(Washington, DC)  --  U.S. Reps. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) and Tim Ryan (D-OH) today introduced a resolution condemning the military for bringing new murder charges against Army platoon leader Erick J. Anderson nine months after earlier murder charges were dropped.  LaTourette and Ryan have also requested hearings before the House Committees on which they serve, Government Reform and Armed Services, respectively.

 “This is a great kid who enlisted in the Army after 9-11, and I fully believe in his innocence,” LaTourette said.  “What the Army is doing is shameful, and I can’t find any plausible explanation for why they are trying to ruin this young man’s life and career.”

 Added Ryan, “At a time when our military is having great difficulty recruiting new soldiers, the Army’s actions in this case are baffling. This young man served dutifully in Iraq –  and continues to serve his country even now. This is no way to treat our soldiers.  I strongly encourage the Army to re-evaluate its position in this case.”

 On October 3, 2005, 2nd Lt. Erick J. Anderson, 26, of Twinsburg, OH, was charged in Fort Riley, KS, with two murders, conspiracy to commit murder, dereliction of duty, conduct unbecoming an officer and making a false statement regarding the deaths of Iraqi civilians on August 18 and 28, 2004, in Baghdad’s Sadr City.  His Article 32 hearing is scheduled for November 16, 2005, at Fort Riley.

 The Army initially charged Anderson with one of the murders in November 2004, but dismissed all charges on January 3, 2005.  Anderson returned to combat in Iraq, where he commanded a mortar platoon with full patrol and raid duties.

 LaTourette, a former prosecutor, said be believes bogus murder charges were leveled against Anderson because he refused to plead guilty to a single charge of dereliction of duty.  LaTourette said prosecutors “hinted” last month that Anderson’s legal problems would go away if he pleaded to the lesser charge, but Anderson insisted he had done nothing wrong.  LaTourette said prosecutors warned Anderson they would charge him everything they could think of and “see if anything sticks.”  Four other soldiers have already been convicted of these murders.

 “I think this entire case is nothing more than retaliation against a young man who refused to be steam-rolled by prosecutors, and it’s clear to me they want to nab somebody in a leadership position,” LaTourette said. “We ask Americans to volunteer to serve and ask that they put their lives on the line every day.  If we ask those in combat to think like lawyers rather than soldiers, we’re going to see a lot more Americans killed.”

 Ryan expressed grave concern that the Army would return Anderson to combat with full responsibilities if his fitness for duty remained in question.

 “I find it hard to believe that the Army returned Lieutenant Anderson to the field with full patrol and raid duties if there was any evidence to suggest that Anderson was guilty of these crimes,” Ryan said.  “ The Army’s justification for now pursuing charges doesn’t add up.”

 Anderson, who has an engineering degree from Youngstown State University and played football under Coach Jim Tressel, enlisted in the Army after 9-11.  He was deployed to Iraq in June 2004 and did a one-year tour of duty.  His Officer Evaluation Report for a period covering October 30, 2003, to October 29, 2004, said he was responsible for supervising a platoon of 41 soldiers and four M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles worth more than $5 million, plus all weapons and equipment.

 LaTourette said Anderson’s commanders wrote in his annual evaluation that his performance was “outstanding.”  They also praised his leadership and “ruthless attention to details.” His evaluation included these remarks:

• “While in Sadr City, Iraq, 2LT Anderson led his platoon on numerous major combat operations, i.e. Iron Fury, Stalwart Fury II, Stalwart Swarm, and Stalwart Flood. Also he led his platoon on numerous mounted and dismounted patrols without a KIA (killed in action). This is truly a testament to his ability to lead troops in combat.”

• “2LT Anderson has quickly learned what it means to be a leader in combat. He needs to be in a position of greater responsibility now. 2LT Anderson would make an outstanding Company Executive Officer. Promote to 1LT now.”

• “Mentally tough and physically fit, 2LT Anderson is in the top 50% of all lieutenants that I senior rate. Erick has operated in one of the toughest areas in the Baghdad Area of Operations and has led his platoon well. He is one of my top picks for a specialty platoon. 2LT Anderson will be a great Company Commander in the near future. Promote ahead of peers.”