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Killing of Iraqi Civilians Index

Killings Database – Year 2006

 

The Thar-Thar Canal Killings

Background

The Accused

Media Reports

Military Reports

Photo Credits

 

Newest media report: Girouard Receives 10-Year Sentence (21/3/2007/Monroe County Advocate & Democrat)

Newest Military Report: 3rd Brigade Soldier Pleads Guilty (Clagett) (25/1/2007/Public Affairs Office, Fort Campbell, Kentucky)

 

Squad leader Staff Sgt. Raymond L. Girouard

Background - Thar-Thar Canal, May 9th, 2006

 

“For more than a month after the killings, Sgt. Lemuel Lemus stuck to his story. ‘Proper escalation of force was used,’ he told an investigator, describing how members of his unit shot and killed three Iraqi prisoners who had lashed out at their captors and tried to escape after a raid northwest of Baghdad on May 9. Then, on June 15, Sergeant Lemus offered a new and much darker account.

 

“In a lengthy sworn statement, he said he had witnessed a deliberate plot by his fellow soldiers to kill the three handcuffed Iraqis and a cover-up in which one soldier cut another to bolster their story. The squad leader threatened to kill anyone who talked. Later, one guilt-stricken soldier complained of nightmares and ‘couldn’t stop talking’ about what happened, Sergeant Lemus said.

 

“[…] When investigators asked why he did not try to stop the other soldiers from carrying out the killings, Sergeant Lemus - who has not been charged in the case - said simply that he was afraid of being called a coward. He stayed quiet, he said, because of “peer pressure, and I have to be loyal to the squad.”

 

Excerpt of a New York Times article from July 28th, 2006

 

Recent Media Reports

 

March 21st, 2007 - Girouard Receives 10-Year Sentence

1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat

 

March 19th, 2007 - Soldier Draws 10-Year Sentence in Iraq Slayings

1 news article by Reuters

 

March 17th, 2007 - Jury Spares Sergeant Accused of Ordering Iraqis’ Deaths

1 news article by the Los Angeles Times

 

March 16th, 2007 - Sergeant Denies Ordering 3 Iraqis Killed

1 news article by the Los Angeles Times

 

March 15th, 2007 - Girouard Takes the Stand

1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat

 

March 14th, 2007 - Did an Army Sergeant Order Murder?

2 news articles by Time Magazine & the Los Angeles Times

 

March 13th, 2007 - Girouard Trial Begins in Kentucky

1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat

 

March 11th, 2007 - Tennessee Soldier on Trial for Murdering Iraqi Captives

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

March 8th, 2007 - Tennessee Town Backs GI in Iraqi Murder Case

1 news article by NPR News

 

February 25th, 2007 - Hometown Fights for Soldier Charged in Iraq Slayings

1 news article by the Los Angeles Times

 

February 23rd, 2007 - Nationwide Support for Sweetwater Soldier Accused of Murder

1 news article by Wate 6 News

 

February 23rd, 2007 - Lawyer Says Soldier Did Not Give Order To Kill Prisoners

1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat

 

February 9th, 2007 - Tennessee Hometown Rallies Behind Soldier

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

February 7th, 2007 - Friends, Family of Convicted Soldier Try Top Cope

1 news article by the Flint Journal

 

Earlier Media Reports

 

The Accused and their Commander

Raymond Girouard

Corey Clagett

Girouard, Clagett & Hunsaker (?)

 

 

 

Colonel Michael Steele

Steele in Bosnia in 2001

Steele in May 2006

 

 

 

Charges & Sentences by the Military Tribunal at Fort Campbell

Defendants

Pleading

Main Charges

Sentences

Sentencing Dates

Raymond Girouard

-

premeditated murder, conspiracy

10 years confinement

March 21st, 2007

William Hunsaker

pleaded guilty

premeditated murder, conspiracy

18 years confinement

January 11th, 2007

Juston Graber

pleaded guilty

premeditated murder, conspiracy

9 months confinement

January 9th, 2007

Corey Clagett

pleaded guilty

premeditated murder, conspiracy

18 years confinement

January 25th, 2007

 

Military Reports

January 25th, 2007 - 3rd Brigade Soldier Pleads Guilty (Clagett)

Press release by the Public Affairs Office, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

 

“[…] As part of a plea agreement reached today, Pfc. Corey Clagett pled guilty to numerous violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and was sentenced to 18 years confinement for his role in the killing of three detainees during the unit’s deployment to Iraq last year.

 

“Col. Theodore Dixon, the military judge, also reduced Clagett’s rank to Pvt. (E-1), the lowest military rank, ordered that he forfeit all pay and allowances, and be dismissed from the Army with a dishonorable discharge.

 

“Clagett pled guilty to attempted premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder, premeditated murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. […]”

 

January 11th, 2007 - 3rd Brigade Soldier Pleads Guilty (Hunsaker)

Press release by the Public Affairs Office, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

 

“[…] As part of a plea agreement reached today, Spec. William Hunsaker pled guilty to numerous violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and was sentenced to 18 years confinement for his role in the killing of three detainees during the unit’s deployment to Iraq last year.

 

“Col. Theodore Dixon, the military judge, also reduced Hunsaker’s rank to private (E-1), the lowest military rank, ordered that he forfeit all pay and allowances, and be dismissed from the Army with a dishonorable discharge.

 

“Hunsaker pled guilty to attempted premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder, premeditated murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. […]”

 

January 9th, 2007 - 3rd Brigade Soldier Pleads Guilty (Graber)

Press release by the Public Affairs Office, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

 

“[…] As part of a plea agreement reached Tuesday, Spc. Justin Graber pled guilty to aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to nine months confinement for his role in the alleged killing of three detainees during the unit’s deployment to Iraq last year.

 

“Col. Theodore Dixon, the military judge, also reduced Graber’s rank to private (E-1), the lowest military rank, and ordered that he forfeit all pay and allowances for six months.

 

“Graber had faced charges of attempted premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and premeditated murder for the killing of one of the mortally wounded detainees. Those charges were dismissed under the agreement. […]”

 

October 18th, 2006 - Charges against 3rd Brigade Soldiers referred for general court-martial

Press release by the Public Affairs Office, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

 

June 20th, 2006 - Three Soldiers Charged in Detainee Deaths

News article by the American Forces Press Service

 

May, 23rd, 2006 - Operation Iron Triangle Nets Suspects, Weapons

News article by “Defend America” - U.S. Dept. of Defense News About the War on Terrorism

 

May 18th, 2006 - Operation Iron Triangle Shuts Insurgent Training Camp

Press release by the official website of multi-national force Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom

 

“Tikrit, Iraq – Iraqi army and U.S. Soldiers raided a suspected insurgent training camp during Operation Iron Triangle near Lake Thar Thar, southwest of Tikrit May 9. Nearly 200 Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, and about 230 Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team assaulted the complex from CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters into the suspected camp after intelligence sources identified the location as the Muthana Chemical Complex.

 

“The nearly 60-square mile complex was a chemical production facility that was closed by the United Nations after the fall of the former regime. ‘Insurgents were coming here to train, conduct link-up operations, and moving out to attack coalition forces,’ said Capt. Andrew Graham, assistant plans and operations officer, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment. The combined three-day operation netted more than 200 suspected insurgents. […]”

 

Earlier Media Reports

 

January 31st, 2007 - Community Rallies Behind Soldier

1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat

 

January 27th, 2007 - Sweetwater Residents Rally to Raise Funds for Hometown Soldier

1 news article by Wate 6 News

 

January 25th, 2007 - 101st Airborne Soldier Pleads Guilty to Murder in Detainee Deaths

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

January 24th, 2007 - Local Soldier Gets Deal

1 news article by the Flint Journal

 

January 19th, 2007 - Clagett Court Martial Reset

1 news article by the Leaf-Chronicle

 

January 12th, 2007 - Soldier Sentenced to 18 Years for Murder

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

January 11th, 2007 - Soldier Pleads Guilty to Murder Charges in Deaths of Detainees

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

January 9th, 2007 - Soldier Pleads Guilty in Iraqi Deaths

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

January 4th, 2007 - Soldier Reaches Plea Deal in the Killing of 3 Iraqis

1 news article by the New York Times

 

January 2nd, 2007 - Civilian Attorney Will Represent Soldier Accused Of Killing Prisoners

1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat

 

December 11th, 2006 - Colonel Will Be Called to Testify In Soldier’s Murder Trial

1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat

 

December 8th, 2006 - More Rulings Issued in Clagett Murder Trial

1 news article by the Leaf-Chronicle

 

November 1st, 2006 - Army Arraigns Fort Campbell Soldier on Murder Charges from Iraq

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

October 28th, 2006 - Defense Attorney Prepares to Defend Sweetwater Soldier Accused of Murder

1 news article by Wate 6 News

 

October 27th, 2006 - Girouard Defers Plea at Arraignment

1 news article by the Leaf-Chronicle

 

October 26th, 2006 - 2 Soldiers Arraigned at Fort Campbell

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

October 19th, 2006 - Soldier will not Face Death Penalty

1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat

 

October 18th, 2006 - Troops to Face Courts-Martial on Charges

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

September 26th, 2006 - Families of Two Soldiers Accused of Murdering Iraqi Detainees Meet in Sweetwater

1 news article by WBIR.com

 

September 17th, 2006 - Bittersweet Family Reunion for Sweetwater Soldier Accused of Murder

1 news article by WATE 6 News

 

September 14th, 2006 - Sweetwater Soldier Charged with Premeditated Murders of Iraqis

1 news article by WATE 6 News

 

September 12th, 2006 - Lawyers in Iraq Murder Case Ask for New Hearing

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

September 2nd, 2006 - Death Penalty Recommended in Iraq Raid

1 news article by Associated Press

 

August 23rd, 2006 - Family of Soldier Accused of Iraqi Murder Says He’s Shackled Around the Clock

1 news article by WBIR.com

 

August 7th, 2006 - 4 G.I.’s Tell of How Iraqi Raid Went Wrong

1 news article by the New York Times

 

August 4th, 2006 - Prosecutor Seeks Trial for 4 Accused GIs

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

August 3rd, 2006 - Officers Allegedly Pushed 'Kill Counts'

2 news articles by the Los Angeles Times & the Associated Press

 

August 1st, 2006 - US Soldiers Charged with Murder Appear in Iraq Court

1 news article by Reuters

 

July 28th, 2006 - Sergeant Tells of Plot to Kill Iraqi Detainees

1 news article by the New York Times

 

June 30th, 2006 - U.S. Servicemen Suspected of Unlawful Killings

1 news article of Reuters

 

June 23rd, 2006 - List of Military Accusations Gets Longer

1 news article by the Associated Press

 

June 19th, 2006 - U.S. Soldiers charged with Murder of Iraqi Detainees

1 news article by New York Times

 

War Scenes from Lake Thar-Thar during “Operation Iron Triangle” (May 2006)

U.S. soldiers search an Iraqi car

Iraqi soldier questions insurgent

After a house raid

 

 

 

Photo Credits

Background

1) Squad leader Staff Sgt. Raymond L. Girouard - undated - family photo/WBIR.com;

 

The Accused

1) Raymond Girouard - undated - family photo/WBIR.com;

2) Corey Clagett - undated - family photo/WBIR.com;

3) Girouard, Clagett & Hunsaker (?) in shackles - 2006 - family photo/WBIR.com;

4) Colonel Michael Steele - 2006 - Russel Lee Klika, U.S. Army;

5) Army Lt. Col. Michael Steele is shown at Camp McGovern, Bosnia - November 27th, 2001 - Haraz N. Ghanbari, U.S. Army/AP;

6) Steele during a military ceremony at Fort Campbell in Kentucky - May 2006 - Associated Press;

 

War Scenes from Lake Thar-Thar/”Operation Iron Triangle”

1) U.S. soldiers search a car - May 9th, 2006 - Cassandra Groce, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, U.S. Army;

2) Insurgent is questioned by Iraqi & U.S. soldier - May 9th, 2006 - Cassandra Groce, Public Affairs Detachment, U.S. Army;

3) U.S. Army Spc. Christopher Klug, Company A, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, marks a house that has been searched by U.S. and Iraqi forces during Operation Iron Triangle - May 10th, 2006 - Ryan Matson, U.S. Army/”Defend America”;

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