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Before we pass judgement on his action, let us look at the circumstances under which he acted the way he did. He was a contemporary of Col Jessup but was not promoted as quickly, probably because he was not a star performer. But given the hierarchical nature of the service, this has a huge impact on the psyche of the person, almost making him feel like a failure at all times. This does affect his conviction to act against Jessup when the time comes. In that he did take some action however wrong, on a values scale he would probably come on top of a character like Galileo. His suicide note, which is a regretful letter written to Santiagos parents, exemplifies the emotional state he is in. Dear Mr. and Mrs. Santiago, I was William's executive officer. I knew your son vaguely, which is to say I knew his name. In a matter of time, the trial of the two men charged with your son's death will be concluded, and seven men and two women whom you've never met will try to offer you an explanation as to why William is dead. For my part, I've done as much as I can to bring the truth to light. And the truth is this: Your son is dead for only one reason. I wasn't strong enough to stop it. Always, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Andrew Markinson, United States Marine Corps.