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I
have been in the Marine Corps for 3 years and 7 months. I am a
squad leader for Kilo Co. 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.
I was
riding in the lead vehicle of the Spartan convoy on the passenger side
working the radios along with LCPL Rodriguez, who was the driver, LCPL
Sharrat, who was the gunner, and CPL Pagues, who was dropped off prior
to the incident. Our mission was to re-supply for chow, conduct Iraqi
change over, and COMSEC change which was the reason CPL Pagues was
riding along. The distance we were to travel was about 2km/800m. We
were traveling toward route Chestnut from River road where previous
IEDs were placed in mass amounts. I was being extra careful in my scan
of the area. We made a left onto route Chestnut and proceeded to pass
route Viper. We were about 5m away from Viper when there was an
explosion, black smoke and SAP.
I did
not see any markers to indicate that an IED may go off. LCPL Dela Cruz
saw a white four door sedan from the over-watch position. I also saw
the white four sedan up on the hill, at the front left of the convoy.
It was located immediately to the left of our front vehicle. It may
have been observing the convoy. After the blast, four or five MAMs
exited the vehicle and started running south of Chestnut. We PID the
MAMs so, we started shooting and they all go down. They kind of look
suspicious and I didn't have time to chase him.
We were
taking SAP the whole time. We were possibly taking SAP from the north,
but we were certainly taking SAP from the south. I made it to the 4th
vehicle and saw a casualty stuck under 4th vehicle and that 2x FWIA
and 1x FKIA. I helped Doc Whitt work on FKIA and 2 FWIA. Doc was
concerned and we continued to take SAP until QRF showed up.
I saw 2
individuals up north in a house and thought we were taking contact
from them. Then I saw a person in a house from the south that popped
their head out and went back inside.
We ran
to the first house south of Chestnut and conducted a cordon and
search. I began laying down suppressive. I, SGT Wuterwich [sic],
LCPL Mendoza and LCPL Tatum went into the 1st house. I heard yelling,
so we kicked the front door open and entered. I heard an AK-47 raking
to the right in the kitchen. I saw a person and I shot them. I heard
people to left and LCPL Tatum threw a grenade, in the room. I then saw
a MAM running to a second house right next door and I shot him.
I heard
yelling and screaming from the 2nd house, but I don't know what it was
about. SGT Wuterwich [sic], LCPL Mendoza and LCPL Tatum entered
the 2nd house, I did not. I threw a fragmentation grenade in the house
for entry. I heard talking from MAMs, at first, but I did not see
them. Then no more talking after the grenade blast. We all ran back
across Chestnut street after the 2nd house and went to a 3rd house
where we picked up LCPL Sharratt who was carrying a 240B.
At the
3rd house we, cleared it and used it as a good over-watch position. I
left Tatum on over-watch and left to enter a fourth house from which
SAP seemed to be coming from. I was the first in the house and
discovered that there were only women and no men. The house is #5 on
the map we drew. I asked the women where the men were, and they said
that they did not know. The rest of the team, Tatum, Wuterwich [sic]
and Mendoza, went into the house next door while I stayed with the
women. That house is #4 on the map we drew.
We
linked up and left the scene. I returned to house one around 2100 and
saw that no one was alive and that there were dead women, children and
MAMs. I also returned to second house and saw dead women and children.
We brought the bodies back to firm base/hospital around 2400. |
