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First Sgt. Carson reported that “word got around (at Camp War Eagle) fast that the patrol was in trouble.” He said that their public affairs officer, Captain O'Malley, said this:

"They had guys who normally don't fight who volunteered to help their buddies. There were guys fighting to get on that convoy."

This is substantiated by the mother of Spc. Casey Sheehan. She has said that:

“And the sergeant said, 'Sheehan, you don't have to go,' because my son was a mechanic.' And Casey said, 'Where my chief goes, I go.' "

The convoy O'Malley is talking about was a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) convoy to go into the city from Camp Eagle at the edge of town and help free the trapped troopers...

In the mean time, our analysis of the various accounts we have is that the first QRF was in big trouble. Our information is that it was composed of more Humvees and LMTVs, with no armor. The QRF headed down a street, turned a corner, the street was blocked, people started throwing obstacles behind them, including burning tires, and the QRF began taking fire from rooftops and windows. Before it was over, two soldiers were down. Spc. Casey Sheehan was dead. Cpl. Foster Jostes was badly wounded and was dead by the time he returned to Camp Eagle. We have a report that Sheehan was riding in an LMTV with no protection, while Jostes was in a Humvee.

http://tinyurl.com/95rqf

BTW, Cindy Sheehan has contended at times that her son was killed by "friendly fire."