Posted on 10/29/2005 5:57:31 AM PDT by DogBarkTree
The US military in Iraq has released new information about a triple vehicle attack near Baghdad's Palestine Hotel complex, a base for many foreign journalists work.
The October 24 attack killed 17 Iraqis and wounded several reporters.
In a statement on Saturday US officials said that a soldier guarding the complex had probably saved many more lives at the hotel by killing the bomber before he could reach the entrance of the building and set off his explosives.
"He was trying to kill people," said the soldier involved, Specialist Darrell Greens. "It was good we stopped him because he would have killed more people and destroyed the building."
The US account of events could not be independently verified.
US deaths
In separate developments, three American soldiers were killed on Saturday in separate blasts in Baghdad and northern Iraq, the US military said.
Two soldiers from Task Force Baghdad died when a roadside bomb exploded near their patrol in the southern part of the capital, the military said.
Elsewhere, another soldier from Task Force Liberty was killed and four others injured when a vehicle struck a landmine near Baiji, 250km north of Baghdad.
The names of the soldiers were being withheld pending notification of their relatives.
Eight American soldiers have been killed in Iraq in the past three days.
The latest deaths raised to 2015 the number of US military members who have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to count by the Associated Press.
I am waiting for the media to offer the soldier their gratitude for saving their lives...hmmm...still waiting...
isn't there a electronic or mechanical device which can detect roadside mines, whether remote controlled or on a timer.
Most a detonated by cell phones. They are not like mines per say. Need to put in cellular jammers in convoys
Gee, I hope they don't bring the GI up on charges for violating the bombers rights. You never know these days. God bless him.
From the moment this occurred this soldier's action was the most important part of the story, the fact that these international journalists that he saved have not even acknowledged him, other than Aljazeera, is disgraceful.
"I hope they don't bring the GI up on charges for violating the bombers rights."
I never thought of that. It's not too much of a stretch to imagine that happening.
Now wait for a Spanish judge to demand the soldier be extradited to Spain. . .
"He was trying to kill people," said the soldier involved, Specialist Darrell Greens. "It was good we stopped him because he would have killed more people and destroyed the building."
Good shooting, Darrell. Any VFW hall I'm sitting in, you drink free.
Darrell epitomizes the term "stick to to your guns". In the face of an enemy attack, with two other bombs having been detonated in close proximity, instead of turning tail and running, he stayed put and saved the lives of what could have been dozens of reporters. In my opinion, one Darrell, is worth more than all of those reporters put together. A true hero and Congressional Medal of Honor candidate. Just my opinion though.
It makes me want to weep.
Why is this just out on Al Jazeera? This was known the day after it happened. The cement truck was backing up and charging the cement barrier protecting the entrance to the hotel. He was on his second or third ramming attempt when the soldier opened up with a 50 cal. The only thing in dispute is if his firing set off the explosion, or if the driver did it before he died. In either case, this soldier most definitely saved hundreds of people.
I had heard rumor that was in the works. Too bad they are illegal in the states or we could send our troop some in care pacages!!
Gosh, you're right! What if the bomber were a civilian?
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