By Solo Saine

I have searched for Captain Ebou Jallow's name on the US ARMY database, not even a single name came up for Captain Ebou Jallow. Yet he said he is a member of a special counter terrorism unit of the 101 Airborne Division. Why claim to be something you are not, Captain?  We all know that Captains do not do much of the work anyway. The work is done by the enlisted that are led by the NCO's. The 101 is an active duty army unit out of Fort Campbell, KY.BUT sometimes reserve or National Guard soldiers (we called them the weekend warriors) get attached to Active duty units during deployment. Getting attached to an active duty unit, lets say 101 does not make you assigned to 101. Maybe Captain Ebou Jallow is in the US Navy then. But Captain Ebou Jallow was a Captain in the Gambia National Army more than 13 years ago. In the US Army, if an officer cannot get promoted to pass Captain for 13 years, he gets kicked out because he cannot progress. So the big question is: what rank is Captain Ebou Jallow? What branch of the US MILITARY is Captain Ebou Jallow in?

Why get on a reputable newspaper that Gambians all over the world reads and promote yourself to a rank that you do not attain? Are you taking Gambians for fools? You were obviously not a good soldier that’s why you ran away from the Gambia with accusations of taking our money. Besides, looking at your photo, you do not even look like a grunt. I can tell because i am one. The US Army is not the Gambia National Army and i hope you know that. Remember Captain, you are subjected to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and it is punishable under the UCMJ to wear ranks that you do not attain. Familiar with the word "impersonate" Captain? My advice to you, borrow a copy of the Manual for Courts Marshall and read it!!!

Editor’s Note: Ideally, we would have sent your concerns to Captain Ebou Jallow before we publish your serious allegations. However, since your e-mail suggests that you have also copied this allegation to other papers, we decided to run your piece knowing fully well that before we conclude our investigations, your paper would have been out. While we are not trying to hold briefs for Captain Ebou Jallow, The Gambia Echo wants to make it categorically clear that throughout our communications Ebou Jallow has never stated that he was a Captain nor has he ever addressed himself as Captain Jallow. My most elemental understanding of military ranks suggests that the rank Captain is one that the holder carries to the grave. This is the only reason why we address Ebou Jallow CAPTAIN knowing that he was a Captain in the Gambian Navy and a US trained officer at that. Whether he was good officer or not, that is up to his military colleagues to address and since you claim to be a soldier, you can determine that as well.