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TO THANK SERGEANT FIRST CLASS CHARLES MARTLAND OF THE U.S. ARMY FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE IN OUR COUNTRY'S ARMED FORCES AND TO EXPRESS THE ADMIRATION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR HIS VALIANT AND HONORABLE SERVICE IN DEFENSE OF AN INNOCENT CHILD AND HIS MOTHER IN AFGHANISTAN.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, on behalf of all South Carolinians, acknowledge with deep appreciation the service rendered by the men and women of the United States Armed Forces in support of the ideals of freedom and justice, which are so richly enjoyed in this nation; and
Whereas, Sergeant First Class (SFC) Charles Martland of the U.S. Army stands high among those servicemen and women so honored by their country; and
Whereas, a dedicated husband and father of two sons, Sergeant Martland has served eleven years in the United States Army and is a member of the elite United States Army Special Forces Regiment, in which he serves as a special forces non-commissioned officer, or Green Beret; and
Whereas, he has served with distinction as a student of several special operations courses and as a special operations course instructor. Further, he has served with distinction on combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device for his valorous actions during a firefight in the Kunduz Province of Afghanistan in 2010; and
Whereas, while serving in Kunduz Province, Sergeant Martland was informed that an American-trained Afghan police officer had chained a young boy to his bed and raped him repeatedly. Sergeant Martland also learned that the boy's mother, while pleading for her son's release, had been viciously beaten; and
Whereas, when Sergeant Martland and his team leader confronted the Afghan police officer, the officer laughed about the rapes and beating, demonstrating an utter lack of remorse for his actions and no sense of shame. His attitude suggested that he had no intention of refraining from this vile and contemptible behavior; and
Whereas, Sergeant Martland and the team leader physically confronted the police officer as a warning against future criminal behavior and demonstrated to the victims of his crimes that they would be protected; and
Whereas, when SFC Martland's actions became known at the highest levels of the Department of Defense, he quickly was sent home from Afghanistan, and adverse personnel actions were initiated against him for intervening to rescue the Afghan boy and his mother. Yet members of the Afghan National Army and the local community approved and supported Sergeant Martland's actions in defense of this young boy and his mother; and
Whereas, Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) corresponded with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, calling Sergeant Martland's actions a "moral decision" and maintaining that the sergeant had no choice but to respond or let the atrocities continue. Mr. Hunter declared, "It's sad to think that a child rapist is put above one of our elite military operators"; and
Whereas, Sergeant Martland's conspicuous gallantry, heroism, and intrepidity at the call of duty were in the highest traditions of the United States Army. They reflected great credit upon this country and contributed materially to the success of his unit's mission; and
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly takes great pleasure in saluting Sergeant First Class Charles Martland, and the members with one voice offer their grateful thanks to Almighty God for the dedicated service of this courageous son of liberty. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, thank Sergeant First Class Charles Martland of the U.S. Army for his dedicated service in our country's armed forces and express the admiration of the South Carolina General Assembly for his valiant and honorable service in defense of an innocent child and his mother in Afghanistan.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Sergeant First Class Charles Martland of the U.S. Army and U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter.
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