News-Info-Alerts

Re: M-16 from an Nasiriyah POW Found on Combatant

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: October 25, 2003

"Iraqi Killed By Marine Had U.S. Weapon
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO - An Iraqi man whose death at a U.S. military camp is under investigation was caught with a gun from the ambushed Army unit that included American prisoner of war Pfc. Jessica Lynch, officials confirmed.

The death of Nagem Sadoon Hatab, a 52-year-old Baath Party official, has resulted in charges of negligent homicide and other crimes against two Marine reservists, Lance Cpl. Christian Hernandez and his superior officer, Maj. Clark A. Paulus.

Six other reservists also have been accused of abusing detainees at the facility, known as Camp Whitehorse, in southern Iraq. The military investigation into Hatab's death is being run from Camp Pendleton, the Marine base north of San Diego.

A lawyer for one of the men, Lance Cpl. William Roy, filed documents at Camp Pendleton Thursday seeking details of the investigation, including information on the M-16 assault rifle belonging to Lynch's 507th Maintenance Company.

The lawyer, Donald G. Rehkopf of Rochester, New York, said his investigation has determined that Hatab was captured May 3 with the M-16.

Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Dan Rawson said Friday that "indications are that Hatab may have had in his possession an M-16 or other weapons belonging to the Army 507th Maintenance Company."

Rawson did not know the date of Hatab's capture or other details of his detention. There was no indication of how Hatab came to possess the weapon.

Lynch's unit was ambushed March 23 in Nasiriyah, Iraq. Of the 33 soldiers who made a wrong turn into the southeastern city, 11 were killed and six captured - including the West Virginia teenager whose rescue made her one of the war's most enduring heroes.

Military investigators have not yet traced the M-16 to a particular soldier, Rawson said.

The military investigation centers on Hatab's death in June and other alleged abuses of detainees at Camp Whitehorse, a detention facility near Nasiriyah.

Hatab suffocated to death after Hernandez allegedly grabbed him by the neck and broke his hyoid bone, a U-shaped bone that supports the tongue, according to the Marine Corps.

Investigators say Hernandez was trying to move Hatab when he grabbed his neck, but that there is no indication the lance corporal intended to kill the Iraqi.

Paulus, of Buckingham, Pennsylvania, was commander of the camp, Rawson said.

The two Marines also face charges of dereliction of duty, assault and cruelty. They are to face a preliminary hearing, known as an Article 32 proceeding, in November to determine whether they will be court-martialed.

All eight Marines under investigation are members of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, based in Worcester, Massachusetts. They have been assigned to Camp Pendleton pending the investigation. The base north of San Diego is the headquarters for the 1st Marine Division, which oversaw the Iraqi detention camp.

Three of the Marine reservists already have been ordered to face special courts-martial for alleged abuse of detainees at the camp: Sgt. Albert Rodriguez-Martinez is accused of making false official statements and two counts of assault; Lance Cpl. Andrew D. Rodney is accused of one count of assault; and Lance Cpl. Konstantin Mikholap is accused of making false official statements and two counts of assault.

Article 32 proceedings also are planned for Maj. William Vickers, who is accused of dereliction of duty; Sgt. Gary Pittman for dereliction of duty and five counts of assault; and Roy for dereliction of duty, cruelty and maltreatment, and five counts of assault.

©2003 Associated Press"