507th Weapons Records Missing

El Paso Times | 17 Sept. 2003 | Laura Cruz

[Lurker]

507th weapon records gone

Laura Cruz
El Paso Times

The ambush

Killed

# Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, El Paso.

# Chief Warrant Officer 2 Johnny Villareal Mata, Pecos.

# Spc. Jamaal R. Addison, Roswell, Ga.

# Pfc. Howard Johnson II, Mobile, Ala.

# Spc. James Kiehl, Comfort, Texas.

# Pvt. Brandon Sloan, Bedford Heights, Ohio.

# Pfc. Lori Piestewa, Tuba City, Ariz.

# Sgt. Donald R. Walters, Salem, Ore.

# Master Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy, Cleveland.

# Pfc. Edward Anguiano of the 3rd Forward Support Battalion.

# Sgt. George Buggs of the 3rd Forward Support Battalion.

Captured

# Spc. Edgar Hernandez, Alton, Texas.

# Spc. Joseph Hudson, Alamogordo.

# Spc. Shoshana Johnson, El Paso.

# Pfc. Patrick Miller, Walter, Kan.

# Sgt. James Joseph Riley, Pennsauken, N.J.

# Pfc. Jessica Lynch, Palestine, W.Va.

# Piestewa died while a prisoner.

The U.S. Army on Tuesday revealed that all records and documents about the weapons that jammed during the March 23 ambush that led to the death of nine Fort Bliss soldiers were destroyed in the Iraqi attack and that there is no way to trace the weapons' histories.

The Army, responding to an El Paso Times request under the Freedom of Information Act, said any official information about the weapons used by Fort Bliss' 507th Maintenance Company was lost on a supply truck taken into combat.

An official report on the ambush near Nasiriyah said that several weapons, including M-16s, M249 Squad Automatic Weapons and a .50-caliber machine gun, jammed or failed to operate properly during the firefight.

The disclosure that the records were lost shocked, bewildered and further angered relatives of soldiers who were killed in the early morning ambush, which is among the worst losses for the U.S. military during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to the nine Fort Bliss soldiers killed, two from the 3rd Forward Support Battalion were killed, five soldiers were wounded, and seven soldiers were taken prisoner.

"Capt. Troy King (507th commander) stated that he does not have any historical data on weapons involved in the enemy contact," June Bates, Fort Bliss freedom of information officer, said in a written response. "He lost his motorpool truck and all documentation."

Bates said King's records, which were kept in the motor pool, were stored in his supply truck, which was also "involved in the enemy contact."

The official 507th report, which was released by the Army on July 17, suggests that the "malfunctions may have resulted from inadequate individual maintenance in a desert environment."

Nancili Mata, the widow of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Johnny Villareal Mata, who was killed in the ambush, said she was shocked to learn that no duplicate records were kept on the weapons.

"They should have copies here. It doesn't sound right," she said. "They are blaming the soldiers for not keeping their weapons clean, but my husband knew better than that. He did everything right."

Arlene Walters, mother of Sgt. Donald R. Walters, who died in the attack and would have celebrated his 34th birthday Tuesday, said her son was dedicated to his job and to details. She said she finds it hard to believe that her son's weapon wasn't kept clean.

"He kept his guns as clean as can be," she said. "He even talked to his dad about it."

Because the circumstances surrounding the death of Walters are unclear, his parents continue to ask questions about anything involving their son, including the history of his weapon.

"Nothing surprises me anymore, but what I don't understand is why would you carry that kind of information into a battlefield," Arlene Walters asked. "It seems to me that if those weapons were issued out at Fort Bliss, then the records should have stayed at Fort Bliss."

Ruben Estrella, father of 18-year-old Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, from El Paso, said he no longer believes anything the Army tells him.

"They told me that my son was shot in the head, and now they are saying that he was struck by a tank," he said. "I think the Army or the government is hiding something, but sooner or later the truth will be told."

Fort Bliss responds

The El Paso Times had requested the history of 31 weapons the soldiers carried during the ambush. The request sought information about weapon repairs, the weapons' ages, and the manufacturer and condition of each weapon assigned to the 507th soldiers involved in the attack.

Officials at the Department of Defense referred all questions to Fort Bliss officials.

Jean Offutt, Fort Bliss spokeswoman, said that taking all data regarding a company's weapons into battle is standard practice.

"When we deployed, all our active-duty soldiers had to take their documents with them because we mobilized a lot of reservists who lived in the emptied barracks," Offutt said. "So all of their personnel files as well as files on weapons were taken with them."

Because personnel files were lost in the ambush and no duplicates exist, the 507th is now trying to re-create the information. Also, Offutt said, some of the weapons the 507th used haven't been recovered.

"But shortly before the soldiers deployed, all of the weapons were certified and serviceable," Offutt said. "The weapons were fired on the firing range before they deployed."

[stylin19a]

Sometimes the weapon is fine and the magazine is wack-a-doo. I remember having to keep 19 rounds in the magazine, the 20th round would sometimes retract the spring too tight where it wouldn't release. Also grit in the magazine could do the same thing.

Sure seems like too many weapons and too many different kinds of weapons to be the weapons fault.

[Jumper]

Liberal type slander, hiding behind their common cry that no one should be held responsible, even when they die or fail. Having spent 20-years with the Army around weapons, it was rare for a misfire - and being a true professional I made damn sure I knew how to clear the round/jam. Trouble with support troops is that they care little for their physical fitness, weapons training or anything akin to being a soldier... a fatal flaw in combat.

[gnarledmaw]

"...were destroyed in the Iraqi attack ..."

I heard that aliens guided by Santa Claus took them...Well, its just as believable anyway...

[colorado tanker]

One account I read said that the CO's GPS locator was not working and he had not been issued a map for this area. The same account said he passed a stationary Marine unit outside the town. Maybe its just me, but if I had a support unit before passing through a combat unit my reaction would be to take a break and look up that Marine CO just to be sure I was where I was supposed to be.

[Fudd]

The CO of that unit should be relieved of command.

Only if you believe what you read in the papers. Linda Cruz could be the pen name for Jason Blair. It's my understanding that they got lost and ambushed by Iraqi irregulars...

The account I heard (ABC, 20/20?) was that the unit made a wrong turn, passed a Marine unit at one end of a bridge, and drove on into hostile territory at the other side of the river. They drove on through town unmolested: it was only then the CO realized the navigational error. At this point, IMHO, all is still forgiveable. Been driving all night, it's now dawn, people are tired, mistakes happen.

However, the CO decides to drive back through the town to return to the supply line. Meanwhile, the town has woken up to the fact that U.S. troops are nearby, and the Army unit gets slammed. The decision to run back through the gauntlet was the worst choice from a decidedly poor set of alternatives.

[Sacajaweau]

Look, there's living witnesses to this. You can write up all the maintenance papers you want. It's not like they're time stamped and put into a hermetically sealed jar, in a vault, in the middle of the desert for future reference.

It's a miracle that there were any survivors!! Kudos to their rescuers.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I can forgive tactical errors and navigational errors. Command failure to adequately train, drill and prepare troops is not forgivable.

[colorado tanker]

The Army has already done a report based on interviewing all concerned that seems pretty accurate by comparison to the public information. It's the families who are claiming a cover up because the maintenance logs were lost in battle. Some in the unit are trying to blame defective equipment, but there isn't any support for that either.

I'm not critical of the soldiers, who responded the best they could when attacked. I am somewhat critical of the commander who got them into that pickle, however.

[tophat9000]

The weapons were not defective--only the soldiers' maintenance of those weapons.

And you know that how?

I would have to agree with Poohbah on this

This is not intended to be a derogatory comment but this Companys was normally not to be in front line combat there the second or third string (again not intended to be a derogatory comment)

There maintenance of there weapons might also be second or third string it might be “natural” but not acceptable

Compounding the problem is the front line troops get the first rate weapons as they should.

The second or third string might get the older weapons so you have a viscous cycle.. the troops that might tend to have the bad habit of doing less weapons.maintenance get the weapons that required the most...you have to be aware that this might be the way it is and keep on top of it

The Marines have it right EVERYONES a combat rifleman this is not bravado its common sense ... if you in the back ranks and get the old weapons guess what you have got the time to do what’s needed to keep your weapon in top working order

[Chief_Joe]

The CO of that unit should be relieved of command.

I recently reviewed the actual report the Army put out regarding the attack on the 507th at An Nasiriyah, and I could not agree with you more. This guy is responsible for them taking the wrong route in the first place, but even on the route he took his unit would have most likely made it to their next destination if the CO had not made the second wrong turn into the city of An Nasiriyah. Even with these two mistakes, he could have again led is troops out of harm if he had not missed the ramp back on to the freeway when the convoy had turned around and backtracked through the city. On top of all this, it appears he executed an improper retreat by hauling a#@ away and leaving the rest of the troops in slower moving vehicles to fend for themselves. 

[AnnaLaura]

Where would other records be? Wouldn't there be some history on each gun or gun lot--manufacturer, date of purchase, circulation, etc.?

[jwalsh07]

While the unit commander is part of the problem Department of the Army policy is the crux of the matter. It's very simple, these troops were not prepared to engage an enemy in any environment no less an environment where the constant maintenance of your weapon was paramount.

The solution is not hanging unit commanders or NCO's, the solution is for the Army to take a hard look at how the USMC trains every Marine to be a rifleman first and foremost.

And it pains me to say that since I am Army and my son in law is a Marine.

But that's the fact of the matter.

[verity]

Laura Cruz: Another media slut fabrication!

[afz400]

"Something smells funny here. "
"First thing you know Jessica's a millionaire" (sung to the tune of the Beverly Hillbilly's).

[Feckless]

Not at unit level. These weapons were fired prior to deployment and annually (at a minimum) prior to that. Neglect at user level (which can happen only with NCO/Officer neglect) most likely caused malfunctions.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Ping.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

LOL - you should put Chad to work on that - unless you've completed it, in which case, I want to hear it! : )

[CyberCowboy777]

What is the chance that these records would be destroyed with no backups?

[Chief_Joe]

While the unit commander is part of the problem Department of the Army policy is the crux of the matter. It's very simple, these troops were not prepared to engage an enemy in any environment no less an environment where the constant maintenance of your weapon was paramount.

I agree with you that Army policy is part of the problem, but I think it goes up a bit higher, dare I say Secretary of Defense higher. Those soldiers knew how to clean their weapons, and they were trained and instructed to do so repeatedly all the way up to when they begin to roll out of Kuwait. From what I read, it seems that they were undermanned. They had two men/women per vehicle and they were not just driving through Iraq, but they were supporting and replenishing the supplies of the air defense unit. The time and energy required to do this meant some things had to go to keep the convoy moving. With more crew members they could have assigned someone to the perpetual upkeep of the weapons.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Who knows if they have actually been destroyed? But if they havn't, I bet our good buddy #3fan would be willing to destroy those records, in order to spare PFC Lynch from having to deal with the media...