Army investigating how reservist died in Iraq

[jpak]

This was reported in the local Maine papers this week. I was on vacation and do not know if this has been posted on DU. If it wasn't, please read. If it's a dupe, please lock.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/york/030708reservist.shtml

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Army investigating how reservist died in Iraq

Tues July 8, 2003

The U.S. Army Adjutant General's office has announced it will conduct an official investigation into the circumstances behind the death of a Kennebunk Army reservist.

First Sgt. Christopher Coffin, 51, became the fifth soldier with Maine ties to die in Iraq after his Humvee ran into a ditch on July 1. He was a member of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command assisting convoys traveling between Baghdad and Kuwait.

A press release from Coffin's unit stated he died after his Humvee swerved to avoid a civilian vehicle.

But U.S. Central Command had reported the day before that a member of Coffin's unit was killed July 1 when his convoy was hit by "an improvised explosive device."

The press release did not name Coffin, but he was the only member of his unit to die that day.

The conflicting information caused family to contact members of the Maine congressional delegation. On Tuesday, Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, received confirmation that an official board of inquiry will be convened to investigate the matter.

A board of inquiry is a higher level of investigation than the routine inquiry that is conducted in any fatality, according to Army officials...

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[enough]

1. Link to yesterday's thread on this story

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2324&mesg_id=2324&listing_type=search

Posted by MaineDem


An important story worth following

[jpak]

2. Thank you! n/t

n/t