Three U.S. Marines sanctioned over Haditha

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps said three officers found not to have committed any crimes related to civilian deaths in Haditha, Iraq, have been sanctioned.

The Marines announced the three officers were sanctioned in connection with the killings of 24 civilians in the city but military investigators determined they hadn't committed any crimes, CNN reported Thursday.

The secretary of the Navy sent official letters of censure to Maj. Gen. Richard Huck, former commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division; Col. Stephen Davis, former commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division; and Col. Robert Sokoloski, former chief of staff of 2nd Marine Division.

"While these three officers have served their country and Corps exceedingly well for decades, their actions, inactions and decisions in the aftermath of the Haditha incident did not meet the high standards we expect of Marine senior officer leadership," Gen. James Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, said in a statement.

A Marine Corps statement said Huck was censured "for the actions he took and failed to take in response to the circumstances" surrounding the Haditha incident, while Davis was sanctioned for failing to act appropriately when informed of the deaths and Sokoloski was censured "for his unsatisfactory performance of duty."