Posted on 10/15/2004 7:29:42 PM PDT by binreadin
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army is investigating up to 19 members of a supply platoon in Iraq who refused to go on a convoy mission, the military said Friday. Relatives of the soldiers said the troops considered the mission too dangerous, in part because their vehicles were in such poor shape.
Some of the troops' concerns were being addressed, military officials said. But a coalition spokesman in Baghdad noted that "a small number of the soldiers involved chose to express their concerns in an inappropriate manner causing a temporary breakdown in discipline."
The reservists are from a fuel platoon that is part of the 343rd Quartermaster Company, based in Rock Hill, S.C. The unit delivers food, water and fuel on trucks in combat zones.
The incident was first reported in Friday editions of The Clarion-Ledger newspaper in Jackson, Miss.
A commanding general has ordered the unit to undergo a "safety-maintenance stand down," during which it will conduct no further missions as the unit's vehicles undergo safety inspections, the military said.
On Wednesday, 19 members of the platoon did not show up for a scheduled 7 a.m. meeting in Tallil, in southeastern Iraq, to prepare for the fuel convoy's departure a few hours later, the military statement said.
"An initial report indicated that some of the 19 soldiers (not all) refused to participate in the convoy as directed," the military statement says.
The Clarion-Ledger, citing interviews with relatives of some of the soldiers, said platoon members refused to go on Wednesday's mission because their vehicles were in poor condition and they had no capable armed escort. They were going to Taji, which is north of Baghdad.
The mission was ultimately carried out by other soldiers from the 343rd, which has at least 120 soldiers, the military said.
Convoys in Iraq are frequently subject to ambushes and roadside bombings.
A whole unit refusing to go on a mission in a war zone would be a significant breach of military discipline. The military statement called the incident "isolated" and called the 343rd an experienced unit that performed honorable service in nine months in Iraq.
U.S. military officials said the commanding general of the 13th Corps Support Command., Brig. Gen., James E. Chambers, had appointed his deputy, Col. Darrell Roll, to investigate. An investigative team under Roll is in Tallil, questioning soldiers about the incident, the military said.
"Preliminary findings indicate that there were several contributing factors that led to the late convoy incident and alleged refusal to participate by some soldiers. It would be inappropriate to discuss those factors while the investigation continues," the military statement said.
Separately, the commander of the 300th Area Support Group, listed on a military Web site as Col. Pamela Adams, has ordered a criminal inquiry to determine if any soldiers committed crimes under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and, if so, whether disciplinary measures are warranted.
Family members told The Clarion-Ledger several platoon members had been confined, but the military did not confirm that.
The platoon has troops from Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Mississippi and South Carolina, said Teresa Hill of Dothan, Ala., who told the newspaper her daughter Amber McClenny is among those being detained.
Patricia McCook, of Jackson, Miss., said her husband, Staff Sgt. Larry O. McCook, was also among those detained. She said he told her in a telephone call that 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," she said, the newspaper reported.
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I'd be curious to know if the platoon commander refused also. This sounds very "fishy".
My guess is it's a political stunt.
Imagine what would have happened if all "dangerous" military missions from 1776 to present were refused.
I guess that other soliders in the same unit had the balls to do their job. This platoon must have some leadership and NCO problems. I think the Army needs to look at the makeup of some of its reserve and guard units. Some problems seem to exist with some units.
I have no inside info. I also severely restrain criticisms of military matters since I didn't serve myself. I have the utmost respect, admiration, and appreciation for the U.S. military. With that said, I've also found myself wondering if things like this aren't inevitable in a "kinder, gentler" military. I watched a show a few days ago about the "new" atmosphere at the Air Force Academy. No more yelling in faces. No more "being mean" to incoming cadets. Increasing integration of men and women. To my thinking, which I consider logical and objective, none of these things are conducive to the long-term optimum readiness of a military.
Thoughts from those with a stronger inside perspective?
MM
The general ordered a "safety standdown." That sounds to me like he agreed with the complaint of the reserve squad of soldiers.
Soldiers have been permitted and trained in our modern army to refuse two types of orders:
1. Foremost, they MUST refuse any ILLEGAL order.
2. The can refuse an order when A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE comes to the fore.
It sounds like this is what that unit did. It does not sound like mutiny to me, given the general's response of a SAFETY STANDDOWN.
A. 19 soldiers is not even a whole platoon, much less a whole unit.
B. This is not a breach of military discipline; it is an example of astute soldiers doing what they're TRAINED TO DO!!
C. This IS AN EXAMPLE of media trying to injure the president and the military.
Hi...Mr. Robinson,
You wrote: "My guess is it's a political stunt."
How RIGHT You Are!
That's the First thing that I thought as well.
The Demon-Rats will Stop at NOTHING.
May GOD Help US that Kerry Never Gets Into Our Whitehouse.
GOD BLESS our TROOPS and GOD BLESS AMERICA...The Land of The Free and The Home of The Brave.
You hit it on the head.
Thus proving that not only was the mission not a "suicide mission" it wasn't even especially dangerous.
This, my friends, is the smoking gun. This is the indefensible. If others carried out the mission quickly and safely, then these soldiers complaints were completely unjustified and their inaction cowardly.
Just like in Haz Mat work I guess. A worker can refuse to do work if they deem it too dangerous. Often the worker on the ground knows the situation better than the one telling him to do the work.
I concur with you: C. This IS AN EXAMPLE of media trying to injure the president and the military.
What makes it very bad is the wife of McCook is doing the PR with the presses. That's the cue card for political activism. Media sure hopes to blow this one up big. And based upon a civilian who isn't there, but here and using hearsay.
Thanks for the ping...this additional info makes more sense...the safety standown would be normal though, until an investigation is completed....it's too bad the troopers panicked and had their families call Reps in DC...but I can understand their fear....there are still a lot of unanswered questions, but the Army will investigate and I hope clear these guys.
A soldier cannot.
It smells like a political stunt to me....!!!
Yep, PROPAGANDA from pravdaAP. I'll wait to get the real scoop.
I.E., they were not safe to drive under ANY conditions..
Much less taking them into a combat environment...
Your argument is exactly the same as my 1sg hubby's....the mission was completed without these 19...
No, he didn't order the stand down because the soldiers were correct, he ordered it so that the vehicles could be inspected to see if they were telling the truth or lying.
A commanding general has ordered the unit to undergo a "safety-maintenance stand down," during which it will conduct no further missions as the unit's vehicles undergo safety inspections, the military said.
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