After Action Report re: Investigation into the Death of a Detainee

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After Action Report (AAR) 4 2 2-`t
Preliminary Investigation into the death of a Detainee at 000-t)
Geresch Forward Operating Base, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
MISSION: Conduct a Preliminary investigation into the death of a detainee in custody at Geresch Forward
Operating Base (FOB), Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
'SYSNOPSIS:
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On or about 4 Nov 03, USSF personnel took custody of Mr a/a/MfaanAfghani male, 25-27 yrs of age,
a self-confessed member of the Taliban. When processed by the USSF medical staff he was noted to having
several bruises to his hips, groin and buttocks area (some severe to minor), and numerous bums to his chest
(which is a known interview/interrogation "technique" used by the local Afghanistan Militia Forces (AMF)).
Allegedly, during interrogation
dmitted to being involved in ambushes of 0,GA, USSF personnel and
other coalition forces. admitted o being involved in intelligence collection in efforts to ambush or kill
coalition members, or impede op ations nducted by coalition members. On 6 Nov 03

was gilarded
by the AMF security force at the -resch B with one other detainee. The AMF Security ar left the

detainment area, and when he return -d he di overedlaying in a supine position, apped in a wool
blanket in the center of the detainee a. The and
diately summoned USSF medic. i personnel, who
determined deceased. No e-sa meas es were attempted due to the pre ence of rigor mortis.
USSF personnel at the B immediately n tified t'

gher headquarters (3rd Bn, 3rd SF , Kandahar Air
Field, AF) of the death. D • an examinati n of th eas and the remains, no appare sighs of foul play, or ,
struggle were noted. b(7)tc.)—C.

An Autopsy of the remains is pending at the time of this report. The undetermined cause and manner of death is
currently being investigated by the US Army Criminal investigation Command (
Kandahar Branch Office, AF, APO AE 09355.
SIGNIFICANT INTERVIEWS:
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About 2 OZ, 6 Nov 03, SAIIIIIIIIIIkinterviewed SFC 18D, SF Medic),11111
Co, 3rd Bn, 3rd SFG, Geresch FOB who stated he was the SF Medic notified that the detainee WaS found dead in the detainee area. SFC tated he conducted a preliminary assessment and based on the onset of rigor mortis no lifesaving measures w e attempted (see. attached Sworn Statenient Of SFC URI' for details). .4 (-)) (c)-3
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Alio t 2230 6 N. 03, SA interviewed FC
A Co, 3rd Bn, 3rd
SF Geresc FO , who stated he initially received lliorn ti!"1
11RFC stated at the time
of s leas to A SSF, he was photographed and medically assessed by USSF personne A Co, 3r Bn, 3rd SFG, Geresch FOB, AF). SF stated he person to see alive (See attached Sworn Statement for details). b/i)(t)-S-
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AGENT'S COMMENT: SFC Mats a 18E; SF Military Intelligence . lo (-A (c)-- S7
47gic) I o_ -,
-• ?(-Arch_About 00 OZ, 7. Nov 03, SA int ewe SSG.. (18D SF Medic), who related eti j --S
due d an initial assessment o when he was released. to USSF personnel. SSG
tated
was observed to have burns to hi chest and stomach areas, and bruising to his hips, groin and buttocksareas. SSG it was not unusual to se detainees released to USSF with this injury. SSG _-----6/ 1
._IMMINIP(' )./ ea2
described these inj es as a no al int
to o lion me, od tised by the local AMF, that discovery was
always determined b medical Val. L2r07) a)....s.._
yainee. SSG stated this was due 6(-ni3 -.3 C
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to a cultural difference. SSG tated that showing your buttocks to other personnel (especially males)was offensive and embarrassing to the detainee, and was also considered a sign of weakness.
About 0045Z, 7 Nov 03, SA co ated with SFC and confirmed the cultural aspects ofshowing buttocks, etc... SFC s ted they often saw this activity, or interview "technique" used by theAMF for this very reason. SFC stated he could provide photographs of prior detainees with similar
injuries when initially processed aiid -Pliotbgraphed by the SF medics. SA asked if the detainee
complained of injury during his interrogations. SFC stated he did of complain of anything, which he would noted as unusual. Additionally, had the detainee s e o' ed signs of medical distress SF Medics wouldhave been immediately summoned. L--i(c--3
Additionally, SFC 1111111, stated he did not believe the AMF guards, watching e detainees (which
consisted of the deceased and one other person) did not harm the detainee. SFC stated he believed they had no reason to cause the detainee any harm. In fact, the USSF personnel were worried they may cause harm to the other detainee, due to his being involved in the ambush and killing of the local AMF commander,
•and they were only briefed that the deceased was a member of the Taliban and should be watched closely.
Detainee a f re e from AMF to USSF
OTHER INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITY:
Initial Notification to CITF and CID : .
/

About 1720Z, 6 Nov 03, CPT 1111111111111. Office of the StaffJudge Advocate, 3 rd Battalion, 3 rd
.
Special Forces Group (SFG), Kandahar Air Field (KAF), AF reported a local national being detained by US . Special Forces (USSF), and guarded by the AF Militia Security Forces (AMF), at Geresch Forward Operating Base OB), Helmand Province, AF, was discovered by an AMF guard crumpled on the floor dead. CPT further requested this office (and USACIDC) conduct a preliminary investigation to determine ty of USSF personnel, Or eliminate wrongdoing on the part of USSF.
About 2030Z, 6 Nov 03 CPT SA SA USACIDC, and MAJ. (DR)
\7( _ Battalion Surgeon, 31. Bn, 3 SFG, KAF, traveled via helicopter to the

NOTE: Prior to take off it was learned
had been released to the next-of-kin for burial. USSF
personnel at the FOB normally rel cultural and religious reasons. However, once learned the
remains would be needed, F ispatched to recover the remains It should be noted that the
deceased (01111111111114 s/o •approx. 26 years of age, and from the village of Geresch,
Helmand Province, AF) was a self confessed member of the Taliban, and lived in an area known to be pro-

Talibaii. Aft-
erupting to recovery the remains was a dangerous task due to the family's ties to ACM forces.
However, while enroute to the FOB it was learned the remains were recovered, and safeguarded at the FOB
medical center.

For Official Use Only
Medical Assessment at FOB:

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About 2100Z, 6 Nov 03, SA exposed photographs of injuries noted by miu (DR) who
stated there was extensive bruising and swelling to the hips, buttocks and groin area. Further, there were burn
marks (which were in various stages of healing) to the chest area.
Further, there was a bruise to the left shoulder, and various abrasions to his lower extremities, in various stages of healing. There were no apparent injuries to the head or neck area, and the deceased did not have any injuries to his hands (palm or back of hand). DR 0111111 6\noted the presence of rigor mortis, and lividity to the back and back of the legs of the deceased.At the time of examination the deceased was unclothed and wrapped in a wool blanket. (See photographs
for details). 19 / -))c c) -3 • ._ .
NOTE: The clothes of the deceased were reported as removed by the family in preparation for burial.
Physical Examination of the Remains:
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About 0830Z,

0830Z, 7 Nov 03, LTC (DR) , General Surgeon, 911 th F award
Surgical Team (FST), Task Force (TF) Warrior, KAF, conducted a h sical examination of
in an effort to ascertain the cause and manner of death. LTC limited his examination to openin
renigain8,
the chest cavity, obtaining tissue (heart and liver) and blood samples fo toxicology. X-rays of the remains were ex osed and no remarkable injuries were noted. Photographs of the ex .kil Iation were exposed by SA see the Medical Report, Evidence Form and Photograph for details).
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"Heart Vacate"
NOTE: LTC _ uld not make an opinion of findings, and a medical legal autopsy was scheduled, to
be performed at Bagram Air Fiel . • t,C. ) (c)
CRIME SCENE 'VERIFICATION: ( CO-3About 2200Z, 6 Nov 03, SA
conducted a crime scene examination of the detainee area, located 3' fromthe main entrance into Geresch FOB, Helmand Province, AF.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCENE: The area identified, as the detainee area was a plywood structure shaped octagonal, with approximately 4' high, and 4' deep cubicles. The cubicle areas had a ceiling (about. 3' x 4') and three walls (about 4' x 3'), and was open in the center of the structure. The area was free of debris and appeared clean. There was a folding metal chair, resting upright on the floor, and centered on the west wall, anda box, which contained drinking bottled water. The structure was unpainted
and was constructed of treated
plywood. There was an entrance and exit way, which was merely a 2" x 4" piece of wood, which made a permn bend' at the Waist to enter the structure. There was no ddOt, noir locks to keep a pet
-
sail from leaving.
However, the structure was surrounded by concertina wire, and two Afghanistan Militia Forces
soldiers, whowas stationed inside the detaineefax iffla
e onsisted of merely a holding area
within the structure, and the foldfn .
4Vc_111 *d of US Special Forces (USSF) LI2Q1/ 6
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soldier's on-duty in a guard tower Within the FOB, which was 100 meters inside the base, and was about 50'
high up.
CONDITION OF THE SCENE: The scene was clean of dirt, and there were several empty bottles of waterlaid on the floor of the detainee area at the time of the examination, and there was only one detainee sleeping ina cell of the structure. The detainee area was structurally sound; and appeared unsecured, besides the guards positioned inside the structure guarding the detainee. There was also a heat source in another of the cells, which
was not operating at the time of the examination.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: At the time of the outdoor scene examination the outside temperature
was about 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and there was a slight wind. No unusual odors were noted. There had not
been any precipitation within the last twenty-four hours.

11 (-)) CO —
SCENE DOCUMENTATION: A Rough Crime Scene Sketch was completed by SA 11., and verified by
SA also exposed digital photographs of the scene using a Nikon Coolpix, Model

995 (see sketc and photograp for details).

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IMPROVEMENTS:
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SA ascoordinated ' CPT
al Counsel, 3 rd Bn, 3rd SFG, regarding future deaths of detainees
at FOB's. SA and CPT
greed that medico legal autopsy's in the future be conducted by
qualified Path° of gist: Further, that CITF/ClD could coordinate with our hihigher headquarters to ensure aPathologist was available in a timely manner. CPT
stated this would become policy, to ensure futureincidents were conducted properly.
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STATUS OF INVESTIGATION:
This investigation is currently being investigated by the local USACIDCelement under Report of Investigation:
No further action is anticipated by this office.6)
REPORT PREPARED BY: REPORT APPROVED BY:
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4/111/111011
Special Agent Resident Agent in ChargeCITF-Kandahar, AF CITF-A

:or Official Only
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