Intel

US Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher: 11 Things to Know About His War Crimes Case

April 26, 2019Neil Fotre
eddie gallagher, coffee or die, free range american

Eddie Gallagher.

It has been almost a year since U.S. Navy Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Chief Edward “Eddie” Gallagher has been publicly accused of a war crime. The severity of the crime is grim and reminiscent of the atrocities depicted in the 1985 anti-war movie “Platoon.” Gallagher, 39, is accused of premeditated murder. Here are the things you need to know about his case.


Eddie Gallagher


  • Gallagher’s premeditated murder charge is in connection with the “stabbing” of an unarmed, wounded Islamic State combatant near Mosul, Iraq, during a 2017 deployment.

  • He is accused of using a knife to slit the throat of a prisoner of war (POW), among other atrocities.

  • Further testimony of alleged crimes will be presented in regard to Gallagher “bragging” about multiple killings.

  • According to Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) files, a member of Gallagher’s unit — Alpha Platoon, SEAL Team 7 — is expected to shed light on Gallagher having previously confessed to killing four women.

  • According to court documents, two other SEALs have told investigators that Gallagher had spoken about killing “10-20 people a day or 150-200 people on deployment.”

  • Another sniper is planning to tell the court that Gallagher claimed that “he averaged three kills a day over 80 days.”

  • According to the SEAL community, Gallagher tried to cover up allegations with threats. These threats included the murdering of witnesses and attempting to blacklist whistleblowers in the special warfare community and ruin their careers.

  • In total, seven fellow SEALs came forward to their troop commander to call for a formal investigation of Gallagher. They claim the troop commander warned them that speaking out could cost them their careers.

  • Investigators have not located any bodies in any of the alleged crimes.

  • The trial will consist of a panel of officers and senior enlisted sailors that will ultimately rely on the credibility of witnesses’ testimony regarding Gallagher’s statements, due to lack of incriminating physical evidence.

  • Gallagher is set to appear in a courtroom on May 28 inside Naval Base San Diego.  


 


Neil Fotre
Neil Fotre

Neil Fotre is a contributing writer for Coffee or Die, and former U.S. Army Armor Officer. He has served operational deployments in South Korea and Afghanistan. Neil earned a master’s degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He covers military and veteran community topics. His writing has been featured in the Military Times, Forbes, the Daily Beast, Task and Purpose and Business Insider. In between pounding his fingers on a keyboard, he is constantly glugging away on seltzer water and sipping on dark roast… pinky out.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Curtis LeMay
Curtis LeMay: The World War II General Who Firebombed Japan

Who exactly was Gen. Curtis LeMay? And how did he become the commander who razed more than 60 Japanese cities during World War II?

eric smith marine corps commandant nominee
Highly Decorated Marine Officer Nominated To Be Next Commandant

President Joe Biden has nominated a highly decorated Marine officer who has been involved in the transformation of the force to be the next Marine Corps commandant.

USS Arizona
Profile of a Ship: USS Arizona

When the USS Arizona sank, it took 1,177 crew members with it. Today it remains beneath the water as a memorial to all those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor.

b1 bombers bosnia
US Bombers Fly Over Bosnia in Sign of Support Amid Continued Secessionist Threats

A pair of U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers flew low over Sarajevo and several other Bosnian cities...

SR-71 Blackbird
SR-71 Blackbird: The Spy Plane That Could Outrun Missiles

Lockheed Martin’s SR-71 Blackbird was a government secret for years. Now retired, a newer version plans to take its place.

medal of honor recipient remains returned
Missing 73 Years, Medal of Honor Recipient's Remains Return To Georgia

Soldiers of the 9th Infantry Regiment made a desperate retreat as North Korean troops closed in arou...

dear jack
Dear Jack: My Battalion Is Out of Control

In this installment of “Dear Jack,” Marine veteran and amateur life coach Jack Mandaville advises a lieutenant colonel on how to restore order in the lower ranks.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
  • Request a Correction
  • Write for Us
  • General Inquiries
© 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved