Category Archives: Year 07

Enemy Below – 158

Posted on by
Reply

[The JAG season Finale - the resolution to a sub-plot covering several episodes; and, a cliff hanger involving Bud]

JAG was “on point” in a nuclear crisis with Chegwidden (C), Singer (S) and Turner (T) taking the lead, per the SECNAVs instructions. Vice Adm Holt was in charge of the operation. Mustafa Atef’s (a terrorist who was tried, found guilty and committed suicide) brother Kabir was found recruiting Capt Mikael Yerastov (Russian submariner) for an Iranian mission. Webb (W) bugged Ahmad Hakim’s Pakistani Embassy office with a cigar box then Baited him with information that the US knew he was a double agent with the Iranians, and that they also knew of their $250 million payment for the submarine Najvayi. He also said that they knew it had been retrofitted for ss-25 cruise missiles. In a play on “Hunt for red October” Yerastov was the only commander to have ever eluded the US boats who were trailing her; AND, fortunately T was the only sonar operator who had never lost Yerastov! So T was sent to the Seahawk battle group’s submarine, the Watertown, to assist captain Flagler and act as the “wildcard” that Yerastov didn’t expect. Yerastov, T said, had made a study of Flagler, knew what he would do and would capitalize on that knowledge. When Flagler tried to argue with him over a next step, T told him “I am Alec Baldwin.”
Continue reading →

In Country – 157

Posted on by
Reply

[A follow-up to the previous JAG stories where nuclear material was stolen from Russia, a Russian submarine captain was recruited by Kabir, and Kabir's brother committed suicide after being tried for terrorism by Harm and Mac - with Chegwidden defending.]

Gunny (G) was in Afghanistan working black ops with Clayton Webb (W) trying to find Kabir and accidentally called in a strike against a civilian vehicle. The family was to have been warned to stay home by Gunny’s eight month native friend, Fareeza, who was documenting Afghan genealogy, so they didn’t suspect anyone but Kabir would be on the road. The SecNav sent Harm (H) and Mac (M) back to Afghanistan to “keep a watch for the navy’s interests.” They elicited Gunny’s help to keep tabs on Webb. A local warlord and informant, Zumai Fureeq, tried to get Webb to take out his competition by giving a false location of Kabir; but, Webb realized it and didn’t follow through with the payment. Harm and M found that the village had not been warned by Fareeza, then found a young boy who recognized her picture as being with a “man with one brown and one blue eye” – Kabir. Going back to camp, M swerved to miss a goat and hit a land mine with their HumVee’s tires throwing H out of the vehicle and into a mine field. On the way back to vehicle he stepped on a mine which would detonate when he lifted his foot. Mac slid an ammo box over it so H could stand on it then jump to safety. They needed to hike back to camp and ended up “sharing body heat” sleeping under the stars on a bluff overlooking a small group of huts – which would be hit later that night by a strike called in by Webb.
Continue reading →

Defending His Honor – 156

Posted on by
Reply

[Interesting JAG story, tantalizing back-story about Webb and Terrorists, annoying soapbox opera between Bud and Harriet]

The substitute ranking JAG officer, Singer (S), welcomed the real JAG, Chegwidden (C), back from his absence with a list of her “make work” accomplishments that made Harriet (Ht) tell him that everyone is “extremely grateful” that he was back. Singer then, intentionally fomented discord between them by telling Harriet about Coates (Co) being on the ship with Bud (B) – and then telling B about Ht’s buying a new house; neither of which had told the other. Singer’s intent was that she might get Bs billet if he decided to come home. Turner (T) volunteered to 2nd chair Mac (M) against Harm’s (H) defense of Judge, Capt Seibring (Sb), for the involuntary manslaughter of Jennifer Wilson’s baby, Ruby, during some of his “road rage.” Seibring refused to plea bargain with M on his principles saying that he didn’t do it. Chegwidden testified that Sb had the patience of a saint so M went after a time when Sb’s son had run away from drug rehab and Sb used “tough love” by throwing him out of the house. Seibring told H to “drop it” when H tried to explain it away in redirect. Then, when H went ahead anyway, Judge Helfman had to gavel Sb down when he “lost it.”
Continue reading →

Tribunal – 155

Posted on by
Reply

A very rare military tribunal was held aboard the USS Seahawk, of Mustafa Atef, an al Qaeda leader. The JAG, Chegwidden (C), didn’t get anyone to volunteer to be defense counsel, so he did it himself; then, Turner (T) volunteered to be his his 2nd chair. A disagreement over who was 1st chair for the defense was settled with a coin toss. Mac (M) chose “tails” and became 2nd to Harm (H). Capt Sebring presided with six others. Atef’s involuntary confession was obtained by Webb (W) during psychological duress and was not allowed. A local warlord, Gen. Hassan Abdullah, was leading a detention camp of Taliban and al Qaeda captives. He tipped off army Cpt Dale Alexander, who captured Atef, but first running into a lone sniper.
Continue reading →

Port Chicago – 154

Posted on by
Reply

JAG officer Sturgis Turner (T) defended retired Chief Aubrey McBride who was charged, along with 49 others, with mutiny when they refused to go back to loading ammunition during WWII after 320 men were killed in an explosion at Port Chicago. The chief, a black man pensioned after 30 yrs of service, said he “owed his buddy Randall Winston“ who had just died; so, he demanded “his day in court.” He said that it had been a racial issue. Chegwidden (C) assigned Singer (S) to prosecute; but, when she became hatefully vindictive he assigned Mac (M) to 2nd chair in order to “tone her down.” M said that she’d “rather have the electric chair.”
Continue reading →

First Casualty – 153

Posted on by
Reply

Reporter Stuart Dunston was involved in an ambush when he was “tag along” with a SEAL team who were after Mustafa Atef, an Al Qaeda leader, and sustained both military and civilian casualties. Harm (H) was dispatched from JAG to investigate and eventually found that Dunston had had made a satellite phone call (with GPS coordinates) before the ambush, despite being told not to. The SECNAV reamed H and Mac (M) for “harassing” the press. He overturned the field commanders negative decision and allowed Dunston to go on the mission. “Title 10, Article 802″ allowed Dunston to be court-martialed with the president (GW Bush) as the convening authority. [The show cited previous cases of the press compromising military efforts and being court martialled; however, neither Lincoln or Gen Andrew Jackson actually had completed the prosecution.)
Continue reading →

Hero Worship – 152

Posted on by
Reply

[a well crafted episode]

The SECNAV ordered the JAG,Chegwidden (C), to send Harm (H) and Mac (M) to investigate the captain of the old destroyer, USS John Cooper, for a “lack of leadership” under the guise of investigating a galley fire. Seaman Tim Holley of sick bay, a 4th generation “squid,” was trying to live up to his fathers accomplishments and saved seaman Todd Raff’s life in a fire. Raff admitted to smoking in the galley. Mac recommended an article 32 but the captain wanted to handle it merely with a captain’s mast. Adm Albrecht, of SURFLANT, wanted “to send message to the captain” so took authority himself and ordered the article 32 hearing. Harm eventually showed that a sparking electrical short could have caused the fire. Mac, the prosecutor, said that “Albrecht wanted Raff out to teach the captain a lesson.” Harm then discovered that an Oxygen tank leak from sickbay had acted as an accelerant causing flash over. Raff wouldn’t let H use it however, out of loyalty to Holley’s career. So he was sent to court-martial. Harm told M that it was out of the “price of Loyalty.”
Continue reading →

Exculpatory Evidence – 151

Posted on by
Reply

[Continued from previous JAG episode]

Capt Proudy, Pax River commander, set aside Massuco’s conviction due to Bud’s (B) “dereliction of duty.” JAG officer Turner (T) investigated and recommended that Chegwidden (C) hold an article 32 hearing on B. Harm (H) defended, and was angry at T who wouldn’t make an offer commensurate with alleged wrong doing. Chegwidden suggested to B that “you find the same confidence in yourself and your ability as an attorney as I do.”
Continue reading →

The Mission – 150

Posted on by
Reply

JAG attorneys Harm (H) and Mac (M) were sent to the Seahawk to stop JAG’s (Lt Cdr Jack Hillyard in particular) from preventing the prosecution of war by demanding 100% certainty of targets. When he got there, H was asked by Capt. Johnson to fly missions with the ships’ pilots to help refine the rules of engagement. Harm told M he was glad that she was there with him. In one mission H became flight leader due to mechanical problems which upset the “real” leader. Gen Taylor (anvil 22) assigned a target. The ground spotter refined the target to an old school where suspected senior Al Qaeda & Taliban leaders were located. Mac, acting as the JAG advisor, asked if there were buildings which would be collaterally damaged. The spotter said there were but it was night and he believed that it was unlikely that any civilians were there. Mac advised they might “prosecute the target” which surprised the AWACs crew who were used to prolonged deliberation and questioning.
Continue reading →

Head to Toe – 149

Posted on by
Reply

Harm (H) and Mac (M) in Saudi Arabia for JAG duties defending a “Condor” pilot, Lt Stephanie Donato, for disobeying DOD and her base commander’s orders; namely: not wearing an abeya with a veil and driving herself (i.e. in front seat) in an automobile with a male escort. She was told that the Abeya and veil rule “would be reconsidered” when she was assigned to fly food drops. It wasn’t, so she complained to her CO and eventually wrote 8 letters and openly petitioned the Secretary of Defense. A security guard caught her in the restaurant and ordered her into an abeya and into the back seat of his vehicle. She disobeyed hence the court-martial.
Continue reading →

Odd Man Out – 148

Posted on by
Reply

JAG officer Harm (H) defended corpsman Terrance Shaw for the premeditated murder of Cpl Mark Duquette which was being prosecuted by Mac (M). Bud (B) was called to be on the jury. The evidence was all circumstantial but pointed to Shaw’s guilt. Mac was able to get a “watch cap” excluded from evidence, although B saw it and interpreted it as “reasonable doubt.” Everyone on the jury felt Shaw was guilty and only B thought “not guilty.” Over many hours of debate and evidence reconstruction, B convinced everyone else of the reasonable doubt. Then B was surprised when H wouldn’t shake hands with Shaw after the verdict. Harm then told B that he really “didn’t want to win.” Afterwards B helped M track down more evidence against Shaw and they will attempt a retrial, this time in civilian court.
Continue reading →

Code of Conduct – 147

Posted on by
Reply

JAG attorney Harm (H) defended a SEAL Lt Glenn Teague for retrieving the body of PO Tommy Modano despite orders; thereby allowing Lt. Jody Reese to be killed which angered his pregnant wife Mariel. Teague refused to talk to Mariel or take the stand (falling on his sword to keep a secret) until H manipulated them to be in the same room together. Teague had carried the wounded Modano during the first mission. When the helicopter came he gave him to Reese during the extraction. Before Reese had died he told Teague that he had accidentally let Modano fall 55 feet from the tether. Reese confessed he felt guilty. When they wanted to go back to retrieve Modano the “powers that be” said no. That’s when they went anyway because of the SEAL code.
Continue reading →

Capital Crimes – 146

Posted on by
Reply

JAG officer Sara MacKenzie, Mac (M), thought she had had a dream of her own death until later she began having had flashbacks triggered by various things. She dragged a frustrated Sturgis Turner (T) around, and eventually found the body of Cdr Laura Aikin, who was working on the legalities of a nuclear disarmament pact with them. Mac merely pointed to a map and police found Yuri Lentov, an itinerant Russian cab driver, who had Aikin’s pack, wallet and credit cards. Without solid evidence to the contrary, Lentov was released because he claimed that as a vagrant he had merely found the items. Turner asked why M just didn’t “get over” Harm (H) and “move on.” Without thinking, M blurted out “it wouldn’t work cause I’m in love with him” – then swore T to secrecy.
Continue reading →