On A Mission Of Murder
Authored By: Bradley Chapline
Page Two
2003
Authored By: Bradley Chapline
Page Two
2003
Later on in the week, my worst fears came true. It was now confirmed; Lance Corporal Charles Chitat Ng had escaped and made it off the island of Oahu and to the continental United States. I was relieved of duty as the commanding general’s secretary. This was being kept as quiet as possible. It was portrayed that I was only reassigned due to an oversight on a reenlistment bonus that prohibited me from working outside of my MOS (military occupational specialty). I was confused as to why the real reason for me being relieved was kept so quiet. Usually, when the Marine Corps gets a black eye, the persons they hang are made to be a public spectacle.
It was approximately four months until Charles Chitat Ng was apprehended by the FBI in California. He was then delivered back to Hawaii. But, during that four month span I agonized over all the events that had taken place. I was heart-broken over the distrust that General McClintock and I now felt towards each other.
I began recalling the wonderful memories my wife and I had of General McClintock and his family.
When I first went to work at the general’s office, my wife knew absolutely nothing of the military, and its structure. My wife, one day, walked into the headquarters building and was strolling around the corridors in a pair of old jeans and a baggy tee shirt. Unknowingly, my wife walked into the commanding general’s office that day and just began holding a casual conversation with General McClintock. Being the gentleman I knew him to be, the general escorted my wife around the building looking for me. A commanding general looking for a sergeant?! I guess General McClintock truly loved down-to-earth people. No doubt, in this beginning, my wife and I, both, had just immediately bonded to the general.
At about 5AM on Christmas morning, my wife woke me and said, “Take me to the general’s house. I have a gift for him.” She persisted, and finally, I took her there. Personally, I thought she was crazy. The wife of a Marine sergeant wanted to wake up the commanding general of a military base on Christmas morning, to just give him a small gift.
My wife rang the doorbell for several minutes. The general finally answered the door in his pajamas looking quite agitated. My wife then handed the general a tiny little Christmas tree that she had beautifully decorated by hand. I saw tears come to the general’s eyes. Subsequently, during my tenure as his secretary, I spent many days at the general’s house relaxing in his yard enjoying the majestic view of the mountains and the Pacific ocean.
Upon prisoner Charles Chitat Ng being delivered back to Hawaii by the FBI, the base authorities determined it was most imperative to get the weapons back that Ng had taken from the armory. They felt this was the only way to somewhat salvage a public relations disaster with the locals in Hawaii. In return for the weapons, prisoner Charles Chitat Ng was offered a reduced sentence at the federal penitentiary in Ft. Leavenworth, and a reduction in rank to private, E-1. Prisoner Ng also agreed to a dishonorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps. The plea agreement was then finalized by Marine authorities .
This whole process was done very quietly, and expeditiously. Prisoner Charles Chitat Ng was still being held in the Pearl Harbor brig. He was now to be prepared for transfer to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. This is where my jurisdiction would come into view.
I began to quiver as I received orders to once again report to the general’s staff secretary. I wondered what this bastard was up to. Although I had been relieved of duty as the commanding general’s secretary, I was still, unofficially, in my position as Assistant Regional Director of Prisoner Security. But, somehow, I still felt I was about to be set up. The major said to me, “Chapline, you have fucked this whole thing up, so you, and you alone, are going to take Ng to Leavenworth. If you lose him, Chapline, don’t come back! “I was almost petrified. I thought, “What, no backup, no partner! This is a setup! That sonofabitch!”
I pondered on how I was going to handle this extremely dangerous prisoner who was known to be a martial arts expert. For the first time, I decided to arm myself with a .45 caliber pistol. I proceeded to the Pearl Harbor brig.
Upon my arrival at Pearl Harbor, I had pondered, "Would I shoot and kill Ng and say that he was attempting to escape my custody, when he wasn't?" All I needed was the right spot with no witnesses." In my mind, prisoner Charles Chitat Ng should pay the ultimate price for ending not only my career, but, as well the career of a general I once loved so much.
But, I quickly rejected those thoughts as total absurdity. I knew inside I was suffering. I had to get myself together, and fast!
I knew transporting prisoner Ng, alone, on a United Airlines commercial flight was an extreme risk. I recalled these civilian pilots were real liberals when it came to the military transportation of prisoners. If we had weapons, they stayed in the cockpit and all restraints were taken off the prisoner while on the plane. “Fuck me”, I thought. “This is all I need, to have that bastard Ng overtake me on the aircraft and God only knows what he’d do then."
While I was escorting Ng to a military vehicle just outside the front of the Pearl Harbor brig, Charles Chitat Ng said, “Marines are nothing. I will escape from you, too, Chapline!” That was it. I then wrestled Ng to the ground, and roughed him up.
But, almost immediately, common sense came back over me.
Moments later, I was ordered by a Navy senior master chief to return back to my home base of Kaneohe Bay. However, I opted not to return back for more than a few hours. I knew, most likely, I was now in trouble. Upon arriving back at the main gate of Kaneohe Bay, the guard informed me that I was to report immediately to the general’s staff secretary.
Again, he was furious with me. The major had already received a verbal report of my actions from, I assumed, the senior master chief at the Pearl Harbor brig. I did, however, convince the Major that Charles Chitat Ng threatened to escape, and that my actions were justified. I further convinced the major by stating to him, “Sir, do you actually think I would give Ng an opportunity to escape from me? Christ sake, Sir, do you have any idea what that would mean to the credibility of the Marine Corps?" The major finally agreed with me. My custody jurisdiction over prisoner Charles Chitat Ng was immediately restored.
The authorities at the Pearl Harbor brig requested that I be formally relieved of all duties as Assistant Regional Director of Prisoner Security, and all other functions associated with transporting prisoners. Their request was denied by General McClintock's chief of staff, Colonel Dinnage. Prisoner Ng then requested mast to see the commanding general of the Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Air Station. I then transported prisoner Ng to his hearing.
During the trip from Pearl Harbor to Kaneohe Bay, I reinforced within Ng that I would not be relieved of duty. In that, I certainly was now planning to kill him. But, I was only messing with his mind.
At prisoner Ng's hearing, as predicted, his request to have me relieved of duty was denied. I was standing beside Ng when this decision was rendered. I just glanced at Ng out of the corner of my eye with a slight grin on my face. I had finally won a battle. I then transported Ng back to the Pearl Harbor brig while I continued to taunt him. As before, these were still only threats to scare the living hell out of Ng. But, prisoner Charles Chitat Ng seemed to believe every word I said to him. Prisoner Ng never said a word the entire trip back across the island of Oahu in returning to the Pearl Harbor brig.
The next morning, I was reporting for duty at my office to complete all the necessary administrative paperwork in transporting Ng to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
But, I was once again ordered to report to the general’s staff secretary. It seemed that this major would not leave me alone. So, I thought, “Oh shit, what the hell is his problem now?” The major briefed me on the following; "Last night Ng stuck his leg into an industrial device at the Pearl Harbor brig and maimed his leg. He had to be rushed to the Tripler Army Medical Center for emergency surgery.” The major further stated to me, “Immediately, I want you to put together a guard detail of four of your people.” I have set the shifts at twelve hours on, twelve hours off, seven days a week, for the entire span of this guard detail.
I voiced my opposition to this guard detail. The hours per shift were too long, and the span of time without a day off was far too long.
The major rejected my proposed adjustments to his order.
It was approximately four months until Charles Chitat Ng was apprehended by the FBI in California. He was then delivered back to Hawaii. But, during that four month span I agonized over all the events that had taken place. I was heart-broken over the distrust that General McClintock and I now felt towards each other.
I began recalling the wonderful memories my wife and I had of General McClintock and his family.
When I first went to work at the general’s office, my wife knew absolutely nothing of the military, and its structure. My wife, one day, walked into the headquarters building and was strolling around the corridors in a pair of old jeans and a baggy tee shirt. Unknowingly, my wife walked into the commanding general’s office that day and just began holding a casual conversation with General McClintock. Being the gentleman I knew him to be, the general escorted my wife around the building looking for me. A commanding general looking for a sergeant?! I guess General McClintock truly loved down-to-earth people. No doubt, in this beginning, my wife and I, both, had just immediately bonded to the general.
At about 5AM on Christmas morning, my wife woke me and said, “Take me to the general’s house. I have a gift for him.” She persisted, and finally, I took her there. Personally, I thought she was crazy. The wife of a Marine sergeant wanted to wake up the commanding general of a military base on Christmas morning, to just give him a small gift.
My wife rang the doorbell for several minutes. The general finally answered the door in his pajamas looking quite agitated. My wife then handed the general a tiny little Christmas tree that she had beautifully decorated by hand. I saw tears come to the general’s eyes. Subsequently, during my tenure as his secretary, I spent many days at the general’s house relaxing in his yard enjoying the majestic view of the mountains and the Pacific ocean.
Upon prisoner Charles Chitat Ng being delivered back to Hawaii by the FBI, the base authorities determined it was most imperative to get the weapons back that Ng had taken from the armory. They felt this was the only way to somewhat salvage a public relations disaster with the locals in Hawaii. In return for the weapons, prisoner Charles Chitat Ng was offered a reduced sentence at the federal penitentiary in Ft. Leavenworth, and a reduction in rank to private, E-1. Prisoner Ng also agreed to a dishonorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps. The plea agreement was then finalized by Marine authorities .
This whole process was done very quietly, and expeditiously. Prisoner Charles Chitat Ng was still being held in the Pearl Harbor brig. He was now to be prepared for transfer to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. This is where my jurisdiction would come into view.
I began to quiver as I received orders to once again report to the general’s staff secretary. I wondered what this bastard was up to. Although I had been relieved of duty as the commanding general’s secretary, I was still, unofficially, in my position as Assistant Regional Director of Prisoner Security. But, somehow, I still felt I was about to be set up. The major said to me, “Chapline, you have fucked this whole thing up, so you, and you alone, are going to take Ng to Leavenworth. If you lose him, Chapline, don’t come back! “I was almost petrified. I thought, “What, no backup, no partner! This is a setup! That sonofabitch!”
I pondered on how I was going to handle this extremely dangerous prisoner who was known to be a martial arts expert. For the first time, I decided to arm myself with a .45 caliber pistol. I proceeded to the Pearl Harbor brig.
Upon my arrival at Pearl Harbor, I had pondered, "Would I shoot and kill Ng and say that he was attempting to escape my custody, when he wasn't?" All I needed was the right spot with no witnesses." In my mind, prisoner Charles Chitat Ng should pay the ultimate price for ending not only my career, but, as well the career of a general I once loved so much.
But, I quickly rejected those thoughts as total absurdity. I knew inside I was suffering. I had to get myself together, and fast!
I knew transporting prisoner Ng, alone, on a United Airlines commercial flight was an extreme risk. I recalled these civilian pilots were real liberals when it came to the military transportation of prisoners. If we had weapons, they stayed in the cockpit and all restraints were taken off the prisoner while on the plane. “Fuck me”, I thought. “This is all I need, to have that bastard Ng overtake me on the aircraft and God only knows what he’d do then."
While I was escorting Ng to a military vehicle just outside the front of the Pearl Harbor brig, Charles Chitat Ng said, “Marines are nothing. I will escape from you, too, Chapline!” That was it. I then wrestled Ng to the ground, and roughed him up.
But, almost immediately, common sense came back over me.
Moments later, I was ordered by a Navy senior master chief to return back to my home base of Kaneohe Bay. However, I opted not to return back for more than a few hours. I knew, most likely, I was now in trouble. Upon arriving back at the main gate of Kaneohe Bay, the guard informed me that I was to report immediately to the general’s staff secretary.
Again, he was furious with me. The major had already received a verbal report of my actions from, I assumed, the senior master chief at the Pearl Harbor brig. I did, however, convince the Major that Charles Chitat Ng threatened to escape, and that my actions were justified. I further convinced the major by stating to him, “Sir, do you actually think I would give Ng an opportunity to escape from me? Christ sake, Sir, do you have any idea what that would mean to the credibility of the Marine Corps?" The major finally agreed with me. My custody jurisdiction over prisoner Charles Chitat Ng was immediately restored.
The authorities at the Pearl Harbor brig requested that I be formally relieved of all duties as Assistant Regional Director of Prisoner Security, and all other functions associated with transporting prisoners. Their request was denied by General McClintock's chief of staff, Colonel Dinnage. Prisoner Ng then requested mast to see the commanding general of the Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Air Station. I then transported prisoner Ng to his hearing.
During the trip from Pearl Harbor to Kaneohe Bay, I reinforced within Ng that I would not be relieved of duty. In that, I certainly was now planning to kill him. But, I was only messing with his mind.
At prisoner Ng's hearing, as predicted, his request to have me relieved of duty was denied. I was standing beside Ng when this decision was rendered. I just glanced at Ng out of the corner of my eye with a slight grin on my face. I had finally won a battle. I then transported Ng back to the Pearl Harbor brig while I continued to taunt him. As before, these were still only threats to scare the living hell out of Ng. But, prisoner Charles Chitat Ng seemed to believe every word I said to him. Prisoner Ng never said a word the entire trip back across the island of Oahu in returning to the Pearl Harbor brig.
The next morning, I was reporting for duty at my office to complete all the necessary administrative paperwork in transporting Ng to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
But, I was once again ordered to report to the general’s staff secretary. It seemed that this major would not leave me alone. So, I thought, “Oh shit, what the hell is his problem now?” The major briefed me on the following; "Last night Ng stuck his leg into an industrial device at the Pearl Harbor brig and maimed his leg. He had to be rushed to the Tripler Army Medical Center for emergency surgery.” The major further stated to me, “Immediately, I want you to put together a guard detail of four of your people.” I have set the shifts at twelve hours on, twelve hours off, seven days a week, for the entire span of this guard detail.
I voiced my opposition to this guard detail. The hours per shift were too long, and the span of time without a day off was far too long.
The major rejected my proposed adjustments to his order.
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