Army report: Heavy combat in Iraq may have been factor in soldier slayings at home

Army: Soldiers in slayings faced heavy Iraq combat

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Heavy combat in Iraq where U.S. soldiers witnessed the deaths of many fellow troops may have contributed to hostile behavior by Colorado-based veterans accused or implicated in 11 slayings back home.

The Army launched an investigation after soldiers from Fort Carson’s 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division were accused in a spate of five killings around Colorado Springs in 2007 and 2008. Six other slayings had occurred since 2005.

Investigators compared the unit of about 3,700 soldiers with a similarly sized unit and found it had suffered more combat deaths in Iraq and was deployed there longer.