Report: Army to interview Vietnam platoon

Seattle PI ^ | February 14, 2004 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[yonif]

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Military investigators will interview former members of an elite U.S. Army platoon accused of killing unarmed Vietnamese civilians in 1967, according to a published report.

The Blade of Toledo first reported in October that the Army's 101st Airborne Division Tiger Force killed civilians - including women, children and elderly farmers - over seven months in 1967. Tiger Force, a unit of 45 volunteers, was created to spy on forces of North Vietnam in South Vietnam's central highlands.

The interviews are "part of the review and assessment of the original investigation," Lt. Col. Kevin Curry, an Army spokesman, told The Blade for its Sunday editions. He declined to elaborate.

Curry could not be reached for additional comment Saturday night by The Associated Press. Calls to his office went unanswered.

The review will be conducted under the direction of acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee, who was asked to look into the matter by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

Investigators are expected to report their findings to Brownlee by March, according to a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, who has been pushing for a congressional investigation.

Army officials have not said how many witnesses will be interviewed, when the inquiry will end or whether charges would be sought against former soldiers and officers, the newspaper said.

Investigators are expected to take statements from former Army journalist Dennis Stout and ex-Tiger Force medic Rion Causey, both witnesses to the alleged atrocities, The Blade said.

Both Stout and Causey told the newspaper they were surprised when they were contacted last week by an Army investigator.

"I've waited years to talk to them," said Stout, 58. "I saw people killed who didn't deserve to die. It was wrong. I've lived with this for more than 30 years."

Causey, 56, said he was prepared to talk about the platoon's attacks on villagers.

"What I can clearly say is that we went into that valley and we killed every male over 16 years old without question," he said. "I only saw one enemy gun the whole time. It wasn't about killing enemy soldiers. This was about killing villagers. It went on and on. By the end, I had just had it. I was just sick of it."

As part of the review, the Army has appointed an investigator to look into why a 4 1/2-year investigation into the atrocities was dropped in 1975, with no charges filed. That investigation substantiated 20 war crimes by 18 soldiers, the newspaper said.

[COEXERJ145]

Sounds like the Lawn Gnome is trying to get some free publicity.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Who is the Lawn Gnome?

[js1138]

1967. That would be Nixon's fault, right?

[Waco]

1967,,,,LBJ,,,,,,,Wonder how long it takes hillary to yank the Blades chain?

[dc-zoo]

Don't worry. They'll find a way to pin it on George W.

[COEXERJ145]

Investigators are expected to report their findings to Brownlee by March, according to a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, who has been pushing for a congressional investigation.

[Fee]

That will be just great. Kerry unleashes a wave of investigations and prosecution of former Vietnam War soldiers who had to make hard decisions in the dirtiest forms of warfare. Vietnam vets better think about supporting Kerry. The guys in the bush had to do alot of unconventional things to survive. They can be up for charges just because of what Kerry said.

[1066AD]

Some will try and use it to prove JFK II was right in his accusations of crimes etc. After this length of time I doubt the truth will ever be known anyway.

[ambrose]

Will they be investigating Kerry's war crimes?

[Squantos]

Dang.......Stay Safe Ya'll !

[WOSG]

That was my thought ... the media will really play this up to "prove" that Kerry's smears were 'right'.

[samtheman]

Don't worry. They'll find a way to pin it on George W.

That's exactly what Bush was doing when he was AWOL in Alabama: fomenting war crimes in Vietnam. Ask Michael Moore. He'll tell you.

[river rat]

I wonder if they'll put any of those lying politicians that got us into that mess on trial......Like Kennedy and Johnson? (Democrats)

Perhaps they'll finally shoot that &%^&*%^ McNamara - for his murderous incompetence.(Democrat)

Naaah, there ain't no chance of that ---- but they'll fry the kid from Nebraska for killing bastards in an area that THEY DECLARED a FREE FIRE zone...

All animals are equal ....BUT, some are more equal than others....
The pig politicians always have their lying asses covered, don't they?

Semper Fi

[Wolverine]

Is this guy a member of Kerry's brigade?

[Contra]

Rummy is running this show so he should be able to slant it any way he feels he can make it politically expedient. Maybe they will find some people who can testify to Kerry's wartime atrocities.

[Don Joe]

The interviews are "part of the review and assessment of the original investigation," Lt. Col. Kevin Curry, an Army spokesman, told The Blade for its Sunday editions.

Isn't there someone here by that name?

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Maybe then someone will investigate the lies of Hollywood, Cronkite, American profs, John Kerry, and Jane Fonda for misrepresenting our entire honorable military (based on the misconduct of a very few), while defending a cruel , communist regime - as they defend Saddam, the mass-murderer, have become the true 'baby-killers', and still work to slander our best and brightest ~ who are once more risking their lives, liberating the oppressed, and bringing freedom to Iraq and Afghanistan today.

 

Excerpts from Stolen Valor: How The Vietnam Generation Was Robbed Of its Heroes And its History ~ by B.G. Burkett & Glenna Whitley:

* Part I - Rambo and the Bogus War Heroes 
* Part II - Welcome Home, Babykiller 
* Part III - Will the Real Vietnam Vet Stand Up? 
* Part VI - The VVA - The Vietnam Victims of America

[facedown]

Every few months somebody drags out this moldy old Blade manure and tries to put lipstick on it.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

'JOHN KERRY = Enemy of Vietnam Vets'


http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1320



Signed:.."ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer / Vet-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
(IA DRANG-1965 Photos)

.