Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 27, 1993 TAG: 9301270105
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA LENGTH: Medium
TROOPS DIVIDED ON NEED FOR SOMALI NIGHT PATROLS
Marines on Tuesday again mourned a comrade cut down by gunfire and argued over whether the dangerous practice of conducting foot patrols by night through the streets of this war-ruined city makes any sense."They see us; we don't see them," objected Lance Cpl. Noel Garcia, 22, of Rock Falls, Ill., speaking of Somali snipers. "By the time we've seen them, they've locked and loaded. No - they've fired."
Lance Cpl. Anthony D. Botello, 21, whose tiny hometown of Wilburton, Okla., praised him as one of its finest young men, died in a Swedish field hospital shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday after being hit twice by a Somali gunman Monday night.
He was the second Marine killed on night patrol since American forces landed in December. Two other Marines and a Navy corpsman have been wounded; one American civilian died in a land-mine explosion.
A U.S. military spokesman, Lt. Col. Steve Ritter, said the slain Marine was walking on patrol west of the stadium in northern Mogadishu Botello at 11:15 p.m. Monday when he and his squad heard voices. When they moved to investigate, a man atop a one-story building began shooting. The Marines returned fire and believe they hit the sniper because he dropped, Ritter said. The wounded Marine was transported to the hospital, where he died.
Thirty times a day, Marines prowl Mogadishu in Humvees, tanks or on foot in squads of 14 or 15. At night, they spread about 30 feet apart because to bunch up would give an attacker with a rifle or grenade a big silhouette at which to aim.
Marines carry M-16s, flak jackets and helmets; and each of three fire teams has a night scope and night-vision glasses. Before they leave on their rounds, which can last an hour or two, they are given warnings by their commander. "Mogadishu is not Disneyland," is how Garcia summed up the lecture.
Despite their anxieties and the loss of two Marines in Mogadishu, both Cpl. James Evans and Cpl. Sean Brogan, artillerymen with the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment of Twentynine Palms, Calif., said there was no real alternative to the patrols. "We've got to show the Somalis that we're able to use force if we have to," said Brogan, who has been out at night four times. "It's a necessary evil."
Garcia was one of the doubters. "We came here on a humanitarian mission, not to fight a battle," he said.
"We're done with our mission. There is only so much we can do to help these people out."
Keywords:
FATALITY