John E. Hatley
Encyclopedia
John E. Hatley is a former Master Sergeant
in the United States Army
serving a 40 year sentence in the Fort Leavenworth Disciplinary Barracks for the murder of four Iraqi detainees. Hatley was originally sentenced to life with the chance for parole. Hatley is colloquially associated with a group of US military personnel convicted of war crimes known as the "Leavenworth 10."
in 1968 to Darryl and Ann Hatley. One of five children, Hatley dropped out of high school and joined the United States Army, graduating Basic Training
at Fort Benning
in December 1989. He later earned his GED and attended the University of Maryland
while on active duty.
and deployed to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1997 Hatley deployed with the 5th Cavalry Regiment to Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia and Herzegovina
. In 2001 Hatley again deployed to the Balkans
this time as part of Operation Joint Guardian II in Kosovo. The first of Hatley's two deployments to Iraq came in 2004 were he worked in the 1st Infantry Division's Operations section. His second deployment was as the First Sergeant
of Alpha Company of the 1st Battalion of the 18th Infantry Regiment.
when they came under small arms fire. As the unit moved to storm a building, later found to contain smalls arms and explosives, four Shi'ite fighters associated with the Mahdi Army
were caught fleeing the building and placed into custody. The four detainees were taken back to the unit's staging area when Hatley's unit received word from their chain of command that the four men were likely to be released due to insufficient evidence. Several soldiers in the unit, including some of those charged, later made sworn statements that Hatley and two other senior non-commissioned officers took the four men to a remote location, handcuffed and blindfolded and placed them on their knees before shooting all four in the back of the head. It was determined that Hatley and the other two soldiers then put all four men into a canal. Their bodies were never recovered.
Prior to the investigations into the murders began Hatley became involved in the Scott Thomas Beauchamp controversy
. Hatley was serving as Beauchamp's Company First Sergeant in Iraq at the time that Beauchamp authored a diary published as an article in The New Republic
, an American center-left political magazine. Subsequently a conservative blogger, looking for information on Beauchamp's claims, initiated an email exchange with Hatley. Hatley's response refuting Beauchamp's stories was then published. Hatley was also involved in the Army's official criminal investigation into the article in The New Republic as necessitated by his position as the senior non-commissioned officer in Beauchamp's company.
, Germany
found Hatley guilty of premeditated murder
and conspiracy
to commit premeditated murder over the killings at the canal in Baghdad. According to testimony given at his trial, Hatley, Sergeant First Class Joseph P. Mayo and Sergeant Michael Leahy had transported the detainees to a western neighborhood of the Al Rashid district in Baghdad
, shot the bound and blindfolded men in the back of the head and then dumped their bodies in a canal. At the time of the murders the three American soldiers were assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion of the 18th Infantry Regiment.
Hatley was sentenced to life in prison but will be eligible for parole after 20 years. He was reduced in rank to private
, dishonorably discharged and forfeited all pay and allowances.
Master Sergeant
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
serving a 40 year sentence in the Fort Leavenworth Disciplinary Barracks for the murder of four Iraqi detainees. Hatley was originally sentenced to life with the chance for parole. Hatley is colloquially associated with a group of US military personnel convicted of war crimes known as the "Leavenworth 10."
Early life and education
Hatley was born in Decatur, TexasDecatur, Texas
Decatur is a city located in Wise County, Texas, United States. This city was named after Stephen Decatur, Jr. The population was 5,201 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 6,432. It is the county seat of Wise County...
in 1968 to Darryl and Ann Hatley. One of five children, Hatley dropped out of high school and joined the United States Army, graduating Basic Training
United States Army Basic Training
United States Army Basic Training is the program of physical and mental training required in order for an individual to become a soldier in the United States Army, United States Army Reserve, or Army National Guard. It is carried out at several different Army posts around the United States...
at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
in December 1989. He later earned his GED and attended the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
while on active duty.
Military career
After basic training Hatley was assigned to the Army's 101st Airborne Division101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
and deployed to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1997 Hatley deployed with the 5th Cavalry Regiment to Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. In 2001 Hatley again deployed to the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
this time as part of Operation Joint Guardian II in Kosovo. The first of Hatley's two deployments to Iraq came in 2004 were he worked in the 1st Infantry Division's Operations section. His second deployment was as the First Sergeant
First Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
of Alpha Company of the 1st Battalion of the 18th Infantry Regiment.
2006 Deployment to Iraq
Hatley was patrolling with his unit in the al Rashid district of BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
when they came under small arms fire. As the unit moved to storm a building, later found to contain smalls arms and explosives, four Shi'ite fighters associated with the Mahdi Army
Mahdi Army
The Mahdi Army, also known as the Mahdi Militia or Jaish al-Mahdi , was an Iraqi paramilitary force created by the Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in June 2003....
were caught fleeing the building and placed into custody. The four detainees were taken back to the unit's staging area when Hatley's unit received word from their chain of command that the four men were likely to be released due to insufficient evidence. Several soldiers in the unit, including some of those charged, later made sworn statements that Hatley and two other senior non-commissioned officers took the four men to a remote location, handcuffed and blindfolded and placed them on their knees before shooting all four in the back of the head. It was determined that Hatley and the other two soldiers then put all four men into a canal. Their bodies were never recovered.
Prior to the investigations into the murders began Hatley became involved in the Scott Thomas Beauchamp controversy
Scott Thomas Beauchamp controversy
The Scott Thomas Beauchamp controversy concerns the publication of a series of diaries by Scott Thomas Beauchamp – a private in the United States Army, serving in the Iraq War, and a member of Alpha Company, 1-18 Infantry, Second Brigade Combat Team, First Infantry Division.In 2007, using the pen...
. Hatley was serving as Beauchamp's Company First Sergeant in Iraq at the time that Beauchamp authored a diary published as an article in The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
, an American center-left political magazine. Subsequently a conservative blogger, looking for information on Beauchamp's claims, initiated an email exchange with Hatley. Hatley's response refuting Beauchamp's stories was then published. Hatley was also involved in the Army's official criminal investigation into the article in The New Republic as necessitated by his position as the senior non-commissioned officer in Beauchamp's company.
Court Martial
In April 2009 a U.S. Army court in VilseckVilseck
Vilseck is a town in the Oberpfalz region of northeastern Bavaria, Germany situated on the river Vils, a tributary of the Naab river.The town is geographically separate from a nearby large American military base known as the Rose Barracks but more commonly referred to as Vilseck...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
found Hatley guilty of premeditated murder
Premeditated murder
Premeditated murder is the crime of wrongfully causing the death of another human being after rationally considering the timing or method of doing so, in order to either increase the likelihood of success, or to evade detection or apprehension.State laws in the United States vary as to definitions...
and conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
to commit premeditated murder over the killings at the canal in Baghdad. According to testimony given at his trial, Hatley, Sergeant First Class Joseph P. Mayo and Sergeant Michael Leahy had transported the detainees to a western neighborhood of the Al Rashid district in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, shot the bound and blindfolded men in the back of the head and then dumped their bodies in a canal. At the time of the murders the three American soldiers were assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion of the 18th Infantry Regiment.
Hatley was sentenced to life in prison but will be eligible for parole after 20 years. He was reduced in rank to private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
, dishonorably discharged and forfeited all pay and allowances.