BANGOR-- More than a year after the death of First Sergeant Christopher Coffin, the Department of the Army has released its report on the cause of his death. Senator Collins, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and has been pressing for the release of the report to Sgt.Coffin's family, said that the report does not appear to be adequate. She is calling on the Department of Defense Inspector General to further investigate several issues of concern.
In a letter to Inspector General Joseph Schmitz, Senator Collins wrote, "I am concerned that [the Department of the Army] report does not adequately address the action that resulted in the death of Sergeant Coffin. I request that your office review the findings and recommendations of the IG report." In her letter, Senator Collins pointed out several issues associated with Sgt. Coffin's accident that were briefly addressed in the report, but not thoroughly examined.
First Sergeant Christopher D. Coffin, who lived in Kennebunk Maine, was killed in a vehicle accident in Iraq on July 1, 2003. Since his death, there have been many questions from his family members, Senator Collins, and others about the actual cause of the accident. Senator Collins recently contacted the Army inquiring about why the investigation and report into the matter had taken so long.
Text of Senator Collins letter to the Department of Defense Inspector General is as follows:
Dear Inspector General Schmitz,
I am writing on behalf of my constituent, Mrs. Betsy Coffin, of Kennebunk, Maine. On July 1, 2003, her husband, First Sergeant Christopher D. Coffin, was killed in Iraq.
Soon after Sgt. Coffin's death, conflicting reports emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. The Department of the Army announced on July 7, 2003 that it would conduct an official board of inquiry. A subsequent 14-month investigation by the Inspector General of the Army was recently concluded. I am concerned that this report does not adequately address the action that resulted in the death of Sergeant Coffin. I request that your office review the findings and recommendations of the Army IG report.
The report mentions an oncoming Iraqi vehicle maneuvering erratically that caused the accident of Sgt. Coffin's vehicle. I would like your office to determine if the Army IG sufficiently explored the intent of the Iraqi vehicle. In addition, how did the Army determine that the civilian vehicle was the only cause of the accident? For example, one report mentioned that a 352nd Civil Affairs Command soldier died on July 1 when his convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device – Sgt. Coffin was the only member of that unit to die that day. Another witness described the situation on national television as an "ambush." In addition, after the accident there was one witness who heard the distinct sound of an AK-47 being fired at the scene of the accident. Did witnesses concur on the hostile nature of the Iraqi crowds, what was their response, and to what extent were the crowds involved in the incident? Finally, were all Army personnel on the scene during the incident interviewed?
Your attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated
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