Colonel Drops Out of Marine Pin Hazing Case
A Marine colonel removed himself from an investigation into videotaped hazings in which award pins were stuck into the chests of new paratroopers after an anonymous letter suggested that he took part in a similar hazing in 1995.
Col. John Hertel, senior legal counsel in the case at Camp Lejeune, stepped aside Wednesday.
Hertel and other Marines identified in the letter said the allegations were untrue, said Maj. Steve Little, a Camp Lejeune spokesman. Little said Hertel decided to remove himself from the case anyway, to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
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