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| Iraq-Jordan |
| US opens criminal probe of two army deaths in Iraq |
| 2005-06-10 |
| BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. army has opened a criminal investigation into a blast that killed two soldiers at a base in Iraq after discovering it was not caused by an insurgent mortar attack, a military statement said on Friday. It said Captain Phillip Esposito and 1st Lieutenant Louis Allen were killed on Tuesday in an explosion at Forward Operating Base Danger near Saddam Hussein's hometown, Tikrit."The initial investigation by responders and military police indicated that a mortar round struck the window on the side of the building where Esposito and Allen were located at the time," the statement said. "Upon further examination of the scene by explosive ordnance personnel, it was determined the blast pattern was inconsistent with a mortar attack." The military said the soldiers killed were New York National Guard troops assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 42nd Infantry Division. Esposito was company commander and Allen was an operations officer. Any potential Sgt. Akbar's in the outfit? |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #2 One thing I'm wondering is if someone kept a souvineer in their foot locker such as a mortar round. Hmmm. |
| Posted by: JackAssFestival 2005-06-10 17:35 |
| #1 Any potential Sgt. Akbar's in the outfit? According to an article on CNN.com, that possibility is on the investigators' list: The Army is looking at a number of scenarios including accidental death, attack by an intruder or infiltrator, and fragging, which is the killing or wounding of a fellow soldier. |
| Posted by: Mike 2005-06-10 15:34 |