Delay in trial of Sgt. John Russell leaves families frustrated

Family Frustrated by Wait in Army Fratricide Case
Mar 04, 2013
Stars and Stripes
by Megan McCloskey

WASHINGTON -- It’s been almost four years since the deadliest case of American fratricide in the Iraq War, and the Army sergeant accused of killing five of his fellow servicemembers has yet to face a court-martial.

The lengthy delay has one victim’s family questioning what, exactly, is keeping the Army from moving faster on the case.

“It’s just not justified. There’s really no good reason,” Tom Springle said. “We’ve waited long enough.”

His brother, Navy Cmdr. Charles Keith Springle, was among those killed in May 2009 at Camp Liberty in Baghdad when Sgt. John Russell allegedly opened fire on the combat-stress clinic there.

Finally, late last year, after years of delays on both sides, the court-martial date was set for March 11, but it was recently pushed back to late April because the prosecution hadn’t provided the defense with court-ordered funds for expert witnesses.

“I wouldn’t be afraid to bet money this April there’s still no court-martial,” Springle said.

The Springle family has company in their frustration with those still awaiting the trial of Maj. Nidal Hasan more than three years after he allegedly killed 13 people and wounded dozens of others in a shooting at Fort Hood in November 2009. So far, no court-martial dates have held up in that case either with delay after delay, and both groups of victims are angered by the drawn-out process that to them is seemingly without reason.
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Sgt. John Russell trial, example of what went wrong

Struggling to survive in the new media news world

There is a fascinating article on Salon this morning. Mainstream Media Meltdown by Robert McChesney. He talks about how old media is struggling to survive and how new media is trying to figure out how to grow up. How do you do that when new media does not have the resources old media has? How do you do that when there is absolutely a dire need for it? Think about all the articles you read here on Wounded Times. Other than the articles I write addressing veterans and their families, the over 18,000 posts here are linked back to, you guessed it, news sites.

I have an ethical code to live by and since 2007 I have kept that code of ethics. I don't trust blogs even though I have this one. I don't trust them if they cannot link their claims to sources, so most of the time they are not worth reading. You shouldn't trust this one either. Read what I write and then look at the links. Read what is there and if there are links on that, track it back to the source to make sure you are reading the right information.

I am just like very other person in this world and we have to remember "journalists" are people too. No matter what you read know they have their own personal ideas that come out. When they research something, they have their own thoughts so unless the story leads them to something they didn't know, they will not really change their minds.

I have an agenda. To end the mind-boggling-head-pounding-twisted ignorance of the American people because reporters have failed to do their jobs. Usually my wrath is directed toward the big boys, like national news stations and publications. Most of the news you read here comes from small town stations and papers and to tell you the truth, they do a better job of telling the stories that matter to us.

While this article was about many things, this part jumped out at me and slapped me in the face.

There is probably no better evidence that journalism is a public good than the fact that none of America’s financial geniuses can figure out how to make money off it.

When I was in college for Digital Media at Valencia one of my professors Matt Messenger, (who happened to be at least one of my professors every semester) was talking to the class about our future. He said "Obviously you're moving to New York or California because that's where the jobs are" and then he looked right at me "You, you we just need to find a way for you to make money." I am busy to the point of post-retirement. (Ever notice how people get more busy after they retire?) He knew the content of my blog, book and videos are all about veterans and their families. Since Florida has the 3rd largest veterans population in the country, he knew there would be plenty of news for me to cover right here so when he saw the content from around the country, it blew him away.

But how do I make money doing it? The charities sponsoring the over 40 events I filmed last year didn't have extra money to pay for the videos I put up on YouTube. The 14 hour days I put in on this blog and helping families 7 days a week depends on donations but after begging over and over again, last year I made a total of under $3,000 in donations but it cost me a lot more than that, so no, I couldn't even break even. My family tries to get me out of feeling depressed about not working! Not working? Yes because while I do work I don't get paid!

This "news multi media" site is important because it covers things we care about but the big boys don't. Readers are pretty loyal but even they don't find enough value in it to support it. So if you have any ideas on how to do what even more popular sites can't figure out how to do, clue me in. If I don't tell you what is going on, who will?

60 Minutes features Marine Clay Hunt

UPDATE
I should have said this last night. I received a call from Cathy Haynes on this program. I wouldn't have known it was on without her because I was in the shower washing my hair. My husband told me when I came out of the bedroom she called. Yep, that's how my day goes.

When I posted this, I cried. I still remember the sickening feeling in my throat.

Marine Clay Hunt another after combat casualty
April 9, 2011
Marine Clay Hunt became another after combat casualty when he took his own life. By all accounts, Hunt did everything experts say he needed to do. He went to the VA and got help. He talked about having PTSD openly, meaning the stigma induced silence was not a factor. Hunt went even beyond that and got involved trying to save the lives of others with PTSD. Even with all of this including an informed, supportive family, Hunt lost his battle after battle.

60 Minutes just featured his story. I just cried again. Not because I knew him, but because I knew too many like him. I cried for his family even though I never talked to them because I talked to too many families just like his. There needs to be a lot more reports like this because everyday, we lose at least 22 of them.

When the military kills you how do you know?

When the military kills you how do you know?
by Kathie Costos
Wounded Times Blog
March 3, 2013

When Irish died in Washington DC, a shockwave went out across the country but unless you were paying attention to what was going on and what this woman was doing to try to fix the way female veterans, as well as males, were treated, then you wouldn't have known. This is a copy of the testimony she gave.
September 14, 2006 Before the VA Disability Commission in Washington, DC It wasn't the first time she went to Washington and it wouldn't be here last. That came in 2008.
This is just part of what she said in 2006

I wish to address the VA's hierarchy’s constant, immoral and intentional denial of service connected compensation and entitlements to veterans exposed to these chemical agents and total disregard to the regulations pertaining to this exposure. And to their widows/widowers and most of all the innocent, who bear our service, the children and grandchildren who die from Agent Orange or those who lived and bear the scars of their parents or grandparents service. The Agent Orange babies. I am one of those Agent Orange ( Dioxin) victims, service connected, who have been denied entitlements, medical care and compensation. Diagnosed at Walter Reed Medical Hospital, on active duty, source of exposure identified as Fort McClellan, Alabama. Fort Ritchie, Maryland and Fort Drum, NY have also been identified as Agent Orange sites and I have served on these Installations also. I have had this poison of multiple chemical exposure, including Agent Orange, in my body since I was 20 years old and I will be 56 years old next month.

Capt. Agnes "Irish" Bresnahan.

Jun 16, 2009 My sister was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors yesterday Monday 15,2009. I would like to thank you for your support for my family and ask that you pray for all the vets and active duty servicemen especially my nephew, Matt Gatley who was deployed the day before the funeral of his aunt. I would like to personally thank Chris Abel of Rainbow whose actions allowed me to attend my sisters funeral. All the best to you and yours, sincerely , Jim Bresnahan

Most people were shocked when they heard about Camp Lejeune and the contamination. Unfortunately friends of mine are very upset because they didn't know some of the bases they were on were also contaminated.

How could they know? It isn't as if the mainstream media has had time to report on any of this. After all, they have too many other news stories to cover like a murder trial of a sports star in South Africa along with every other topic that should only get about a couple of seconds worth of coverage, if that much. But we have our 24-7 news shows now? People were a lot more informed when they had less because the news stations we had way back did more with the time they did have.

There is a conversation going on about Fort McClellan and a friend of mine that served there. She didn't know it was contaminated. Now she's shocked no one told her or how she could have ended up with the health problems she has had for years. It turns out she served on two bases that have been found to be contaminated.

This site has been up for a long time, so it isn't as if it was a huge secret as long as people were searching for it.
Blue Water Navy Veterans
The problem is, most people rely on the media to tell them and assume if it is an important story, they will stay with it. Ha, ha, ha. As if that has happened in a long time. Anyway, while I'm sure we're going to get every detail about the trial in South Africa and be treated to endless hours of England's Queen in the hospital, our veterans will be shoved aside.

The following 59 U.S. military bases were suffering from significant water or soil contamination a year ago, according to the Department of Defense's interpretation of its latest hazardous waste survey. DoD officials say not every base suffering such contamination is on the list, because information was not available for all bases. The list is based on the latest status report for DoD's Installation Restoration Program.

Here's the list of bases. Go to the link to read about them.

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
Fort A.P. Hill, VA
Fort Belvoir, VA
Fort Devens, MA
Fort Dix, NJ
Fort Lewis, WA
Fort McClellan, AL
Redstone Arsenal, AL

Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Center, NJ
Moffett Field NAS, CA
Whidbey Island NAS, WA
China Lake, CA
Indian Head NOS, MD
Jacksonville NAS, FL
Miramar NAS, CA
Pabmont River NAS, MD
Roosevelt Roads NS, Puerto Rico

Castle AFB, CA
Dover AFB, DE
Griffiss AFB, NY
Hill AFB, UT
Mather AFB, CA
McChord AFB, WA
McClellan AFB, CA
Norton AFB, CA
Robins AFB, GA
Tinker AFB, OK
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

I miss my friend very much. I think she'd be very ashamed knowing after all of her years of dedication fighting for justice, not just for herself, but for all veterans, has resulted in veterans still not knowing that while the enemy didn't kill them, the military may have.

8 days after release from VA, veteran killed himself and wife

Fireworks, common unsettling event if you have PTSD and has not been treated. Hell, it can be hard even if they have been treated. This set of a chain of events that should prove once and for all, when it comes to suicides tied to military service, too much of the wrong things are being done and not enough of the good stuff is happening.

The veteran in this case tried to kill himself but survived. For 3 days, not weeks, not months, only 3 days, the VA watched over him. What happened in those 3 short days is anyone's guess. Was it all about medications? Observation? Therapy? Whomever decided 3 days was long enough to undo whatever it was that nearly cost this man his life, should have their own head examined.

8 days after the VA discharged him, his wife didn't survive and neither did he.

Family questions whether veteran got the care he needed from the VA hospital
Fayetteville Observer
Mar 03, 2013

The bullet missed, leaving only a flash burn and giving Adams a second lease on life.

Two days later, Nicole Fairfax said, she drove her father to the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he told an emergency room nurse that he was still having suicidal thoughts.

Adams spent three days in the hospital's mental health ward. Eight days after his release, he shot and killed his wife of 38 years, Cathy, and then himself at their Lumberton home.

He was 62; she was 56.

Now, the family questions whether the VA adequately cared for a man once regarded by many as a pillar of his community.

Family members say Adams had been severely depressed for weeks before his death.

Adams' son-in-law, Jason Fairfax, said that earlier July 4, Adams and other family members went to Lumberton High School to watch fireworks. Adams seemed withdrawn, Fairfax said, and he paced around a lot.

Two days later, when Nicole Fairfax drove her father to the VA, he told her about his suicide attempt.

"He said, 'I can't do it anymore. I need help,' " she said. "He just kept shaking me and telling me he loved me."

In the week of Sept. 10, a team from the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General went to the Fayetteville VA to evaluate patient care and other hospital operations. The inspection appears to have been unrelated to Adams' death.

According to the team's report, it found that the VA failed to properly follow up with nine of 10 patients whose names appeared on a list of people considered at high risk of suicide.
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