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 Wuterich’s 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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Larger image below, click to enlarge...
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 think she is right. not #1. Needs to be corrected. Will take care of it in the AM...
Wuterich was in #3 facing southwest... the Iraqis would have been masked by their vehicle until they were compelled to move away... what compelled them - how about M-16 rounds... very compelling stuff, which brings up an interesting point as well. Given the body placement the line of fire suggests Dela Cruz's fire drove the Iraqi males toward the sand pile... whether they were running to hide or escape is doesn't mater except to them - they were inside the 100-meter security zone... the ROE would say to eliminate the threat in any instance... He said Wutericch fired so he fired because he perceived a threat when Wuterich opened up... come on... he was a sergeant... if he didn't know what a threat was after two tours.... Wuterich says that the car was inside their SOP security zone. In court testimony Dela Cruz showed with a rubber rifle how he fired over the white car at targets pictures very similar to pop ups on a hundred - meter KD range. Any of the readers who fired for quals back in the 60s and 70s know exactly what I mean... head and shoulder shots... they hunker down and beat feet. Did anybody do damage assessment on the white car - how many bullets holes?
As far as I know, no one knows what became of the white car after that morning. It was an ambush site, not a crime scene.
It is insane to let a vehicle arriving in the middle of an attack to assume a flanking position on your unit.
I hate to say this because people will think I'm crazy but to figure out what is where given the definition of Google earth I take off my glasses so that things are blurred, that way I see things as shapes and match the shapes.
Okay. I was basing my assessment on what you call the exposed pipes being the end of the mound of dirt. I’ll buy into your placement. Makes sense to me. Since I don’t wear glasses, I tried squinting. Didn’t have the same effect. :-)
Thanks, Red. The only picture we’ve seen of the white car is the one from Washington Post. It is taken from the rear and only shows the passenger side with the car doors open. There is very little exposed car surface to see if there are any bullet holes. Wonder if NCIS had any more views of the taxi.
The round thingee helps too.
I lined up the IED crater with the icon marking the spot where the Marines were attacked...
I did notice that round black thingee too. It matches up pretty well.
Do you remember anything at the hearings about anyone examining the white car? If photos weren't taken at the time, I don't know what NCIS (or the lawyers) could have.
I’d think any testimony about the white car would have occurred during SSgt. Wuterich’s hearing. All I ever heard is what the reporters printed about Dela Cruz’s testimony. I don’t remember reading anything about the fall of the bodies, supposed angles of the shots, anything. As Nat indicated, during the initial assessment, this was not considered a crime scene. I was surprised when more did not come out about this part of the action. Nat’s indication of Dela Cruz’s demonstration with a rubber rifle is more than was reported in the press. And, then, there’s always Cpl. Salinas effect on the 5 Iraqis. Since he didn’t testify, we don’t know anything about that aspect.
Amazing to see the pics.
Thank you.
You’re very welcome. All we’ve wanted is a full disclosure of the facts. We’ll get there, bit by bit.
I came to understand that SSgt Justin Laughner took that photo in the Post. (But I can’t remember how I came to believe that.) I don’t know how many more photos exist, but there must be more. No one takes just one picture.
Lily has an admirer on the defense team. Maybe she can get some details out of him.
What part of ‘shhhh it’s a secret’ didn’t you understand?
Behave now. The 2 worlds sometimes collide.
I deny the whole thing. Wiesenheimer must’ve hijacked my log-in. E-mail to you. Observe “code cockatoo” procedures.
I think there may have been a couple of open backed vehicles
I think those were hoopties abandoned at the drive in movie. "Closed For the Winter" was playing.
Thanks, freema. You must have better eyes than I do. I can’t tell if the back window is broken. Anyone else?
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