PLATTE MORING - NOVEMBER 17, 2016
Platte Moring delivered his classification talk to Emmaus Rotary Club on November 17. Platte was sponsored by Bob Rust when he joined our club earlier this year. In commemoration of Veterans Day, Platte graciously shared his presentation about his deployment to Afghanistan in 2003 and 2004.
Platte began his presentation by mentioning that Rick Zayaitz and Jim Ritter were classmates of his at Emmaus High School. Platte was accepted at Princeton University and joined ROTC to help pay his way through school. Platte served in the Army Reserves for four years and joined the JAG Corp after graduation from Vanderbilt Law School. Platte then served as a legal officer for 25 years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In his civilian life, Platte practices law at the Lehigh Valley law office of White & Williams.
Following the September 11 attacks, Platte believed his Guard unit might be called up to active duty. On Valentine’s Day 2003 (also his wife’s birthday), Platte received notice that his unit had been called up. For the first time – at age 45, Platte began serving as a full-time soldier.
Platte’s unit was originally slated to provide support to US troops in Iraq as they moved toward Baghdad from Kuwait. However, troop movements happened much faster than anticipated eliminating any support needs from Platte’s unit. The unit’s mission was changed to assist in rebuilding Afghanistan’s government and infrastructure following the defeat of the Taliban. After training for three months at Fort Dix, Platte’s unit arrived in Afghanistan in June 2003.
Platte shared many aspects of life in Afghanistan including the abject poverty endured by most citizens, proliferation of land mines, lack of electric power and clean water, rudimentary educational methods and treatment of Afghan women.
Shortly after his arrival in Afghanistan, Platte’s commander noted his JAG insignia and directed him to work with the Italian military which was tasked with developing a new legal system and constitution. He described his participation in the development of many elements of the new Afghan constitution. Platte also related the moving story of his attendance at the constitutional convention. He was literally present at the birth of the new Afghan nation when the delegates voted to adopt the constitution.
Platte learned that the Afghan legal system put very little emphasis on the accused being represented by competent defense counsel. Rather, the courts generally favored the prosecution unless the accused was able to bribe the judge for a reduced sentence or acquittal. Platte lobbied his commander for permission to teach a course at Kabul University to train defense lawyers. When he was turned down, Platte decided to teach the course anyway! He joked that his Afghan students were not like American students – They were more mature, always prepared, eager to learn and sober. He praised the dedication of his students which included several women.
Platte shared many more stories and memories from his deployment too numerous to mention here. He has written a book documenting his experiences entitled Honor First – A Citizen Shoulder in Afghanistan.
Platte ended his presentation by reading the words of Judge William Young from a transcript of the sentencing hearing for Richard Reid – the terrorist convicted of attempting to ignite a bomb in his shoe on an American Airlines flight in December 2001. A copy of Judge Young’s eloquent and forceful statement in defense of freedom can be found by clicking here.