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Allegations that 12 US soldiers were part of a group that killed Afghan civilians for sport, have hit the proud reputation of their US Army unit - the since-renamed 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.
Based in Fort Lewis in Washington state, the 4,000-strong brigade has been an active player in recent US military operations, and in 2009 was the first "Stryker" combat team to be deployed to fight in Afghanistan.
One Staff Sgt, Jarrett D. Brown, was awarded the Silver Star medal for his heroism during a firefight in August 2009.
But the court martial proceedings involving 12 of the brigade have cast a shadow over the unit's operations.
Five members of the brigade are accused of the premeditated murder of three Afghan civilians in March of this year at the Forward Operating Base, Ramrod.
Another seven soldiers from the same unit have been charged with conspiracy to cover up the alleged murders.
The military hearings will take place in the military court at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord base and have been described by some commentators as the most serious war-crimes hearings relating to the Afghan conflict.
All those involved deny any wrongdoing.
The 5th Stryker brigade, 2nd infantry division returned from its tour of duty in July 2010. It has since been renamed as the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11879242
Based in Fort Lewis in Washington state, the 4,000-strong brigade has been an active player in recent US military operations, and in 2009 was the first "Stryker" combat team to be deployed to fight in Afghanistan.
One Staff Sgt, Jarrett D. Brown, was awarded the Silver Star medal for his heroism during a firefight in August 2009.
But the court martial proceedings involving 12 of the brigade have cast a shadow over the unit's operations.
Five members of the brigade are accused of the premeditated murder of three Afghan civilians in March of this year at the Forward Operating Base, Ramrod.
Another seven soldiers from the same unit have been charged with conspiracy to cover up the alleged murders.
The military hearings will take place in the military court at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord base and have been described by some commentators as the most serious war-crimes hearings relating to the Afghan conflict.
All those involved deny any wrongdoing.
The 5th Stryker brigade, 2nd infantry division returned from its tour of duty in July 2010. It has since been renamed as the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11879242