thedrifter
03-31-03, 02:12 PM
Mar 31, 2:41 PM EST
Marines to Probe Soldiers' Drownings
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) -- Two senior Marine officers will investigate the deaths of two soldiers who drowned while trying to cross a canal in southeast Iraq, a spokesman said.
Sgt. Bradley Korthaus, 28, of Davenport, and Cpl. Evan James, 20, of La Harpe, Ill., died March 24 after disappearing in the Saddam Canal.
Two lieutenant colonels have been assigned to investigate the incident, said 1st Sgt. Michael Berg, a Marine spokesman from Peoria, Ill., where the 6th Engineer Support Battalion Company is based.
The investigation will involve interviews with Marines who were part of the mission and officers who gave commands, said Maj. Carolyn Dysart, spokeswoman for the Marine Forces Reserve in New Orleans.
Korthaus' fiancee, Barbi Schneckloth, 30, has questioned the company leader's handling of the canal crossing. She said she got a letter from Korthaus earlier saying the company's morale was suffering due to the career ambitions of its commander, Maj. Michael McCarthy.
Berg said he hasn't heard reports from the troops that morale is as poor as Schneckloth said Korthaus described.
Marilyn Korthaus said she'll let the Marines determine what happened to her son.
"We are not going to pursue anything," she said. "The Marine Corps will investigate and fix any problems. They will come through."
Donna James said her son was a strong swimmer but complained of fatigue and dehydration in letters earlier this month. She wonders whether that could have contributed to the drowning.
She added that she is not critical of the military and is awaiting results of the Marine investigation.
Sempers,
Roger
Marines to Probe Soldiers' Drownings
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) -- Two senior Marine officers will investigate the deaths of two soldiers who drowned while trying to cross a canal in southeast Iraq, a spokesman said.
Sgt. Bradley Korthaus, 28, of Davenport, and Cpl. Evan James, 20, of La Harpe, Ill., died March 24 after disappearing in the Saddam Canal.
Two lieutenant colonels have been assigned to investigate the incident, said 1st Sgt. Michael Berg, a Marine spokesman from Peoria, Ill., where the 6th Engineer Support Battalion Company is based.
The investigation will involve interviews with Marines who were part of the mission and officers who gave commands, said Maj. Carolyn Dysart, spokeswoman for the Marine Forces Reserve in New Orleans.
Korthaus' fiancee, Barbi Schneckloth, 30, has questioned the company leader's handling of the canal crossing. She said she got a letter from Korthaus earlier saying the company's morale was suffering due to the career ambitions of its commander, Maj. Michael McCarthy.
Berg said he hasn't heard reports from the troops that morale is as poor as Schneckloth said Korthaus described.
Marilyn Korthaus said she'll let the Marines determine what happened to her son.
"We are not going to pursue anything," she said. "The Marine Corps will investigate and fix any problems. They will come through."
Donna James said her son was a strong swimmer but complained of fatigue and dehydration in letters earlier this month. She wonders whether that could have contributed to the drowning.
She added that she is not critical of the military and is awaiting results of the Marine investigation.
Sempers,
Roger