Tony Yribe: Originally charged with dereliction of duty and making false official statements for his role in covering up the March 12, 2006, rape-murders, Yribe was granted immunity from prosecution and an other than honorable discharge from the Army for his testimony in the Barker, Cortez, Green, Howard, and Spielman trials. He remained under investigation for the November 2005 killing of a woman at TCP3 until August 2008, when all charges were dropped for insufficient evidence that the shot was anything other than an accident. Separated from the Army in September 2008, he is today living in Bellevue, Idaho, and is planning to return to school.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
502nd Infantry Regiment/2nd Brigade Combat Team
(“Strike Brigade,” “Black Heart Brigade,” “the Deuce”),
101st Airborne Division
Colonel Todd Ebel, commander
Command Sergeant Major Brian Stall, brigade sergeant major
1-502nd Infantry Regiment
(“1st Battalion,”“First Strike”)
Lieutenant Colonel Tom Kunk, commander Command Sergeant Major Anthony Edwards, battalion sergeant major
Major Fred Wintrich, executive officer
Major James “Rob” Salome, operations officer
Captain Leo Barron, intelligence officer
Headquarters and Headquarters Company (–HHC”)
Captain Shawn Umbrell, commander
First Lieutenant Brian Lohnes, scout platoon leader
Sergeant Cory Collins
Specialist Josh Munger
Specialist Benjamin Smith
Private First Class Tyler MacKenzie
Alpha Company
Captain Jared Bordwell, commander
Private First Class Brian Kubik
Bravo Company (“Bulldogs”)
Captain John Goodwin, commander
First Sergeant Rick Skidis, first sergeant
Sergeant First Class Andrew Laskoski, first sergeant
First Lieutenant Justin Habash, executive officer
Specialist Ethan Biggers, radio transmission operator
1st Platoon
First Lieutenant Ben Britt, platoon leader
First Lieutenant Tim Norton, platoon leader
Staff Sergeant Phil Miller, platoon sergeant
Sergeant First Class Rob Gallagher, platoon sergeant
Sergeant First Class Jeff Fenlason, platoon sergeant
Specialist Collin Sharpness, medic
Staff Sergeant Travis Nelson, 1st Squad leader
Staff Sergeant Chaz Allen, 1st Squad leader
Staff Sergeant Chris Payne, 2nd Squad leader
Staff Sergeant Eric Lauzier, 3rd Squad leader
Staff Sergeant Matthew Walter
Sergeant Kenith Casica
Sergeant Roman Diaz
Sergeant John Diem
Sergeant Tony Yribe
Specialist David Babineau
Specialist James Barker
Specialist Paul Cortez
Specialist Thomas Doss
Specialist James Gregory
Specialist Anthony Hernandez
Specialist William Lopez-Feliciano
Private First Class Chris Barnes
Private First Class Justin Cross
Private First Class Steven Green
Private First Class Shane Hoeck
Private First Class Bryan Howard
Private First Class Kristian Menchaca
Private First Class Jesse Spielman
Private First Class Thomas Tucker
Private First Class Justin Watt
Private Nicholas Lake
Private Seth Scheller
2nd Platoon
First Lieutenant Jerry Eidson, platoon leader
First Lieutenant Paul Fisher, platoon leader
Sergeant First Class Jeremy Gebhardt, platoon sergeant
Staff Sergeant Les Fuller, squad leader
Specialist Noah Galloway
Private First Class Ryan Davis
Private First Class Tim Hanley
3rd Platoon
Second Lieutenant Mark Evans, platoon leader
Sergeant First Class Phil Blaisdell, platoon sergeant
Staff Sergeant Chris Arnold
Staff Sergeant Joe Whelchel
Sergeant Daniel Carrick
Specialist Anthony “Chad” Owens
Specialist Kirk Reilly
Specialist David Shockey
Specialist Jay Strobino
Charlie Company (“Cobras,” “the People’s Army”)
Captain Bill Dougherty, commander
First Sergeant Dennis Largent, first sergeant
First Lieutenant Matt Shoaf, executive officer
Sergeant First Class Lonnie Hayes, platoon sergeant
Staff Sergeant Jason Fegler
Sergeant Juan Hernandez
Delta Company
Captain Lou Kangas, commander
First Lieutenant Garrison Avery
Specialist Marlon Bustamante
Private First Class Caesar Viglienzone
Combat Stress Practitioners
Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Bowler, forensic psychiatrist
Lieutenant Colonel Karen Marrs, psychiatric nurse practitioner
Staff Sergeant Bob Davis
2-502nd Infantry Regiment
(“2nd Battalion,” “Strike Force”)
Lieutenant Colonel Rob Haycock, commander
MILITARY UNITS AND RANKS
Typical Light Infantry Unit Sizes and Leadership
Division
Size: 18,000–24,000 soldiers (4 brigades)
Led by: a Major General and a Command Sergeant Major
Brigade
Size: 3,000–6,000 soldiers (6 battalions)
Led by: a Colonel and a Command Sergeant Major
Battalion
Size: 700–1,000 soldiers (4 line companies, 1 headquarters company, and 1 logistics company)
Led by: a Lieutenant Colonel and a Command Sergeant Major
Company
Size: 125–140 soldiers (3–4 line platoons, plus headquarters)
Led by: a Captain and a First Sergeant
Platoon
Size: 25–40 soldiers (3–4 squads)
Led by: a First or Second Lieutenant and a Sergeant First Class or Staff Sergeant
Squad
Size: 7–11 soldiers (2 fire teams)
Led by: a Staff Sergeant or Sergeant
Fire Team
Size: 3–5 soldiers
Led by: a Sergeant or Specialist
Rank Structure
Officer Ranks
General (O-10)
Lieutenant General (O-9)
Major General (O-8)
Brigadier General (O-7)
Colonel (O-6)
Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
Major (O-4)
Captain (O-3)
First Lieutenant (O-2)
Second Lieutenant (O-1)
Enlisted Ranks
Sergeant Major (E-9)
Master Sergeant or First Sergeant (E-8)
Sergeant First Class (E-7)
Staff Sergeant (E-6)
Sergeant (E-5)
Specialist or Corporal (E-4)
Private First Class (E-3)
Private (E-2)
Recruit (E-1)
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
ACU Army combat uniform
AFP Agence France-Presse
AIF anti-Iraqi forces
AO area of operation
AQI Al Qaeda in Iraq
AVLB armored vehicle–launched bridge
BCT Brigade Combat Team
BDA battle damage assessment
CIB Combat Infantryman’s Badge
CID Criminal Investigation Division
CMO civil-military operations
CO commanding officer
COIN counterinsurgency
COP Coalition Outpost
COSR Combat and Operational Stress Reaction
CPA Co
alition Provisional Authority
CUB Commanders Update Briefing
EOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal
FOB forward operating base
HHC Headquarters and Headquarters Company
IA Iraqi Army
IAI Islamic Army in Iraq
IED improvised explosive device
IGC Interim Governing Council
JAM Jaish al-Mahdi (Mahdi Army)
JRTC Joint Readiness Training Center
JSB Jurf al-Sukr Bridge
LZ landing zone
MisCap-DuStWUn Missing, Captured–Duty Status, Whereabouts Unknown
MiTT military transition team
MNF-I Multi-National Force–Iraq
MRE meal, ready to eat
MSC Mujahideen Shura Council
NCO noncommissioned officer
NTC National Training Center
OIF Operation Iraqi Freedom
ORHA Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance
PJ [Air Force] Para Jumper
PLDC Primary Leadership Development Course
POO point of origin
PSD Personal Security Detachment
QRF Quick Reaction Force
RIP-TOA Relief in Place, Transfer of Authority
ROE rules of engagement
RPG rocket-propelled grenade
SAW squad automatic weapon
TCP traffic control point
TOC tactical operations center
VBIED vehicle-borne improvised explosive device
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I want to thank the men of the 1-502nd Infantry Regiment. When I began this project I did not know what to expect, but I did not think that very many men from the unit would want to speak to me. I was surprised, gratified, and ultimately humbled by just how many wound up responding affirmatively to my queries. They trusted me with their stories and they opened up about their experiences, knowing that much of their deployment was uncomfortable, controversial, and disquieting. They knew that this book would not necessarily present all their actions in a flattering light, and yet they talked to me anyway, at great length and in great detail.
Many men, especially those from other platoons or other companies than 1st Platoon of Bravo Company, wanted the world to know that there was more to their war than the rape-murders and the Alamo incident. And the men of 1st Platoon wanted what happened to be put in context. All any of them have ever asked of me is that I do my best to be accurate, that I neither prettify nor vilify their experiences, that I tell their story as truthfully as I could. I am deeply indebted to them, and I hope that I have succeeded.
Thanks go to all those who participated in or were affected by First Strike’s deployment who graciously agreed to be interviewed: Abu Somer, Allen the Interpreter, Chaz Allen, Chris Arnold, Kayla Avery, James Barker, Chris Barnes, Leo Barron, Gary Bartlett, Richard Baxter, Mark Belda, Phil Blaisdell, Jared Bordwell, Elizabeth Bowler, Daniel Carrick, Renee Casica, Sean Cavenaugh, Steve Cisneros, Paul Cluverius, Dave Cochrane, Eric Conrad, Justin Cross, Anthony Davis, Bob Davis, Phil Deem, Roman Diaz, John Diem, Bill Dougherty, James Downs, Christopher DuBois, Todd Ebel, Jerry Eidson, Anthony Evans, Mark Evans, Jeff Fenlason, Paul Fisher, Les Fuller, Noah Galloway, Jeremy Gebhardt, John Goodwin, Steven Green, John Greis, Justin Habash, Paul Haefele, Walled Mahmoud Hamza, Tyler Hanna, Lonnie Hayes, Nancy Hess, Shane Hoeck, Ryan Hoefer, Bryan Howard, Tim Iannacone, Mark Ivey, Lou Kangas, John King, Tom Kunk, Brian LaFond, Dennis Largent, Andrew Laskoski, Eric Lauzier, Brian Lohnes, Nathaniel Loper, Matt Marcelino, Phil Miller, Joe Mirkovich, Shelly Nelson, Tim Norton, James Page, Roselia Palma, Richard Patenia, Chris Payne, Leif Peterson, Jeff Preston, Rob Salome, Antonio Sandoval, Dennison Segui, Collin Sharpness, Matt Shoaf, Rick Skidis, Daniel Sparks, Jay Strobino, Mike Taylor, Christopher Thielenhaus, Chris Till, Shawn Umbrell, Paul Vermillion, Justin Watt, Rick Watt, Joe Whelchel, Mark Whiteman, William Wilder, Robert Williams, Fred Wintrich, and Tony Yribe.
This project would be nothing without John Glusman, a profoundly talented and enthusiastic editor, who seemed to understand this project at its very root the moment he read the proposal and we first spoke. Ever since then, I have thanked the heavens for his involvement. He believed in it, championed it, nurtured it every step of the way. He inspired me to work harder and dig deeper than I thought possible, and he always encouraged me to follow the story wherever it led, even after we had long departed the original parameters of the proposal. His team at Harmony Books, including Anne Berry, Domenica Alioto, David Tran, Mark McCauslin, and Campbell Wharton, have been more helpful than I could have possibly imagined.
I am similarly indebted to Elizabeth Sheinkman, an old friend and an extraordinary agent, who is a wise guide and a fierce advocate, and whose coworkers at the Curtis Brown Agency, especially Felicity Blunt, are similarly a pleasure to work with.
I am grateful to my editors and colleagues at Time magazine, particularly Michael Elliott, Bobby Ghosh, and Howard Chua-Eoan. They knew I was taking myself out of Time’s, bullpen to work on this book, yet they extended to me all of the door-opening, safety-guaranteeing, wheel-greasing privileges that come with remaining a member of the Time organization for my two trips to Iraq. Without them, those reporting excursions would have been impossible, and their immediate and unquestioned extension of assistance to me was a demonstration of the fraternity of journalism at its best.
At Time’s, Baghdad bureau, the reporting and logistical assistance, and the simple companionship provided by its foreign correspondents Mark Kukis, Abigail Hauslohner, and Yuri Kozyrev, were impressive and inspiring, proving that grace under pressure defines not just courage but class. Speaking of courage, however, there are few people on the planet braver than innocent Iraqis, especially those who work for Western news organizations. I cannot fathom how Time’s Baghdad staff—Ali, Sami, Mazen, Omar, and Rahd—managed to stay loyal, motivated, sane, and, I dare say, upbeat given the constant threats that have borne down on them—and killed several of their colleagues—but I did and would forever trust them all with my life. They are personal heroes of mine. Time’s South Baghdad stringer Ahmed also assisted with finding interview subjects from the Yusufiyah area.
I am grateful to Lieutenant Colonels Andrew Rohling, William Zemp, and Michael Getchell, commanders of the 3–187th Infantry Regiment, the 3–320th Field Artillery Regiment, and the 2–502nd Infantry Regiment, respectively, and all of their men for being supremely hospitable embed hosts as I familiarized myself with the Triangle of Death.
Tara Sad, Bethany Hebert, Ben and Jackson Daviss, and Galen Butcher unflaggingly, relentlessly, doggedly turned several hundred hours of interviews into 4,000 pages of transcripts quickly, cleanly, and often on a rush basis. Tara, in particular, was a confidante and adviser, someone I could always bounce ideas off of or seek an opinion from; she was one of the few people from outside the 1–502nd who, in a way, knew all of the soldiers by listening to their interviews. She took a keen interest in the soldiers and their lives.
I am grateful to Andrew Tilghman of Stars and Stripes and Ryan Lenz of the Associated Press, who were embedded with the 1–502nd at different times during the battalion’s deployment in 2005 and 2006, for both the stories they wrote and the personal insights they have shared with me since then. Likewise, Sean Naylor of Army Times provided good advice about how best to journalistically navigate the thickets of Freedom of Information Act requests, Army Public Affairs Offices, and other oddities of journalism about the military. Also extending help were Ned Parker of the Los Angeles Times and Michael Ware of CNN. Thanks go as well to Dave Alsup of CNN, Brett Barrouquere of AP, and Evan Bright, boy wonder high-school blogger who documented the Steven Green trial with impressive thoroughness and zeal.
My old friend Mike Bergner opened his home to be my base for three months when I was literally homeless and flying around the country interviewing soldiers—I could not be more grateful for his hospitality. While on the road, I benefited from the kind
ness of many friends, especially Paul and Erin Scott in Berkeley and Zack Meisel and Cori Schreiber in Philadelphia. John and Elaine Watson rented an apartment in their fourteenth-century farmhouse in North Stainley, Yorkshire, England, to me during the winter of 2008 and 2009 as I wrote the first draft of the manuscript. It is the most perfect writer’s retreat there has ever been. Hugh, Pat, and the entire Greensit family in nearby Masham were and are the best second family in the world and I am blessed to have been so welcomed by them.
The lawyers associated with all of the cases surrounding the rape-murders of the Janabis have been extremely helpful with background insights and advice, including Bill Casara, William Fischbach, Marisa Ford, Steve McGaha, Juan Roman, Megan Shaw, Brian Skaret, and Elizabeth Walker. Lawyers Patrick Bouldin, David Sheldon, and Darren Wolff deserve special mention for being remarkably generous with their time, trust, and expertise.
To Jim Culp I am singularly and forever indebted, as he prodded me to investigate this story in the first place and suggested—nay, insisted—that there was far more to the tale than could be contained by a magazine article. He was right.
I would also like to thank terrorism expert Evan Kohlmann for his assistance in trying to make sense of the Iraqi insurgency, and terrorism blogger Bill Roggio for his views on the complexities of “The Long War.” I am grateful to forensic expert Dr. Michael Baden for his analysis of the March 12 crime scene photos and to Mike Bealing and Julius Domoney for their photo research assistance.
Cathy Gramling at the 101st Airborne Public Affairs Office and Val Florez of the 101st Airborne’s Freedom of Information Act Office were extremely helpful running down obscure facts and documents.
I would like to thank my parents and sisters Laura and Sharon for the unflagging support and encouragement they have provided me my entire life. In particular, however, I want to thank my brother Ted, a retired armor Army lieutenant colonel, who was frequently my first stop to ask about the mysteries of the military, and an early reader of the manuscript.
And nearly last, but in almost every regard first, I want to thank Charlotte Greensit for her truly bottomless love, patience, support, counsel, and cheer. This book could not have been possible without her. She is, in every way, a partner and a soul mate.
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