Private first class Justic Cross said regular deaths of their colleagues had demoralised the troops, while dangerous patrols made them constantly fear for their lives, which was "mentally draining."

"It drives you nuts. You felt like every step you might get blown up. You just hit a point where you're like, 'If I die today, I die'. You are just walking a death walk," Cross said.

He was testifying before a panel which will decide whether or not to court martial four soldiers accused of taking part in the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad on March 12.

The soldiers are also alleged to have massacred the girl's father, mother and five-year-old sister.

Another Iraq veteran is facing charges in the same case in a civilian court in the United States.

Cross testified that to beat stress, soldiers would take Iraqi cough syrup which "makes you feel high."

He also said that soldiers took pain killers and drank Iraqi whiskey.

Cross was asked whether all five soldiers were involved in the killing of the family or only the veteran, Steven Green, believed to be the mastermind of the attack.

Cross replied: "Green does nothing by himself."

Green, Specialist James Barker, Sergeant Paul Cortez, Private first class Bryan Howard and Jesse Spielman could face the death penalty if convicted.

The hearing will also decide whether to charge another soldier, Anthony Yribe, with failing to report what he later found out about the killings.

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