New probe sought in servicemembers’ deaths

[unhappycamper]

New probe sought in servicemembers’ deaths
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, October 16, 2008

ARLINGTON, Va. — A congressman from Philadelphia has called on the Army to reinvestigate the deaths of two soldiers in Iraq after evidence has emerged that raises questions about whether they were killed by friendly fire.

Pfc. Albert M. Nelson, 31, of Philadelphia, and Pfc. Roger A. Suarez-Gonzalez, 21, of Miami, were killed in Ramadi on Dec. 4, 2006. According to Army spokesman Paul Boyce, an investigation into the incident concluded that the two died of injuries from enemy mortar rounds.

But the Web site Salon.com posted video earlier this week in which other troops in the two soldiers’ unit say they were shot at by a U.S. tank.

"In light of new information regarding the circumstances of a deadly firefight that resulted in the death of Pfc. Albert M. Nelson and his comrade, Pfc. Roger A. Suarez-Gonzalez, I am requesting the Army conduct an official and thorough investigation into the incident surrounding their demise," wrote U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa.

The Army will review Fattah’s letter and respond shortly, Boyce said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58171