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US Troops 'Killed by Friendly Fire'

Alex Constantine - April 13, 2011

Also see: “At least 1,424 US military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001″ | Wash. Post | April 12, 2011

reaper drone art - US Troops 'Killed by Friendly Fire'Re Seaman Benjamin Rast ...

Niles sailor reportedly killed by 'friendly fire' from Predator drone

By TOM MOOR | South Bend Tribune | April 12, 2011

: ... The Navy is still investigating and has not determined a cause of death for Benjamin, who was a hospital corpsman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.

"That Marine unit should have been fully aware another unit was coming up to assist them," Robert Rast said. As the news began circulating this week that his son was killed by so called "friendly fire," Robert Rast could not hold back his hurt.

"I have a lot of good memories of Benjamin; hundreds and hundreds of good memories," he said. "But all of those memories end with the United States Air Force Captain giving command to fire and the United States Air Force Airman pressing the button.

"The United States military was negligent in my son’s death. They’re the reason I have to wake up every night with my son’s screams in my head. ... That’s what I have to live with the rest of my life. It’s all I think about all day." ...

http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2011-04-12/news/29412215_1_benjamin-rast-friendly-fire-drone

US troops 'killed by friendly fire'

By Wendy Fuller | Daily Mirror | April 13, 2011

A DRONE missile strike killed a US Marine and a Navy medic last week by mistake. It may be the first instance US troops have been killed by friendly fire involving an unmanned aircraft. 

An investigation has been launched into the incident, which stemmed from confusion on the battlefield in Helmand province, Afghanistan. 

Fighter jets and combat helicopters are usually called in to provide close air support for coalition troops pinned down by insurgent fire, while drones tend to be used for manhunts. Seaman Benjamin Rast, 23, of Michigan, and Staff Sergeant Jeremy Smith, 26, of Texas, died in the attack.

NBC News said they were part of a unit ordered in to reinforce Marines coming under fire from insurgents. The Marines, watching a video feed from the Predator drone, saw infrared images moving closer and may have concluded they were ­insurgents.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/04/13/us-troops-killed-by-friendly-fire-115875-23057395/

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