A Warrior Needs Your Help

The career of a warrior is now at risk because he did the right thing.  When Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland was told by a 12 year-old Afghan boy’s mother that an Afghan military leader had chained her son to his bed in order to repeatedly rape him, Sgt. Martland and his captain confronted the Afghan leader.

While most of us would consider the act of trying to stop the sexual abuse of a child as a normal human response, Sgt. Martland was reprimanded for this action. This winner of two Bronze Stars, including one for valor, has been told he will be dismissed from the military in November.

Sgt. Martland’s case is unfortunately not unique. While the sexual abuse of children is widespread in Afghanistan, the New York Times reports, “Among American military personnel and civilians who served in Afghanistan, it was well known that many wealthy and prominent Afghans rape boys, often making them dress up as women and dance at gatherings during which they are assaulted — and that Western officials often turned a blind eye to the practice for fear of alienating allies.”

What does it mean to be an American soldier?  If our brave men and women must turn away from such atrocities in the name of not alienating allies, do we stand for anything anymore?

I believe Americans are better than that.  If you agree with me, please join me in signing the petition below to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

I, the undersigned, urge you to pressure the Pentagon to clear Sgt. Charles Martland’s record on the matter concerning his intervention to protect a young Afghan boy from sexual abuse. I also ask that you investigate the policy concerning the ability of U.S. military personnel to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

If you agree with the above petition, click here to sign it.

We’ll deliver it to the committees and let them know that the American people stand with Sgt. Martland and will not tolerate turning a blind eye to the abuse of children.