October 15, 2004 Miss. soldier calls home, cites safety concerns By Jeremy Hudson jehudson@clarionledger.com A 17-member Army Reserve platoon with troops from Jackson and around the Southeast deployed to Iraq is under arrest for refusing a "suicide mission" to deliver fuel, the troops' relatives said Thursday. The soldiers refused an order on Wednesday to go to Taji, Iraq — north of Baghdad — because their vehicles were considered "deadlined" or extremely unsafe, said Patricia McCook of Jackson, wife of Sgt. Larry O. McCook. Sgt. McCook, a deputy at the Hinds County Detention Center, and the 16 other members of the 343rd Quartermaster Company from Rock Hill, S.C., were read their rights and moved from the military barracks into tents, Patricia McCook said her husband told her during a panicked phone call about 5 a.m. Thursday. The platoon could be charged with the willful disobeying of orders, punishable by dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of pay and up to five years confinement, said military law expert Mark Stevens, an associate professor of justice studies at Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, N.C. No military officials were able to confirm or deny the detainment of the platoon Thursday. But today, Sgt. Salju Thomas of the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad issued a statement saying that an investigation has begun. "The Commander General of the 13 Corps Support Group has appointed a deputy commander to lead an investigation into allegations that members of the 343 Quartermaster Company refused to participate in theri assigned convoy mission on Oct. 13," Thomas' statement said. The investigation team is currently in Tallil taking statements and interviewing those involved, Thomas said in the statement. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson said he plans to submit a congressional inquiry today on behalf of the Mississippi soldiers to launch an investigation into whether they are being treated improperly. "I would not want any member of the military to be put in a dangerous situation ill-equipped," said Thompson, who was contacted by families. "I have had similar complaints from military families about vehicles that weren't armor-plated, or bullet-proof vests that are outdated. It concerns me because we made over $150 billion in funds available to equip our forces in Iraq. "President Bush takes the position that the troops are well-armed, but if this situation is true, it calls into question how honest he has been with the country," Thompson said. The 343rd is a supply unit whose general mission is to deliver fuel and water. The unit includes three women and 14 men and those with ranking up to sergeant first class. "I got a call from an officer in another unit early (Thursday) morning who told me that my husband and his platoon had been arrested on a bogus charge because they refused to go on a suicide mission," said Jackie Butler of Jackson, wife of Sgt. Michael Butler, a 24-year reservist. "When my husband refuses to follow an order, it has to be something major." The platoon being held has troops from Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Mississippi and South Carolina, said Teresa Hill of Dothan, Ala., whose daughter Amber McClenny is among those being detained. McClenny, 21, pleaded for help in a message left on her mother's answering machine early Thursday morning. "They are holding us against our will," McClenny said. "We are now prisoners." McClenny told her mother her unit tried to deliver fuel to another base in Iraq Wednesday, but was sent back because the fuel had been contaminated with water. The platoon returned to its base, where it was told to take the fuel to another base, McClenny told her mother. The platoon is normally escorted by armed Humvees and helicopters, but did not have that support Wednesday, McClenny told her mother. The convoy trucks the platoon was driving had experienced problems in the past and were not being properly maintained, Hill said her daughter told her. The situation mirrors other tales of troops being sent on missions without proper equipment. Aviation regiments have complained of being forced to fly dangerous missions over Iraq with outdated night-vision goggles and old missile-avoidance systems. Stories of troops' families purchasing body armor because the military didn't provide them with adequate equipment have been included in recent presidential debates. Patricia McCook said her husband, a staff sergeant, understands well the severity of disobeying orders. But he did not feel comfortable taking his soldiers on another trip. "He told me that three of the vehicles they were to use were deadlines ... not safe to go in a hotbed like that," Patricia McCook said. Hill said the trucks her daughter's unit was driving could not top 40 mph. "They knew there was a 99 percent chance they were going to get ambushed or fired at," Hill said her daughter told her. "They would have had no way to fight back." Kathy Harris of Vicksburg is the mother of Aaron Gordon, 20, who is among those being detained. Her primary concern is that she has been told the soldiers have not been provided access to a judge advocate general. Stevens said if the soldiers are being confined, law requires them to have a hearing before a magistrate within seven days. Harris said conditions for the platoon have been difficult of late. Her son e-mailed her earlier this week to ask what the penalty would be if he became physical with a commanding officer, she said. But Nadine Stratford of Rock Hill, S.C., said her godson Colin Durham, 20, has been happy with his time in Iraq. She has not heard from him since the platoon was detained. "When I talked to him about a month ago, he was fine," Stratford said. "He said it was like being at home." Link
It is good to see that this story has gone into the mainstream. We will see more of this the longer the war in Iraq goes on. Imagine being a soldier over there and realizing that Bush and Cheney lied and your friends died. In addition the more contact the troops have with the Iraqis the harder it will be to accept the constant daily killing of innocent Iraqis by our troops that is inevitable in war. One thing for sure. If Bush wins the ocupation of Iraq will continue till the volunteer army, says "no." As discussed Bush and gang might try to have a draft before giving up. Bush and supporters pretend otherwise and bs about Allawi other puppets and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi army recruits to replace our troops by the end of the year. As Kerry pointed out we are building 12 permanent bases there. This shows the neocons iintention to permanently occupy. This will continue till we are forced out. While 80% of the Iraqis want us to leave, the neocons intend to stay. The overwhelming of Iraqis will eventually prevail on this issue. Bush will have weakened America by inflicting a totally unnecessary "defeat" on the US. He will finally have put to rest the Vietnam Sydrome, soon to be replaced by the Iraqi Syndrome a synonym for imperial overeach. Kerry is saying that we will pull out once things are somewhat stabliized, which of course is tough, to know given the current quagmire. It is sad to put this burden of cleaning up this mess on Kerry, but someone has to do it and the sooner the better.
Good that we've got the activity of finger pointing down to a science. Now, if you Bush/Kerry zealots could only offer solutions/suggestions besides getting your party elected that would be nice. Especially since both have the same basic ideas on what must be done before we leave Iraq. I definately have my own criticisms of this president, but how can you say you will increase training of Iraqi troops and not build the facilities and infrastructure to do it? Ugh, I can't wait until this election is over. I'm not voting, I can't stand either canidate and those of you who say I don't have a right to complain b/c I don't vote can kiss my shinny metal ass. Give me a choice I am comfortable with and I'll gladly vote, but I think I say plenty when I stay home.
Lame excuse. You are just trying to justify you cop out and girly man antics. My hunch tells me you are either too young to vote, too old to vote of not and an American citizen. You have a right not to vote (if you are elligible) but common there are more than 5 condidates out there. Somehow there is at least one candidate that rocks your boat. Stop whining and put your vote where you mouth is. Remember once again there are over 5 presidential choices to choose from. If you do not like all of them - then you have a deeper problem.
Whats the point of going to the polls to vote for a 3rd, 4th party? What gain do you get out of it? He doesn't feel comfortable with either candidate; why is it such a big deal he doesn't vote? Get over yourself
What we have here is a dishonest and dangerous president (17 more days). Where there is smoke there are possibilities of fire. We heard of this allegation last year about ill equiped and ill trained US troops. My gut feeling is that many tell-all stories and books will come after the election is over. History will not be kind to GWB. Many dirty and evil things have been going on and they will definitely come out in due time. But trust the media to let this issue slip away. No biggie though, in a matter of days all of this quagmire will be arrested.
The more votes these minor political parties receive the more power they will have in the future. duh.
I happen to be a Republican, I don't want to give these other parties votes. I just can't vote for Bush with a clear conscience. I don't trust him, I can't look at what he's done in the past 4 years and say it was a good job. I don't think Kerry will do a better job, and I don't trust him either. It's almost like I didn't watch the Democratic primaries and heard the things Kerry said and says now. Fine, I'm an idiot, but neither of those idiots get my vote. Reminds me of the lunch line in school... I get a CHOICE! lump o' crap #1 or lump o' crap #2 WEE But the bigger issue here is that everyone has forgotten that we all live in the same country, and that this country needs it's people to rally for the countrys causes and interests... not the interest of a particular party, which some of you think that if your canidate is elected that all problems will be summarily solved. THIS is not the case. No matter who is elected, the problems of this country need to be solved with some cooperation and some creative thinking, not creative acounting on the two magical healthcare plans and the like.
Although I can't agree with your decision not to vote, I sympathize with your dilemma. I care not for either candidate -- they are both frogs covered with warts. I may have to rely on a correct flip from my lucky gold coin, but I will vote. Everyone is so ready to cast blame on one party or the other that they forget that this particular order probably came from some eager junior grade officer anxious to impress a superior. Most officers are competent, but there are a few who don't care about their soldiers, especially if they themselves are not in harm's way. All I can say is that the people who think the order came directly from the President must believe in ultra super-duper micromanagement. Bush can, however, be faulted for his mismanagement of the overall war but not for the incident itself.
I hope your coin lands on whichever side equals "Kerry," but I agree with everything else. Bush could be blamed for rushing into this war without the preparation, troops, and allies with which it could have been waged, much less sufficient reasons, and I think that he deserves severe criticism for that, and doesn't deserve a second term for that alone. (there are a host of other reasons I think he should be defeated, but I've posted them here dozens of times) As far as this incident goes, however, I think you are perfectly on target. Keep D&D Civil!!
