Fort Stewart
Court Martial Defense

This may or may not be what you want to hear, but the military justice system sees an high conviction rate when charges are not fought or you rely solely on the JAG Trial Defense Services provided to you. That’s because the military justice system will leverage every resource to maintain the image of discipline and control. Unfortunately, if that means some innocent Soldiers get caught in the wash, so be it. Now let me offer you some encouragement as to what happens when you fight back and we’ll take a little detour through history to prove a point.

First Sergeant Leonard Funk was an American paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne during World War 2 and despite only being 5 foot 5 inches, the man wasn’t to be trifled with. The man received the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, three Purple Hearts and the Croix de Guerre during his service in Europe. However, it’s his Medal of Honor action that we find relevant here.

On January 29th, 1945, First Sergeant Funk found himself in command of a makeshift unit of infantry Soldiers and HQ command Soldiers such as clerks and supply. The unit was put together because the company was short on men and the Company XO became a casualty. Funk then marched those men 15 miles during a driving snowstorm to the Belgian village of Holzheim. Supporting the rest of the company, the men took the village and acquired 80 German prisoners as a result.

As the Company marched forward with the assault, few men could be spared to tend to the prisoners. That left four men guarding 80 Germans who had seemingly willingly surrendered. Unfortunately, a German patrol had sneaked through the woods and overwhelmed the four guards. The Germans instantly began rearming and prepared to surprise the American company from the rear. That’s when 1st Sgt Funk and one other Soldier walked around the corner.

Funk found himself with a German pistol to his head and facing 80 Germans who were none too happy about being previously captured. That’s when Funk did what is either the most brilliant or mad come from behind move of all time. He initially seemed to comply and slowly unslung his submachine gun from his shoulder so as to surrender it. Then, in an instant, he flipped it around and poured fire into the Germans. Within a handful of seconds, some 20 Germans who were massed together were now dead with another 20 wounded.

Though the Germans still outnumbered the Americans 40 to 6, Funk put up such a fight that it devastated the Germans morale. The 40 who were lucky enough to walk away unharmed just gave up. That’s right, despite the odds, when Funk took the fight to the enemy they didn’t know how to keep up. This just goes to show you that as hard as you might try, you can never stop the Funk. Also, it shows you how to snatch victory from defeat just by saying damn the odds, I’m going to fight. That’s how you beat the military justice system and that is exactly what we do best.