the lawn. Shawn watched as Hank grabbed a small chain from the barn wall and wrap it around the limb of a tree. He had propped the shotgun against the tree trunk, and Shawn could hear him swearing, but the words were unintelligible. Shawn edged closer while trying to avoid being seen.
Hank then looked around and spotted Nick huddled up against a large tree in the yard. He called the dog, but Nick tucked his tail and hesitated to move. Hank moved closer and finally was within reach. It was then that Shawn felt nausea building. Hank grabbed Nick, who struggled to get away. Hank nearly fell, but finally latched the chain to Nick’s collar.
He watched while Hank walked a few feet and picked up the shotgun. At that moment, it became clear what Hank was planning. Shawn stepped out of the shadows just as Hank called his name.
“Shawn, come on out, you punk,” he slurred.
“What are you doing, Hank?”
“What I should have done a long time ago. I need to teach you a lesson.”
While Hank said this, he pointed the gun at Shawn.
“I should just shoot you.”
He paused for effect. Then a stupidly evil grin emerged from his drunken sunburned face. “But I would go to prison for that. So I will just do this.”
Shawn watched in horror as Hank lowered the shotgun. Shawn’s urge to jump Hank came too late. The blast from the gun shattered Shawn’s young mind as it destroyed Nick’s body. Hank shot a second time, guaranteeing Nick’s death. Shawn tried to yell, but it came out as guttural anguish. He fell to his knees and reached out to Nick, whose body lay bloody and lifeless. Shawn’s mind swirled with horror, sadness, and disbelief. He began to gasp for breath for a few minutes. Then he became quiet, very quiet.
Hank started to walk off from the scene but turned back and laughed an angry, sarcastic laugh.
Finally, he looked down at Shawn and Nick and said, “Now you know how it feels.” Then he walked off toward the house. He didn’t make it very far.
Shawn was roused from his despair by Hank’s words. He got up and yelled, “I didn’t want her to die! What the hell is wrong with you?”
Hank did not turn around, and Shawn rushed and tackled him from behind. They tumbled to the ground, and Shawn wrestled the shotgun from Hank and struck him in the face with the butt of the weapon. The first blow incapacitated the inebriated man, but Shawn was just beginning. He threw the shotgun away and began to pummel Hank with his fists. He struck him several times, and in his anger, he did not hear the large diesel truck pull up to the house. He did not hear the door slam. He didn’t hear anything and continued to beat his stepfather until the large, strong hands of his uncle caught his arm and whirled him off the prostrate form of his stepfather.
Shawn’s story unfolded in the session. He was initially unemotional and revealed only the basic history related to his sister’s death and the following events, but when he reached the part of his dog’s death, he choked and coughed. He gathered himself and looked self-consciously at Lieutenant Commander Stevens. When he continued, tears welled in his eyes, and his voice was strained. Stevens knew his instincts were accurate and that this incident was the essence of why Shawn was sitting in front of him at this moment, facing assault charges.
Stevens nodded Shawn to continue. He learned that following the incident of his dog’s death and the beating of his stepfather, Shawn was charged with assault. Hank had to go to the hospital for treatment of cuts, abrasions, and a small fracture. He required only a brief hospitalization. When he was released from the hospital, he was charged with assaulting Linda. Eventually, Hank’s lawyer managed to get the charges reduced to disorderly conduct, if Hank entered a treatment program for alcoholism. At first, he refused, but when he was informed that his choice might be to go to prison, he agreed. He was sent to a program in Pendleton, Oregon, for one month, then released to go home and to continue in an outpatient program.
Shawn did not have a lawyer, but the judge was sympathetic to his story. Nevertheless, something had to happen. It would be too dangerous for Shawn to remain at home. He explained to Shawn that the best course of action was for him to join the military. If Shawn joined a branch of the military, the judge said that all record of his charges would be expunged, and there would be no evidence of his arrest.
Shawn was shocked and reluctant to agree, but when he thought about what had happened and what the consequences might be, he decided to explore the different branches of the military. He knew that most people from his area joined the US Army. But he wasn’t swayed by what most people did. Shawn did not know much about the various services. He knew Hank was in the army, and his mother’s father had enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam era. He had heard his grandfather talk about his experiences of travel throughout West Pacific and Asian countries. He thought it might be a better choice than the army, given the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Shawn did not consider himself a pacifist, but neither was he “gung-ho” to do battle in those far-off countries.
One month later, Shawn had decided to join the Navy and had initiated the process to enlist. He passed highly in all his tests, and the recruiter seemed eager to process his enlistment. His mother had to agree since Shawn was seventeen years old. With only minimal hesitance, she agreed. Enlistment was necessary to avoid further legal problems, and Linda thought it would be a good experience for Shawn. After that, it was a simple process of letting the judge know of his enlistment, and Shawn was informed that his records were no longer available and would only be revealed if Shawn did not follow through with his enlistment, or he committed another crime.
If any of this information had been available when Shawn became a SEAL, his application would have been denied. Shawn was aware of this and looked for signs that Commander Stevens was concerned.
Stevens knew this and responded by saying, “The information you provided just now impacts this evaluation, but not your association with the SEALs.”
Bryant breathed easier.
Stevens ended his questioning and indicated to Bryant that the interview was over for the day. As Bryant stood, Commander Stevens reached for a large envelope on the table. He handed it to one of the Marines standing near the door.
“Give this envelope to Petty Officer Bryant when you reach his cell,” he said. To Shawn, he said, “There is a note in the envelope explaining what’s inside.”
The armed Marine escorted Bryant back to his cell, handing the envelope to Shawn as instructed.
Commander Stevens sat back in his chair, removed his reading glasses, and rubbed his face briskly. He reflected on the information provided by Bryant and felt confident he had enough information to formulate this case. He would write his evaluation and present it to Captain Ericson in the morning.
Chapter 2
Extenuating Circumstances
At 0500 hours, Lieutenant Commander Stevens’s alarm awakened him from his dream about dogs running into a battlefield filled with corpses. He welcomed the interruption.
A meeting with Captain Ericson was scheduled for 0900 hours. There was no time to waste. Stevens had substantially written his report, but there were some edits and loose ends to resolve.
One of those loose ends had to do with his conclusion. He wanted to be in his office 0700 hours.
He arrived at 0658 hours and began to edit his report. After he had finished editing, he paused and reviewed the conclusion. He was principally concerned about his recommendation. Stevens sympathized with Bryant, but it was an assault, after all.
Finally, he chose to recommend two months of therapy and then a consideration of discharge based on medical recommendations resulting from therapy. He conjectured that a discharge designation of honorable discharge for medical reasons could be the determination. He felt unsettled with that outcome.
He would tell the commander that there were extenuating circumstances and that Bryant was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder with moderate symptoms. He would go on to explain