Band Of Mothers Calls On Trump For Justice For Chief Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher – #FreeEddie
Pamela Geller
Chief Gallagher has been charged with mistreating an ISIS terrorist during combat operations!
On Patriot’s Day, Sept 11th 2018, NCIS snatched Chief Gallagher in the midst of TBI treatment, shackled him, kept him shackled in solitary confinement for 72 hrs.
He has been in pre-trial confinement for over 4 months and counting.
Chief Gallagher has been Indefinitely Detained, repeatedly denied access to medical care, and has limited access to his attorneys.
If this can happen to Chief Gallagher, it can happen to anyone. Even by the Navy SEALs standard, Chief Gallagher ’s biography is extraordinary.
Chief Gallagher Biography
Fulfilling a lifelong call to serve his country and a sacred family tradition, Eddie Gallagher joined the service soon after high school in 1999 and enlisted in the Navy. He joined the ranks of his father, a West Point graduate and retired Lieutenant Colonel, two naval aviator uncles (one of whom died in the service), and three grandparents who served in World War II. After 19 years in the service and eight combat tours, Eddie is among the most elite of warriors who has served quietly and bravely on the front lines to protect his country in nearly every conflict since 9/11.
After boot camp Eddie attended Corpsman (Medic) school, was attached to a Marine Corps unit, and in 2000 first deployed with his Marine platoon to Kosovo. After September 11th, 2001 Eddie saw clearly his call to defend the country and volunteered for Marine sniper school. Eddie become the first non-Marine to graduate the school, an incredibly tough feat for this insular and elite program. As a Marine Scout Sniper, Eddie was among the first waves to deploy on the front lines of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 to Mosul for his second combat deployment.
Never settling, Eddie strived to do more and upon returning home he enrolled in Basic Underwater Demolition Schools (BUDS). He graduated in 2005, becoming a United States Navy SEAL. He was again deployed to Iraq in 2006-2007, and in addition to the combat action and Iraqi and Afghanistan service ribbons, Eddie was awarded Navy and Marine Commendation Medal with V for Valor. During 72 patrols and 12 combined direct-action missions, many under direct enemy fire, Eddie’s “unrelenting perseverance and loyal devotion to duty” resulted in 36 terrorists captured.
As a SEAL Eddie would continue to excel, rising not only in rank but as a true leader. He became lead sniper, lead platoon medic, lead breacher, fire team leader, master training specialist, squad leader and eventually, lead petty officer where he was in charge of entire SEAL platoon deployed to the Middle East. He would be recognized by the Navy for his leadership, given the award of Sailor of the Year and Sailor of the Quarter – titles granted to superior and dedicated professionals within their commands who best represent the Navy.
Among his numerous deployments with the SEALs Chief Gallagher was again recognized for valor in combat, being twice awarded the Bronze Star with V for Valor. In one instance, under enemy fire yet again and from multiple positions, Eddie Gallagher cleared nearly 100 stalls in a bazaar in Afghanistan, secured a rooftop position, and effectively freed a friendly element that was pinned down by enemy fire. His “courageous and decisive actions silenced the enemy fire…and “by his extraordinary guidance, zealous initiative and total dedication to duty, Petty Officer Gallagher reflected great credit upon himself, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
Chief Gallagher has undergone a total of eight tours of duty, six as an elite special forces operator serving on the front lines of combat. He is the consummate and professional warfighter, earning medal after medal for leadership and bravery in battle. In total Chief Gallagher has earned the Bronze star with V for Valor twice, Meritorious Unit commendation, Presidential Unit citation two Navy Commendation medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, and four good conduct awards. His last deployment in 2017 to Iraq where he was tasked with leading his platoon to clear ISIS from Mosul, Chief Gallagher was awarded #1 SEAL Chief and #1 SEAL platoon.
Chief Gallagher’s record and reputation as an elite warrior is rivaled only by a few men who have served by his side as special warfare operators and heroes who have gone before him. He does not seek recognition for his work, but his service demands the respect and honor owed to the special breed of warrior ready to answer our Nation’s call.
19 Year Service Member
Joined July 28th 1999
Marine Corps
Medic/Corpsman for platoon
7 month Combat Deployment – 2000 Deployment – Mediterranean/Kosovo
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Marine Corps
Sniper/Corpsman
Marine Corps Water Instructor Survival Specialist – MCWISS
Marine Corps
9 month combat Deployment during invasion of – Mosul/Africa 2003
Marine Corpsman/Medic/Sniper
Combat Action Ribbon
Basic Underwater Demolition/ NSWC – 2004
SEAL Qualification Training Graduation 2005
SEALTEAM ONE – 2005
18 Delta Field Medic Course – 2005
SEAL Team One
Special Operator 2nd Class – SO2
Plt Medic, Sniper, Corpsman
2 Troop Delta platoon
Combat deployed to Iraq 2006-2007
Navy commendation medal with V for Valor / combat action ribbon / Iraqi campaign / Afghanistan Campaign /Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
SEAL Team One
Special Operator 1st Class – SO1
Lead Sniper / Platoon Medic / Lead Breacher / Fire Team Leader
2 troop Delta platoon,
Combat Deployment – Afghanistan 2009-2010
Combat Action / Afghanistan Campaign / Bronze Star with V for Valor
Naval Special warfare Center BUDS Instructor
Master Training SpecialistSpecial Operator 1st class,
2010-2012
SEAL Team Seven -2012-2017
Special Operator 1st class, SO1
2 troop, Delta platoon
Squad leader, lead sniper, Lead Breacher, fire team leader, Lead Corpsman
Combat Deployment – Afghanistan 2013
Army commendation medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Combat action ribbon with gold star insignia for multiple combat deployments
SEAL Team 7
Charlie Platoon– Lead Petty Officer of SEAL platoon, SO1
Crisis Response element
Deployment United Arab Emirates– 2014-2015
Navy Commendation medal
SEAL Team 7 – Sailor of the quarter
SEAL Team 7 – Sailor of the year
Naval Special Warfare Group One- Sailor of the year
Number one E6 at Command
SEAL Team 7
Alpha Platoon – Special Operator Chief, E-7
Combat Deployment – Mosul, 2016-2017
Number one Chief at SEAS Team 7 Command
Awards:
2 Bronze Stars with V for Valor
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Presidential Unit Citation
2 Navy Commendation Medals
3 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals – 1 with V for Valor
4 Good conduct awards
Chief Gallagher
US Navy SEAL
19 Years of Service
8 Overseas and Combat Deployments
2 Bronze Stars with “V” for Valor
1 Navy Achievement Medal with “V” for valor
2 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals
7 Month Combat Deployment With US Marine Corps
SEAL Team 7 Sailor of the Quarter
SEAL Team 7 Sailor of the Year
Naval Special Warfare Group One – Sailor of the Year
Number One Chief at SEAL Team 7
4 Good Conduct Awards
In the case of Eddie Gallagher, charged with the murder of an ISIS detainee, there is little to no physical evidence of guilt. There is no autopsy or body to show that a murder even occurred. Instead, the case is built solely on the claims of a few junior SEALs, who did not report the alleged incident for months, and only started making claims after Chief Gallagher reported them for cowardice in combat and his genuine concerns over their ability to perform the mission.
In the civilian justice system, prosecutors are required to present evidence to a grand jury, who votes on whether there is probable cause to bring an indictment.
In the military, rather than a grand jury, a single officer presides over an Article 32 hearing, where evidence is presented and that officer, usually an attorney, decides whether there is probable cause to proceed with charges. On paper, this may seem fairer than a grand jury because the defense can be present and even cross-examine the witnesses.
But the reality is a bit different because the hearing officer prepares an advisory opinion and the convening authority can either accept or reject their recommendation. To put that into context, imagine a civilian prosecutor presents evidence to the grand jury, who finds that there is no probable cause to charge the defendant, but the prosecutor’s boss can ignore that decision and proceed with charges anyway.
IN CHIEF GALLAGHER’S CASE, THIS IS EXACTLY THE SITUATION THAT OCCURRED. THE OFFICER WHO HEARD ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AT HIS ARTICLE 32 HEARING FOUND THAT SOME, BUT NOT ALL, CHARGES WERE SUPPORTED BY THE BARE MINIMUM EVIDENCE TO CONSTITUTE PROBABLE CAUSE.
SPECIFICALLY, THE HEARING OFFICER FOUND THAT THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT ON TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED MURDER, WHERE CHIEF GALLAGHER ALLEGEDLY SHOT AT, BUT DID NOT HIT, TWO NON-COMBATANTS ON THE STREETS OF MOSUL. EVEN THOUGH THE HEARING OFFICER, WHO IS AN ATTORNEY, FOUND NO PROBABLE CAUSE, THE CONVENING AUTHORITY, WHO IS NOT AN ATTORNEY, REJECTED THIS CONCLUSION AND DIRECTED THAT CHIEF GALLAGHER FACE THESE TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AT TRIAL.
PLEASE ASK PRESIDENT TRUMP TO FREE CHIEF GALLAGHER.
Contact your Congressperson here. If they are Democrat, I am sorry for you. Best way to contact? Phone calls.
Donate to the Navy Seals Fund here. 100% of the donations raised by this campaign will be used to defend Chief Gallagher and provide support for his family as they fight for Justice.
My great friend, Band of Mothers leader Bev Perlson, sent this letter to President Donald Trump. Won’t you contact the White House?
8 February 2019
Re: Navy Chief Edward R. Gallagher
Dear Mr. President:
I wrote to you on December 11, 2018 (encl) asking for your help for Navy Seal Chief Edward R. Gallagher, currently “still” held in the Navy brig in California. Seven weeks have passed, and I have not received a response. President Trump, dare I infringe on the great progress you are making for our country, but I must. This matter is urgent.
Chief Gallagher has been locked up in the brig in California now for almost 6 months. He was taken out of TBI treatment, shackled and arrested on Patriot’s Day, September 11, 2018. Chief Gallagher is a Navy Seal, who served 19 years of decorated service, now charged with pre-meditated murder.
For the last 19 years, Chief Gallagher has risked his life to keep us all safe. Yet now he finds himself locked up in the brig and treated like a man already tried and found guilty. Due to his imprisonment, his ability to formulate any kind of decent defense is nil, and he is going to trial soon.
His wife and children are in Florida, the Chief is being held prisoner in California. Over the last 6 months, this Navy Seal has seen his wife three times, and his kids, once, on Thanksgiving Day. These are the same kids the government traumatized by pulling them out of their beds in their underwear, out in front of the neighbors, with their guns drawn!
Chief Gallagher’s kids are brave Patriots. They have said goodbye to their Dad many times since they were born, so that he could go somewhere dangerous to protect all of us. They miss him. I bet they are wondering how we could treat their Dad like this. Me Too.
I listened to your State of the Union speech Tuesday evening. It was wonderful. One part of your speech overwhelmed me. You told the story of Judah, who was there in your audience. Judah is a Holocaust survivor who remembers when the American Soldiers came and saved them all:
“Suddenly the train screeched to a very strong halt. A soldier appeared. Judah’s family braced for the worst. Then, his father cried out with joy: “It’s the Americans. It’s the Americans.”
As I heard those beautiful words, “It’s the Americans”, I imagined how many times over 19 years Chief Gallagher and his Brothers heard those same beautiful words of hope and freedom.
President Trump, the Chief needs to hear “It’s the Americans” as he is led out of the brig. He deserves to go home, to be with his family and be afforded all the rights to defend himself that he fought so hard to provide all of us.
Mr. President, please help Chief Gallagher.
With A Mother’s Heart & Great Respect,
Beverly Perlson
The Band of Mothers
