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NCIS Report: 10AUG04-MEBJ-0337-7XMA/C

Oct. 8, 2004 | NCIS | ACLU-RDI 566

Investigation into an incident in which two marines, both from 1st Medical Battalion, Combat Service Support Group-15, posed for photographs while pointing their M-16 service rifles at an enemy prisoner of war, whom they were assigned to guard in the medical recovery tent at Camp Al Qaim, Iraq. The photographs were taken while other soldiers were administering medical treatment to the detainee, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the lower back. It is unclear if the detainee was aware that photographs were being taken. There were four photographs in total, two of which depicted the marines' aiming their weapons at the detainee. Their superior confiscated the camera upon discovery of the incident to prevent destruction of evidence. Camp Al Qaim has a "no photography" policy. According to two people within supervisory chain of command, one of the marines implicated in the incident had been briefed specifically on the policy after a previous incident involving the videotaping of detainees. The investigation turned up additional photographs and videos of detainees; some of these photographs also involved pointing weapons at prisoners. One marine said that he took such pictures as a "souvenir" of his time in Iraq and “taking these kind of photographs are very common at the STP and it is excepted [sic] by everyone." The two marines received a non-judicial punishment of a reduction in rank and a monetary fine for failure to obey a lawful order.

AUTHORING AGENCIES:
RECEIVING AGENCIES:
INCIDENTS OF ABUSE MENTIONED:
  • 2004-08-09, Camp Al Qaim, Iraq
    • Investigation into incident in which 2 marines posed for photographs while pointing their M-16 service rifles at a detainee, whom they were assigned to guard in the medical recovery tent at Camp Al Qaim, Iraq. The photographs were taken while other soldiers were apparently administering medical treatment to the detainee, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the lower back. It is unclear if the detainee was aware of photographs being taken. There were 4 photographs in total, two of which depicted the marines' aiming their weapons at the detainee. Camp Al Qaim has a "no photography" policy. One marine said that he took such pictures as a "souvenir" of his time in Iraq and “taking these kind of photographs are very common at the STP and it is excepted [sic] by everyone." The two marines received a non-judicial punishment of a reduction in rank and a monetary fine for failure to obey a lawful order.