Matt Gallagher - Youngblood

“Smart thinking,” I said, pointing to the sticks. “You might’ve saved him.”

He looked back and smiled, his eyes dilating in the neon light.

“No,” he said. “But I’m not going to lose another one like this. You know what the best way out of something is, Lieutenant?”

“What’s that?”

“Through. The best way out is always through.”

I shivered in the desert, alone.

SWORN STATEMENT

File number: 4z08

Place: CAMP INDEPENDENCE, IRAQ

Date: April 30, 2006

I, First Lieutenant Tyler L. Grant, make the following free and voluntary sworn statement to Major Edward P. Price, whom I know to be the Investigating Officer for the Command Investigation into the circumstances of the death of Saladin Jalal al-Badri on April 12, 2006. I make this statement of my own free will and without any threats made to me or promises extended.

I am currently assigned as the platoon leader to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 2-48 Infantry Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. I have been the platoon leader since September 7, 2005.

Our unit deployed to Iraq on July 1, 2005.

On the morning of April 12, my platoon was given the “kill or capture” mission of Saladin Jalal al-Badri, aka the “9 of Clubs” of our unit’s target deck. Saladin was an alleged member of al-Qaeda in Iraq in the town of Ashuriyah. This mission was part of Operation Fumble Recovery, the search for my platoon’s missing squad leader, Staff Sergeant Elijah Rios.

On April 12, at approximately 0100, our command post in Ashuriyah received a tip on Saladin’s bed-down location. Captain Tisdale, the commander, assigned the mission to my platoon. We didn’t have time for a full rehearsal, so as the soldiers prepped the Humvees, my squad leaders and I planned to have second squad raid the house while first and third squads formed an outside perimeter in case of runners.

I don’t remember exactly when the platoon arrived at the target house, but I believe it to be around 0135. I ordered the platoon to have all weapons on “Red” status, aka locked and loaded, since battalion intel considered Saladin “armed and dangerous.”

First and third squads formed the perimeter and second squad stacked against the house. No lights were on and there was only one door, in the front. I gave the order to raid the house.

There were two shots, and then a pause, followed by two more shots. I found out later that Corporal Daniel Chambers, a fireteam leader in second squad, fired both sets of “controlled pairs.”

I don’t know what the standard practice is for placement of fireteam leaders in room-clearing stacks. I don’t micromanage, and leave decisions like that to my noncoms.

By the time I entered the house, all the rooms had been cleared. One military-age male lay in the center room, two shots in his chest and two in his forehead. The platoon medic declared him dead, and using the photo we had from our target deck, I identified him as Saladin, aka the “9 of Clubs.” A loaded AK-47 rifle lay next to his body. I was informed that he raised it as my men entered the house, prompting Corporal Chambers to fire.

I don’t remember which side of the body the AK-47 was on. I updated the outpost and oversaw intel collection. I had the soldiers take photos of the body and rifle, for evidence.

No other persons were found on the premises, and papers and computer equipment were collected for analysis.

I am not aware of the use of “drop weapons” and would have stopped their use immediately had such a thing been occurring in my platoon. Nor have I seen any convincing evidence of their use in my platoon, during the Saladin mission or before. I cannot explain why the AK-47 was first photographed without a clip and then photographed with a clip inserted into it, though it seems likely one of the men felt it important to clear the weapon for safety. I regularly brief my platoon on the rules of engagement and believe every soldier in my platoon understands and abides by them.

I never saw any of my soldiers with an AK-47 in their possession before or during this mission. The AK-47 recovered during the raid was turned over to battalion, along with the other evidence.

I never heard of any drop weapon allegation until the CID interview.

I have an open door policy. I don’t think my soldiers are afraid to tell me what’s going on in the platoon at their level. I don’t think they would hesitate to come to me if things were going wrong. I visit their rooms at least once a day, sometimes twice. We have a good relationship.

NOTHING FOLLOWS

INITIALS OF PERSON MAKING STATEMENT: TG

SWORN STATEMENT

File number: 7t45

Place: CAMP INDEPENDENCE, IRAQ

Date: April 30, 2006

I, Corporal Daniel R. Chambers, make the following free and voluntary sworn statement to Major Edward P. Price, whom I know to be the Investigating Officer for the Command Investigation into the circumstances of the death of Saladin Jalal al-Badri on April 12, 2006. I make this statement of my own free will and without any threats made to me or promises extended.

I am currently assigned as alpha fireteam leader in 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 2-48 Infantry Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division.

My platoon conducted a raid on a house of a known al-Qaeda operative the morning of April 12. I served as point man for the room-clearing team tasked with entering the target house. I always serve as point on raids. I lead from the front.

Upon entering the target house and through my night vision, I saw a shape in the main room. The shape looked like a man and it raised a rifle toward me. I did not have time to yell to put the weapon down. I fired two sets of controlled pairs on the shape’s center mass. The shape was the al-Qaeda operative.

I am aware of the practice of “drop weapons,” though only as an example of something not to do. I have never witnessed their use, nor have I ever participated in such a practice.

I do not recall whether the AK-47 raised at me had a magazine in it. It was a judgment call made in the matter of seconds, and it followed the rules of engagement.

I do not recall if the AK-47 was wedged in the operative’s left or right shoulder. I do not recall what side of the body the AK-47 was recovered from.

Before the raid, I was not aware of any connection between the targets Saladin al-Badri and Karim the Prince. I have learned since that they were cousins. From what I understand, Karim the Prince is suspected of kidnapping my squad leader, Staff Sergeant Rios, while the al-Qaeda operative this is about was uninvolved.

NOTHING FOLLOWS

INITIALS OF PERSON MAKING STATEMENT DC

SWORN STATEMENT

File number: 5z30

Place: CAMP INDEPENDENCE, IRAQ

Date: May 2, 2006

I, Captain Kenneth D. Tisdale, make the following free and voluntary sworn statement to Major Edward P. Price, whom I know to be the Investigating Officer for the Command Investigation into the circumstances of the deaths of Saladin Jalal al-Badri on April 12, 2006, and Karim al-Badri on May 1, 2006. I make this statement of my own free will and without any threats made to me or promises extended.

I am currently assigned as the commander of Charlie Company, 2-48 Infantry Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. I have been the commander since May 15, 2005.

Our unit deployed to Iraq on July 1, 2005.

On the morning of April 12, my company’s second platoon was tasked with a “kill or capture” mission of Saladin al-Badri, aka the “9 of Clubs.” They accomplished this and I have nominated the shooter, Corporal Daniel Chambers, for an Army Commendation Medal with Valor.

On the morning of May 1, my company’s second platoon was tasked with a “kill or capture” mission of Karim al-Badri, aka the “Jack of Hearts,” aka “Karim, Prince of al-Qaeda.” They accomplished this and I have nominated the shooter, Lieutenant Ty Grant, for a Bronze Star Medal with Valor.