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On A Mission Of Murder
On A Mission Of Murder; A Marine Mass Killer
Written By:
Bradley D. Chapline
Page One
     It was 1982 on a dreary day at the Marine Corps Air Station in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.  The sun was behind the heavy clouds in the sky.  It was drizzling rain and there was an odd sensation of a chill in the air.  It appeared to be another normal day in the making.  Recently married, I also had a newborn son.  I was living in base housing.  Waking up this morning I became agitated over feeling the dampness within this old run down house that my family and I lived in.  I thought, "Yeah, this is typical of the Marine Corps, keep us pissed off and in misery.  What else was new".  As I took my Marine Sergeant's uniform from the closet, it smelled like mildew.
     To have become a Marine Sergeant was an absolute milestone for me.  As a childhood criminal, I also had a turbulent history in the Marines littered with disciplinary actions.  I had once faced being dishonorably discharged, had done time in the brig, and had escaped custody on one occasion.  But, I was now married to a very nice woman who gave me what I wanted, and that was my own child.  I had mostly transformed myself when I was given one more chance to become a productive Marine vice a thug.  My Commanding Officer could not believe I was given another chance.  He was well aware I could hardly read or write and that I had very minimal math skills.  My Commanding Officer was also aware that if I failed or got into trouble one more time that the end would be spelled for me.  An opening for a Marine from our unit became available.  This selected individual was to attend three months of training at Ft. Benning Georgia in becoming what was called a "Cross-Country Prisoner Chaser".  It was to be akin to the U.S. Marshal's Academy which was in fact to be very difficult even for a well educated Marine.  
My Commanding Officer called me into his office and informed me that I would be attending this school.  I knew what he was up to.  I became extremely paranoid.  I was working so hard to keep myself straight, but my thoughts were of, "I'll never make this school and I'll be toast".  During my interview with the Commanding Officer he stated to me, "Crossley, this is the perfect school for you, learning how to escort prisoners.  You're a criminal, as you've escaped our custody.  This should be right up your alley.  If you don't make this school you'll be out of the Corps as you should have been along time ago".  My body was quivering.  I didn't know whether or not it was from fear, or wanting to kick his ass.  I left for Ft. Benning, Georgia several weeks later.    
     I knew early on I was doomed to fail this school.  Figuring I had nothing to lose, I confided in an instructor at the school.  He was my savior.  He worked with me every night into the wee small hours of the morning attempting to get me to comprehend the basics of what was being taught academically.  Upon coming to this school I didn't even know what a vowel or verb was.  What took a normal educated person several minutes to read and understand, took me many hours.  I was on the brink of exhaustion, but I refused to quit.  Unbelievably, I graduated third in my class.  My Commanding Officer was stunned!  He then accused me of academic fraud while attending this academy.  His allegation was not true.  This was appropriately dismissed by authorities at the school.
     I successfully escorted many prisoners to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas without an escape or incident over a good many years.  I was later promoted to Assistant Regional Director of Prisoner Security for the far east region.  It became my job to train other Marines as I was trained at the academy in Ft. Benning.  For once, I was loving the Marine Corps and life in general.  I was proud of myself.   I had come such a long way.  I then applied for secondary duty.  There was an opening for a position of Secretary to the Commanding General of the base.  I went up against approximately 125 applicants who were well educated and had immaculate records.  I wasn't going to let this stop me.  I was shocked when Brigadier General Cleveland selected me to be his secretary.  The good General told me he didn't want anymore "kiss-asses".  There became quickly what I felt to be an undying love between us.  General Cleveland was like a god to me, a tough Marine General who didn't play politics and believed all Marines should be squared away, but down and dirty.
     I arrived at work this particular morning expecting a typical day as usual at the General's office.  As I walked into the Headquarters building a strange feeling overcame me.  I knew something was wrong.  General Cleveland was a one star General and had been passed over for his second star a couple of times.  He would be forced to retire if he was passed over again.  I received a shocking briefing.  I learned that on the previous night, a company armory in the 6th Marines was robbed of starlight scopes, machineguns, M-16 rifles and .45 caliber pistols.  My first thoughts were, "Oh no, this robbery happening under the General's command will definitely finish off his career".  This incident was headlines on the local news.  It was the lead story for almost a week.  I was well aware when the Corps received a "black eye", somebody was going to pay dearly.  It was clear to me it would be General Cleveland.  I was greatly angered and I swore that if the individuals that perpetrated this crime ever came into my custody they would never make it to Ft. Leavenworth alive.
     The MP's and Naval Investigative Service on the Kaneohe base identified Lance Corporal Kim Dun Lee as the ringleader of this robbery.  He was now in the Provost Marshal's custody.  I privately wondered how this robbery could have occured when there were two armed guards twenty-four hours a day seven days a week walking this post.  Lance Corporal Lee had to have had inside help.  When I arrived at the General's office the following day I was informed by General Cleveland, "Sgt. Crossley, I want you to put your two best men on this assignment.  Have them escort Lance Corporal Lee over to the Pearl Harbor brig" which was located on the other side of the island.  I asked the General if I might handle this assignment myself.  General Cleveland denied this request.  Somehow General Cleveland discovered my intent to terminate the life of Lance Corporal Kim Dun Lee.  General Cleveland was well acquainted with my background and knew this was not an idle threat.
     I followed the General's orders and assigned my two best students.  One was a Marine Corporal and the other was a Lance Corporal.  I gave them specific instructions as to once they obtained custody of Lance Corporal Lee from the Provost Marshal's office.  They were to put Lee in body restraints, and leg irons and administratively check him out from the base.  They were then to transport Lee via military vehicle to the Pearl Harbor brig.  Approximately four hours had passed and I had assumed that my two best prisoner chasers were conducting their duties as instructed.  My office was located right next to the General's and directly across the hall from the Chief of Staff.  I then suddenly hear a boisterous yell, "Sgt. Crossley, get your fucking ass in here right now".  I jumped up and ran into the General's office.  General Cleveland was now sitting at his desk with a blank look on his face.  He was flanked by the Chief of Staff and the Staff Secretary.
The Chief of Staff was furious with me.  Literally screaming at me, "Crossley, you stupid mother fucker, Lee has escaped custody, he's fuckin' gone".  I inquired as to how this could have happened.  The Chief of Staff angrily replied, "Lee overpowered both guards with the use of his martial arts.  Do you have any fucking idea Crossley what this is going to do to us you stupid fucking bastard"?  The Chief of Staff continued to yell at me.  

 

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