Bragging about killing Afghan civilians was met with disbelief
Monday, 08 November 2010 14:16
Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs' big talk about killing Afghan civilians and getting away with it made him stand out when he joined a new platoon at an Army base in southern Afghanistan a year ago, according to written statements from his comrades.
Some of his Strykerplatoon mates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord told investigators they didn't know what to make of him. They thought he must be kidding. Now Gibbs is at the center of an Army war crimes investigation that netted 11 of his comrades from the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. They await their own trials for misdeeds they allegedly committed under Gibbs' direction. Five soldiers, including Gibbs, are charged with murder.
On Tuesday, Gibbs is scheduled to appear in court at Lewis-McChord for a pretrial hearing that could help decide whether he goes to a full court-martial where he could face the death penalty.
The 25-year-old Montana native has the longest charge sheet in the group. He's accused of murdering three civilians, keeping "off the books" weapons to plant on dead Afghans, assaulting a fellow soldier and mutilating corpses to get body parts to keep as trophies.
Staff Sgt. 
