James Kimber
Encyclopedia
James Kimber, age 33, is a captain in the United States Marine Corps
, and was commander of India Company 3rd Battalion 1st Marines. He was removed from command following a report by The Times
regarding an alleged hazing
incident in Haditha, Iraq on November 19, 2005, recorded and aired by the BBC
involving Kilo Company. He was removed at the same time as 3/1's commanding officer
Lieutenant Colonel
Jeffrey R. Chessani and Kilo Company Captain Lucus McConnell according to a report by The Times
on April 8, 2006. Charges against McConnell were dismissed on September 19, 2007, while Chessani's case is still under review.
While his name has often been associated with the case, Kimber has never been charged of any wrongdoing in the Haditha incident. An interview with Stephen J. Hedges of the Chicago Tribune quotes Kimber as saying, "Not a soul from my company [India Co.] was in Haditha on November 19 ... [The shots in Haditha I heard over my radio] weren't just Marine weapons. You can tell from the sound ... None of my Marines have been queried in an investigation. I haven't been queried." Reuters
has reported that Kimber "was commander of a company several miles away that day [November 19]." James Kimber's attorney and Iraq War veteran Paul Hackett has maintained that Kimber was not associated with the killings and was actually nominated for a Bronze Star
for valor in Haditha. Kimber himself has stated that he did not learn of the killings until February, and that his removal from command was politically motivated. In an interview with the authors of Blackfive.net, Kimber stated that he "never received any questions or comments criticizing Marine actions in Hadithah" during meetings with local Iraqi leaders.
On April 7, 2006 he was relieved of command because in the course of an interview with Britain's Sky News
TV, some of his subordinates in India Company of the 3rd battalion used profanity, removed sunglasses and criticized the performance of Iraqi security services during an interview with Britain’s Sky News TV.
Kimber, who is a 10-year Marine veteran, has served two tours of duty in Iraq. During his first tour he was stationed in the vicinity of the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor device
for his actions during Operation Phantom Fury
in November 2004.
James Kimber should not be confused with Kimber James
, a transgendered adult actress.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, and was commander of India Company 3rd Battalion 1st Marines. He was removed from command following a report by The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
regarding an alleged hazing
Hazing
Hazing is a term used to describe various ritual and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group....
incident in Haditha, Iraq on November 19, 2005, recorded and aired by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
involving Kilo Company. He was removed at the same time as 3/1's commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
Jeffrey R. Chessani and Kilo Company Captain Lucus McConnell according to a report by The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
on April 8, 2006. Charges against McConnell were dismissed on September 19, 2007, while Chessani's case is still under review.
While his name has often been associated with the case, Kimber has never been charged of any wrongdoing in the Haditha incident. An interview with Stephen J. Hedges of the Chicago Tribune quotes Kimber as saying, "Not a soul from my company [India Co.] was in Haditha on November 19 ... [The shots in Haditha I heard over my radio] weren't just Marine weapons. You can tell from the sound ... None of my Marines have been queried in an investigation. I haven't been queried." Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
has reported that Kimber "was commander of a company several miles away that day [November 19]." James Kimber's attorney and Iraq War veteran Paul Hackett has maintained that Kimber was not associated with the killings and was actually nominated for a Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for valor in Haditha. Kimber himself has stated that he did not learn of the killings until February, and that his removal from command was politically motivated. In an interview with the authors of Blackfive.net, Kimber stated that he "never received any questions or comments criticizing Marine actions in Hadithah" during meetings with local Iraqi leaders.
On April 7, 2006 he was relieved of command because in the course of an interview with Britain's Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
TV, some of his subordinates in India Company of the 3rd battalion used profanity, removed sunglasses and criticized the performance of Iraqi security services during an interview with Britain’s Sky News TV.
Kimber, who is a 10-year Marine veteran, has served two tours of duty in Iraq. During his first tour he was stationed in the vicinity of the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor device
Valor device
The Valor device is an award of the United States military which is a bronze attachment to certain medals to indicate that it was received for valor...
for his actions during Operation Phantom Fury
Operation Phantom Fury
The Second Battle of Fallujah was a joint U.S., Iraqi, and British offensive in November and December 2004, considered the highest point of conflict in Fallujah during the Iraq War. It was led by the U.S...
in November 2004.
James Kimber should not be confused with Kimber James
Kimber James
Kimber James is a transsexual pornographic actor and escort. In 2010, she won the AVN Award for Transsexual Performer of the Year.-Career:...
, a transgendered adult actress.
See also
- Command responsibilityCommand responsibilityCommand responsibility, sometimes referred to as the Yamashita standard or the Medina standard, and also known as superior responsibility, is the doctrine of hierarchical accountability in cases of war crimes....
- Haditha killingsHaditha killingsThe Haditha killings refers to the incident where 24 Iraqi men, women and children were killed by a group of United States Marines on November 19, 2005 in Haditha, a city in the western Iraqi province of Al Anbar. At least 15 of those killed were civilians...