Page 5 - ARUBA TODAY

A5
U.S. NEWS Tuesday 19 december 2017

Report: US soldier fought to end after ambush in Niger

said he was firing back as concluded that Johnson about the events.
he and two Nigerien sol- was hit by fire from M-4 Johnson’s mother, Cow-
diers tried to escape. rifles — probably stolen by anda Jones-Johnson, told
All told, four U.S. soldiers the insurgents — and Sovi- CNN that she first learned
and four Nigerien troops et-made heavy machine of the latest investigation
were killed in the ambush. guns. It is believed he died results on Facebook. She
Two U.S. and eight Nigerien in the attack. also says the military hasn’t
troops were wounded. The officials said Johnson told her why her son’s re-
The bodies of three U.S. was found under thick mains weren’t found at the
soldiers were located on scrub brush where he tried same time as the bodies of
the day of the attack, but to take cover. There were his comrades.
not Johnson’s remains. The no indications he was shot “I want the truth ... but
gap in time led to ques- at close range, or had there’s no closure,” she
tions about whether John- been bound or taken pris- said. The U.S. Africa Com-
son was killed in the assault oner, as several media re- mand began its investiga-
and not found, or if he was ports have suggested. tion with a team headed
taken away by the enemy. On Monday, members of by Army Maj. Gen. Roger
According to the officials, Johnson’s family said they Cloutier, the command’s
a medical examination still have many questions chief of staff.q

This photo shows Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed in an
Oct. 4 ambush in Niger.
(U.S. Army via AP)

By LOLITA C. BALDOR bush took place about 120
Associated Press miles (200 kilometers) north
WASHINGTON (AP) — Army of Niamey, the African na-
Sgt. La David T. Johnson tion’s capital. Johnson’s
died in a hail of gunfire, hit body was recovered two
as many as 18 times as he days later.
took cover in thick brush, U.S. officials familiar with
fighting to the end after the findings spoke to the
fleeing militants who had AP on condition of ano-
just killed three comrades nymity to describe details
in an October ambush in of an investigation that has
Niger, The Associated Press not been finalized or pub-
has learned. licly released.
A military investigation has A 12-member Army special
concluded that Johnson forces unit was accompa-
wasn’t captured alive or nying 30 Nigerien forces
killed at close range, dis- when they were attacked
pelling a swirl of rumors in a densely wooded area
about how he died. by as many as 50 militants
The report has determined traveling by vehicle and
that Johnson, 25, of Miami carrying small arms and
Gardens, Florida, was killed rocket-propelled grenade
by enemy rifle and ma- launchers.
chine gun fire from mem- Johnson was struck as
bers of an Islamic State many as 18 times from a
offshoot, according to U.S. distance by a volley of ma-
officials familiar with the chine gun rounds, accord-
findings. The Oct. 4 am- ing to the U.S. officials, who