Tortured Soldier Arrives Home

More details today on the brutal murder of two of our soldiers by the terrorists in Iraq:

According to an updated time line of the incident provided by Multi-National Corps-Iraq spokeswoman Lt. Col. Michelle Martin–Hing, the initial attack was on a three-man security team manning a checkpoint near Youssifiyah, south of Baghdad, where the soldiers were guarding a canal crossing near the Euphrates River.

Spc. David J. Babineau was killed in the attack, and the other two soldiers were taken captive after “terrorists overwhelmed the position,” Martin-Hing said. All three soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.

Menchaca and Tucker were taken to an unknown location and later killed.

An hour after the attack, officials said, air and ground forces cordoned off the area and began search operations. Later, that search force would grow to 8,000 American and Iraqi troops.

“Twenty-five military operations were conducted, including 11 air assault missions. More than 12 villages and an old power plant were searched,” the news release read. “In the massive effort to locate the missing soldiers, 12 soldiers were wounded.”

Iraqi citizens reportedly provided almost 80 tips, with one local sheik and one detainee providing information that led to the remains being found. The remains were found on June 19 around 7:50 p.m. next to a road near the village of Mufaraji. The sources also warned of explosives in the area.

Troops waited until daylight to approach the bodies, and “at first light, the engineers cleared the route up to the site of the bodies, fighting their way through three roadside bombs in the process,” according to the release.

“The two bodies, severely traumatized, were found bound together with a [makeshift bomb] between one of the soldiers’ legs. The engineers successfully cleared the [bomb] and the surrounding area to allow recovery of the remains,” the release said.

This news as Menchaca’ body came back home:

The mother of a 23-year-old soldier whose body was found mutilated in Iraq sobbed with her cheek against his sealed, flag-shrouded coffin Tuesday, looking at the crucifix above it and asking repeatedly in Spanish, “Why? … Why my son?”

Pfc. Kristian Menchaca was one of two soldiers whose booby-trapped remains were found June 19, three days after they went missing following an insurgent attack. He was to be buried Wednesday.

“You were so young,” said Maria Vasquez, a 50-year-old Mexican immigrant. “My little boy.”

The public was allowed to pay respects Tuesday. Uniformed veterans, public officials and others streamed into the convention center where the coffin was displayed.

David Brown, a 48-year-old Army veteran, gave Vasquez an American flag and a card saying: “For evil to prevail, all that is necessary is for good men to do nothing.”

The streets were lined with those waving American flags:

Like Garza, Adelaida Rey showed her support by waving a small flag from the side of the road. She brought her grandchildren along to share the experience.

“El estaba peleando por nuestro freedom, y por eso estamos aqui,” she said. “He was fighting for our freedom and because of that we are here.”

Although Rey speaks only Spanish, she carefully pronounces the word “freedom” in English. For the woman waving both Texas and American flags, it’s a word too important to be translated.

While the procession drove by, Rey’s grandchildren were as solemn as she was. “Es importante que lo vean,” she said. “It’s important that they see this.”

Additionally the Army released a timeline of the search operation to find the soldiers:

Timeline of search for two Army soldiers taken by militants June 16 near Youssifiyah, Iraq, according to U.S. military:
June 16

_ 7:55 p.m.: Infantry company hears small arms and rocket fire from attack on U.S. checkpoint.

_ 8:10 p.m.: Quick reaction force arrives and finds Spc. David J. Babineau dead by canal and two other soldiers missing.

_ 8:29 p.m.: Unmanned drone and other surveillance aircraft start search for Pfc. Kristian Menchaca and Pfc. Thomas Tucker.

_ 8:48 p.m.: Special operations forces and dive teams alerted in case missing men in canal.

_ 11:20 p.m.: Troops search areas north and south of checkpoint, set up roadblocks.

June 17

_ 12:37 a.m.: Iraqi special operations forces search south of Youssifiyah power plant.

_ 6:30 a.m.: Iraqi and coalition forces search Karguli village, where residents provide information leading to site near power plant.

_ 7:20 a.m.: Evidence found that leads searchers into power plant.

_ 8:40 a.m.: Truck discovered at power plant complex with evidence of missing soldiers.

_ 9:10 a.m.: Further evidence found near canal at power plant entrance. Dive teams search area.

_ 1:47 p.m.: Iraqi troops searching power plant find two insurgent vehicles and two weapons caches.

June 18

_ 7 a.m.: Marine battalion searches northwest of power plant.

_ 7:56 a.m.: Roadside bomb hits U.S. forces, wounding one soldier.

_ 3:30 p.m.: Army battalion conducts search and engages in gunbattle in Rushdi Mullah village.

_ 7:30 p.m.: Two Iraqis detained; corroborate earlier information suggesting search should focus on power plant.

June 19

_ 6 a.m.: Tip indicates soldiers’ bodies are in Mufaraji village, just north of power plant.

_ 10:10 a.m.: Iraqi citizen says bodies are near market in town of Shakariyah.

_ 3 p.m.: Iraqi narrows down previous description, leading U.S. forces to bodies near power plant.

_ 7:47 p.m.: U.S. soldiers reach site.

_ 10:10 p.m.: Recovery team arrives.

_ 11:20 p.m.: Bomb disposal team finds six roadside bombs leading to soldiers’ bodies. Clearance operation continues through night.

June 20

_ 8:24 a.m.: Soldiers’ remains flown by helicopter to Baghdad International Airport.

Lastly, the family of Thomas Tucker gave an interview a few days back to a local news crew which lasted about 30 minutes. I’ve cut it down to about 11 minutes, it should be viewed by all.

Thomas will be arriving home on Monday.

Curt

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