Memo informs the reader that the Office of the Inspector General learned of a video portraying images of soldiers engaged in offensive behavior.
The video allegedly portrays soldiers with the 1st Battalion 124 Infantry mistreating enemy casualties and prisoners of war during operations in Iraq.
Attached statement describes the video, stating there are images of soldiers displaying dead bodies and body parts and using vulgar language.
In one scene, soldiers are seen standing around an injured Iraqi man on the ground. The soldiers roll the man over to display a bullet hole in the man's abdomen and an exit wound in his back. The video shows the soldiers kicking the man in the face. Also, the interviewee noted that in the video he/she heard the soldiers state that they were not in a hurry to get medics. The interviewee is under the belief that the man died before medics arrived.
In another scene, a prisoner was seen sitting on the ground with his hands bound behind his back, while a soldier struck the prisoner in the face with the butt of his rifle; the soldier did this without provocation.
The interviewee noted that the video is long and edited and contained titles to each segment.
[Contents redacted].
Oct 27 04 03:35p IG OFFICE 9048230140 p. 3
DEPARTMENTS OF THE AIRFORCE AND THE ARMY
FLORIDA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
Office of the Adjutant General
St. Francis Barracks, P. 0. Box 1008
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-1008
27 July 2004FL-IG (20-1)
SUBJECT: Preliminary Analysis for Treatment of POW Violations
1. Background: Last week the Office of the Inspector General (IG) of the Florida National Guard (FNG) was made aware of a video which contained segments portraying actions by 1:NG Soldiers which appear to be in violation of Army regulations and the Geneva Conventions. The video allegedly portrays Soldiers of Company B (CoB), 1 st Battalion 124 Infantry (1-124 IN) mistreating enemy casualties and prisoners of war during operations in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The video was being was being played on a government computer in
of CoB,
the West Palm leach Armory and was allegedlybeing viewed by SFC rx.)-2.0x7xc)-2
)48)-2&mmlq-2 and SSG r'c r2sc"' hf 2nd Battalion, 265"' Air Defense
1-124 IN, and Artillery Battalion (2-265th ADA). Allegedly, one of these three Soldiers stated that he hoped the video never "gets out". The existence of the video was reported to the FNG Staff Judge Advocate (SJA), who then forwarded the report to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Ft. Stewart, GA. Two CID agents responded and interviewed the individual who initially reported the video to SJA. Allegations 1- 5 below occurred while the soldiers were on Title 10 active duty status. Allegation 6 - 8 concern full time staff of the FLNG_
2. Allegations:
)31(5)&(b)(lXCK
This document contains information
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY.
EXEMPT FROM MANDATORY
Dissemination is prohibited
DISCLOSURE under the FOIA
except as authorized by AR 20-1.
Exemption 5 & 6 apply.
DAIG - 1245 a
DOD-016829
Oct 27 04 03:35p.9048230140.p . 4
IG OFFICE
FL-IG
Subject: Preliminary Analysis for Treatment of POW Violations
b)(5) & (b)(7XCF2
3. Actions Taken:
a. Inspector General, FNG notified DAIG Assistance Division of incident and possible allegations against FNG full-time staff on 27 July 2004.
b. Florida National Guard inquiry/investigation on hold pending CID investigation.
0)18.0x7)(c)-1
1/:C lIG, FNG Chief, Assistance and Investigations
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. This document contains information
Dissemination is prohibited except as authorized by AR 20-1. EXEMPT FROM MANDATORY DISCLOSURE under the FOIA Exemption 5 & 6 apply.
DAIG - 1246
DOD-016830
Oct 27 04 03:35p IG OFFICE 3048230140 p • 5
Statement
, and Col. rox6)-2& moxc)-2
In follow-up to my telephone conversations with Lt. Col. tbX6)-2 & (b)(7)(c)-2
oz&
b . the following information is provided:
()(7)(C1-2
On the afternoon of 13 June 2004, I became aware of the existence of a composite video that appeared to
show combat and security operations being performed by members of B Company, Battalion, 124 th
Infantry Regiment during the unit's deployment to Iraq. While in the area of the B Company orderly, I was
in proximity to view a computer used by the fulltime staff of the company which was displaying a video of
security operation in Baghdad during the unit's recent deployment. The video was being shown on a
computer used by Staff SargentZia)!2 who apparently received the videofraosm6).2Itbp;2unit member
s(brwho also shot and edited the final product. Also in the room was Sgt. 1" ci 00)-2&OVKY2 and(b)(6)-2 & (bX7XC)-2 Staff Sgt. g'2)c(,',a,'!, was showing the video to (,,b,r(V.'2
The video contained as many as 12 different soldiers, however, I did not see any officer, Sgt.
Major or 1 51 Sgt. in these segments. The video appeared to be filmed by an enlisted member of the unit
who covered the actions of his squad or team. Not knowing any of the unit personnel, I cannot identify any
of the personnel in the video.
The disk contained various video segments of nighttime operations, raids, and the evaluation of events
immediately after these operations. The video contained what I determined to be disturbing images of
soldiers displaying dead bodies and body parts of enemy combatants, insurgents, and other civilian-dad
personnel. In a number of segments, the soldiers in the scenes used vulgar language and conducted
themselves in a manner that I felt was inappropriate conduct for American soldiers.
Two scenes stood out. The first involved a segment in which a team of soldiers from the unit had just conducted a raid. The video showed soldiers around an injured Iraqi who was on the ground, hands bound behind his back. The soldiers rolled him over to display for the videographer the bullet hole in his abdomen. They also stated that it appeared to have an exit wound out the wounded man's back. Although
there was discussion about getting a medic, but during this segment of video no medical help appeared. Sgt. 1h'' Class (tni2e,!2 said while the video was playing something to effect that they "weren't in any hurry to get medics there," and "I think he eventually died before the medics arrived." While the injured Iraqi was
on the ground, he was moaning and speaking. Though I do not speak the language, it could be assumed
that he was asking for medical help. At some point during this scene, and American soldier kicked the
Iraqi in the face. The segment continued on for a few minutes, but did not show any medical personnel
arrive to transport the victim.
In another scene, during a daylight operation, a prisoner was apprehended and was sitting on the ground, hands bound behind him. A female military translator was asking the prisoner questions. Although the translator was beginning to pass in front of the camera, it appeared that one of the American soldiers struck
the prisoner in the face with the butt of his rifle without provocation.
The many other scenes contained soldiers during operations entering homes, knocking down doors,
searching property and interacting with Iraqi civilians. This video appeared to be quite long
and contained titles to each segment. Although I witnessed only brief segments totaling about 7 to 8 minutes, it was obviously assembled from quite a number of video tapes and edited together to show these specific images. While some may interpret these images differently, as a 25-year member of the Army and a combat veteran
myself, the conduct I observed by these soldiers was unprofessional and should be reviewed by authorities.
DAIG - 1247
DOD-016831