In a significant new study of U.S. troops in Iraq, Pentagon medical officials found that “well over” one third of those surveyed believe torture should be permitted if it could save the life of a fellow Soldier or Marine. 

The study found that only 40 percent of Marines and 55 percent of Soldiers would report a member of their unit for killing or wounding an innocent civilian and that about 10 percent of the more than 1,300 Soldiers and nearly 450 Marines in the survey admitted they had mistreated civilians or damaged property “when it was not necessary.”

In the first internal military study of battlefield ethics in Iraq, Pentagon officials said Friday they also found that only a third of Marines and roughly half of soldiers reported they believed that noncombatants should be treated with dignity.

“They looked under every rock and what they found was not always easy to look at,” said Dr. Ward Casscells, the Pentagon’s top medical official, announcing the latest Mental Health Advisory Team report.

The study, which was conducted in August and October of 2006, also found that long and repeated deployments were increasing troop mental health problems, with Soldiers experiencing a higher rate of mental problems than Marines.

“This is the first time questions of this nature have ever been asked [to] Soldiers or Marines in combat,” said Army Deputy Surgeon General, Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock. “This is a ground-breaking look at the health of our soldiers.”

More than 60 percent of Soldiers and Marines reported they knew a fellow trooper seriously injured or killed in combat, with morale problems among Soldiers tied directly to deployment length, the survey found.

Shorter deployments and more time at home would help keep mental problems from cropping up, the medical officials explained.

The study was the fourth since 2003. Previous studies were more generally aimed at assessing the mental health and well-being of forces deployed in the war.

In the latest study, a mental health team surveyed troops in Army brigades, Marine Regimental Combat Teams, health care providers and chaplains.

"The Marine Corps takes this issue of battlefield ethics very seriously," said Lt. Col. Scott Fazekas, a Corps spokesman. "We are examining the study and its recommendations and we'll find ways to improve our approach."

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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