Posted on 09/16/2007 4:13:36 AM PDT by RedRover
The ambush site
First images recorded by the Scan Eagle at Haditha: 0759 / November 19, 2005
Larger image below, click to enlarge...
At about 0715 on November 19, 2005 a four-vehicle convoy from 3rd Squad, 3rd Plt., Kilo Co., 3/1 was ambushed on Route Chestnut in Haditha, Iraq.
The pictures of the ambush site were taken approximately forty-five minutes later and show where the vehicles came to rest after an improvised explosive device destroyed the last vehicle in the convoy, killing LCpl Terrazas and wounding LCpls Guzman and Crossan.
The picture above shows the crater in the asphalt surfaced roadway where the IED had been buried and then covered over with fresh asphalt. The remainder of the convoy is out of the frame to the left (west) of the image.
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Larger image below, click to enlarge...
Underlined in red, Vehicle 2 (upper right) and Vehicle 3, in the halted convoy looking west.
The destroyed HUMVEE is out of the frame at bottom of image. The wreckage came to rest about 40 meters (120 feet) behind (east) of Vehicle 3. The HUMVEEs remained where they had stopped after the IED blast until Wuterichs squad cleared houses in the ambush area.
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Larger image below, click to enlarge...
Another view of the destroyed HUMVEE.
From SSgt. Frank Wuterich's statement at his Article 32 hearing:
Vehicle one turned left on Route Chestnut. Vehicle two turned left on Route Chestnut. My vehicle turned left on Route Chestnut. Vehicle four turned left on Route Chestnut. We were halfway home. Vehicle dispersion was normal- 30-40 m as per BN SOP. As 1 made the turn on Chestnut, I decided to cross the two lane road and drive on the left side of the median. This was a decision, I'm sure, that saved the lives of the Marines in my vehicle. Vehicle four was not so lucky. An explosion louder than anything I have ever heard rocked the entire convoy. I remained calm. 1 continued to drive west as my A driver started to scream, "The fourth vehicle got hit!" I made my way back to the other side of Chestnut and stopped my HMMWV. Clear skies suddenly turned brown, black and grey as shrapnel from a HMMWV came plummeting down in front of me from hundreds of feet in the air.
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Larger image below, click to enlarge...
The white car and bodies of dead Iraqi military-age males.
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Direction of Marines rifle fire toward white car.
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Above: Wuterich HUMVEE on right. White car is on left. Wuterich, Salinas and Dela Cruz shot to their left from about 20 meters (60 feet) away.
From SSgt. Frank Wuterich's statement at his Article 32 hearing:
"I remember encountering no vehicle traffic or foot traffic that morning leading up to the IED detonation. The white, four door sedan was parked on the side of the road within 100m of the IED attack, and within the security parameters of our convoy. I heard yelling mostly from the west where Cpl De La Cruz was shouting in broken Arabic and using expletives to the military aged males who occupied the white car. His weapon was at the ready, as it should have been. They were not complying and in fact were starting to run in the opposite direction to the south away from where Cpl Dela Cruz was approaching them. I took a knee in the road and fired. Engaging was the only choice. The threat had to be neutralized. Vehicle Borne IEDs were a serious threat and would have incapacitated our squad making us combat ineffective. I don't remember anyone else firing at the same time I was, although at a squad debrief later on I learned that Cpl Dela Cruz had engaged the men at the car at the same time as I did and Cpl Salinas reported that he had opened fire, as well. After I watched the military aged males fall to the ground, Cpl De La Cruz advanced on them and I saw him fire at the bodies as they lay before I turned to make my way to the casualties. That is when I started hearing small arms fire from the south."
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This is part one of a three-part series. See below for links to parts two and three.
I will not rest until this idiot is drummed out of office.
I haven’t had time to really look and see one thing, and that’s if they’re all laid out in the same direction, NSEW.
Aside from that, I think they should be used in a colonscopy for murtha.
That was the first thing that jumped out at me when I saw that frame. I had been under the impression from all previous accounts they were practically next to each other. It explains to me very clearly why SSgt. Wuterich opened fire, he was absolutely right in doing so, IMO.
Thank you Jaz!
Why would they even think of starting this charade much less continuing with it ?
They couldn’t be this stupid.
Me thinks that somebody higher up forced this on them.
That was the impression I had as well. Now I am sitting here scratching my head (again). Some execution. I am even more disgusted--if that were even possible.
Wuterich is closest to the taxi
Then did Wuterich (vehicle 3) pass Salinas (vehicle 1) and Dela Cruz (vehicle 2) after the IED went off? Here are Frank’s words....
“ Vehicle dispersion was normal- 30-40 m as per BN SOP. “...
...”I decided to cross the two lane road and drive on the left side of the median.”
..”I made my way back to the other side of Chestnut and stopped my HMMWV. “
...”I heard yelling mostly from the west where Cpl De La Cruz was shouting in broken Arabic and using expletives to the military aged males who occupied the white car.”
That last statement would put Dela Cruz closer to the taxi (from the west). Maybe it doesn’t matter, but I’m just curious why Wuterich was charged if both Dela Cruz and Salinas were also shooting? Also if Salinsa or Dela Cruz’s vehicles were closer to the taxi, again, why was Wuterich charged with their deaths? All three may have shot and killed Iraqis from the taxi. It appears all three had the same take that the taxi was dangerous to their convoy. But if the other two were closer, why charge Wuterich?
“Then did Wuterich (vehicle 3) pass Salinas (vehicle 1) and Dela Cruz (vehicle 2) after the IED went off? Here are Franks words....”
Good catch - it looks like someone marked up the photo wrong.
If the bodies are in the position that they fell, how could Wuterich have dropped to one knee and shot them with the car between them and the HV’s ?
BTW, when the video’s were taken, just where are the Marines and Kallop’s transportation ?
You can see how the Post misled readers by showing the Humvees directly alongside the white car.
Also, Cobra puts the IED blast further east (indicated by the big yellow dot on the road).
You haven't asked about houses 3 and 4 yet, but there are just off Cobra's map--indicated by the second yellow dot at the upper left.
Any explanation for Wuterich marking what appears to be the correct positions of the blast and the taxi on the map during the 60 minutes interview, but marking two different houses for the 1 & 2 ?
That’s a good overlay. Yes, I think usmcobra’s placement of the IED site is pretty good. Maybe just a tad west, almost directly north over house 1 and 2. This in my mind, indicates folks in those two houses had some knowledge of placement of the IED when it was planted. It doesn’t appear there was anything obstructing their view if it was planted during daytime hours. Plus the fact that it was asphalted over to blend in with the road would have taken a little more effort and machinery possibly.
The giant fish picture is my wife with the prehistoric monster she pulled out of the water after a vigorous fight that almost capsized our boat.
The picture is at the link.
Whoa.....you need 40 loaves to go with that.
I’m not laughing, it’s bigger than some I’ve caught. :)
That’s some good bait! I know, I’ve caught plenty. At least she still had her original bait.
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