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Journalism of Courage
On a sultry day in July 2008,Marine Sgt David W Budwah strode in his battle fatigues to the front of a picnic pavilion to tell three dozen young boys what he did during the war.
He said he was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan when a homemade grenade exploded,wounding his face and arm when he dove to shield a buddy from the blast. He urged the boys,ages 9-12,to take pride in themselves,their country and its warriors.
Were here to make sure of the freedom you have every day, Budwah told his audience at Camp West Mar,60 miles from Washington.
The Marines say Budwah is a liar,a fraud and a thief. They are court-martialing the 34-year-old Springhill,Louisiana,native,alleging he was never in Afghanistan,wasnt wounded and didnt earn the combat medals he wore or the many privileges he enjoyed.
Budwah joined the Marines in October 1999 and spent nearly all of the next six years with a radio communications unit in Okinawa,Japan,according to the Marine Corps Base in Quantico,Virginia,where Budwah has been stationed since February 2006.
Prosecutors say Budwah wore unauthorised medals and accepted VIP invitations to rock concerts,major-league baseball games,banquets and other events meant to fete wounded warriors.
He faked post-traumatic stress disorder in hopes of leaving service early and was sent to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda,where he bluffed his way into 33 events from late July through November 2008,according to charges obtained by Associated Press through an appeal of its Freedom of Information Act request.
The charges include making false official statements,malingering,misconduct and larceny. Budwah faces up to 31 1/2 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge if convicted on all eight counts at a trial set for October 20. at Quantico.
