Rules of Engagement - Combat Reality vs. Training Memory
Maj. Mark Biggs:
Let me get this straight. You evacuate the Ambassador. You go back to the roof. Two of your Marines are K.I.A. A third, Sergeant Krasevitch, dies. You give your captain an order which he doesn't follow; in fact, he questions. And then you said what?
Col. Terry L. Childers:
I don't remember.
Maj. Mark Biggs:
You don't remember what you said next?
Col. Terry L. Childers:
It was combat, not some training exercise.
Maj. Mark Biggs:
A moment later, your men were shooting. What did you say to make that happen?
Col. Terry L. Childers:
I don't know.
Maj. Mark Biggs:
You must have said something. Captain Lee reversed himself. What did you say?
Col. Terry L. Childers:
I don't know the exact words.
Maj. Mark Biggs:
Let me help you.
Col. Hayes Hodges:
Your Honor.
Maj. Mark Biggs:
You said "Waste the motherfuckers," didn't you?
Col. Terry L. Childers:
No, no, no...
Maj. Mark Biggs:
You didn't say it?
Col. Terry L. Childers:
It all happened so fast-
Maj. Mark Biggs: [Childers hesitates and doesn't reply.]
You're under oath, Colonel! Let me refresh your memory. This is Exhibit Q, a tape recording made aboard the U.S.S. Wake lsland of all radio communications received that day, including your exact words. Your Honor, with your permission, I would like to play this tape.
Col. Terry L. Childers:
If you got it on tape, then that's what I said! They were killing my Marines, so, yeah, I said it! "Waste the motherfuckers!
Maj. Mark Biggs:
Are these "the motherfuckers"?
Col. Hayes Hodges:
Objection.
Judge:
Overruled.
Col. Terry L. Childers:
Yes!
Maj. Mark Biggs:
These?
Col. Hayes Hodges:
Objection!
Col. Terry L. Childers:
Yes!
Maj. Mark Biggs:
These?
Col. Hayes Hodges:
Objection!
Judge:
Overruled.
Col. Terry L. Childers:
Yes!
Maj. Mark Biggs:
Are these "the motherfuckers" that you ordered to be wasted?
Judge:
Major.
Col. Terry Childers:
YES!
Col. Hayes Hodges:
Your Honor...
Major Mark Biggs:
The crowd in front of the embassy had no weapons, did they, Colonel?
Col. Hayes Hodges:
Objection! We found no snipers weapons, either!
Col. Terry L. Childers:
Yes, they had weapons! You think there's a script for fighting a war without pissing somebody off?! Follow the rules and no one gets hurt?! Yes, innocent people probably died. Innocent people always die! But I did not exceed my orders!
Maj. Mark Biggs:
There are rules and Marines are sworn to uphold them!
Col. Terry L. Childers:
I was NOT going to stand by and see another Marine die just to live by those fucking rules!
Judge: [Bangs his gavel]
Colonel!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.