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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