Hero's Welcome

When Army Sergeant Esequiel Torres came home to Brownsville, Texas, a hero's welcome awaited him. Torres, 22, is accused by the Army of murdering not less than three persons at My Lai and hanging a fourth in a separate incident. But people in Brownsville are very patriotic. He wore the uniform, fought in Viet Nam, and that was enough to know. Many were ready to defend the sergeant and contribute to his defense fund.

One day after arriving in town with his wife and daughter, Torres and a friend drove to a local tavern called the Linger Longer Lounge. He did not linger too long, however, for after a few beers he got into an argument with the barmaid, Hortenzia Escobedo, over the charge for his drinks. When she asked him to leave, the sergeant allegedly went to his car, took a .30-cal. rifle from the trunk, and fired four shots into the ground before speeding away.

The police arrived at the Torres home a few minutes later, and the sergeant was charged with firing a weapon inside the city limits--a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of $100--and released under his own recognizance after pleading not guilty. Unchastened, Torres appeared at a civic celebration at the American Legion Hall the next day. Wearing a big smile and carrying his baby, he waded through a crowd of well-wishing American Legionnaires, then waited as his attorney, Charles Weltner, made a plea for contributions.

But as the story of Torres' arrest spread, a reaction set in. A "border buttermilk" celebration--tequila and crushed ice at a dollar a throw--scheduled for Tuesday evening on Torres' behalf was canceled. Brownsville was obviously embarrassed by the whole incident, and Torres' homecoming fetes raised only $50.

"This whole business is so outrageous, it is beyond belief," said an angry Legionnaire. "That Torres boy seems to carry trouble with him wherever he goes." At this point, guilty or not, Torres would probably agree.

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