Court Martial Held At Fort Hood For Sergeant Damon Shell, Charged With Manslaughter

He was reduced to a private and given 13 months confinement for taking a life.

I wasn't saying I agreed with the sentence...just a statement.

To me, a life is worth much more than 13 months and a reduction in rank.

No He Did NOT take her life she was drunk as well, and she is also to blame for her actions. People need to use their heads and understand that sometimes the truth is covered up.

it was an accident, and they were both drinking and the door opened. he did not open the door, nor did he do it on purpose.

it was an accident. they were both innebriated. the door opened. he did not open the door, nor did he push her out, nor did he run her over on purpose. check facts.

Str8_2_the_Point wrote:

He had to reduced to E1 in order to be confined. But, 13 months, wow. Some of those dummies in Abu Gharib got more than that for making a BUTT PYRAMID.

they were WAR CRIMES. no comparison.

Brian wrote:

No He Did NOT take her life she was drunk as well, and she is also to blame for her actions. People need to use their heads and understand that sometimes the truth is covered up.

bout time someone had a differrent say about it. his life is pretty much over, and there is more to the story. people just cannot get their hands on the facts of the case, and they prejudge.

I understand that she had fault in the situation as well for which if you look at it - she paid her debt in full.

Yes it was an accident, no one was meant to get hurt, she fell out etc. We all have free will which he exercised when he decided to get behind the wheel.

Taxed Out wrote:

I understand that she had fault in the situation as well for which if you look at it - she paid her debt in full.
Yes it was an accident, no one was meant to get hurt, she fell out etc. We all have free will which he exercised when he decided to get behind the wheel.

they both exercised free will. she got in, and she sat right beside him. he was given a just sentence.

True, he choose to get behind the wheel of a car though was my point.

Taxed Out wrote:

I understand that she had fault in the situation as well for which if you look at it - she paid her debt in full.
Yes it was an accident, no one was meant to get hurt, she fell out etc. We all have free will which he exercised when he decided to get behind the wheel.

What none of you understand is that she was on Guard Duty and left her post to drink. She did not deserve to die for that, but it was both peoples fault not just one. Further more PVT Shell had 17 months in combat no break, over 200 combat missions, a purple heart, a bronze star, and he has earn 5 combat strips. Again , no excuse, but the night in question a lot of poor dicisions were made and someone had to pay. Good Luck Damon

First Let get some things right.

1. She left her post to go drinking. But she did not deserve to die.
2. Shell had 17 mths in Combat, 200 Combat missions or patrols, bronze star, puprle heart, and CAB, Again not an excuse.

3. Both were caught up in a bad situation and made it worse.

4, Her body was on the opposite side of the road from where she had to have fallen out. And no visible head truama.

5. Shell I hope you do well and remember even had she behind out a stag 1 truama unit she would not have lived, as testified to in court

Truth from the Court, ggsf38224, and Brian, none of you have profiles here..so what is someone does want to know "the truth" how are they to find out more?

He got off lucky. He removed a junior enlisted soldier from a guard tower while she was on duty in a war zone protecting other soldiers inside the wire. He offered and provided her alcohol in a war zone after offering and giving alcohol to several other junior soldiers that night. He then had sexual relations with a married junior enlisted soldier and he was a non-commissioned officer. Then he tried to cover it up by bringing her back to "stand guard" when she could not even stand up herself.

And the worst is...he felt the bump when he ran her over, thought he may have hit her...but kept on driving.

He got off easy? Tell that to her three year old son.

To leave your post during wartime, is a death sentence under the UCMJ, while it's been over 60 years since anybody was shot for it, it's still on the books. That guy is lucky he didn't get more than 17 1/2 years for what he did. I sure wouldn't want a drunk in my fire team, thats for sure! He's plainly unable to act as a NCO, being a pvt. seems to be more his style. All those medals show that he know's how to act in combat, but no one get's a pass when it comes to following orders, even more so in combat. Having been shot at myself, and having to tell others in my fireteam to do things thay may get them killed, I have no pity for this guy. I lost good friends in combat, and they are all still with me in my soul. Sounds like this guy was only interested in having a party while he was in Iraq. I don't totally agree with why we are there, but if you sign the contract, then you need to live up to it.
At anyrate, her son isn't even going to be able to tell people his mom died in action defending our country but instead she was killed by a drunk driver while she was AWOL from her post! Not something that I'd want to have to say about how my mom died I can say that much.
There are no winners at all in this whole sorry mess and a child ends up growing up without his mom and a man ends up spending alot of time in Ft Levenworth military prison wishing he had a drink and some money to spend on commisary. Having pulled duty as a 'cross country chaser' I can tell you that those MP's at that place don't have much give in them at all.

You know I have set back and listen to all these people that want to lay blame on Damon. Yes, he may have a drinking problem, Yes what went on that night was wrong, but to say that he got off easy is sooo way out there it is not even funny. People make mistakes, This is True, but you know just as well as I do that you yourself (sparky Jk and all others that think you would not do something wrong over there) have more than likely done something over there that is against the rules. Maybe it was minor but imagine if that simple act (seeming harmless) ends up putting you in the spot of Murder. Damon found himself in that situation. Sure he shouldn't have been drinking, but like I have said before in previous statements "It is not only his falt" I don't see him as responsible for her death. I know it sounds harsh but she is responsible. She knew what she was doing by leaving her post, and at that moment she needs to be held responsible. I feel that it is her fault for being so drunk. Damon just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. As for Damon and all others serving in Iraq, Thank You for your Service. As a family member of Damon, We all Love You and Support You threw your difficult time. As for the Women that died, thank you as well, I am sure that you were a great person. To her child and husband, No matter what people say, have honor in knowing that she did die for our country. Drunk or not, killed in action or not, You all are heros.

Damon, I hope that you get the help you need for your drinking problem, and I hope that everyone out there sees that Damon is a good soldier. He fought for you and I, I for one will always respect that. Love you man!

Ill say it again in case some one wants to comment and they didnt understand what i ment fu cking coward

And you can say her fault wahtever but what was it SERGEANT and a PRIVATE you pin the rank on you set the example ill say it a third time COWARD

mike973 wrote:

And you can say her fault wahtever but what was it SERGEANT and a PRIVATE you pin the rank on you set the example ill say it a third time COWARD

First of all you think you're so smart, you can't even spell. Secondly, you don't know the details of everything that went on that night. Damon is E5, there were two other E5's and an E6 that were involved. They were all drinking, Damon just happen to be the one to volunteer to take her back so she wouldn't have to be out walking alone when she fell out of the Hummer. What people don't get is, she fell out, no one pushed her. What part of accident don't you understand.

Mike973, you think you're so smart. You can't even spell. You don't even know all the details of what went on that night. Damon is E5, there were two other E5's and an E6 there that night. The E6 out ranked all of them, he should not have allowed any of them to drink if you want to blame it on rank. They were all drinking, Damon just happen to be the fall guy. She's the one that fell out of the Hummer, no one pushed her. If Damon had been sober that night it would not have prevented her from falling out. What part of accident don't you understand.