(Excepts from the GAO investigation of the Umm Hajul fratricide. The United States General Accounting Office (GAO) is an independent, professional, nonpartisan agency in the legislative branch that is commonly referred to as the investigative arm of Congress.)
Lt. Colonel Daly failed to exercise proper command and control of the 3rd Squadron during Operation Bill: He did not ensure that all of his subordinate commanders were fully aware of the changed operation plan, did not ensure that his subordinates were aware of the corps boundary, became confused as to the location of the airfield and allowed I Troop to cross the corps boundary, did not advise the I Troop Commander that he was assuming control or dismounting soldiers, and violated the stated Rules of Engagement.
Lt. Colonel Daly based the 3rd Squadron Operation Plan on the original 3rd ACR Operation Plan, which noted the possibility of the 1st AD being on the 3rd ACR’s right flank. It was issued to the 3rd Squadron troop commanders approximately 45 minutes before the 3rd ACR began to move at 2100 hours, February 26, 1991. According to the I and L Troop Commanders, the troop commanders’ briefing on the 3rd Squadron Operation Plan lasted between 5 and 30 minutes. They were told that the 3rd Squadron would conduct a passage of lines through the 1st Squadron and attack the airfield, Objective Bill, from north to south. There is indication that the 50 east/west grid line was identified as the corps boundary. However, there is no indication that they were told of the possibility of the 1st AD’s presence on their right flank.
After the 3rd Squadron began to move, the 3rd Squadron Operations Officer [MAJ William Martin] issued a FRAGO to the troop commanders establishing a new Limit of Advance on the 50 east/west corps boundary–in effect, directing the troop commanders to attack against the corps boundary and stop. Subsequently, while the 3rd Squadron was coordinating the passage of lines, Lt. Colonel Daly and his operations officer were told by Colonel Starr to change the 3rd Squadron attack plan and scheme of maneuver to attack from west to east and not to fire south of the 50 east/west grid line. The 3rd Squadron Operations Officer [MAJ William Martin] then issued another FRAGO stating that after the direct fire onto the airfield and the passage of lines, the 3rd Squadron was to proceed east then southeast. The FRAGO established the Rules of Engagement to “not fire unless fired upon”; established the 50 east/west grid line as the corps boundary; and stated that the airfield was “probably cold.”
Based on our investigation, the I Troop and L Troop Commanders did not receive the FRAGO outlining the changed 3rd Squadron Operation Plan. The FRAGO contained essential information regarding the operation, yet Lt. Colonel Daly did not verify that all his troop commanders received this information. Additionally, the 3rd Squadron Fire Support Officer, who was part of the 3rd Squadron Command Group, said he was confused about the 50 east/west grid line. He advised us that he was unaware that it was the corps boundary line but instead thought it was a fire support coordination point. I Troop was also unaware that the 50 east/west grid line had been established as the corps boundary and that there were possible 1st AD troops on its right flank. Further, Lt. Colonel Daly knew that the 50 east/west grid line was the corps boundary. Yet he did not ensure that his subordinates were aware of the boundary, which may have prevented I Troop’s boundary breach.
As the 3rd Squadron advanced east towards the airfield, Lt. Colonel Daly initially reported that the squadron had found the airfield but then reported that they had crossed a road. Minutes later, when I Troop reported seeing a fence and a tower, Lt. Colonel Daly authorized I Troop to breach the fence and reconnoiter the area, failing to first determine I Troop’s location in relation to his own. As a result, he allowed I Troop to unwittingly cross the corps boundary.
Once I Troop had fired the warning shots, Lt. Colonel Daly crossed the corps boundary. Without attempting to communicate directly with the I Troop Commander, Lt. Colonel Daly moved forward of the I Troop Commander’s vehicle. After observing the dismounted troops (engineers) through his Thermal Imaging System, he did not contact the I Troop Commander to obtain his assessment of the situation or to announce to the I Troop Commander that he was assuming control.
Further, while authorizing his gunner to engage the target, Lt. Colonel Daly did not advise the I Troop Commander that he was dismounting two soldiers from his Bradley to sweep the area. His failure to communicate this information led to confusion and endangered the lives of the two dismounts, as they were initially thought to be enemy soldiers.
Lt. Colonel Daly also violated the rules of engagement in effect at that time. Specifically, he authorized I Troop to fire warning shots below the 50 east/west grid line at an unconfirmed target, resulting in the wounding of a U.S. soldier. Further, relying on his gunner’s assessment, he allowed his gunner to fire below the 50 east/west grid line at an unconfirmed target, resulting in the death of a U.S. soldier.
