• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Marines assist Iraqis recover remains of Fallujah conflict

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 200411193545
Story by Sgt. Luis R. Agostini

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 17, 2004) -- As U.S. Marines fired their final shots in Fallujah, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment civil affairs team is helping local Iraqis begin the body recovery process in the war-torn city.

"The dead bodies in Fallujah pose religious, health and psychological concerns for everyone in the city," said Capt. Alex Hennegar, 3/5 civil affairs team leader.

With estimates of more than 1,000 insurgents killed during Operation Phantom Fury, the gruesome task of recovering the decomposing bodies throughout Fallujah following the invasion was taken by willing Fallujah natives. According to Islamic faith, Muslims must recover and bury their fellow Muslims.

Infantry companies that fought in Fallujah during Operation Phantom Fury provided grid coordinates of areas where they confirmed enemy kills. Iraqi security forces, operating in areas of Fallujah previously cleared by Marines, have also provided information on locations of dead bodies.

The Iraqi volunteers brought three trucks - two for themselves, one for the recovered bodies.

Marines escorted the 24 Iraqi workers to the former battlegrounds. They also provided them with gloves, masks, hand sanitizers, water, bodybags, paint and shovels to properly bodies had been hastily buried gathered bodies. The Iraqis documented the body recovery process with a digital camera of their own.


The Iraqi workers refused any form of monetary payment or compensation.

"They felt that it was a moral duty as faithful Muslims to carry out the task,"

During the recovery process, the Iraqi workers spotted grenades and AK-47s near the bodies of the dead insurgents. The workers unearthed several weapons used by insurgents before they were killed.

"They alerted us and didn't go anywhere near the weapons," said Hennegar.

The Marine Corps possesses the logistical capability to execute the mission, but allowing the Iraqis to follow through with their religious customs is very important, said Hennegar.

"We are grateful that they've allowed us to escort them while they perform their duties,