chris Perrine of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where Motari’s unit was stationed.
Perrine said privacy laws prohibited him from saying whether Motari has been dishonorably discharged. He did say that Motari is leaving before his service contract ends on Dec. 5, and that he will not be allowed to reenlist with the Marine Corps.
The puppy-throwing video started spreading on YouTube and other places on the Internet on March 3. In it, one Marine says “that’s mean, Motari.” The video made international headlines and prompted death threats from around the world against Motari’s family in Monroe.
Now as the word of Motari’s discharge spreads, the controversy has resurfaced on the Internet, with people venting and making fun of the Marine. A Flash animated game names Motari, and depicts a puppy firing a Marine from a missile launcher. A doctored version of the puppy throwing video shows Motari tossing a Pokemon character instead. There’s even a video featuring a rapping bulldog calling Motari out for a fight.
There is nothing funny about Motari’s conduct, said Inga Gibson, Washington state director for the Humane Society of the United States.
She praised the Marine Corps for disciplining Motari.
One other Marine has been disciplined as a result of the video. Sergeant Crismarvin Banez Encarnacion, based in San Diego, Calif., has received a punishment.
Motari’s mother said she and others in his family continue to be proud of the soon-to-be former Marine.
“The video released does not alter our opinion of him. The sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening,” the statement read. “Life goes on no matter how much grief we may be in. My son’s life will go on as will ours.”
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Statement from the Motari family
Here is the statement released Thursday by David Motari’s mother:
A moment of using bad judgment does not portray the true character or integrity of my son David. It does not show that when he was home on leave, the last thing he would do was buy soft dog food for our aging dog “Bear”.
It does not show the kind and gentle heart of a young man who served his country for 3½ years of his life. Nor does it show the battles he fought in Afghanistan or Iraq; that he fought for the freedom of the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United States of America!
Those of us who know him from the heart support him 100 percent. The video released does not alter our opinion of him. The sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening. Life goes on no matter how much grief we may be in. My son’s life will go on as will ours.
We will never forget that David Motari served his country! Thank you to all who chose not to be judgmental in this matter. And thanks goes to our servicemen and women who sacrifice their unselfishness to serve our country. God Bless!”
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