Army investigating how reservist died in Iraq

[MaineDem]

The U.S. Army Adjutant General's office has announced it will conduct an official investigation into the circumstances behind the death of a Kennebunk Army reservist.

First Sgt. Christopher Coffin, 51, became the fifth soldier with Maine ties to die in Iraq after his Humvee ran into a ditch on July 1. He was a member of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command assisting convoys traveling between Baghdad and Kuwait.

A press release from Coffin's unit stated he died after his Humvee swerved to avoid a civilian vehicle.

But U.S. Central Command had reported the day before that a member of Coffin's unit was killed July 1 when his convoy was hit by "an improvised explosive device."

More == http://www.pressherald.com/news/york/030708reservist.shtml

This guy wanted to retire but wasn't allowed to because of the "war". How come Franks was able to?

[joeunderdog]

1. Ari will say that maybe we should stop sending Humvees to Iraq.

Enlistment is way down. The pro-war "Patriots" are armchair warriors, and the armed services don't have the troops to relieve the tired ones overseas. The guys over there want to come home because they are no longer on the offensive and are sitting ducks. Imagine having your family member die over there while the government officials sing "bring em on" while they still don't have a plan.

[pfitz59]

2. Try looking down the road in Kennebunk-PORT!

I'm sure Bushco has the answer.

[teryang]

3. Yesterday, Acting Undersecretary of Defense

...Lawrence Di Rita gave an evasive statement in response to a direct question about when troop rotations would take place and when more troops would be going to Iraq.

More troops are needed just to conduct rotation and maintain the current manpower level in Iraq. This is a separate question from whether troop levels need to be increased. Where will these troops for rotation come from? Where would troops come from for increasing troop levels. How many Guard and Reservists are on active duty now? How many are in Iraq?

Why don't the press ask these questions?

[enough]

4. We need to keep an eye on this

If it turns out that one story of the death of one soldier has been falsified, what will that mean about all the others?

To DUers with military experience, what is your impression of the reliability of reporting of cause of death? Also, is there any possiblity that a board of inquiry like this would cover up facts?
(I would like to think it would be out of the question.)

[revcarol]

5. So sad for the families to be lied to.

So sad...well, we've heard it all.
(Mobilizing inner resources to FIGHT THIS ADMINISTRATION LIKE HELL!!)

[farmbo]

6. These Humvee "accidents" are combat deaths

The Baathists are systematically sending civilian vehicles out to play "chicken" with light-skinned Humvees. When the drivers instinctively swerve sharply to avoid the collision, the Humvees do what any SUV does...they roll over causing serious injury or death to the occupants. This has happened scores of times since Bush pronounced the war over, very often with fatal consequences.

The trick is, Rummy is listing them as "non-combat" deaths, thereby keeping the US bodycount artifically low.

[Dhalgren]

7. We should start a massive letter/email

campaign to insist that the media stop covering for the emperor like this! It is shameful that any of the "news" organizations would deliberately agree to obfuscate the death toll in this manner! No more differentiating between "hostle fire" and "accidents" - it is a disservice to the soldiers risking their lives and a slap at the families waiting for their return.

And what the hell happened to all these "support the troops" assholes? They should be screaming out about this belittling of "our troops"!


edit: spelling - i'm pissed off! :mad: