APVR-ABNB-D-CO
SUBJECT: Congressional Inquiry-SPC XXXXX 28 MAY 2007
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
APVR-ABNB-X-CO 28 MAY 2007
MEMORANDUM THRU COMMANDER, XXXX INFANTRY BATTALION (ABN)
MEMORANDUM THRU Commander, XXX BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM (ABN)
FOR CHIEF OF LEGISLATIVE LIASON, CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY DIVISION, ROOM 1E423, 1600
ARMY PENTAGON, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20310-1600
SUBJECT: Congressional Inquiry – SPC XXX
1. This letter is in response to the second Congressional generated by the XXXXX family dated 20 May
2007. SPC XXXXX wrote this inquiry while his mother generated the first.
2. All points made by me in the first response are still relevant. Please refer to the first for background
information.
3. By SPC XXXXX’s own admission, his letter dated 20 May 2007 is sensational, emotion driven writing
unsubstantiated by fact. I will highlight each of his points and then state the facts.
a. Again, SPC XXXXX states that his duties and obligations are “in deep moral conflict with my own code
of ethics.” Prior to going on leave, his military duties were as a driver of an up armored HWMMV. His
obligations consisted of maintaining the vehicle and driving his crew through the company area of operations.
b. SPC XXXXX claims that he “found the attitude of my battle comrades alarming” and that they went on
patrol with the “only intention of getting into a fight, solely seeking an excuse to open fire.” SPC XXXXX’s
platoon was involved in eight total small arms engagements. With the exception of two, the enemy shot first
and the platoon responded. In the other two, SPC XXXXX agreed that his platoon followed the appropriate
escalation of force and firing was as a last resort. Additionally, when I asked him what the mission of the
Infantry was, he appropriately responded with, “to close with and destroy the enemy by means of fire and
maneuver.” I further clarified that SPC XXXXX enlisted into the Army as an Infantryman after two years as a
Coast Guard reservist.
c. SPC XXXXX wrote, “at the slightest problem [the platoon] emptied countless rounds into situations that
did not merit that type of response.” Again, in all but two engagements, the enemy shot first. When asked what
the appropriate response to someone shooting at you is, he correctly responded with “return fire on known and
likely enemy positions.”
d. Most alarming, SPC XXXXX claims that “my life may be in danger.” I approached him about this subject
and he admitted that his life was not in “imminent danger.” When I asked him to clarify and who threatened him,
he admitted that he was never threatened.
e. SPC XXXXX wrote, “I am fighting battles in and outside of the wire; the insurgents and my brothers in
arms alike.” However, SPC XXXXX has not left “the wire” since 25 March before he claimed any “deep moral
conflicts.” SPC XXXXX was removed from patrolling in accordance with the guidance provided by the
psychiatrist SPC XXXXX saw at Madigan. The only battle he now fights is generated exclusively by him in the
hopes of getting out of the Army.
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