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June 12, 2006
Marine Says Rules Were Followed
Sergeant Describes Hunt for Insurgents in Haditha, Denies Coverup
By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 11, 2006; Page A01
A sergeant who led a squad of Marines during the incident in Haditha, Iraq, that left as many as 24 civilians dead said his unit did not intentionally target any civilians, followed military rules of engagement and never tried to cover up the shootings, his attorney said.
Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, 26, told his attorney that several civilians were killed Nov. 19 when his squad went after insurgents who were firing at them from inside a house. The Marine said there was no vengeful massacre, but he described a house-to-house hunt that went tragically awry in the middle of a chaotic battlefield.
"It will forever be his position that everything they did that day was following their rules of engagement and to protect the lives of Marines," said Neal A. Puckett, who represents Wuterich in the ongoing investigations into the incident. "He's really upset that people believe that he and his Marines are even capable of intentionally killing innocent civilians."
Wuterich's detailed version of what happened in the Haditha neighborhood is the first public account from a Marine who was on the ground when the shootings occurred. As the leader of 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Wuterich was in the convoy of Humvees that was hit by a roadside bomb. He entered the house from which the Marines believed enemy fire was originating and made the initial radio reports to his company headquarters about what was going on, Puckett said.
"I can confirm that that version of events is consistent with our position on this case," Myers said. "What this case comes down to is: What were the rules of engagement, and were they followed?"
Puckett said that while Wuterich was evaluating the scene, Marines noticed a white, unmarked car full of "military-aged men" lingering near the bomb site.
Wuterich told Puckett that no one was emotionally rattled by Terrazas's death because everyone had a job to do, and everyone was concerned about further casualties. As Wuterich began briefing the platoon leader, Puckett said, AK-47 shots rang out from residences on the south side of the road, and the Marines ducked.
A corporal with the unit leaned over to Wuterich and said he saw the shots coming from a specific house, and after a discussion with the platoon leader, they decided to clear the house, according to Wuterich's account.
There's a threat, and they went to eliminate the threat," Puckett said.
A four-man team of Marines, including Wuterich, kicked in the door and found a series of empty rooms, noticing quickly that there was one room with a closed door and people rustling behind it, Puckett said. They then kicked in that door, tossed a fragmentation grenade into the room, and one Marine fired a series of "clearing rounds" through the dust and smoke, killing several people, Puckett said.
Although it was almost immediately apparent to the Marines that the people dead in the room were men, women and children -- most likely civilians -- they also noticed a back door ajar and believed that insurgents had slipped through to a house nearby, Puckett said. The Marines stealthily moved to the second house, kicking in the door, killing one man inside and then using a frag grenade and more gunfire to clear another room full of people, he said.
Wuterich, not having found the insurgents, told the team to stop and headed back to the platoon leader to reassess the situation, Puckett said, adding that his client knew a number of civilians had just been killed.
Neighborhood residents have offered a different account, saying that the Marines went into the houses shooting and ignored pleas from the civilians to spare them.
For the complete article please click HERE , I only put some pieces of it here at Theodore's.
Wild Thing's comment.....
The press and Murtha 
decided to execute Marines before a complete investigation.
Posted by Wild Thing at June 12, 2006 01:55 AM
Comments
When the enemy dresses in civilian clothes, hides amongst the populace, and the populace willingly harbors them, they are the enemy. Two lessons in this, they'll not be killing any more Marines and the rest of the population might get the drift - don't harbor the terrorist. All the press will accomplish is that they'll instill a hesitancy that will cost more Marine lives. These men were only doing their jobs and the press acted on the uncorroborated 'hearsay' word of an Iraqi that most likely was part of the terrorist campaign. Murtha spilled his guts as to why he's so vocal, he wants to be speaker of the house, maybe his challenger will change all that.
Posted by: Jack at June 12, 2006 12:52 PM
We just sent Zacarias Moussaoui to prison because he knew what was going to take place on 9/11 but didn’t do anything about it; notify authorities.
A young girl claimed that she and her family knew the attack was going to take place on the Marine Convoy. She said she covered her ears when she head the convoy approach.
How are these people, the girl’s family and neighbors, any different from Mouuaoui? Neither actually did anything. Both knew of impending attacks which led to people being killed. Both failed to notify authorities of what they knew.
We cannot send Moussaoui to prison and in the same sentence say those people in Haditha were innocent bystanders. They are as guilty as sin. They were willing participants in the attack on the Marine convoy.
Posted by: BobF at June 12, 2006 03:43 PM
Jack I agree well said and regarding band-aid hero Murtha is concerned I pray he gets voted out in the next election, gosh that would be great.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 12, 2006 07:34 PM
Bob, brillant and yesss that is exactly the same thing. I agree.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 12, 2006 07:35 PM
