Rally for Navy SEAL McCabe

PERRYSBURG, Ohio (SENTINEL-TRIBUNE) - Citizens came to the defense Tuesday of a “hometown hero” accused of assaulting an Iraqi detainee.

Waving American flags and chanting “Save our SEALS,” the crowd gathered at Hood Park to support Perrysburg native Matthew McCabe, one of three Navy SEALs facing court-martial for allegedly punching Ahmed Hashim Abed, after capturing him in September.

Abed is thought to be the mastermind behind the kidnapping and killing of four U.S. contractors in Fallujah in 2004. The bodies of the Americans were mutilated, burned, dragged through the streets and hung from a bridge. The images of the charred bodies were broadcast around the world.
Petty Officer 2nd Class McCabe, a 2003 graduate of Perrysburg High School, and the other Navy SEALs in this case, Petty Officer Jonathan Keefe and Petty Officer Julio Heurta, have been accused by Abed of hitting his lip and punching his stomach. The three SEALs have said they did not harm the detainee in any way.

“They are being punished for doing their jobs,” said Scott Allegrini, of Sylvania. “This is a terrorist who has killed hundreds of people, or planned it.”

Several of those rallying to support McCabe were veterans angered by the charges.

“Being a veteran, I’m here to support him,” said Gerald Dauer, of Toledo, who served in the Navy from 1965-1969. “We’re fighting a war and he needs all the support he can get.”

McCabe, 24, enlisted in 2003. He served on the Amphibious Assault Ship Belleau Wood before training in special warfare. He was advanced in September 2007, according to Navy records.

Military officials originally wanted to handle the case through a process known as “nonjudicial punishment,” but the SEALs insisted on going to trial in an effort to clear their names and save their careers. If convicted by a six-person military jury, they could face up to a year in a military prison, demotion to the lowest Navy rank, a cut in pay and a bad conduct discharge.

But if found innocent of all charges, they would be able to continue their careers with no record of the case in their personnel files.

“The silent majority has been silent too long,” said Jo Fink, of Waterville, as she joined the rally. “I feel we’re giving rights to the terrorists, but what about our military men?”

The rally was organized by Corey LeRoux, of Perrysburg, who graduated from high school with McCabe. He fears that many Americans are not aware of the charges facing the Navy SEALs.

“Our troops are out there every single day, putting their necks on the line,” LeRoux said. “Now they are holding them over the coals, just for catching a known terrorist.”

LeRoux believes the charges, filed by a “sissy” terrorist, should have been handled on an administrative level. But he added that he does not want the truth covered up — even if the SEALs are guilty of mishandling the detainee.

“We don’t want to sweep anything under the rug,” he said.

Some in the crowd said al-Qaida terrorists are instructed to injure themselves if they are captured, and then accuse American troops of abuse.

“He gets a fat lip and they are prosecuting our SEALs, highly trained military men who are there to protect us,” said Ruby Bell, of Bowling Green. “Our government needs to stand up for us and stop worrying about non-U.S. citizens. We send these people in harm’s way to protect us and we don’t have their backs.”

Her husband, David Bell, a Navy veteran, shared her outrage.

“It’s just an injustice,” he said.

Some traveled from quite a distance to show their support for the SEALs. Patty McNichol, whose brother is retired from the Navy, came from Lyndhurst, east of Cleveland. “I believe it’s unfair to go after the military for doing their job,” she said. “I don’t believe they should be used as scapegoats.”

Besides sharing their support, those at the rally were asked to share their cash. Since the SEALs are using civilian legal representation, they are responsible for those costs.

“The legal bills are going to be outrageous,” Allegrini said.

McCabe’s family did not attend Tuesday’s rally since they are with their son in Virginia as he awaits his trial, LeRoux said.

 

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