ABC: Iraq Shooting Involved Ind.-Based Soldiers

[IndianaGreen]

Source: WRTV-6

ABC: Iraq Shooting Involved Ind.-Based Soldiers

ABC: Ind.-Based Medical Company Involved In Incident

POSTED: 4:42 pm EDT May 11, 2009
UPDATED: 6:02 pm EDT May 11, 2009

Pentagon officials said the shooting happened at a stress clinic, where soldiers can go for help dealing with stress from combat or personal issues.

The U.S. Army Reserve 55th Medical Company based in Indianapolis was involved in the incident, ABC reported. It was not known if any of the company members were among those killed.
The unit, which is made up of mental health professionals, shipped out of Indianapolis in January. Of the 83 soldiers, 60 of them are from Indiana, military officials said.

In a statement, President Barack Obama saidhis "heart goes out to the families and friends of all the service members involved in this horrible tragedy."

U.S. officials said the soldier who opened fire is in custody, but are giving no further details.

Watch 6News and refresh this page for updates.



Read more: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/19431558/detail.html

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They just left for Iraq in January. :-(

On edit: Local media is reporting that the Pentagon is notifying next of kin.

Here is link to original story:

U.S. soldier kills 5 comrades in Iraq, officials say

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/11/iraq.violence/index.html

[IndianaGreen]

1. U.S. soldier kills 5 comrades in Iraq, officials say

I am surprised this hasn't been posted:

U.S. soldier kills 5 comrades in Iraq, officials say

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A U.S. soldier fired on his fellow troops at a counseling center at a base outside Baghdad, Iraq, on Monday, U.S. officials said, killing five people in the worst such attack of the 6-year-old war.

The shooting occurred at 2 p.m. at a stress clinic at Camp Liberty, near Baghdad International Airport, two senior defense officials said. Though initial reports indicated the attacker was killed in the incident, the U.S. command in Baghdad said late Monday a suspect in the killings was in custody.

Neither the suspect nor any of the victims had been identified, and it was unclear whether the attacker had any connection to the clinic.

"Any time we lose one of our own, it affects us all," Col. John Robinson, a U.S. military spokesman, said in a written statement. "Our hearts go out to the families and friends of all the service members involved in this terrible tragedy."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/11/iraq.violence/index.html

[jbnow]

2. Wonder why they released company before next of kin

were notified. Everyone with a loved one in the U.S. Army Reserve 55th Medical Company must be holding their breath with an aching heart.

Sad, sad event

[IndianaGreen]

3. Local TV showed video of the unit when it departed to Iraq

The CO spoke about how committed they were to go over there to tend to the needs of the soldiers.

[MadMaddie]

4. So I have a question

I understand they are in a battle zone but if these soldiars are seeking counseling shouldn't they check in their weapons into a controlled area before entering the area where the docs are?

[Johnyawl]

5. Depends on how "forward" the clinic is

In all but the most secure areas the soldiers would keep their personal weapons (rifles, pistols, ammo packs) with them, UNLOADED, and check their heavy weapons (grenades, machine guns, rocket launchers, etc, etc).

[NoName Left]

6. Excellent question.

Also, with military physicians having been pressured by BushCo Goons to NOT ALLOW/REJECT diagnoses of "PTSD" these sorts of incidents are carved in stone...present and future.

Multiple deployments, forced to remain/reenlist beyond original commitments, denial of obvious and perfectly understandable mental/emotional damage (and honorable I might add, as it's not a "weakling wussy" condition), withholding of critical medical treatment? Insufficient and sub-standard basic equipment, accommodations known to be shoddy and potentially lethal (ex. shower stall electrocutions of soldiers) in order to steal obscene profits for themselves and their repulsive cronies?

The Cheney/Rumsfeld/Bush/Enablers disregard for the human condition of the US military is abusive, criminal and massively destructive. They created and manufactured tragedy in every single arena they touched.

I will be interested to learn the story about this guy who snapped. It is so very sad. And again, your question..."if these soldiers are seeking counseling shouldn't they check in their weapons into a controlled area before entering the area where the docs are?"

[MadMaddie]

7. NoName Left there is so much work to be done for our

soldiars....this is the canary in the coal mine. The Cheney/Rumsfeld/*/Enablers have in 8 years managed to damage the military more than any other administration. Their phoney support the troops bullshit while allowing our troops to live in the conditions they are in is criminal.

[aquart]

10. But it made Halliburton so much money. KBR prospered.

Really, what could be more important?

[benEzra]

12. They were indeed completely unarmed; this was a "gun free" zone.

I believe the murderer left the clinic, attacked an armed escort and stole his gun and vehicle, drove back to the clinic, and shot the unarmed victims.

[proteus_lives]

8. Damn, that sucks.

Good thoughts for Hoosier soldiers.

[IndianaGreen]

9. UPDATE: Shooter had been disarmed earlier

The military official told The Associated Press that the sergeant had been involved in a verbal altercation at the center. His service weapon was taken from him for his own protection and he was driven back to the center later in the day.

The official said that when the sergeant returned he had another weapon. It was unclear whether he was returning under orders or of his own volition.

Another senior military official said the shooter was a patient at the clinic. The official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because of the probe, did not know what relationship the shooter had to those he killed. ABC News, without identifying a source, reported that two of the dead were clinic staff and three were soldiers waiting for treatment.

The network also aired video of the stress clinic it said was taken just days ago. It showed the clinic's commander, Lt. Col Beth Salisbury, giving a tour of the clinic and describing certain areas where people cannot carry weapons. Salisbury is from the U.S. Army Reserve 55th Medical Company based in Indianapolis.

http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=indystar&sParam=30728947.story

[ananda]

11. How fucking ironic!

Soldier succumbs to stress and goes ballistic
at a stress clinic of all places!

You couldn't make this up.