10/16/2004 2:43:00 PM GMT
The U.S. army is investigating allegations that members of a reserve U.S. military unit refused to carry out a convoy mission in Iraq.
Over 19 soldiers from the unit- stationed near Talil in southern Iraq- allegedly failed to carry out their orders.
The Platoon is part of the 343rd Quartermaster Company, and is responsible for delivering food, water and fuel on trucks for U.S. occupations forces in combat zones.
Mission ‘too dangerous’
Families of the U.S. soldiers being investigated have said that the forces considered the mission too dangerous.
At least some of the soldiers have been cited as saying that they refused the mission because their vehicles were in poor shape and they did not have an adequate armed escort.
Teresa Hill of Dothan, Alabama, said that her daughter Amber McClenny, who serves in the platoon, had phoned on Thursday morning to ask for her help, saying that her platoon had refused to go on a fuel-hauling convoy.
"This is a real, real big emergency," Ms McClenny said. "I need you to contact someone. I mean, raise pure hell."
"We had broken-down trucks, non-armored vehicles and ... we were carrying contaminated fuel.
"They are holding us against our will. We are now prisoners," she added.
Hill said that she was later contacted by Spc. Tammy Reese in Iraq, who was calling families of the soldiers. "She told me (Amber) was being held in a tent with armed guards," said Hill, who spoke with her daughter Friday afternoon after she was freed. Her daughter said they are facing punishment ranging from a reprimand to a charge of mutiny.
The supply route that the troops were supposed to use is one of the most dangerous in Iraq. The army calls it "Main Supply Route Tampa." Many troops have been attacked there by roadside bombs and rifle and rocket-propelled grenade fire.
A commanding general has ordered the unit to carry out a "safety-maintenance stand down," during which it will carry out no further missions as the unit's vehicles are inspected, the army said.
On Wednesday, 19 members of the platoon did not show up for the 7 a.m. meeting in Tallil, to get ready for the fuel convoy's departure a few hours later, the military statement said.
"An initial report indicated that some of the 19 soldiers (not all) refused to participate in the convoy as directed," the statement said.
The mission was ultimately carried out by other soldiers from the 343rd, which has at least 120 soldiers, the military said.
"Preliminary findings indicate that there were several contributing factors that led to the late convoy incident and alleged refusal to participate by some soldiers," the military said. "It would be inappropriate to discuss those factors while the investigation continues."
'Isolated incident'
But according to a top U.S. military official, the unit involved had been told to undertake what is known as a maintenance stand-down.
The official said that the soldiers were not under arrest or detained and he described the incident as isolated.
However, a U.S. occupation spokesman in Baghdad said that "a small number of the soldiers involved chose to express their concerns in an inappropriate manner, causing a temporary breakdown in discipline."