WASHINGTON -- Two soldiers killed in Iraq in February may have died as a result of friendly fire, Army officials said Wednesday.
The Army said it is investigating the deaths of Pvt. Matthew Zeimer, 18, of Glendive, Mont., and Spc. Alan E. McPeek, 20, of Tucson, Ariz., who were killed on Feb. 2 in Ramadi. The families of the two soldiers initially were told they were killed by enemy fire.
According to Army Col. Daniel Baggio, unit commanders in Iraq did not at first suspect they were killed by U.S. forces, but an investigation by the unit concluded that may be the case.
A supplemental report filed Feb. 28 suggested that the initial reports might be wrong but that an investigation was under way, he said. It took until March 31 before the families were told that friendly fire was suspected.
Yesterday's disclosure was made on the heels of the announcement last week that nine high-ranking Army officers, including four generals, made critical errors in reporting the friendly fire death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman in Afghanistan. The military found no criminal wrongdoing in the shooting of the former NFL player.
Three other soldiers were wounded in the incident that killed Zeimer and McPeek. There has been no indication whether they were hit by friendly forces.
