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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 9^th, 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 28^th, 2006

Recent Media Reports March 21^st, 2007 - Girouard Receives 10-Year Sentence 1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat March 19^th, 2007 - Soldier Draws 10-Year Sentence in Iraq Slayings 1 news article by Reuters March 17^th, 2007 - Jury Spares Sergeant Accused of Ordering Iraqis’ Deaths 1 news article by the Los Angeles Times March 16^th, 2007 - Sergeant Denies Ordering 3 Iraqis Killed 1 news article by the Los Angeles Times March 15^th, 2007 - Girouard Takes the Stand 1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat March 14^th, 2007 - Did an Army Sergeant Order Murder? 2 news articles by Time Magazine & the Los Angeles Times March 13^th, 2007 - Girouard Trial Begins in Kentucky 1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat March 11^th, 2007 - Tennessee Soldier on Trial for Murdering Iraqi Captives 1 news article by the Associated Press March 8^th, 2007 - Tennessee Town Backs GI in Iraqi Murder Case 1 news article by NPR News February 25^th, 2007 - Hometown Fights for Soldier Charged in Iraq Slayings 1 news article by the Los Angeles Times February 23^rd, 2007 - Nationwide Support for Sweetwater Soldier Accused of Murder 1 news article by Wate 6 News February 23^rd, 2007 - Lawyer Says Soldier Did Not Give Order To Kill Prisoners 1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat February 9^th, 2007 - Tennessee Hometown Rallies Behind Soldier 1 news article by the Associated Press February 7^th, 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 21^st, 2007

William Hunsaker

pleaded guilty

premeditated murder, conspiracy

18 years confinement

January 11^th, 2007

Juston Graber

pleaded guilty

premeditated murder, conspiracy

9 months confinement

January 9^th, 2007

Corey Clagett

pleaded guilty

premeditated murder, conspiracy

18 years confinement

January 25^th, 2007

Military Reports

January 25^th, 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 11^th, 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 9^th, 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 18^th, 2006 - Charges against 3rd Brigade Soldiers referred for general court-martial Press release by the Public Affairs Office, Fort Campbell, Kentucky June 20^th, 2006 - Three Soldiers Charged in Detainee Deaths News article by the American Forces Press Service May, 23^rd, 2006 - Operation Iron Triangle Nets Suspects, Weapons News article by “Defend America” - U.S. Dept. of Defense News About the War on Terrorism May 18^th, 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 1^st Battalion, 1^st Brigade, 4^th Iraqi Army Division, and about 230 Soldiers from the 101^st Airborne Division’s 3^rd 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, 3^rd Battalion, 320^th Field Artillery Regiment. The combined three-day operation netted more than 200 suspected insurgents. […]”

Earlier Media Reports January 31^st, 2007 - Community Rallies Behind Soldier 1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat January 27^th, 2007 - Sweetwater Residents Rally to Raise Funds for Hometown Soldier 1 news article by Wate 6 News January 25^th, 2007 - 101st Airborne Soldier Pleads Guilty to Murder in Detainee Deaths 1 news article by the Associated Press January 24^th, 2007 - Local Soldier Gets Deal 1 news article by the Flint Journal January 19^th, 2007 - Clagett Court Martial Reset 1 news article by the Leaf-Chronicle January 12^th, 2007 - Soldier Sentenced to 18 Years for Murder 1 news article by the Associated Press January 11^th, 2007 - Soldier Pleads Guilty to Murder Charges in Deaths of Detainees 1 news article by the Associated Press January 9^th, 2007 - Soldier Pleads Guilty in Iraqi Deaths 1 news article by the Associated Press January 4^th, 2007 - Soldier Reaches Plea Deal in the Killing of 3 Iraqis 1 news article by the New York Times January 2^nd, 2007 - Civilian Attorney Will Represent Soldier Accused Of Killing Prisoners 1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat December 11^th, 2006 - Colonel Will Be Called to Testify In Soldier’s Murder Trial 1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat December 8^th, 2006 - More Rulings Issued in Clagett Murder Trial 1 news article by the Leaf-Chronicle November 1^st, 2006 - Army Arraigns Fort Campbell Soldier on Murder Charges from Iraq 1 news article by the Associated Press October 28^th, 2006 - Defense Attorney Prepares to Defend Sweetwater Soldier Accused of Murder 1 news article by Wate 6 News October 27^th, 2006 - Girouard Defers Plea at Arraignment 1 news article by the Leaf-Chronicle October 26^th, 2006 - 2 Soldiers Arraigned at Fort Campbell 1 news article by the Associated Press October 19^th, 2006 - Soldier will not Face Death Penalty 1 news article by the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat October 18^th, 2006 - Troops to Face Courts-Martial on Charges 1 news article by the Associated Press September 26^th, 2006 - Families of Two Soldiers Accused of Murdering Iraqi Detainees Meet in Sweetwater 1 news article by WBIR.com September 17^th, 2006 - Bittersweet Family Reunion for Sweetwater Soldier Accused of Murder 1 news article by WATE 6 News September 14^th, 2006 - Sweetwater Soldier Charged with Premeditated Murders of Iraqis 1 news article by WATE 6 News September 12^th, 2006 - Lawyers in Iraq Murder Case Ask for New Hearing 1 news article by the Associated Press September 2^nd, 2006 - Death Penalty Recommended in Iraq Raid 1 news article by Associated Press August 23^rd, 2006 - Family of Soldier Accused of Iraqi Murder Says He’s Shackled Around the Clock 1 news article by WBIR.com August 7^th, 2006 - 4 G.I.’s Tell of How Iraqi Raid Went Wrong 1 news article by the New York Times August 4^th, 2006 - Prosecutor Seeks Trial for 4 Accused GIs 1 news article by the Associated Press August 3^rd, 2006 - Officers Allegedly Pushed 'Kill Counts' 2 news articles by the Los Angeles Times & the Associated Press August 1^st, 2006 - US Soldiers Charged with Murder Appear in Iraq Court 1 news article by Reuters July 28^th, 2006 - Sergeant Tells of Plot to Kill Iraqi Detainees 1 news article by the New York Times June 30^th, 2006 - U.S. Servicemen Suspected of Unlawful Killings 1 news article of Reuters June 23^rd, 2006 - List of Military Accusations Gets Longer 1 news article by the Associated Press June 19^th, 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 27^th, 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 9^th, 2006 - Cassandra Groce, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, U.S. Army; 2) Insurgent is questioned by Iraqi & U.S. soldier - May 9^th, 2006 - Cassandra Groce, Public Affairs Detachment, U.S. Army; 3) U.S. Army Spc. Christopher Klug, Company A, 3^rd Battalion, 187^th Infantry Regiment, marks a house that has been searched by U.S. and Iraqi forces during Operation Iron Triangle - May 10^th, 2006 - Ryan Matson, U.S. Army/”Defend America”;

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