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courtesy of Stars & Stripes, which
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during the Civil War, and has been published
continuously since 1942 in Europe and 1945
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By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes European Edition
STAFFORD, Va. — A U.S. Navy captain with 34 years of service was found guilty late Friday night of wearing service ribbons and medals for which he did not rate, including the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross, officials said.
Capt. Roger D. Edwards was found guilty during a court-martial held at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., and sentenced to 115 days in the brig, forfeiture of $2,500 pay a month for three months, and a letter of reprimand to be put in his personnel file, said base spokesman Capt. Jeffrey Landis.
The presiding judge, Navy Capt. Henry Lazzaro, did not dismiss him for service, which means Edwards will be entitled to full retirement benefits, Landis said.
Edwards began serving his jail time when the proceeding ended Friday around 10:30 p.m. Edwards was found guilty on 11 specifications of Article 134, wearing ribbons the judge ruled that he had not earned, including the prestigious Silver Star — the third-highest honor for valor — the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Purple Hearts, a gold star on a Defense Meritorious Award, a gold star on a Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Basic Parachutists Wings, Landis said.
“He apologized for what he did, for bringing discredit upon his service and the Marine Corps and servicemembers who served gallantly and with valor and to the folks who earned the medals,” Landis said.
Edwards had served as the lead executive military adviser to the Marine Corps’ top medical officer. He was defended by a civilian attorney he hired, Charlie Gittons, and a military court-appointed lawyer, Lt. Col. Louis Puleo.
Marine Corps captains Charlie Miracle and Ellen Jackman prosecuted the case.
In December 2002, then Commandant Gen. James Jones made Edwards an honorary Marine to acknowledge the medical sailor for his contributions to the Corps. The Marine Corps, part of the Department of the Navy, does not have its own medical staff and relies on the Navy for medical professionals.
