Phan Thi Dan’s husband was carrying her wedding ring the day he was slain. One of the soldiers involved was reportedly wearing it later.
Tufts' agents found that military interrogators in the 173rd Airborne repeatedly beat prisoners, tortured them with electric shocks and forced water down their throats to simulate the sensation of drowning, the records show.
Soldiers in one unit told investigators that their captain approved of such methods and was sometimes present during torture sessions.
In one case, a detainee who had been beaten by interrogators suffered convulsions, lost consciousness and later died in his confinement cage.
Investigators identified 29 members of the 173rd Airborne as suspects in confirmed cases of torture. Fifteen of them admitted the acts. Yet only three were punished, records show. They received fines or reductions in rank. None served any prison time.
Deborah Nelson and Nick Turse LA Times
That's from 30 years ago, in Vietnam. The documents were only declassified in 1994. When the US military found out the LA Times was investigating the documents they hastily reclassified them. What do you think we'll learn about Iraq and Afghanistan in 30 years time?
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