Sergeant Major Coleman

[Carolynn Beck <carolynn.beck@gmail.com>]

Witness Interview
Name: Ronald Coleman
When first met: Worked together on just about every mission they did  
in Iraq. Doesn’t remember exactly when.. but started in Jan of 05 in  
Iraq... Sam came near the end of Feb or so. Were there for a few weeks  
before he was given to them as an interpreter.
Circ:
Work directly under/with? Worked together every day for about 11  
months. He’s a sergeant major & RN. Considers him a friend. Had  
dealings w/ Sam every day.
Describe missions: He had almost the highest security clearance that  
an interpreter could have. Everyone came home alive, and he thinks Sam  
played a big part in that because he was street smart, and his  
knowledge helped to keep all the guys from getting hurt/killed. Sam  
was in every meeting that the governor of An Najaf had, and on some  
dangerous missions together. He was w/ them on missions, he  
interpreted, he advised. In October, took over Karbala and Najaf -  
holy lands for shiite muslims, Sam worked w/ people and businesses in  
Najaf... had soldiers that trained the iraqi police. Sam became good  
friends w/ the commander of the Iraqi army (Colonal Majeed), iraqi  
police, and government building... advised and helped on everything  
they did in that city.  Sam was street smart - cultural adviser...  
helped to make everthing peaceful. Were there for a year together and  
were never engaged in an all-out firefight with any of the Shiite  
muslims. Feels Sam was an integral part of helping to keep the peace  
by talking to everyone and helping them to understand each other. Were  
one of the first units to turn over operations to the locals to let  
them govern themselves. There were situations where things were about  
to escalate between them and the militia and Sam would step in and  
straighten things out. Was able to explain to the Iraqis that they  
were there for peaceful purposes and to help.
Based on what you knew of him was he truthful? Never misled him in any  
way. Some of the officers didn’t trust him because he was an Iraqi but  
didn’t have any reason for the officers not to trust him. Captain  
Muller never trusted him, and he conveyed that to him. He asked what  
he did wrong, and Muller didn’t have an answer. Sizemore too but he  
doesn’t trust anyone, so he didn’t ask him about.
Colonel Oliver and he spent the most time w/ Sam, so he couldn’t think  
of anyone else to recommend.
Loyal to the US? Very loyal to the US. Would feel comfortable if he  
were my neighbor.
Trustworthy? Trusted him very much and feels that he helped keep his  
soldiers alive in Iraq.

He says someone sent him a website accusing Sam of being a spy for  
Sadam before the war. He will send us the website if he finds it in  
his records. He mentioned the 5 Army infantry (artillery unit out of  
4th infantry division) guys that replaced them after he left Iraq that  
got killed. Sam was on the convoy with them and was on the cell phone  
sitting in the humvee behind them, and he thinks that might be what  
started the investigation against Sam. The humvee in front of him blew  
up. If he had been a part of that, there’s no way he would have put  
himself in the humvee behind it. So he doesn’t think Sam was involved  
in it.

Current Mailing Address
163 Austin Dr
Tupelo, MS 38804
Trial will probably be in summer, will you be around to appear as a  
witness? Will be around, doesn’t expect to be deployed.

Carolynn Beck
(202) 316-1367



Carolynn Beck
(202) 316-1367