March 25, 2003
Release Number: 03-03-63
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TASK FORCE TARAWA SECURES ENEMY STAGING AREA; TAKES APPROXIMATELY 170 EPWS
AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq - Earlier today Task Force Tarawa secured a hospital being used as a military staging area for Iraqi para-military forces here.
The Marines had been fired at from the hospital the day before. The building was clearly marked as a hospital by a flag with a red crescent.
Marines of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, commanded by Lt. Col. Royal P. Mortenson, secured the hospital and the surrounding compound; capturing approximately 170 Iraqi soldiers who were not armed and were wearing a mixture of mostly civilian clothing with parts of military uniforms.
In the hospital the Marines found and confiscated over 200 weapons and stockpiles of ammunition, over 3,000 chemical suits with masks, and Iraqi military uniforms. The Marines also found a T-55 tank on the compound.
No civilians were injured during this mission. Prior to going in, the Marines used loud speakers outside of the hospital to encourage the doctors and patients within the hospital to evacuate. No civilians were in the hospital at the time it was seized.
It is believed that the enemy soldiers dressed in civilian attire were being bussed into the city and were drawing weapons and ammunition from the hospital in order to fight in the city, according to Col. Ron Johnson, Task Force Tarawa Operations Officer. Combat Service Support Battalion - 22 is working to transport the enemy prisoners of war from the city.
Misuse of a protected symbol, such as a Red Cross emblem or the equivalent Red Crescent, is a violation of the Geneva Convention and may subject persons to prosecution as war criminals.
The 170 enemy prisoners of war captured today bring Task Force Tarawa's total number of captured enemy to approximately 500.
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