Gov. Rod Blagojevich sent a letter Sunday to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, urging him to ensure the fair treatment of an Illinois fighter pilot charged in a friendly fire bombing in Afghanistan.
Maj. Harry Schmidt of Sherman faces a court-martial on a charge of dereliction of duty after four Canadians were killed when he dropped a 500-pound bomb near Kandahar in April 2002. Schmidt has said he thought the Canadians’ live-training exercise was hostile fire aimed at him and another fighter pilot from the Illinois Air National Guard’s 183rd Fighter Wing, based in Springfield.
Blagojevich met with Schmidt’s wife, Lisa, last month and discussed the pilot and the governor’s letter to Rumsfeld.
“I respectfully urge you and the Air Force commanders pursuing this matter to ensure that Major Schmidt is treated impartially and compassionately,” the letter reads.
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Compiled from RedEye news services
