Ep 22. Soul Searching

In JAG Season 4 Episode 22 titled "Soul Searching," the USS Seahawk is on a routine patrol when it receives a distress signal from a small fishing boat. When the boat is found, the crew discovers that it is overloaded with refugees from China who are seeking asylum in the United States. Among the refugees is a young woman named Li Chen who is pregnant and seriously ill.

Meanwhile, Commander Rabb is asked to represent a Marine Corps sniper named Thomas Wansley who has been charged with a war crime. Wansley is accused of shooting a young boy who was found carrying a gun near a Marine checkpoint in Afghanistan. Rabb is initially hesitant to take on the case, but Wansley's commanding officer insists that he is innocent and that the boy was a threat to the Marines' safety.

As Rabb prepares for the trial, he begins to struggle with his own moral convictions about the use of deadly force in war. He seeks guidance from Chaplain Turner who advises him to "listen to his soul" and follow his conscience. However, Rabb is still uncertain about what is right and wrong in this situation.

Back on the USS Seahawk, the crew is faced with a difficult decision about how to handle the refugees. The ship's captain, Captain Ingles, insists that they follow protocol and return the refugees to China, even though it is clear that they will face persecution and possibly even death. Commander Harm and Lieutenant Austin disagree with this decision and try to find a way to help the refugees.

As the trial of Thomas Wansley begins, Rabb is still struggling with his beliefs about the use of deadly force. He questions the witnesses and tries to understand what really happened the day the young boy was killed. Eventually, Rabb comes to a decision about what he believes is right and makes a significant decision regarding the case.

On the USS Seahawk, the situation with the refugees comes to a head when they stage a protest and refuse to disembark the ship. The crew must find a way to convince them to leave before they are forced to use violence to remove them.

In the end, both Rabb and the crew of the USS Seahawk must make difficult decisions that will test their own moral compasses. "Soul Searching" is a thought-provoking episode that forces viewers to consider the consequences of their actions, both in war and in everyday life.