A couple of days ago, I posted more in the continuing saga of CW Darrell Birt, the Ohio Guardsman who was given a partial reprieve of his sentence. I got several emails from Army guys saying essentially, "not so fast, it's not as tragic as it appears". In comments on that post about CW Birt was this from a CSM Veppert:

It is clear you don't have all the information related to Mr. Birt's conduct in Iraq. Certainly, none of you read the AR 15-6 and AR 32 investigations. I did. I also spoke with Soldiers of the 656th TC Co, the company in question. In conjunction with pieces of the trial transcript, I can confirm the basic facts of the case.

The unit, under the command of MAJ Kaus and the Motor Officer Mr. Birt, stole a total of 9 vehicles, all but one from assigned holding areas at the port and at Camp New York. There were a couple of S&P trailers, a parts trailer, a 3/4T trailer, in addition to at least two 5T trucks and three prime movers. These vehicles were not 'abandoned'. Some units didn't have enough licensed or assigned drivers to get all their vehicles into Iraq in their initial convoys. Some vehicles were excess and, in at least one case I can confirm, were signed out to a unit that went through the proper channels to request additional support. Best information I have is that all but one were at 10-20 standards (ie., operable). Also, they idea this equipment was abandoned is belied by, in at least one instance, the owning unit was able to track their trailer down to the 656th and threatened legal action. This is documented in statements by several of the 656th Soldiers.

In taking these vehicles, Mr. Birt spent time grinding off the serial numbers and painting over the bumper numbers to conceal their rightful owners. In addition, Mr. Birt had a couple of his Soldiers take parts off specific vehicles he identified that were in the holding areas.

Of all these vehicles, only 2 were used on missions to deliver fuel, and one of the 5T trucks was used as a gun truck. Bear in mind that the unit had almost its full complement of 61 prime movers and tankers. The most fuel the unit moved at any one time was approx 240,000 gals. Divide 240 by 5K and you can see they were only using 48 prime movers and tankers at any given time. They still had at least 10 vehicles left.

In May 2003 (after the ground war was essentially over), the 656th fell under a new battalion. The Bn Commander gathered up all unit leadership in all subordinate companies and gave them a blanket amnesty to turn in anything that didn't belong to them. The 656th didn't take advantage of that.

This removes the argument that the vehicles were taken to support the war effort, save lives, etc. Remember, the insurgency didn't start until July or thereabouts.

When the unit was getting ready to redeploy back to CONUS, MAJ Kaus and Mr. Birt further conspired to hide the evidence by abandoning most of the vehicles at places such as the PX at LSA Anaconda, after having been cleaned of any identifying marks that could trace the vehicles to the 656th. One M931 truck, however, had been cannabilized down to its frame and cab. The cab was cut up and the frame was buried in separate pits at Camp Speicher.

I don't pretend to understand why Army leadership has not defended our Army Values but, that said, the actions of MAJ Kaus, Mr. Birt, and some few others were not nearly as noble as you have been led to believe. Their initial motivations for pursuing this action appears, on face, to be arguable, but their conduct over their remaining service wipes away all questions of honor and integrity.

Because if CSM Veppert is passing on the honest gouge here, then CW Birt has an angel living on one shoulder. Big Time.