Pubdate: 28 Jan 1999
Source: Orange County Register (CA)
Section: News,Page 11
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register

GOAT HERDER'S DEATH SPURS TROOP-LIMIT RULE

After the shooting death of a young goat herder by a Marine,the
Pentagon has ordered an end to routine use of ground troops for
anti-drug missions along the Mexican border, a Defense Department
official said Wednesday.

Under a new policy, armed troops may be deployed only with specific
permission from the secretary of defense or his deputy, said Lt. Col.
Mike Milord, a Defense Department spokesman.

Esequiel Hernandez Jr., 18, of Redford, Texas, was fatally shot May
20, 1997. He had been grazing his family's goats near the Rio Grande,
armed with a .22-caliber rifle to ward off predators.

A four-man Marine unit said Hernandez shot at them from more than 200
yards away. Cpl. Clemente M. Banuelos said he fired the fatal shot
after Hernandez raised his rifle again to shoot at the Marines.

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