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Sunday, May 6, 2012

Army probes CIB given to lt. who shot soldier

Army probes CIB given to lt. who shot soldier
Award upsets father of friendly fire victim
By Joe Gould - Staff writer Posted : Sunday May 6, 2012

The Army is investigating the awarding of a Combat Infantryman Badge to a lieutenant who fatally shot a member of his squad, Pfc. David H. Sharrett, during a 2008 friendly fire incident in Iraq.

Then-Lt. Timothy R. Hanson was awarded the badge for his service Jan. 16, 2008, according to Army orders supplied to Sharrett’s father, David Sharrett. On that day, Hanson led a squad into a fierce predawn firefight in which he mistakenly shot Sharrett. After the battle, Hanson left unhurt on a helicopter before Pfc. Sharrett was found.

“This could not have been just a horrible faux pas,” said the elder Sharrett, of Oakton, Va. “They were well aware of what had happened, and this guy was given a medal for killing my kid and leaving him to die.”

Hanson has since been promoted to captain and joined a Reserve unit in Wisconsin. He was initially given a local reprimand and last year was recommended for a harsher general officer reprimand in the Army’s third investigation of the incident.
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