In Their Own Words - The Guardian
Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr.
By Kimberly Knipp (MCK8686@aol.com)
I’m guess I’m just lucky about some things. Mac and I were talking in the office today when the phone rang – it was Bud. And he was being held hostage. When Mac and I got to the church the ERT was already setup and ready to shoot first and ask questions later. To make a long story short, I ended up inside and Bud got out but I stayed with the perp – a SEAL of all things! Master Chief Paul Bauwer appeared to be an indigent at first until Mac called in and told me who he really was. We weren’t in the church even long enough for me to think about what was happening. He got to close to the window and one of the sniper’s got a round in him. It was over that quick.
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It’s been a few days now since the church incident. Long enough for me to find myself defending Chief Bauwer. He agreed in the hospital when the police were questioning him and I’m not sure why but I’m glad. It disturbs me to see where he’s ended up in life. The man is a highly trained SEAL and he defended this country in more than war. He went MIA in ‘Nam and turned up in a concentration camp. How that reminds me of my Dad. Maybe that’s partly why I’m determined to do all I can for him. I don’t want to see another veteran slip through the cracks because he’s gotten too old to be useful. I had to laugh at Mac after our first trip to the courtroom because Nardoni said something to us about the big leagues. She muttered about that for about an hour afterward because he sounded so condescending. She's cute when she gets mad.
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When I went to see the Chief at the jail today, it was an eye opener for me. Mac and I realized from photos that there was a witness and with Bud’s help, we figured out it was a kid. Chief Bauwer dropped me on my knees and had me in a chokehold before I even realized what was happening. That speaks to me of his skill and of his failure to control his anger. He could have killed me in the blink of an eye. But in the process I found out the boy was his son and said son didn't know about him.
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Today Chief Bauwer attacked Nardoni in the courtroom! I can definitely see why they thought he had trouble controlling his anger. Nardoni was deliberately trying to provoke the boy into saying something about knowing the Chief even after we told him it needed to be handled with care and then he was badgering him about lying. The boy, Marty, did a good job for us. He was scared to be up on the stand telling what he saw and why he ran away but he's only 12. That's why he ran from the scene and didn't tell anyone. He was scared he'd get in trouble for not going straight home from school. In his mind he didn't lie because he was trying to get away with something – he lied because he was afraid.
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My faith in our legal system abounded today when the jury ruled in favor of the Chief. I am so glad that they didn't find him guilty of murder because that would have been a grave miscarriage of justice. Mac and I believe we can get him dismissed from the Navy on an administrative discharge so that he'll be able to keep most of his benefits and he will have to get some help for controlling his anger but aside from that I think it's all going to work out just fine. He has a chance to get to know his son, even though Marty still doesn't know Chief Bauwer is his father. I even gave him the name of a friend who runs a skydive center. I want to see him make it. I'll never forget how helpless I felt in the jail cell when he asked me what in God's name he was supposed to do with his life now. When he told that he could dismantle 43 different assault rifles, jump out of a helicopter moving at 35 knots from 30 feet above the water and then swim all night to a submarine. I want to know how he slipped through our cracks in the first place. There are a number of different areas in the military where his expertise would be welcomed. I'm thankful that the Admiral saw the end of this road and allowed Mac and I the chance to take the case and defend the Chief.
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Disclaimer: While based on the JAG episode, this is for entertainment purposes only and no profit is being made.