Army veteran in sniper case an 'expert marksman'

10.00am

WASHINGTON - A US Army veteran held by police in connection with sniper killings near the nation's capital was an "expert" assault rifle marksman and served as a combat engineer in the Gulf War, a senior defence department official said on Thursday (Washington time).

John Allen Muhammad was in the active Army from November 6, 1985, until his release from the service at Fort Lewis, Washington, on April 26, 1995, the official, who asked not to be identified told reporters.

Muhammad, known then by his former name of John Allen Williams, was among thousands of troops who drove Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991.

He reached the rank of sergeant E-5 and also served nearly a decade in the Army National Guard in Louisiana and Oregon before and after his active duty service.

Muhammad earned several awards and ribbons, including an "expert marksmanship" badge with the Army's standard M-16 assault rifle. Police have said a rifle was used to kill 10 people and wound three in the Washington region over the past three weeks.

"On at least one occasion, he (Muhammad) earned that expert badge. He qualified at the highest level" said the defence official.

Soldiers qualify annually with weapons and are awarded the highest of three levels of proficiency -- marksman, sharpshooter or expert - with the M-16 if they hit 36 out of 40 targets at a variety of ranges from 50m to 300m.

The defence official refused to discuss the circumstances under which Muhammad parted from the military, telling reporters that information was protected under privacy laws.

Muhammad had also qualified as "an expert with the hand grenade" during his proficiency tests, but defence officials said the sergeant had not served in elite Army Ranger special forces. He was a combat engineer, a metal worker and a water transport specialist.

Among awards earned by Muhammad during his service were the routine Non-Commissioned Officer's Professional Development Ribbon and the Army Achievement Medal. He also received the Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal during the Gulf War.

While in the Louisiana Army National Guard in 1987, Muhammad took a basic course in winter operations on how to survive while fighting in a cold weather environment.

But despite Muhammad's military service and his proficiency with a weapon, the nation's highest military officer told reporters on Thursday that the service could in no way be held responsible for anything that he might have done afterward.

"Personally, I think that's ludicrous to think this a black eye on the military," said Air Force General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in response to questions at a Pentagon briefing.

He said tens of millions of people had served in the armed forces and it was wrong to blame the military.

Here is a brief run-down of Muhammad's military service:

1978-85: Louisiana Army National Guard.

1985: Joined active Army and was assigned to 15th Engineer Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington.

1990: 84th Engineering Company in Germany.

1992: 13th Engineer Battalion in Fort Ord, California.

1993: 14tg Engineer Battalion at Fort Lewis.

1994-95: Oregon National Guard.

- REUTERS

Further reading:
The Washington sniper

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