Utahn praises Marine accused of murder

He is the target of a national scandal — a Marine charged with murder in the line of duty.

Yet somehow, 2nd Lt. Ilario G. Pantano is "surprisingly upbeat," says former comrade and Bountiful resident Michael Weist.

Weist and Pantano attended Marine Corps Officer Candidate School together in 2003. Between the media requests and legal wrangling, Pantano found time to respond to multiple e-mails from his former comrade.

"Even this stuff is not getting him down," Weist said. "He was like, 'We're here, we're fighting the good fight and we're going to be exonerated.' "

The Wilmington, N.C., native has been charged with a military count of premeditated murder for shooting two Iraqi insurgents during a search for terrorist weapons, his lawyer told the Deseret Morning News in an interview Tuesday. The charges carry a possible death sentence.

Pantano is accused of violating "numerous" sections of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in connection with the deaths. An Article 32 hearing date has not been set, said Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Matt Morgan.

Pantano is at his home near Camp Lejeune, N.C., with his wife and two children while awaiting the hearing, in which he will formally enter a plea, Morgan said. Morgan said he will not release any further information about the case until the hearing.

Weist and Pantano slept just two bunks apart in Quantico, Va., while training to earn officer status at the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School from January until March 2003. The Bountiful resident said he was flabbergasted by the charges because Pantano is a dedicated, honest man.

"If I had a son, I'd say, 'Model your life after Pantano,' " Weist said. "He was a solid guy, he'd do anything for you. Great leader — the consummate Marine Corps officer."

Pantano's life changed on April 15, 2004, when his unit was dispatched to search for a cache of weapons and a terrorist hideout. As platoon leader, Pantano stopped two Iraqi insurgents driving in an SUV and ordered the men to begin stripping the vehicle's interior.

During the search, the Marines found weapons, ammunition, mortar equipment and bombmaking equipment. The insurgents then came after Pantano, who, in fear of his life, shot the two men — according to his mother, Merry K. Pantano, on her Web site, www.defendthedefenders.org.

Pantano reported the incident to the field commander, who then allowed Pantano to go on another mission. Ten days later, Pantano led his men during the first advance into Fallujah. It wasn't until seven months after the incident that Pantano was informed of the investigation and charges, Merry K. Pantano said in a telephone interview Tuesday.