US probe confirms 2 friendly-fire deaths

US probe confirms 2 friendly-fire deaths
By MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Two U.S. soldiers who died in Iraq in February were killed by friendly fire, according to a military investigation that said improper training and mission preparation were to blame.

Matthew Zeimer, 18, of Glendive, Mont., and Spc. Alan E. McPeek, 20, of Tucson, Ariz., were killed at an outpost in Ramadi, in western Iraq, on Feb. 2. The families of the two soldiers were initially told they were killed by enemy fire.

In response to a Freedom of Information request by The Associated Press, the military released its subsequent investigation into the two deaths. Families of the two soldiers were told in March that the deaths may have been caused by friendly fire.

According to the investigators, the deaths were not a result of negligence. Instead, "a series of decisions and actions by both the tank crews and their command, taken collectively, fell short of the high expectations we have of our soldiers and their leaders," the investigators said.