In the production of “A Few Good Men” two marines, Lance Corporal Dawson and Private Downey, are accused of murdering another marine, Private Santiago, at the naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Both men a suggesting that they are not guilty of murdering Private Santiago. Downey and Dawson said they were ordered by their platoon leader Lieutenant Kendrick to give Private Santiago a “Code Red”. A term used to describe physical and emotional abuse inflicted on a recruit who is seen lazy or violates marine code. Santiago could never keep up with his fellow marines and broke the “marine code” by writing to a higher ranking marine asking for a transfer off the naval base in Guantanamo Bay. Kendrick ordered Dawson and Downey to shave Private Santiago’s head and shove a rag in the Privates mouth, while doing so Santiago died of a heart attack. And the two marines Dawson and Downey were charged with murder and conduct unbecoming of an officer. At the beginning of the film one of the defense attorneys JoAnne Galloway is asking to defend these two young marines. The only problem …show more content…
The two marines were simply given and order that turned wrong. Dawson and Downey went into that room with no intent on killing Private Santiago. These marines were very honorable and were all about the code of honor, and believed they were doing their marine duties by following Colonel Jessup and Lieutenant Kendrick’s orders of the code red. However I do believe that Dawson and Downey are guilty of conduct unbecoming of an officer. Meaning, that there are certain attributes that an officer must add up to, a lack of which is indicated by dishonesty, unfair dealing, indecency, lawfulness, injustice, and cruelty (Powers), the code red that was enforced directly disagrees with the section about cruelty. Which is why I believe they should be charged with conduct unbecoming of an