Re: Mendoza

[Neal Puckett <neal@puckettfaraj.com>]

Wow!  Nice work. Are you interested in a job?  I agree with your analysis. This is quite good testimony for us. 

Neal A. Puckett
LtCol, USMC (Ret)
Puckett & Faraj, PC
703.706.9566

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 1, 2010, at 3:29 PM, "Trujillo Sgt Bethany N" <bethany.trujillo@usmc.mil> wrote:

> Neal,
> 
> I have been reviewing Mendoza's statements and testimony, summarizing and looking for inconsistencies, for when we have the opportunity to interview him again.  I came across something interesting in the Tatum 32 that we may want to dig into a little,
> pg 184: (Talking about House 2 here) 
> 
> Q. Okay. And after you got into that position what happened?
> A. After that, the grenade went off and the Marines came back. One of the Marines that was coming in was LCpl Tatum. I approached him and I told him, Hey, I have got an extra grenade here do you want it. And he said, yes. He took my grenade, I turned around and went back to my position posting security to the door.
> Q. Okay.
> A. At that period time I believe that's when Sgt Salinas and SSgt Wuterich they decided to stay somewhere outside of the house.
> 
> That second part really made me think about our most recent meeting with Frank when he was talking about how Tatum and Sharratt went back in to "clear" the back bedroom. The timing may be off a bit, he says this happened before he had the hallway "kill them/head nod" conversation with Tatum in the hallway, but it would be consistent with what Frank described.  
> 
> The questioning continues and on pg 186 he talks of a conversation with Tatum before entering the back bedroom that I would like him to elaborate on some more:
> 
> Q. When you walked into the passageway -- that hallway there and saw LCpl Tatum, what did you do next?
> A. After that, he said, Well, what's open. So I went straight into this room because that door was closed, sir. 
> 
> So maybe Mendoza and Tatum had more than one conversation in House 2 that day. 
> 
> The more I read into his statements and testimony, the more I believe that he was in that back bedroom shooting right alongside Tatum and Sharratt.
> 
> Let me know what you think.
> 
> Bethany
> 
>