Ryan Weemer Ryan G . Weemer is a former Marine from Hindsboro , Illinois , who was tried in a military court for war crime s that were allegedly committed while he was on active duty during the Iraq War . Weemer was charged with the killing of unarmed Iraqi detainees in the city of Fallujah . His trial began on March 31 , 2009 , at Camp Pendleton in California . He was acquitted of all charges on April 9 , 2009 . Background . Weemer attended Oakland High School in Oakland , Illinois , where he was captain of the school ' s football team and salutatorian of his class . After graduation in 2001 , he joined the United States Marine Corps , eventually rising to the rank of sergeant . During his time in the Marines , Weemer was a member of the 3rd Battalion 1st Marines and served in the Iraq War . In November 2004 , he participated in a fierce battle in Fallujah , during which Weemer was wounded . He was subsequently awarded the Purple Heart and a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his valor under fire . Weemer was honorably discharged from active service in 2006 . Subsequently , he applied for a job with the Secret Service and , during the interview process , Weemer mentioned the Fallujah killings . Because of this , he was recalled to active duty so that he could be made to stand trial in a military court - martial . In court - martial proceedings at Camp Pendleton that opened on March 31 , 2009 , Sgt . Weemer was accused of unpremeditated murder and dereliction of duty in the fatal shooting of four Iraqi prisoners during the November 2004 battle in Fallujah . Weemer ' s jury consisted of a panel of eight Marines , each of whom had served in either Iraq or Afghanistan . The jury deliberated for seven hours over two days , and Weemer was acquitted of all charges on April 9 , 2009 . Weemer , age 26 , hugged and thanked his attorney Paul Hackett after the verdict as his wife , sister , and former high school teacher wept in the courtroom . Two other members of Weemer ' s battalion , Sgt . Jose Nazario and Sgt . Jermaine Nelson , were also similarly charged for their roles in the Fallujah incident . Nazario was accused of charges that included his allegedly ordering Weemer and Nelson to kill prisoners . Nazario was acquitted in August 2008 ; Nelson ' s trial has not yet commenced . During Nazario ’ s trial , both Weemer and Nelson refused to testify against their former squad leader . Both men were jailed for contempt of court . After Nazario ' s acquittal , however , a federal judge dismissed the contempt charges against them . After his trial ended , Weemer moved back to Kentucky . He worked for a non - profit organization as a primary counselor for chemically dependent and homeless veterans while completing his B . A . in Psychology from the University of Louisville . He moved to New York City in 2012 and accepted a position with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America . Weemer ’ s continuous commitment to veteran causes led him to start his own non - profit . In 2013 , he co - founded War Writers ’ Campaign , an organization whose mission is to promote social change surrounding veteran ’ s issues through written awareness . Weemer is CEO as well as Board Member .