The End
August 10th, 2007 by Jaclyn Sharratt
It is over. For the past 20 months I did not think I would ever be able to say those words. Yesterday, on August 9th, Justin had a 7:00 a.m. meeting with General Mattis, where he was handed the documents to sign that officially exonerated him. In a matter of ten minutes our lives changed, but this time for the better.
Throughout this series of unfortunate events, my family has seen prayers answered, and even some miracles. Ranging from a close friend contacting me in May 2006, after the inaccurate Time magazine article, and offering to send out an email to his firm in Chicago which, in turn, led our family to obtaining the strongest legal defense team; NewsMax collecting donations to help the Haditha Marine families with legal fees; emails sent from Marines, family, friends; the kindness of absolute strangers, who wrote daily blogs, made videos, posted stories, sent emails, and shared words of kindness and support. Without these people in our lives, a majority of them we have never met, but they knew my brother was innocent. They believed. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for everything.
Doug Haviland Says
Theresa, Justin, Darryl, and Jaclyn. We are so glad to hear this nightmare is finally over. I can’t believe what has been done to all of you. It has been a Witch Hunt from the start. To Justin, You are and always will be a HERO to me. I’m so sorry for all you have had to endure.
God Bless you all.
Doug
3/1 WPNS CO. Dad
Aug 11th, 2007 at 7:12 am
M Thomas Says
It’s about time.
Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt we prayed for you because we knew who you were even not knowing you, you’re a MARINE.
A real marine.
Sadly, there will be more murtha’s in your life, but prayers and honor will get you thru those times as well.
Thank you more than you know for serving your country for all of us.
Shooter
Aug 11th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Mike Geiger, Col. Ret. USA Says
Prayers answered. I wish the best for LCPL Sharratt in the future. He is a hero, as we knew all along. My personal thanks to him for risking his life so that my family can live free.
Proud Father of a 3/1 Marine, Mike Geiger
Aug 12th, 2007 at 3:25 am
G Zerbo Says
Thank you for fighting for my freedom, as if that wasn’t honorable enough then you had to fight for your own. All I could do was pray and pray I did. You fought a good fight, you are a good man a great Marine.
May you always have sunny skies and a wonderful future.
You made America Proud
Aug 14th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Robert H. Barrow Says
God bless you son. Our Corps spent years scrutinizing a decision you had to make in fractions of a second. Thank you for your service.
A Fellow Marine and infantryman.
Aug 18th, 2007 at 1:58 am
Mark Fox CPL USMC Ret. Says
Thank God your out of the fire brother. I’m glad there are still patriots in the higher ranks who have the guts to stand up to political pressure and let you boys out of these ridiculous trumped up charges. Non-combat civilians trying to pass judgment on something they can never understand… its a damn shame you were caught up in it.
Semper Fi
Aug 30th, 2007 at 6:32 am
Sharon Torgerson Says
I am SO glad for the result you and your family got….it is so infuriating to have to watch the nonsense and the dishonesty that goes on when someone (apparently) is either trying to further their own careers or is just basically incompetent when these decisions are made to “charge Marines” with killing people. What world are they living in? I’m 63 years old. Our son was in the Marines during the time that the US Flag was being flown on Kuwaiti ships to guarantee them safe passage through the Persian Gulf, as they were being threatened by Iraqi patrols and gunboats. One day our son (who was a radio operator) was told to join a patrol boat going out which was missing a machine gun operator. He was put on the machine gun, even though he had not been trained for that position. As an Iraqi patrol boat came into a threatening position, the patrol leader yelled at our son to shoot. He told us (years later) that he froze and did not fire immediately. Then the leader put a gun to his head and told him, “Either you kill them or I kill you.” So he killed them all. He told us those years later that if he had been killed that day, we would never have been told anything but that he was killed in a training accident. It truly infuriates me to see some people in uniform causing these kinds of problems for the guys on the front lines. Thank God your situation came out all right. Semper Fi.
Sep 6th, 2007 at 2:04 am
Kris Abbruzzi Says
Hi Justin & Family,
My computer was down for a while, didn’t get to leave a message before today. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! My faith in humanity and the legal system have been restored (and I’m sure yours is as well!!) !! I’m so sorry that you had to go through such hell (over and above the hell of being in a war in the first place), but it’s over and you can now begin your life again. I wish you all of the best in the future Justin. And THANK YOU from the very bottom of my heart, Justin, for your brave heroic service and for everything you have done and sacrificed for this great country and our Freedom. The Land of the Free, BECAUSE of the BRAVE. Without heroes like yourself Justin, we the people of the United States of America would never, and could never know what it is like to enjoy the sweet, precious, expensive gift of Freedom. God bless you Justin, God bless your family, God bless our Military and God bless America. It would be impossible for me to thank you enough - ever! Thoughts and prayers will always be with you. Take care, brave warrior.
- Kris, a Soldier’s Angel from Rhode Island
Sep 19th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Richard Hargraves Says
Congratulations Justin.
Thank you for your honorable service in the United States Marine Corps. You are truly a remarkable young man. I do not know where you found the courage and strength to fight not only our foreign enemies but domestic ones who accussed you of murder and wanted to see you imprisoned.
You and your family have suffered more grief, fear, saddness, worry and anxiety than seems humanely possible to bear. I am so sorry that you and your family had to endure this. This was definitely not right.
You are an honorable man and I hope you and your family do not hold too much anger and bitterness toward those who tried to destroy you. They are not worth it. You have shown yourself to be much better than they could ever hope to be.
Thank you again for your service. I also want to thank your parents and sister for standing behind you and supporting you every step of the way during your time of need.
Sincerely,
Richard Hargraves
Sep 29th, 2007 at 6:43 pm