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File: 980715_may96_sagwi1_0021.txt
Subject = COLLATERAL INVESTIGATION 22 DEC 90
Box ID = BX001415
Folder title = COLLATERAL INVESTIGATION 2
Unit = 24TH ID
Parent = XVIII CORPS
5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(6)
company orderly room to tell my First Sergeant our vehicles were coming
back in, that a 66 was inoperable and to find out what had happened to
the company in my absence that was priority. This was about 1900-1930
hrs. About 10 minutes after I entered the orderly room, my driver
an in and said the tank was on fire. We ran out to
investigate. At the time, no flames were evident but there were 2
soldiers with fire extinguishers using them in the engine compartment. I
walked around to the rear of the vehicle and saw flames on the ground
underneath the vehicle. It appeared to be burning fuel or oil coming out
the bottom. Flames then began coming out of the engine compartment
again. I did not see any way we could extinguish the fire since the
internal extinguishers had already been used and flames were present
underneath and on top of the engine compartment. I ordered the immediate
evacuation of all soldiers from the company assembly area. We formed the
company about 500 meters to the east to get a head count. All soldiers
were accounted for. About 45 minutes after the fire began some small
arms ammunition began going off.. Shqntly afterward, the main gun rounds
began going off and the blow off g-u-ii-went up. This was about 2100 hrs.
The last major explosions I witnessed was about 2300 when apparently the
HEAT Projectiles began going off. We had already cordoned off the
company area with the vehicles we had outside the perimeter. I believe
the fire continued until ROD went in to investigate around 061630 Dec.
CPT, AR
5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(6) Commanding
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day of ------ 1990.
------------
PAGE 2 OF 2 PAGES
5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(6)
company orderly room to tell my First Sergeant our vehicles were coming
back in, that a 66 was inoperable and to find out what had happened to
the company in my absence that was priority. This was about 1900-1930
hrs. About 10 minutes after I entered the orderly room, my driver
an in and said the tank was on fire. We ran out to
investigate. At the time, no flames were evident but there were 2
soldiers with fire extinguishers using them in the engine compartment. I
walked around to the rear of the vehicle and saw flames on the ground
underneath the vehicle. It appeared to be burning fuel or oil coming out
the bottom. Flames then began coming out of the engine compartment
again. I did not see any way we could extinguish the fire since the
internal extinguishers had already been used and flames were present
underneath and on top of the engine compartment. I ordered the immediate
evacuation of all soldiers from the company assembly area. We formed the
company about 500 meters to the east to get a head count. All soldiers
were accounted for. About 45 minutes after the fire began some small
arms ammunition began going off.. Shqntly afterward, the main gun rounds
began going off and the blow off g-u-ii-went up. This was about 2100 hrs.
The last major explosions I witnessed was about 2300 when apparently the
HEAT Projectiles began going off. We had already cordoned off the
company area with the vehicles we had outside the perimeter. I believe
the fire continued until ROD went in to investigate around 061630 Dec.
CPT, AR
5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(6) Commanding
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day of ------ 1990.
------------
PAGE 2 OF 2 PAGES
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