The American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), which has been advocating for Sergeant First Class (SFC) Charles Martland—a decorated war hero facing expulsion from the Army for defending a child—calls the decision by the U.S. Army to retain the Green Beret war hero a “significant victory,” saying “justice has been served.”
SFC Martland faced expulsion from the Army for defending a child from sexual abuse and confronting an admitted sexual predator in Afghanistan. The ACLJ argued that his actions—stopping the perpetrator who was violating Afghan law and forcibly removing him from a U.S. military base—were heroic.
“The decision by the Army to retain this hero is long overdue and represents a significant victory for SFC Martland,” said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ. “Justice has been served. The U.S. military has a moral obligation to stop child sexual abuse and exonerate SFC Martland for defending a child from rape. The Army finally took the corrective action needed and this is not only a victory for SFC Martland, but for the American people as well.”
The ACLJ, which advocated on behalf of SFC Martland, spearheaded a letter-writing campaign in which more than 65,000 Americans sent letters to U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Acting Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy.
The letters, which were sent in recent weeks, urged officials to retain SFC Martland.
The letter sent to top U.S. officials was clear and direct:
“SFC Martland’s actions reflect American values—military values—and I am proud of what he did. He intervened on behalf of a victimized child. Please intervene for him. SFC Martland is the consummate American hero. He should be defended, not discharged. Please don’t turn your back on him. SFC Martland has dutifully sacrificed to defend the freedom I hold dear as an American, and as an American I am standing up for this war hero. Please put this warrior back on the battlefield where he belongs. Do the right thing. Clear SFC Martland’s name and reinstate this American hero immediately.”
At the same time, nearly 350,000 Americans signed on to an ACLJ petition demanding justice for SFC Martland.
