At 10:00 p.m. April 13, 1956, attorney Thomas Costello boarded a train at New York's Pennsylvania Station en route to Yemassee, South Carolina-the first leg of his voyage to the United States Marine Corps' training depot on Parris Island to defend his brother-in-law, Staff Sergeant Matthew McKeon.

Five days earlier, McKeon had led a training exercise that went tragically wrong, resulting in the drowning deaths of six recruits. McKeon was immediately arrested, and, less than twenty-four hours later, Marine Commandant Pate made a press statement that essentially accused the young man...

At 10:00 p.m. April 13, 1956, attorney Thomas Costello boarded a train at New York's Pennsylvania Station en route to Yemassee, South Carolina-the first leg of his voyage to the United States Marine Corps' training depot on Parris Island to defend his brother-in-law, Staff Sergeant Matthew McKeon.

Five days earlier, McKeon had led a training exercise that went tragically wrong, resulting in the drowning deaths of six recruits. McKeon was immediately arrested, and, less than twenty-four hours later, Marine Commandant Pate made a press statement that essentially accused the young man...