RIVERA, Paul Joshua M.

Evidence
2019-0664

A Few Good Men – The Movie

The movie portrays a story involving a trial for the crime that occurred in a Naval base in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Lance Corporal Dawson and Private First Class Downey were charged
with the murder of Private First Class Santiago, conspiracy to commit the same, and acts which are
unbecoming of a member of the Marines. The trial ensued with a general court-martial as the pair
pleaded not guilty through their lead counsel Lieutenant Kaffee.
Santiago wanted to leave the base because he had self-determination that being assigned to a
camp of rigorous training in a Naval base bordering the enemy lines of Cuba was not his calling. He
sent letters to different offices to ask for his transfer in exchange for information that he saw
Dawson shooting the enemy line without authority.
Defendants claim that Col. Jessup would not let Santiago leave. They contend that the latter
was given a “Code Red”, a disciplinary action known only among Marines stationed at Guantanamo
Bay. Soldiers are physically punished for misconduct, which are strictly off the record, not to
mention illegal. It was alleged that the defendants were ordered to gag Santiago and shave his hair
as a punishment for being a bad marine while in his slumber. Santiago ended up dying from
suffocating on the rag used to gag him. Lieutenant Colonel Markinson was their key witness, saying
that it was Jessup who orders Santiago's commanding officer, Lieutenant Kendrick, to "train"
Santiago to become a better Marine. Unfortunately for the defense, Markinson committed suicide
before testifying in court-martial. For lack of any material evidence to transfer the blame away from
the two soldiers was to have Jessup admit that he ordered the same.
Luckily, the defense proved at the hearing that the “Code Red” employed in this case is an
unofficial and malicious disciplinary action. The “Code Red” practice was confirmed by different
people who were in the camp and experienced it firsthand. More importantly, Jessup, while at the
witness stand, admitted he ordered the same. He made his remarks in passion. It was important that
he would admit as it proved that the lower ranks in the base will never disobey their superiors’
orders.
The defendants were acquitted from the murder and conspiracy charges, but are
dishonorably discharged from the Marines for conduct unbecoming of a Marine.