Be thankful for the Marines Corps

I read the Sept. 26 letter, “Marines’ actions are unacceptable” about the Marine Corps letting the baby killer go free while they determined what his punishment should be.

I will defend forever the letter writer’s right to her opinion but before she puts it in print, she should get her facts straight.

Don’t doubt for one second that if the Marine Corps thought this boy was guilty or brought discredit on the USMC he would be out of confinement.

Lots of these kids are on their third or fourth tour in Iraq. They are trying to help establish the same kind of democracy the writer enjoys and maybe just takes for granted. In many cases, the ones they are there to help are the ones who are trying to kill them. These kids are 18 and 19 years old. I have no clue what the writer’s political views are. In fact, I don’t care.

But tonight, when she puts her head down on her little pillow, in her safe little bedroom, one of the last thoughts she should have is: “Thank you God for boys like Pennington and the United States Marine Corps.”

ROBERT M. NEAL

Snohomish