On the morning of February 27, 1990. Task Force 1-64th Armor was advancing on the Jalibah Airfield, in Southeast Iraq. After coming under indirect (artillery and mortar) fire, TF 1-64 altered their route to the airfield and Task Force 3-69th Armor (the tank battalion flanking it to the South) became mis-oriented and fell behind TF 1-64.
In the confusion, TF 3-69 fired upon TF 1-64 (which should not have been forward of 3-69 except for the altered route and 3-69 failing to notice their change in route), believing it to be Iraqi forces trying to escape.
Bradley C-23 was struck by two 120mm depleted uranium shells – causing numerous injuries, but miraculously, none were life-threatening.
Bradley C-11 was struck by a 120mm tank round that penetrated the troop compartment. The shell ignited the anti-tank rocket that was on Private John Hutto’s lap, in anticipation of a dismounted assault on the airfield.
The round severed a leg from Hutto, who died of his wounds in flight to a medical facility. Two others lost a leg and the rest of the crew suffered injuries from the sympathetic explosions resulting from the tank round striking the anti-tank round.
Specialist Andy Alaniz was the driver of Bradley C-22 when a tank round ripped through the vehicle’s engine block and the driver’s compartment, killing him instantly. He is the soldier in the body bag that being mourned by Sergeant Ken Kozakiewicz and Corporal Michael Tsangarakis (bandaged face) in the photo above.
This is why you celebrate Memorial Day. You celebrate those that would have lived full lives had they not served their nation and left their lives on a foreign battlefield:
PFC John W. Hutto, 19, Andalusia, AL
SP4 Andy Alaniz, 20, Corpus Christi, TX
The vulnerable moment was seen around the world, running on the cover of Parade magazine. The photo buoyed Alaniz’s high school sweetheart, who became a 19-year-old, pregnant widow.
“I don’t see my husband in a body bag – I see a man crying. I see my husband surrounded by people that loved him. This picture shows the true meaning of war. Not everybody came home.”
Catherine Alaniz-Simonds