Courtesy Photo | BAGHDAD Using a pizza box and some pens, Spc. John Brois III (left), from Avoca, N.Y.,...... read more read more
Spc. Erin Robicheaux
256th Brigade Combat Team PAO
CAMP TIGERLAND, Iraq " Numerous articles have been written about Spc. Stephen Tschiderer, the medic stationed in Baghdad who survived being shot in the chest by a sniper only to turn around and treat his would-be assassin's wounds.
He's appeared on CNN and NBC's "The Today Show."
He's been called "an American hero," "courageous," and "honorable."
Stephen Tschiderer does not understand why.
"It's not a big deal that I got shot," he said, "I'm a Soldier, and Soldiers get shot every day."
Tschiderer, a Mendon, N.Y., native, and his fellow Soldiers from E Troop, 101st Cavalry, attached to 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, pursued the sniper for 90 minutes following the July 2 incident. When they caught him, his injuries included a compound fracture to his tibia, a gunshot wound to the buttock, and the tip of a toe was shot off. Tschiderer, a medic for his platoon, sprang into action.
"He was hurt and I had to do my job," he said.
Tschiderer said the real success of the day revolved around capturing the sniper, given that it rarely happens.
"When we found him, I felt overjoyed," he said. "I couldn't believe we actually caught the guy. This stuff happens every day in this country"you get shot at, but you rarely see the person who pulls the trigger."
Tschiderer's story began when E Troop started taking small-arms fire during a routine patrol in the Ameriyah district of Baghdad July 2. As they cordoned the suspected area of origin, a sniper shot at them and missed. They blocked off a second region where they believed the shot came from and searched the buildings in the neighborhood.
The Soldiers completed the search without locating the sniper and made their way back to their vehicles. As Tschiderer relayed their status over the radio, he turned slightly to the left and felt a stinging sensation in his chest. He fell flat on his back, and, as if he landed on a spring, was back on his feet, scrambling to the other side of the humvee and radioing his friends for help.
When two of E Troop's vehicles approached, Tschiderer pointed them toward the direction of the shot. As they maneuvered toward the source of the attack, a van pulled out in front of them, and the chase was on.
Staff Sgt. Ryan Fabricante was the commander of the lead vehicle in pursuit of the sniper. He said a van pulled out in front of them at a high rate of speed, and after the Soldiers fired two warning shots, the vehicle still did not stop or slow down.
"When it was clear they wouldn't stop, I gave the order to shoot the tires," recalled Fabricante.
Some of the rounds ricocheted and struck one of the two occupants who was sitting in the rear of the van.
Once their vehicle was disabled, the two suspected terrorists jumped out of the van. With a clear view of the pair, Fabricante called in their descriptions and followed their trail.
Tschiderer recollected that one humvee searched the east side, while the other veered toward the west as a blocking force. The U.S. Soldiers, joined by Iraqi Army Soldiers, sought out the suspects in homes in the neighborhood.
In the end, it was the Iraqi citizens who led Tschiderer and his friends to the sniper.
"We ended up searching three homes on the west side," said Tschiderer. "The families in the neighborhood kept pointing us in the right direction. In addition, the sniper's toe was injured, so we were able to track him through a blood trail."
As they went through the first house, Tschiderer's platoon sergeant yelled that the sniper was in the next yard. Tschiderer and two IA Soldiers ran out the front of the house as the sniper tried to get through the gate in the front yard. When he couldn't get through, he jumped over the adjoining wall.
Tschiderer, close behind, jumped over the wall, grabbed the sniper, searched him, handcuffed him, and put him in the humvee. The second suspect gave up when the E Troop Soldiers cornered him. He claimed to be the gardener for a nearby family; however, the family did not know him, and he did not know their names.
The Soldiers of E Troop found evidence of the attack in the suspects" van. Lined with diapers to muffle the sound, the vehicle contained a Russian sniper rifle, a 9-millimeter handgun, three hand grenades, and a fourth grenade rigged to the fuel tank with a pin. The Soldiers also found a full bag of ammunition, as well as a video camera containing footage of Tschiderer's attack. Two holes were cut in the back of the van, one for the camera, and one for the weapon.
The 256th BCT Staff Judge Advocate wasted no time putting a case together. Maj. Roderick Alvendia, 256th BCT Deputy SJA from New Orleans, La., and Sgt. Nathanial Orphey from Lake Charles, La., the paralegal assigned to the case, collected as much evidence and witness statements as possible.
With the support of Brig. Gen. John Basilica Jr., 256th BCT commander, the SJA Office successfully got the case pushed forward to the Central Criminal Court of Iraq.
The CCCI was established to address serious crimes that most directly threaten public order and safety in Iraq, which may include crimes against Coalition Forces by Anti-Iraqi Forces. After less than 30 days of being presented to the CCCI, Tschiderer's case was on the docket.
He received two opportunities to take the stand and show the judge, through the power of video, exactly how someone almost took his life. On July 31, several witnesses testified at the CCCI to recount the events. Nothing seemed to have more impact on the judge than testimony from Tschiderer and the suspects.
The video was shown as Tschiderer narrated the events to the Iraqi judge, and followed it with a rundown of the events leading up to the capture.
One of the accused, Arkan Jassim Khalid, said he did not pull the trigger that nearly took Tschiderer's life; however, he trained the man who did. He told the judge his secrets, and gave him the name of the man who tried to kill the Soldier.
On Aug. 21, Ali Sayid Abbas took his turn testifying at the CCCI. His wounds now healed, the man Tschiderer knew as 'the sniper" denied having any involvement in the shooting. He told the judge the Soldiers picked him up mistakenly, that he was in the area visiting his girlfriend. He did this after the judge viewed the video of the attack, where he clearly heard the suspect's name mentioned as he praised Allah, just after Tschiderer went down. The suspect was questioned about his girlfriend"her name and where she lived. He could recall neither.
The final step is for the case to be presented before a panel of three trial judges, who will determine the verdict and charge both suspects. Alvendia said he and his staff are confident the trial judges will see through the alleged sniper's testimony.
"We believe they will consider the extensive confession of the first terrorist (the trainer), and feel firmly that we will get a conviction," he said.
On the day of the terrorist's testimony, Tschiderer saw the alleged sniper face to face for the first time since the day of the attack.
"It felt good to see him there, on trial," he said.
He said it was tough to sit across from Ali, and the air was tense. However, Tschiderer also said sitting in the room and looking the man in the eye meant the process is working. He has faith in the Iraqi court system, and believes justice will be served.
The New York native is grateful that so many situations were in his favor that day, and said he knows someone was looking out for him. He knows his body armor saved his life, but as long as insurgents are on the streets of Iraq, improvements must continue.
| Date Taken: | 08.30.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 08.30.2005 13:36 |
| Story ID: | 2863 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 1,610 |
| Downloads: | 72 |
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