thedrifter
01-23-08, 07:28 AM
Merlo probe may take a month
By: North County Times
An investigation into whether friendly fire led to the death of a U.S. Army private from San Marcos could last well into February, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday.
Paul Boyce, deputy division chief at the Army's public affairs office, said the results of the investigation into the death of Pfc. Ivan Merlo and two other soldiers may not be known for as long as six weeks.
"There's a lot of people that have to be interviewed and a lot of other work that has to take place," he said.
Merlo, 19, a 2006 graduate of San Marcos High School, died during fighting in the city of Samarra north of Baghdad on Jan. 8. Also killed were Sgt. David Hart, 22, of Lake View Terrace and 20-year-old Pfc. Phillip J. Pannier of Washburn, Ill.
The men were members of the 101st Airborne Division's Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.
The troops were searching buildings when they found explosives and bomb-making materials, according to the Army. Soon afterward, they found a second building filled with explosives and insurgents hiding nearby.
When they moved on the insurgents, they found trenches defended by about a dozen insurgents, who attacked the company with mortars, grenades and guns, the Army said.
A U.S. air strike using rockets, 500-pound bombs and .50-caliber guns was called in, and the bodies of the soldiers were discovered soon after.
Ellie
By: North County Times
An investigation into whether friendly fire led to the death of a U.S. Army private from San Marcos could last well into February, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday.
Paul Boyce, deputy division chief at the Army's public affairs office, said the results of the investigation into the death of Pfc. Ivan Merlo and two other soldiers may not be known for as long as six weeks.
"There's a lot of people that have to be interviewed and a lot of other work that has to take place," he said.
Merlo, 19, a 2006 graduate of San Marcos High School, died during fighting in the city of Samarra north of Baghdad on Jan. 8. Also killed were Sgt. David Hart, 22, of Lake View Terrace and 20-year-old Pfc. Phillip J. Pannier of Washburn, Ill.
The men were members of the 101st Airborne Division's Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.
The troops were searching buildings when they found explosives and bomb-making materials, according to the Army. Soon afterward, they found a second building filled with explosives and insurgents hiding nearby.
When they moved on the insurgents, they found trenches defended by about a dozen insurgents, who attacked the company with mortars, grenades and guns, the Army said.
A U.S. air strike using rockets, 500-pound bombs and .50-caliber guns was called in, and the bodies of the soldiers were discovered soon after.
Ellie