Pardon Lt. Ridge Alkonis

Japan helped mend a diplomatic sore earlier than Christmas when Tokyo transferred an imprisoned U.S. Navy lieutenant again into American arms. However this worldwide incident isn’t over, and the end result issues to U.S. troops questioning in the event that they’re susceptible to tough justice whereas stationed overseas.

Lt. Ridge Alkonis was assigned to a Navy destroyer in Japan in 2021 when he fell unconscious whereas driving, and two Japanese nationals died after the attendant crash exterior a restaurant. Lt. Alkonis maintains he skilled a medical emergency—acute mountain illness—whereas driving his spouse and youngsters again from a daytime hike.