Mystery Deepens in Case of Missing Colorado Marine

BOULDER, Colo. (Sept. 16) -- The story was compelling. A marine home on leave from his first tour of duty in Iraq was injured in a fall while hiking down a mountain with a friend and vanished after the friend went to call for help.

As one of the largest search and rescue operations in state history was under way, speculation ran high that the marine, Lance Cpl. Lance Hering, 21, might have lost his memory or become disoriented as a result of his head injury or that a mountain lion or bear had attacked him.

On the second day of the search, investigators began to have their suspicions and have since said that it was all probably a hoax and that the marine might be on the run.

"The mystery has gotten deeper," said Lloyd Hering, the corporal’s father.

What is known is that Corporal Hering left his parents’ house on Aug. 29 to hike with a high school buddy, Steve Powers, 20.

The search for him lasted five days, using helicopters, dogs and hundreds of volunteers, before it was called off.

It is certainly disappointing for that have all to have been a waste and unnecessary exercise," said Kevin Harner of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group.

In the first days of the search, Corporal Hering’s mother, Elynne, wore a T-shirt with the Marine motto “Semper Fi” as she combed the mountains. She later collapsed from dehydration and exhaustion.

Mr. Powers also joined the searchers, with many risking their lives.

Days after the search ended, Mr. Powers confessed to detectives that it had all been a set-up to help Corporal Hering avoid returning to Iraq. Mr. Powers, a student at the University of Colorado here, was charged with false reporting, a misdemeanor.

Calls to Mr. Powers’s lawyer were not returned, and his father, answering a call to his house, said his son was not answering questions.

Corporal Hering’s parents now say that they do not know what to believe and that they fear that their son may be a victim of foul play.

"There is no shred of evidence at all to confirm this man’s new story," Mr. Hering said of Mr. Powers’s confession. "It may be as completely false as the lies he told us all for 10 days."

Lloyd Hering is a Vietnam veteran, and the corporal’s brother Brendan, 23, who flew in to join the search, is in the Air Force. The family has repeatedly said that Corporal Hering, who is due back at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on Monday, is a proud marine who would not flee.

"His parents have one perspective," the Boulder County sheriff’s commander of detectives, Phil West, said. "A couple of people have come forward saying that Lance thought it would be cool to stage his own death and go live in a foreign country under an assumed name."

Commander West said Corporal Hering’s access to $2,000 that he owed his parents and his criminal record were red flags. In 2004, Corporal Hering and Mr. Powers were caught trying to break into a store. They were given deferred sentences for the felony charges, but they have now violated their probation.

Commander West said the authorities would seek restitution for the more than $10,000 that the search cost.

Corporal Hering could face legal trouble with the Marines on charges of lying on his application — he did not mention his arrest — and desertion if he does not return to his base on time.

On Tuesday, Corporal Hering’s parents returned to the rocks and rushing river of Eldorado Canyon to ask the public to help find their son.

"Our heartfelt thanks to the hundreds of volunteers," Lloyd Hering said. "We now know lots of places where Lance is not."

Marine's Disappearance Staged

DENVER - Authorities who spent five days searching for a Marine after a friend reported him lost in a hiking accident have arrested the friend and said Thursday they believe the disappearance was staged, so the serviceman could avoid returning to duty.

Steve Powers, 20, of Boulder, was arrested late Wednesday for investigation of a misdemeanor charge of false reporting, Sheriff's Cmdr. Phil West said. In a statement, he added that the Marine, Lance Cpl. Lance Hering, could face the same charge, and that the sheriff's department planned to seek restitution for the thousands of dollars spent on the search.

Authorities are still trying to find Hering, 21, who returned from Iraq in July and was due back at Camp Pendleton, Calif., this month.

Powers had reported that Hering fell Aug. 29 while the two were hiking and injured his head, losing consciousness in the rugged Eldorado Canyon State Park west of Boulder. Powers said he went for help the next morning, but when he returned, Hering had vanished.

The sheriff's department and search and rescue teams called off their search after five days, saying they were confident Hering had left the area.

"Essentially (Powers) was trying to keep (Hering) from having to return to service as a Marine," West said. "That's Powers' version. Powers has lied to us repeatedly, so we take what he says with a grain of salt."

West said state authorities were comparing DNA from human blood found at the scene where Hering was reported to have fallen while rock climbing to samples from Hering and Powers. Investigators have some leads into Hering's whereabouts but West declined to elaborate.

A call to Hering's parents in Boulder and messages left with officials at the Pentagon and Camp Pendleton were not immediately returned. There was no telephone listing for Powers, who was released shortly after his arrest.

Nobody answered a knock on the front door of the Hering home, in a quiet south Boulder neighborhood, where two electric candles were burning in the windows.

Hering's brother, Air Force Lt. Brendan Hering, was on leave in Colorado from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., said a man who answered a call at Brendan Hering's unit.

Hering's family has said they do not believe he is trying to avoid returning to the Marines.

"He doesn't run from his problems," Brendan Hering told the Daily Camera in Boulder for a story Wednesday. "He doesn't have any problems with the military."

Brendan Hering said that about 10 years ago, Lance Hering hit his head and temporarily lost his vision and speech. A few days later, he suffered some short-term memory loss. He said his brother could be suffering a similar injury.

Marine officials have told sheriff's officials that Hering was classified as unauthorized absent because he left before official approval of his request for leave, West said.

The Pentagon has said simple desertion has been decreasing in the military in recent years - about 2,500 troops last year didn't show up for work, down from almost 5,000 in 2001.

But groups that run the GI Rights Hotline, which helps service members interested in getting out of their required service, have reported receiving more than 36,000 calls in 2005 and about 19,000 in the first six months of this year, up from fewer than 1,000 in 2001.

Attack in Damascus fails

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Four men shouting religious slogans tried to blow up the U.S. embassy in Damascus on Tuesday but their car bomb failed to go off and Syrian security guards killed three of them in a shootout.

No American diplomats were hurt in the assault, a Syrian official said.

Syrian-U.S. relations have been tense for many years, mainly over Syria's role in Lebanon, the Middle East conflict and Iraq, and its support of militant groups in the region.

The official news agency SANA said three attackers had been killed and a fourth wounded. A Syrian official said earlier that all four assailants had died.

A witness said at least one Syrian security guard had been killed by the attackers, who had been shouting Islamic slogans.

"I saw two men in plain clothes and armed with grenades and automatic weapons," said Ayman Abdel-Nour, a Syrian political commentator who was in the area. "They ran toward the compound shouting religious slogans while firing their automatic rifles."

Syrian state television said the attackers had tried but failed to detonate a car bomb.

Television footage of the scene showed a van packed with gas canisters and detonators taped to them, as well as bloodstains on the pavement and several damaged vehicles, including a white bullet-riddled car that a truck was preparing to haul away.

The embassy flag was flying at half-mast, one day after the fifth anniversary of the September 11 al Qaeda attacks on the United States.

The Rawda area where the attack occurred is one of the most heavily guarded districts in the Syrian capital. It houses security installations and the homes of government officials.

Hours later, the area remained sealed, with sharpshooters deployed on rooftops and top security officials at the scene.

Interior Minister Bassam Abdel Majid told state television an investigation was under way.

Security officials said the assailants' arsenal included rocket-propelled grenades. It was not known if they had fired them during the mid-morning gunbattle in central Damascus.

U.S. CONFIRMS ATTACK

In Washington, State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said: "We can confirm reports of an attack on our embassy in Damascus by unknown assailants. The event appears to be over."

There was no word on the identity of the attackers, but Syrian forces have clashed with Islamist militants several times in recent months, often during raids to arrest them.

In June, four gunmen and a guard were killed when Syrian security forces said they had foiled an attack by Islamist militants near the premises of state-run television in Damascus.

The United States recalled its ambassador from Syria in February 2005, expressing "profound outrage" over the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut. Washington blames Syria for that killing. Damascus denies any involvement.

The United States increased its criticism of Syria during Israel's 34-day war in July and August with Lebanon's Hizbollah guerrillas, who are supported by Syria and Iran.

Syria, accused by Washington of helping insurgents in Iraq and backing Hizbollah and the Palestinian Hamas movement, blames the rise of militancy in the region on U.S. policies such as the Iraq war and U.S. support for Israel.

In the early 1980s, Syria crushed an armed revolt led by the Muslim Brotherhood movement.

The embassy assault occurred one day after the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States by Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda.

No Death Penalty for Marine

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - The government will not seek the death penalty against a Marine Corps private who is among eight service members charged with murder and other crimes in the shooting of an Iraqi civilian, a military prosecutor said Wednesday.

Lt. Col. John Baker announced the prosecution's position during a hearing for Pfc. John J. Jodka III, 20. A Camp Pendleton spokesman said the prosecutor's statement applied only to Jodka, not the six other Marines and one Navy corpsman also charged in the case.

The hearing for Jodka and a separate one for another Marine, Cpl. Marshall Magincalda, 23, are part of the process to determine whether the defendants should face courts-martial.

The Marines and corpsman are charged in the shooting of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, in the village of Hamdania. Iraqi witnesses told the military that Marines and a Sailor kidnapped Awad on April 26, bound his feet, dragged him from his home and shot him to death in a roadside hole.

Jodka is accused of firing on Awad. Magincalda is suspected of binding Awad's feet and kidnapping him.

Jodka, in desert fatigues, watched the proceeding calmly. Asked at one point whether he wanted to make a statement, he said firmly, "No, sir."

Lawyers for Jodka argued vehemently that "inflammatory" statements made by the private and other Marines should be kept secret before trial.

Retired Col. Jane Siegel, who represents Jodka, said disclosing the 16 statements about the incident during a highly publicized hearing would hurt jury selection for Jodka's expected court martial.

"To openly discuss contents will completely pollute the local and national jury pool," Siegel said. "Some of it is very inflammatory."

A separate proceeding on Wednesday for Magincalda lasted only 30 minutes.

Investigating officer Col. Robert S. Chester, who is hearing the case, said the defense had asked for the hearing to be closed to the public, fearing publicity might hurt Magincalda's ability to receive a fair trial.

Chester opposed the request, saying the public has a "very compelling right to hear these proceedings."

Chester said he would tell prosecutors by Friday whether he had questions about any of their evidence.

Prosecutor Capt. Nicholas L. Gannon urged Chester to focus on statements by three members of the squad, including an alleged confession by squad leader Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III.

The hearings held under Article 32 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice are equivalent to civilian preliminary or grand jury hearings.

Both defendants have been held in the Camp Pendleton brig since returning from Iraq.

The Marines have the opportunity to mount a defense, call witnesses or even testify themselves. Their lawyers were expected to challenge use of the defendants' pretrial statements by contending they were subjected to heavy-handed inquiries with threats of the death penalty.

The other defendants, all members of the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, are expected to have separate hearings in coming weeks. The charges include kidnapping, murder and conspiracy.

Marine Corps Gay Discharges Increase

WASHINGTON, DC (US Newswire) -- As the Marine Corps' dismissal of lesbian and gay troops increases, President Bush has authorized an involuntary recall of Marine Corps Individual Ready Reservists (IRR) "because there are not enough volunteers returning for duty in Afghanistan and Iraq," according to a report from CNN. The recall, which is meant to bridge a recruitment shortfall of about 1,200 people, follows a report in May that the Corps' dismissal of service members under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian and gay personnel has increased for the first time since 2001. Since 1993, the Marine Corps has dismissed 953 men and women under the law.

"If President Bush is truly interested in boosting the manpower of our services, he should immediately endorse repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" said C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "Every day, our armed forces lose at least two people because of the ban on open service. Those men and women are ready, willing and able to serve, but are prohibited from doing so because of an outdated law that has no useful purpose. Our closest allies in Iraq and Afghanistan already benefit from welcoming openly gay troops, and we should as well. Today's news is yet another compelling reason for Congress to lift the ban."

More than 11,000 men and women have been dismissed under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" since the law was implemented. According to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), more than 800 of those had skills deemed "critical" by the Department of Defense, including linguistic training, medical skills and expertise in combat engineering.

"Every day, the Marine Corps loses good men and women because of this law, and every day, others choose not to re-enlist because they are officially unwelcome in the services," said former Marine Sergeant and Iraq War veteran Brian Fricke. "The readiness of our armed forces should be our primary concern, not the bias and prejudice that keeps 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' in place. Every American benefits when every qualified American who wants to serve is given the opportunity to do so."

A Congressional bill to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is now supported by 119 bi-partisan members of Congress.

Reserve Marines Activated

MCB Quantico, VA. - For the first time since the beginning of the war in Iraq more than three years ago, Marines in the individual ready reserve face the possibility of pulling their uniforms out of their closets, dusting them off and stepping off with their packs for another deployment.

The Marine Corps was authorized by President George W. Bush July 26 to activate as many as 2,500 Marines back into service.

Individual Ready Reserve Marines will begin receiving involuntary activation orders to report for a year of active duty beginning in October, said Lt. Col. Francis P. Piccoli, public affairs officer for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. He added that each activation will last around 12 to18 months.

According to Piccoli, during the past couple years the number of volunteers to fill requirements for the IRR has had a steady decline but the requirements have stayed the same. This has made it necessary to issue involuntary activation orders, he added.

The IRR has approximately 60,000 Marines. Only approximately 35,000 of those Marines will be affected. Marines in their first or fourth year of their IRR status will not be considered for activation, said Piccoli.

Marines who receive involuntary activation orders to report for active duty service will be used in support of the Global War on Terrorism in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.

Each Marine called up will receive ample time to prepare once notified. They will be notified five months in advance before reporting for active duty and “by giving them sufficient future time before having to report, we allow them to get their affairs in order,” Piccoli said.

A Marine can request a delay, a deferment or an exemption from the IRR activation. A Marine can request a delay if he can report but may not be able to make it on the exact date required. A Marine can also request a deferment to another rotation if a situation arises such as a spouse’s death or they can request an exemption if a circumstance forbids the Marine from being able to deploy now or in the future.

There have been reports that low recruitment levels have initiated the IRR activation.

“The reason for the activation is not due to a recruiting problem,” Piccoli said. “According to the Marine Corps Recruiting Command, recruiting goals are consistently being met. This is more about meeting the requirements that come to the Marine Corps to fill joint and Marine Corps billets in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The Marine Corps is looking at grade and MOS requirements and then trying to match them up with the positions needed to fill.”

Military Occupational Specialties needed are broken down by rank. From the officer ranks, the most needed MOSs are infantry, logistics, intelligence, artillery, staff judge advocate, communications and engineers. On the enlisted side, aviation, infantry, intelligence, motor transport, logistics, communications, linguists and military police are the most needed specialties.

“These folks are filling forward deployed positions,” Piccoli said. “We’re not calling them up to fill positions in places such as Quantico-they are not needed there.”

This initiative has an open ended window and it will continue indefinitely. The Marine Corps is planning to have three rotations during a minimum time frame of two years.

“This is not just for the reserve side of the Marine Corps,” Piccoli said. “The Marine Corps operates with a total force mentality. This is just another indication we mean business. Whether it is the reserve or active components, we’re coming together to get the job done.”
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Copyright 2006 Marine Corps News. All opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Military.com.

Annual Exposition Returns to Quantico

Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. - The 26th Annual Modern Day Marine Military Exposition will be held Sept. 12 to 14 on the field in front of Lejeune Hall.

At the Marine Corps League’s military exposition, defense contractors showcase the latest in defense manufacturing, science, technology and warfighting products, and services of more than 330 companies that support the air, land and sea operations of U.S. and allied forces.

Many of the systems and equipment items used by Marines and other U.S. armed and allied forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism, were first showcased before military leaders, operation planners and acquisition managers at the exposition in past years, said Carl White, Modern Day media relations specialist.

Among the many exposition highlights this year will be a special exhibitor pavilion focusing on systems and equipment designed to deter and counter the use of improvised explosive devices by enemy forces, said White.

The Modern Day Marine Military Exposition is held at Quantico to give first-hand exposure to the latest in defense manufacturing, science and technology here because Quantico is home of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and Marine Corps Systems Command.

The Combat Development Command develops Marine warfighting concepts and determines the Corps’ capability requirements for doctrine, equipment, organization, training, education and support. The Warfighting Lab is responsible for improving current and future naval expeditionary warfare capabilities. Systems Command is the Corps’ principal agency for acquisition and sustainment of systems and equipment used to carry out the Marines’ warfighting mission.

Many of the people who staff those organizations will visit the exhibit areas and discuss missions, capabilities and requirements with defense industry professionals, added White.

In the past, the exposition took place on the air facility, but due to construction this year, the expo has moved to Lejeune Hall’s parade deck. In addition to the new location, parking will be available on the field next to Quantico’s Memorial Chapel, which is also adjacent to Lejeune Hall. With parking on site, there will not be a shuttle bus service this year, said Brenda Dunlap, Quantico’s events coordinator.

Quantico employees and residents should be aware that base traffic may be congested during normal working hours due to the anticipated high volume of attendees, said Dunlap.

“To reduce traffic congestion, personnel within walking distance of Lejeune Field are highly encouraged to walk to the expo,” Dunlap said. “All personnel are encouraged to carpool or explore other options for minimizing the number of vehicles on base.”

“Due to heightened security, all attendees will be required to have picture identification available when entering the base. Marines in uniform may enter exhibit areas without a special registration badge,” said White. “Other military personnel, civilians and industry representatives must register on site and obtain a registration badge during registration hours.”

On Sept. 12, the expo is scheduled to start with an opening ceremony at 9:45 a.m. and the exhibits will open promptly afterward and close at 3:30 p.m. On Sept. 13 and 14, exhibit hours are from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, but will close at 3 p.m. on Sept. 14. Each day, food services will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Also on the second day of the expo, the Capital Marines Detachment of the Marine Corps League’s Enlisted Award Parade will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. The commandant of the Marine Corps will present awards to recipients being recognized for outstanding contributions to the Corps in their occupational fields: Marine Recruiter, Drill Instructor, Career Planner, and Embassy Guard, said Dunlap.

At the parade, the Corps’ Silent Drill Platoon and the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps will perform.

On the last day, “Family Day,” family members of military service members and Department of Defense employees will get the opportunity to experience the exhibits to learn more about today’s military equipment, systems and technology. Interested individuals will be able to view the exhibits from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

R. Lee Ermey, known for his movie and television portrayals of Marines, will be at the expo as a representative of an exhibiting company, said White. “Popular among many Marines and other members of the armed forces for his role as ‘the old Gunny’ on the History Channel’s top-rated military technology series, ‘Mail Call,’ Ermey will be autographing photos and posters for expo attendees.”
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Navy, Marine Corps finalize new operations concept

The Navy and Marine Corps finalized a new operations concept on Sept. 1 that meshes future methods being explored by both services.

Rear Adm. Phil Cullom said the “Naval Operations Concept” will be promulgated this week on the Navy Web site. Cullom, director for strategy and policy on the staff of the chief of naval operations, spoke Tuesday during a forum for military officers and industry representatives in Arlington, Va.


Cullom said Adm. Mike Mullen, chief of naval operations, and Gen. Mike Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, signed the document before the Labor Day weekend.

Speaking to reporters after his remarks, Cullom offered the example of the Corps using small units of distributed forces supported by new Navy concepts like one- or two-ship “global fleet stations,” which are essentially maritime forward operating bases.

While he said the Navy will soon develop its own operating concept, the latest work is blue and green.

“It’s a naval operating concept for the Navy and Marine Corps,” he said.