http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/8779066.htm?1c - More than a year after the March 23, 2003, ambush, the military released new details to the family of Sgt. Donald Walters of Salem, Ore.
The Pentagon investigated his death after his mother filed Freedom of Information requests, believing the Army had not given her son credit for actions first attributed to Lynch, such as fighting until his ammunition had run out.
Walters "was held separately from his fellow soldiers and killed while in custody," according to a news release from the National Guard.
"He was executed - shot twice in the back," Guard spokesman Maj. Arnold Strong said in a telephone interview Thursday. "An Iraqi ambulance driver witnessed six fedayeen rebels standing outside a building guarding him while he was still alive. That same witness evacuated his dead body to a hospital."
Defense investigators confirmed the account by matching Walters' DNA to blood splatter on the wall where he was executed, Strong said. He died from two gunshot wounds to the back, fired from more than 20 feet away, according to Strong's account of the investigation findings.
CNN - Pentagon officials announced the details Thursday. Walters' status was changed by the military earlier this month from Killed in Action to POW - Murdered.
His family was notified of the change this week, military officials said.
The investigation is one of several military investigations into possible war crimes committed by Iraqis or other anti-American fighters during major combat actions.
Ten ongoing criminal investigations are connected to other soldiers killed in the 507th ambush. Walters' investigation is the first to be near completion.
A wounded POW executed.
Shot in the back.
ScamNasty Int. Anything? - "An American? Not interested."
ICRC ANything? - "We're busy investigating panty on head war crimes"
Al Jazeera. Anything? - "We regret that we were unable to broadcast the great event."