Fatal police shooting of JBLM medic justified
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Mar 27, 2013
TACOMA, Wash. — The Pierce County prosecutor says a police officer was justified in fatally shooting a man who pointed a loaded handgun at him last August outside a Tacoma home.
Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said 29-year-old Prince Jamel Gavin refused orders to drop the gun and was shot when he raised it toward the officer.
read more here
Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier killed by police
Showing posts with label Fort Lewis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort Lewis. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
JBLM soldier injured reflects on 'lifetime change'
JBLM soldier injured reflects on 'lifetime change'
Shawn Graves said a final goodbye to the world as he lost consciousness. A man wearing a suicide vest had blown himself up inside a dining hall in northern Iraq. Graves had wounds all over his torso, and he did not expect to open his eyes again.
Seattle Times
By ADAM ASHTON
The News-Tribune
TACOMA, Wash.
Shawn Graves said a final goodbye to the world as he lost consciousness. A man wearing a suicide vest had blown himself up inside a dining hall in northern Iraq. Graves had wounds all over his torso, and he did not expect to open his eyes again.
"I thought I was done," he said.
The platoon sergeant from Fort Lewis woke up from his coma three weeks later. He had survived one of the worst attacks against U.S. forces in the Iraq War, an enemy infiltration that claimed 22 lives and wounded more than 70 other people inside a forward base most troops figured was safe.
On the 10th anniversary of the war, Graves still can't explain how he made it through.
Today the 37-year-old combat veteran is sewn up, healed and home with his wife, Elizabeth, in Medical Lake. But his journey isn't over.
It never really is for many of the nearly 32,000 service members who were wounded or injured in the eight-year war, or for the families of the 4,409 service members who lost their lives to it.
"Between the physical wounds and the mental wounds that come with it, it's a lifetime change, and it affects both them and their spouses," said Brittney Hamilton of Tacoma, the director of a nonprofit group called Operation Ward 57 that supports wounded service members.
read more here
Shawn Graves said a final goodbye to the world as he lost consciousness. A man wearing a suicide vest had blown himself up inside a dining hall in northern Iraq. Graves had wounds all over his torso, and he did not expect to open his eyes again.
Seattle Times
By ADAM ASHTON
The News-Tribune
TACOMA, Wash.
Shawn Graves said a final goodbye to the world as he lost consciousness. A man wearing a suicide vest had blown himself up inside a dining hall in northern Iraq. Graves had wounds all over his torso, and he did not expect to open his eyes again.
"I thought I was done," he said.
The platoon sergeant from Fort Lewis woke up from his coma three weeks later. He had survived one of the worst attacks against U.S. forces in the Iraq War, an enemy infiltration that claimed 22 lives and wounded more than 70 other people inside a forward base most troops figured was safe.
On the 10th anniversary of the war, Graves still can't explain how he made it through.
Today the 37-year-old combat veteran is sewn up, healed and home with his wife, Elizabeth, in Medical Lake. But his journey isn't over.
It never really is for many of the nearly 32,000 service members who were wounded or injured in the eight-year war, or for the families of the 4,409 service members who lost their lives to it.
"Between the physical wounds and the mental wounds that come with it, it's a lifetime change, and it affects both them and their spouses," said Brittney Hamilton of Tacoma, the director of a nonprofit group called Operation Ward 57 that supports wounded service members.
read more here
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Army won't release Madigan PTSD data
Army withholding findings of Madigan PTSD probe
By Rebecca Ruiz
NBC News contributor
The results of a months-long investigation into the reversal of post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses at Madigan Army Medical Center are being kept confidential.
Earlier this month, Army Secretary John McHugh told reporters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state that the Madigan findings would not be disclosed.
Days later, the Army denied Freedom of Information Act requests for documents related to the controversy made by three Seattle-area news organizations.
George Wright, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon, told NBC News that “concerns brought up in the Madigan matter will be addressed” in a separate forthcoming report by the Army's Task Force on Behavioral Health.
read more here
By Rebecca Ruiz
NBC News contributor
The results of a months-long investigation into the reversal of post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses at Madigan Army Medical Center are being kept confidential.
Earlier this month, Army Secretary John McHugh told reporters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state that the Madigan findings would not be disclosed.
Days later, the Army denied Freedom of Information Act requests for documents related to the controversy made by three Seattle-area news organizations.
George Wright, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon, told NBC News that “concerns brought up in the Madigan matter will be addressed” in a separate forthcoming report by the Army's Task Force on Behavioral Health.
read more here
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Army refuses to release details of Madigan investigation
Army refuses to release details of Madigan investigation
By Adam Ashton
The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)
Published: February 10, 2013
TACOMA, Wash. — Army leaders insist they have fixed flaws in Madigan Army Medical Center’s behavioral health department that resulted in the misdiagnoses of hundreds of patients. But they have refused to release reports that could substantiate their findings and shed light on what happened at the Army hospital last year.
The latest in a long string of denials and non-disclosures happened last week when Secretary of the Army John McHugh visited Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He called a press conference Monday to announce the completion of an Army-wide behavioral health investigation that stemmed from the Madigan reports, but he declined to share it.
McHugh said a task force review had generated 24 findings and 47 recommendations, but he would not release them and described only one. He signed a memo intended to bolster Army wellness programs and left open the door to release more information later.
read more here
By Adam Ashton
The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)
Published: February 10, 2013
TACOMA, Wash. — Army leaders insist they have fixed flaws in Madigan Army Medical Center’s behavioral health department that resulted in the misdiagnoses of hundreds of patients. But they have refused to release reports that could substantiate their findings and shed light on what happened at the Army hospital last year.
The latest in a long string of denials and non-disclosures happened last week when Secretary of the Army John McHugh visited Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He called a press conference Monday to announce the completion of an Army-wide behavioral health investigation that stemmed from the Madigan reports, but he declined to share it.
McHugh said a task force review had generated 24 findings and 47 recommendations, but he would not release them and described only one. He signed a memo intended to bolster Army wellness programs and left open the door to release more information later.
read more here
Friday, February 8, 2013
JBLM soldier arrested in Wisconsin killing
JBLM soldier arrested in Wisconsin killing
A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier has been arrested in connection with the torture and killing of her husband’s autistic stepbrother in Wisconsin last summer.
The News Tribune
STACIA GLENN
STAFF WRITER
Published: Feb. 7, 2013
A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier has been arrested in connection with the torture and killing of her husband’s autistic stepbrother in Wisconsin last summer.
Shannon Remus, 26, who works as a military police officer, waived extradition Wednesday in Pierce County Superior Court and is expected to be transported back to Dane County to face charges in the next few days.
Detectives from Wisconsin arrested her Tuesday on base on suspicion of hiding a corpse. The woman’s husband, Jeffrey Vogelsberg, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse. Vogelsberg’s landlord and mother also are jailed in the case.
read more here
A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier has been arrested in connection with the torture and killing of her husband’s autistic stepbrother in Wisconsin last summer.
The News Tribune
STACIA GLENN
STAFF WRITER
Published: Feb. 7, 2013
A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier has been arrested in connection with the torture and killing of her husband’s autistic stepbrother in Wisconsin last summer.
Shannon Remus, 26, who works as a military police officer, waived extradition Wednesday in Pierce County Superior Court and is expected to be transported back to Dane County to face charges in the next few days.
Detectives from Wisconsin arrested her Tuesday on base on suspicion of hiding a corpse. The woman’s husband, Jeffrey Vogelsberg, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse. Vogelsberg’s landlord and mother also are jailed in the case.
read more here
Monday, February 4, 2013
Secretary of the Army will visit Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Top Army official to unveil new PTSD review at Lewis-McChord
By Mark Miller
Published: Feb 3, 2013
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - The Secretary of the Army will visit Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Monday to unveil the results of a controversial investigation triggered, in part, by local soldiers.
The results could lead to better mental health treatment for troops with post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
In the meantime, base officials are preparing for Monday's high-level visit as Secretary of the Army John McHugh comes under a lot of pressure to do something.
Lewis-McChord soldiers complained last year - accusing Madigan Army Medical Center doctors of changing PTSD diagnoses to other conditions that would cost the government less in benefit payouts.
That charge that upsets some military parents.
"That is important that they take care of these guys when they come back," says military parent Tony Scott. "It's not these guys' fault they did their part. The government should do their part."
Soldiers who wanted KOMO News to hide their identities say they think the Army has not done all it can for soldiers returning from combat with mental health issues.
"Listening and open ears to the soldiers - definitely, they do need to work on that," says one career soldier.
He said he is looking forward to hearing what the secretary will say Monday about the investigation into the complaints.
"You can make your speech - you can say anything. But has it happened yet?"
read more here
By Mark Miller
Published: Feb 3, 2013
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - The Secretary of the Army will visit Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Monday to unveil the results of a controversial investigation triggered, in part, by local soldiers.
The results could lead to better mental health treatment for troops with post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
In the meantime, base officials are preparing for Monday's high-level visit as Secretary of the Army John McHugh comes under a lot of pressure to do something.
Lewis-McChord soldiers complained last year - accusing Madigan Army Medical Center doctors of changing PTSD diagnoses to other conditions that would cost the government less in benefit payouts.
That charge that upsets some military parents.
"That is important that they take care of these guys when they come back," says military parent Tony Scott. "It's not these guys' fault they did their part. The government should do their part."
Soldiers who wanted KOMO News to hide their identities say they think the Army has not done all it can for soldiers returning from combat with mental health issues.
"Listening and open ears to the soldiers - definitely, they do need to work on that," says one career soldier.
He said he is looking forward to hearing what the secretary will say Monday about the investigation into the complaints.
"You can make your speech - you can say anything. But has it happened yet?"
read more here
Monday, December 3, 2012
Man linked to 8 murders found dead in Anchorage jail
Alaska Barista Murder Suspect Found Dead, Linked to 7 Other Killings
ABC News
By ANTHONY CASTELLANO, CHRISTINA NG and KEVIN DOLAK
Dec. 3, 2012
A man charged in the death of an Alaska barista was found dead in his Anchorage jail cell after an apparent suicide, according to police, who also linked him to a series of U.S. homicides.
Israel Keyes, 34, had been facing a March trial in Anchorage federal court for the killing of 18-year-old Samantha Koenig, who was abducted from a coffee kiosk in the city in February.
Authorities wouldn't say how Keyes killed himself, only that he was alone in his cell. An autopsy will be conducted.
After announcing Keyes' apparent suicide at a Sunday news conference, local authorities and the FBI said they believed Keyes was a serial killer linked to at least seven other possible killings in three other states.
ABC News
By ANTHONY CASTELLANO, CHRISTINA NG and KEVIN DOLAK
Dec. 3, 2012
A man charged in the death of an Alaska barista was found dead in his Anchorage jail cell after an apparent suicide, according to police, who also linked him to a series of U.S. homicides.
Israel Keyes, 34, had been facing a March trial in Anchorage federal court for the killing of 18-year-old Samantha Koenig, who was abducted from a coffee kiosk in the city in February.
Authorities wouldn't say how Keyes killed himself, only that he was alone in his cell. An autopsy will be conducted.
After announcing Keyes' apparent suicide at a Sunday news conference, local authorities and the FBI said they believed Keyes was a serial killer linked to at least seven other possible killings in three other states.
Keyes owned a construction company in Anchorage. According to the website for Keyes Construction at the time of his arrest, Keyes worked in Washington State in the mid-1990s and then served three years in the Army infantry, stationed in Fort Lewis, Fort Hood, and Sinai, Egypt. According to the site, he then worked from 2001 to 2007 for the Makah Tribal Council in Neah Bay, Wash., before moving to Alaska.
read more here
Report finds Madigan's head did not influence PTSD diagnoses
Army report backs Madigan leader
Finds Col. Dallas Homas did not use position to influence PTSD diagnoses
ADAM ASHTON
Staff writer
Published December 03, 2012
An Army investigation glowingly endorses the Madigan Army Medical Center commander who temporarily lost his post this year amid complaints about inconsistencies in the hospital’s post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses.
The report found that Col. Dallas Homas “did not exert any undue influence over PTSD diagnoses, and that he acted appropriately enforcing standard medical guidelines,” according to a summary The News Tribune obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
The Army relieved Homas from his command from February until August as part of its investigation into the forensic psychiatry program at the Army hospital south of Tacoma.
Madigan’s forensic team had the last say on behavioral health diagnoses in disability evaluations, and patients couldn’t understand why the team’s psychologists sometimes changed other doctors’ PTSD diagnoses to other conditions.
Concerns about the program reached Homas’ level in part because one doctor in a staff meeting suggested psychologists be mindful of long-term costs to the government in making their diagnoses. PowerPoint slides from the briefing estimated the cost of a diagnosis at $1.5 million over time.
The Army has since given fresh PTSD diagnoses to 150 patients who had passed through the Madigan team over the past four years; all those patients previously were given a clean bill of health or a different diagnosis. Others who want their cases reviewed still can get new opinions.
read more here
Finds Col. Dallas Homas did not use position to influence PTSD diagnoses
ADAM ASHTON
Staff writer
Published December 03, 2012
An Army investigation glowingly endorses the Madigan Army Medical Center commander who temporarily lost his post this year amid complaints about inconsistencies in the hospital’s post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses.
The report found that Col. Dallas Homas “did not exert any undue influence over PTSD diagnoses, and that he acted appropriately enforcing standard medical guidelines,” according to a summary The News Tribune obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
The Army relieved Homas from his command from February until August as part of its investigation into the forensic psychiatry program at the Army hospital south of Tacoma.
Madigan’s forensic team had the last say on behavioral health diagnoses in disability evaluations, and patients couldn’t understand why the team’s psychologists sometimes changed other doctors’ PTSD diagnoses to other conditions.
Concerns about the program reached Homas’ level in part because one doctor in a staff meeting suggested psychologists be mindful of long-term costs to the government in making their diagnoses. PowerPoint slides from the briefing estimated the cost of a diagnosis at $1.5 million over time.
The Army has since given fresh PTSD diagnoses to 150 patients who had passed through the Madigan team over the past four years; all those patients previously were given a clean bill of health or a different diagnosis. Others who want their cases reviewed still can get new opinions.
read more here
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Why would a good reporter get lazy on military suicides?
For Tacoma military base, a grim milestone in soldier suicidesNotice the reporter? ADAM ASHTON; TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE
Joint Base Lewis-McChord passed an unwelcome milestone in 2011, recording more soldier suicides than in any previous year. Twelve soldiers took their own lives in 2011, up from nine in 2010 and nine in 2009, Army I Corps spokesman Lt. Col. Gary Dangerfield said. The total could grow as the Army completes investigations ahead of its annual suicide report next month.
Notice the date? Published: Nov. 27, 2012
So why at the end of this year, after all these reports, was it necessary to release a report that was already known last year?
JBLM suicides hit grim milestone in 2011 ADAM ASHTON; STAFF WRITER Published: Dec. 30, 2011
One service member commits suicide every two days, attempts every two hours September, 2011.
While this report was bad, the fact that almost half of the military suicides happened after they went for help to heal.
By November the news came out about Every 80 minutes another veteran commits suicide and attempted Marine Corps suicides. "11 Marines attempted suicide in October, raising that year-to-date figure to 163 for 2011."
By December "Army has identified 260 potential soldier suicides for 2011"
It turned out that Army Suicides Up 80 Percent Since Iraq War Start
Where are the questions that need to be asked? Where are the stories on families trying to keep their veterans alive or the parents trying to stop blaming themselves after they couldn't? Where are the questions asking about who the hell is being held accountable for any of this? Where are the reports on the failures of the "resiliency training" and suicide prevention the military has been doing for the last 10 years?
There are so many things that could have actually been helpful but this was re-released? What's going on here?
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Military family start charity to help other just like them
Couple pay it forward with charity
MIKE DUNHAM
Anchorage Daily News
Posted : Saturday Nov 24, 2012
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Rich and Tonya Watson are looking for a few good gifts. The couple’s nonprofit enterprise, Christmas for Heroes, is collecting Christmas presents for wounded soldiers and their families attached to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
The holidays can be particularly difficult for injured military personnel, the Watsons say — and they speak from experience.
Rich, a 1993 graduate of Service High School in Anchorage, was seriously wounded in Iraq in 2007.
“A grenade launcher blew up behind me in a crossfire,” he said.
He suffered traumatic brain injuries and was sent back to Fort Lewis, Wash., the home base of his outfit, the 2nd Infantry Division, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
Tonya, who had been working as a substitute teacher and nurse’s assistant, quit work to take care of him.
“Most of his appointments were at the Seattle Veterans Administration Hospital because the military hospital on base was overloaded with other wounded,” she said.
The cost of driving him back and forth to Seattle three or four times a week, the loss of her paycheck and the end of the additional pay he received while in a combat zone combined to create what Tonya described as “a financial disaster.”
It looked like the Watsons and their three children would miss out on Christmas.
“We didn’t have anything,” Rich said. “We didn’t have a tree. We were thinking of skipping a car payment to buy a few presents.”
Then a Seattle law firm stepped in to help.
“To this day we still don’t know the name of the firm,” said Tonya. “But they gave us the Christmas we would have been missing if not for them.”
Other groups helped the Watsons buy food and pay bills.
“After that, we wanted to find a way to show our gratitude and pay it forward,” she said.
read more here
MIKE DUNHAM
Anchorage Daily News
Posted : Saturday Nov 24, 2012
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Rich and Tonya Watson are looking for a few good gifts. The couple’s nonprofit enterprise, Christmas for Heroes, is collecting Christmas presents for wounded soldiers and their families attached to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
The holidays can be particularly difficult for injured military personnel, the Watsons say — and they speak from experience.
Rich, a 1993 graduate of Service High School in Anchorage, was seriously wounded in Iraq in 2007.
“A grenade launcher blew up behind me in a crossfire,” he said.
He suffered traumatic brain injuries and was sent back to Fort Lewis, Wash., the home base of his outfit, the 2nd Infantry Division, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
Tonya, who had been working as a substitute teacher and nurse’s assistant, quit work to take care of him.
“Most of his appointments were at the Seattle Veterans Administration Hospital because the military hospital on base was overloaded with other wounded,” she said.
The cost of driving him back and forth to Seattle three or four times a week, the loss of her paycheck and the end of the additional pay he received while in a combat zone combined to create what Tonya described as “a financial disaster.”
It looked like the Watsons and their three children would miss out on Christmas.
“We didn’t have anything,” Rich said. “We didn’t have a tree. We were thinking of skipping a car payment to buy a few presents.”
Then a Seattle law firm stepped in to help.
“To this day we still don’t know the name of the firm,” said Tonya. “But they gave us the Christmas we would have been missing if not for them.”
Other groups helped the Watsons buy food and pay bills.
“After that, we wanted to find a way to show our gratitude and pay it forward,” she said.
read more here
Friday, November 16, 2012
Review of Madigan PTSD claims, shows they were wrong
Sen. Murray releases tally on PTSD review
By Hal Bernton
Seattle Times staff reporter
November 15, 2012
When the Army re-evaluated the cases of 261 veterans who had been denied medical retirement by a Madigan Army Hospital psychiatric team, it found 150 had post-traumatic stress disorder, and 107 had other behavioral-health diagnoses, according to information released by Sen. Patty Murray.
Of 261 service members and veterans who failed to win health retirement when screened by a forensic psychiatric team at Madigan Army Medical Center, 150 were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder when their cases were reviewed by Army behavioral health teams, according to information released this week by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
One hundred seven more of those service members and veterans received adjustment, anxiety, mood or other behavioral-health diagnoses, when their cases were reviewed.
read more here
By Hal Bernton
Seattle Times staff reporter
November 15, 2012
When the Army re-evaluated the cases of 261 veterans who had been denied medical retirement by a Madigan Army Hospital psychiatric team, it found 150 had post-traumatic stress disorder, and 107 had other behavioral-health diagnoses, according to information released by Sen. Patty Murray.
Of 261 service members and veterans who failed to win health retirement when screened by a forensic psychiatric team at Madigan Army Medical Center, 150 were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder when their cases were reviewed by Army behavioral health teams, according to information released this week by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
One hundred seven more of those service members and veterans received adjustment, anxiety, mood or other behavioral-health diagnoses, when their cases were reviewed.
read more here
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Sergeant Robert Bales, could face death over Afghan massacre
US soldier, Sergeant Robert Bales, could face death over Afghan massacre
By AFP
Nov 14th, 2012
Washington: Prosecutors called Tuesday for a US soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers to face a full court martial and possible death sentence, as a pre-trial hearing ended.
But the family of Sergeant Robert Bales insisted he was innocent until proven guilty, calling him “courageous and honorable,” while his lawyer raised questions about the role of alcohol, drugs and stress in the tragedy.
Wrapping up the case, prosecutors lashed the “brutality” of the alleged massacre in March, outlined during an eight-day hearing at a military base south of Seattle.
“Based on the sheer brutality and nature of the crimes, it is our recommendation to proceed to a general court martial,” said prosecutor Major Rob Stelle at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
He said there were two main reasons why the case should go to a court martial, namely that “something horrible happened” on the night of March 11, and that Bales was clearly aware of what he had done.
read more here
By AFP
Nov 14th, 2012
Washington: Prosecutors called Tuesday for a US soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers to face a full court martial and possible death sentence, as a pre-trial hearing ended.
But the family of Sergeant Robert Bales insisted he was innocent until proven guilty, calling him “courageous and honorable,” while his lawyer raised questions about the role of alcohol, drugs and stress in the tragedy.
Wrapping up the case, prosecutors lashed the “brutality” of the alleged massacre in March, outlined during an eight-day hearing at a military base south of Seattle.
“Based on the sheer brutality and nature of the crimes, it is our recommendation to proceed to a general court martial,” said prosecutor Major Rob Stelle at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
He said there were two main reasons why the case should go to a court martial, namely that “something horrible happened” on the night of March 11, and that Bales was clearly aware of what he had done.
read more here
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Husband of JBLM soldier charged with killing, freezing stepbrother
Husband of JBLM soldier charged with killing, freezing stepbrother
Post by Stacia Glenn
The News Tribune
Nov. 6, 2012
The husband of a Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier was charged today with killing his autistic stepbrother in Wisconsin and freezing his body in a freezer.
Pierce County sheriff’s deputies arrested Jeffrey Vogelsberg, 28, late Monday at the base’s main gate. It’s unclear when he will be extradited to face charges of first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse in the death of 27-year-old Matthew Graville.
At a news conference today, Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said Graville was tortured and abused by Vogelsberg who killed him, froze his body in a freezer and then buried it near Mazomanie last July.
“In 33 years, 25 as a detective, I find it difficult to find another case where an individual took advantage of a developmentally disabled male for their own entertainment,” Mahoney told the Wisconsin State Journal. “Matthew lived a living hell, one in which he could only find peace in death.”
Graville’s mother reported him missing in September, telling police she hadn’t spoken with him since March and that he’d been living with his stepbrother in Mazomanie. The men met when Graville, who suffered from Asperger’s syndrome, was 4.
Graville’s body was found Monday in a makeshift grave. It had been buried on state Department of Natural Resources land.
read more here
Post by Stacia Glenn
The News Tribune
Nov. 6, 2012
The husband of a Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier was charged today with killing his autistic stepbrother in Wisconsin and freezing his body in a freezer.
Pierce County sheriff’s deputies arrested Jeffrey Vogelsberg, 28, late Monday at the base’s main gate. It’s unclear when he will be extradited to face charges of first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse in the death of 27-year-old Matthew Graville.
At a news conference today, Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said Graville was tortured and abused by Vogelsberg who killed him, froze his body in a freezer and then buried it near Mazomanie last July.
“In 33 years, 25 as a detective, I find it difficult to find another case where an individual took advantage of a developmentally disabled male for their own entertainment,” Mahoney told the Wisconsin State Journal. “Matthew lived a living hell, one in which he could only find peace in death.”
Graville’s mother reported him missing in September, telling police she hadn’t spoken with him since March and that he’d been living with his stepbrother in Mazomanie. The men met when Graville, who suffered from Asperger’s syndrome, was 4.
Graville’s body was found Monday in a makeshift grave. It had been buried on state Department of Natural Resources land.
read more here
Soldier says Staff Sgt. Robert Bales confessed
Testimony: U.S. soldier knew he killed Afghans
By Gene Johnson
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Nov 6, 2012
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — Staff Sgt. Robert Bales made a mid-massacre confession, asked for help bleaching his blood-stained clothing and deliberately destroyed his laptop computer, fellow soldiers have testified — statements that prosecutors say show he knew what he was doing the night 16 civilians were slaughtered in two villages in southern Afghanistan.
The remarks, offered by soldiers testifying for the government Monday and Tuesday could pose a high hurdle for defense lawyers who have indicated that Bales’ mental health will be a big part of their case. Testimony continues with several more witnesses Wednesday in a preliminary hearing that is being held to help determine whether the case goes to a court-martial.
read more here on Marine Corps Times
By Gene Johnson
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Nov 6, 2012
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — Staff Sgt. Robert Bales made a mid-massacre confession, asked for help bleaching his blood-stained clothing and deliberately destroyed his laptop computer, fellow soldiers have testified — statements that prosecutors say show he knew what he was doing the night 16 civilians were slaughtered in two villages in southern Afghanistan.
The remarks, offered by soldiers testifying for the government Monday and Tuesday could pose a high hurdle for defense lawyers who have indicated that Bales’ mental health will be a big part of their case. Testimony continues with several more witnesses Wednesday in a preliminary hearing that is being held to help determine whether the case goes to a court-martial.
read more here on Marine Corps Times
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Sgt. 1st Class Justin Strom JBLM soldier struck, killed by Amtrak train
The Olympian
STACIA GLENN
Staff writer
Published October 17, 2012
A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier killed Monday night when an Amtrak Cascades train hit his pickup has been identified as Sgt. 1st Class Justin Strom.
Strom, 34, of Auburn, was assigned to the base’s I Corps and had deployed three times.
He went to Iraq in 2004-05 and 2008-09 and spent seven months in Pakistan last year, said Lt. Col. Gary Dangerfield, I Corps spokesman at the base.
read more here
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
CIA officer killed in Afghanistan
Official: CIA officer killed in Afghanistan
Insider attack Saturday also killed JBLM soldier
Marine Corps Times
By Pauline Jelinek
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Oct 17, 201
WASHINGTON — An officer for the Central Intelligence Agency was among those killed in a suicide bombing at an Afghan intelligence office — the latest so-called “insider attack” in the war, according to one current and one former U.S. official.
The attack Saturday in Kandahar province killed four Afghan intelligence officials and two U.S. intelligence officers. One of the Americans has been identified as a female solider — 24-year-old Spc. Brittany B. Gordon, assigned to a military intelligence company from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
read more here
Insider attack Saturday also killed JBLM soldier
Marine Corps Times
By Pauline Jelinek
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Oct 17, 201
WASHINGTON — An officer for the Central Intelligence Agency was among those killed in a suicide bombing at an Afghan intelligence office — the latest so-called “insider attack” in the war, according to one current and one former U.S. official.
The attack Saturday in Kandahar province killed four Afghan intelligence officials and two U.S. intelligence officers. One of the Americans has been identified as a female solider — 24-year-old Spc. Brittany B. Gordon, assigned to a military intelligence company from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
read more here
Sunday, October 14, 2012
'IED Whisperer' a lifesaver in Afghanistan
This is a great example of how our soldiers are there trying to save lives but the Taliban are there to take lives, no matter who gets killed.
'IED Whisperer' a lifesaver in Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Kelly Rogne, who serves with a battalion from Joint Base Lewis McChord, is known as the "IED whisperer" for his ability to find the makeshift bombs that have extracted such a deadly toll in Afghanistan.
By Hal Bernton
Seattle Times staff reporter
Saturday, October 13, 2012
On a September patrol in Afghanistan's Panjwai District, Staff Sgt. Kelly Rogne of Colville uses a metal detector to search for improvised explosive devices.
BABINEK, Afghanistan — Staff Sgt. Kelly Rogne walked down a dusty village road, rhythmically swinging a metal detector that resembled an oversized hockey stick.
He led a column of more than 20 soldiers past deep-green fields of marijuana that surround this village in Panjwai district, traditional homeland of the Taliban.
To defend this turf, Taliban fighters have seeded Babinek and other areas with dense concentrations of bombs, creating one of the most perilous patrol grounds U.S. soldiers have encountered during more than 11 years of war in Afghanistan.
Rogne, 36, from Colville, Stevens County, has displayed an uncanny ability to find these improvised explosive devices (IEDs). He uses technology, tracking skills and intuition honed by careful study of past bomb placements.
Some call Rogne the "IED Whisperer."
On an early September patrol out of Combat Outpost Mushan, Rogne located 29 IEDs through the course of a painstaking, eight-hour movement across less than a kilometer of road, an accomplishment relayed through the chain of command to Pentagon generals.
Staff Sgt. Caleb Duncan, of Vancouver, Wash., recalls one child, a triple amputee, who was brought to battalion soldiers for medical care.
Duncan said it was one of the worst things he has seen in this war. "You don't have to speak to put out the message: 'Look, the Americans didn't do this, the Taliban did.' " read more here
Friday, October 12, 2012
Staff Sgt. Robert Bales' hearing set
JBLM hearing set in Afghanistan killing spree
October 12, 2012
A pretrial hearing for the soldier accused of an Afghan killing spree has been set for Nov. 5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, with villagers expected to testify by video from Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan.
The Associated Press
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash.
A pretrial hearing for the soldier accused of an Afghan killing spree has been set for Nov. 5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, with villagers expected to testify by video from Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan.
read more here
Staff Sgt. Robert Bales will face an Article 32 hearing in Sept
October 12, 2012
A pretrial hearing for the soldier accused of an Afghan killing spree has been set for Nov. 5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, with villagers expected to testify by video from Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan.
The Associated Press
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash.
A pretrial hearing for the soldier accused of an Afghan killing spree has been set for Nov. 5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, with villagers expected to testify by video from Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan.
read more here
Staff Sgt. Robert Bales will face an Article 32 hearing in Sept
Friday, October 5, 2012
PTSD counselors told to close books on PTSD soldiers at Lewis-McChord
PTSD Counselors Forced to Attend Anti-Union Meetings on Troubled Army Base
Friday, 05 October 2012
By Mike Elk
In These Times
Report
In 2010, the military newspaper Stars and Stripes labeled Fort Lewis-McChord, a joint Army and Air Force base in Washington state, “the most troubled base in the military” due to its inability to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or address mental health problems. Fort Lewis-McChord has one of the highest suicide rates of army bases across the country, and last year had the highest number of total suicides with 16. It was where Sergeant Robert Bales was stationed right before he was shipped to Afghanistan and massacred 16 Afghan civilians--including nine children--last March. And it was where the soldiers who formed a "kill team" that murdered civilians in Afghanistan in 2010 had previously been stationed.
The murders of Afghan civilians and high rates of suicide among the soldiers stationed there are believed to stem from the failure of Lewis-McChord's doctors to adequately treat mental health problems. In the past five years, approximately 300 soldiers saw their PTSD diagnoses reversed by doctors at the base. The Army is currently investigating whether doctors at Lewis-McChord reversed the diagnoses in order to save money.
Now, a Working In These Times investigation has found that workers assigned to help families suffering from the effects of PTSD have been told to close cases on suicidal patients in order to save money, haven't been paid on time and have been forced to attend anti-union meetings that they claim the contractor, Strategic Resources Inc. (SRI), has billed to the federal government, in violation of federal law. (In July, an In These Times expose on union busting at Fort Lewis-McChord spurred a federal investigation into whether General Dynamics was illegally using government dollars to engage in union-busting.)
read more here
Friday, 05 October 2012
By Mike Elk
In These Times
Report
In 2010, the military newspaper Stars and Stripes labeled Fort Lewis-McChord, a joint Army and Air Force base in Washington state, “the most troubled base in the military” due to its inability to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or address mental health problems. Fort Lewis-McChord has one of the highest suicide rates of army bases across the country, and last year had the highest number of total suicides with 16. It was where Sergeant Robert Bales was stationed right before he was shipped to Afghanistan and massacred 16 Afghan civilians--including nine children--last March. And it was where the soldiers who formed a "kill team" that murdered civilians in Afghanistan in 2010 had previously been stationed.
The murders of Afghan civilians and high rates of suicide among the soldiers stationed there are believed to stem from the failure of Lewis-McChord's doctors to adequately treat mental health problems. In the past five years, approximately 300 soldiers saw their PTSD diagnoses reversed by doctors at the base. The Army is currently investigating whether doctors at Lewis-McChord reversed the diagnoses in order to save money.
Now, a Working In These Times investigation has found that workers assigned to help families suffering from the effects of PTSD have been told to close cases on suicidal patients in order to save money, haven't been paid on time and have been forced to attend anti-union meetings that they claim the contractor, Strategic Resources Inc. (SRI), has billed to the federal government, in violation of federal law. (In July, an In These Times expose on union busting at Fort Lewis-McChord spurred a federal investigation into whether General Dynamics was illegally using government dollars to engage in union-busting.)
read more here
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Honor restored for PTSD veteran with "other than honorable" discharge
Good news for veteran discharged without benefits
More than 20,000 men and women have left the Army and Marines in the last four years with other-than-honorable discharges, jeopardizing their benefits and leaving some of them struggling to find treatment for health problems.
By Hal Bernton
Seattle Times staff reporter
September 8, 2012
Jarrid Starks, a troubled Army veteran who received the Bronze Star for Valor but was dismissed from service with an other-than-honorable discharge, has been granted health-care benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Starks was featured in an Aug. 12 Seattle Times story that examined the plight of veterans whose other-than-honorable discharges have put their veteran's benefits at risk.
Starks had been told that it might take a year or more for the VA to undertake a review to see if he is eligible for benefits.
However, Starks, who requested the review in late May, received the VA decision on Aug. 31.
"I was really happy to get the news," said Starks, who was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and now lives in Salem, Ore. "They are already calling me and getting me set up with health-care appointments."
Starks, who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a twisted vertebra and a possible traumatic brain injury before leaving the service.
read more here
More than 20,000 men and women have left the Army and Marines in the last four years with other-than-honorable discharges, jeopardizing their benefits and leaving some of them struggling to find treatment for health problems.
By Hal Bernton
Seattle Times staff reporter
September 8, 2012
STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Jarrid Starks was honored with the Bronze Star for Valor but received an other-than-honorable discharge after more than seven years in the military.
Jarrid Starks, a troubled Army veteran who received the Bronze Star for Valor but was dismissed from service with an other-than-honorable discharge, has been granted health-care benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Starks was featured in an Aug. 12 Seattle Times story that examined the plight of veterans whose other-than-honorable discharges have put their veteran's benefits at risk.
Starks had been told that it might take a year or more for the VA to undertake a review to see if he is eligible for benefits.
However, Starks, who requested the review in late May, received the VA decision on Aug. 31.
"I was really happy to get the news," said Starks, who was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and now lives in Salem, Ore. "They are already calling me and getting me set up with health-care appointments."
Starks, who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a twisted vertebra and a possible traumatic brain injury before leaving the service.
read more here
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