Senator Patty Murray Calls for Changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Wake of Suicides (May 1, 2008)

On May 1, 2008September 21, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, National Guard, Navy, Non Combat Death, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Scandals, Stateside Death, Suicide, Suspicious Deaths, USAF, USCG, USMC, VeteransLeave a comment

Despite recent efforts by the Veterans Administration to prevent veteran suicide, seven have committed suicide in the Inland Northwest in the last four months and US Senator Patty Murray is calling the situation unacceptable. -4 News Now (May 1, 2008)

CBS News: Veteran Suicides An Epidemic (March 20, 2008)

On March 20, 2008September 20, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, National Guard, Navy, Non Combat Death, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Scandals, Stateside Death, Suicide, Suspicious Deaths, USAF, USCG, USMC, VeteransLeave a comment

CBS News first reported on the staggering number of veteran suicides in a report last year. Now, newly-released data shows that vets who get help from the VA are still at risk. Armen Keteyian reports. -CBS News (March 20, 2008)

Cold Case: Air Force Reservist SrA Blanca Luna Discovered Stabbed to Death in Base Lodging at Sheppard AFB in Texas (2008)

On March 7, 2008December 23, 2017 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Cold Cases, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, USAF6 Comments

SrA Blanca Luna, US Air Force (2008) — SrA Blanca Luna, US Air Force Reserve

On March 7, 2008, SrA Blanca A. Luna, 27, US Air Force Reserve, was found unresponsive and with injuries consistent with a stab wound in her billeting room at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas three days prior to graduating and heading back home. She was discovered with a knife in the back of her neck according to the death certificate and no pants or underwear and dried fluid near her groin according to the autopsy. She was taken to a local hospital in Wichita Falls where she died shortly thereafter. She was an Air Force Reservist on temporary duty at Sheppard AFB attending a technical training course for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC). She was a Marine from 1997 to 2002 and then became a Reservist in 2007 at the 434rd Civil Engineer Squadron, Grissom Air Reserve Base in Indiana. She loved the military. She was living in the Chicago, Illinois area and studying Graphic Design.

Because this death occurred on a federal installation, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) was the lead on the investigation. They initially labeled the death a “suspicious incident”. According to AFOSI, the FBI assisted with the investigation. The FBI processed the crime scene and collaborated with the ensuing Air Force investigation. The AFOSI referred to the death as a homicide in the media in the early stages of the investigation. Six months later they would be accused of leading the family to believe it was a suicide despite evidence suggesting otherwise. Six months after her death, no official determination was made as to the manner of death: homicide, suicide, or accident. Eventually, the family learned from the autopsy report that the official manner of death was considered “undetermined”. No suspects were ever identified.

“AFOSI has been the lead investigative agency since Airman Luna’s death. At AFOSI’s request, the FBI sent an evidence response team to process the scene immediately after Airman Luna was found, and the two agencies have continued to cooperate in the investigation. Agents have been assigned to the case on a full-time basis, and more than 350 interviews have been conducted at locations across the country. Findings have been reviewed by a diverse team of experts, including specialists in forensics, polygraph, computer investigation, behavioral psychology and forensic pathology…More than 200 DNA tests have been done.”

Two of Blanca’s friends who had visited her at the base noted that she had talked about problems with some airman in her classes. She felt that they resented her because of her rank and the fact that she was a woman in a leadership position. When Blanca’s body arrived in Chicago, the family observed bruises on Blanca’s face as if she had been punched or had fallen and scratches between her fingers that appeared to be defensive wounds. Luna’s family insists that she would never commit suicide and that the evidence does not support that suggestion. In October 2008, Gloria Barrios traveled to Texas from Chicago to get some answers, including the autopsy report, from the Air Force but she didn’t get anything except a tour of the base. Gloria had questions about the bruises, defensive wounds, and the fluid found near Blanca’s groin but never received any answers. Blanca’s mom feels that this is a cover-up.

The family believes that AFOSI did not investigate the crime with due diligence and was trying to lead them to believe Blanca committed suicide. They initially determined that it was a homicide and investigated it as a crime. This is problematic because instead of listing the death as an unsolved murder or cold case, it can be written off as a suicide and never investigated again. After Gloria’s visit to Sheppard AFB, the Air Force released a statement that said “deaths are investigated as homicides initially, but that nothing suggests that anyone on base is in danger.” This statement is troublesome because the murder occurred within the confines of a secure military base. One cannot get onto the base without military identification. It had to be someone affiliated with the base that either lives and/or works there. The Air Force cannot guarantee the base’s safety when they do not even know who committed the crime. Blanca’s mom wants answers from military officials, and she wants them to classify Luna’s death as a homicide and find the culprit. Was the DNA collected at the scene compared to the national DNA database (CODIS)? Five years later, still with no answers, Gloria Barrios was battling depression and hospitalized. Eight years later, the case is still considered “under investigation” and highlights the need for cold case squads in the military.

“My gut feeling is they are looking for a culprit outside of the base, but the murderer is on the base. They’re looking in the wrong place…I can’t express what I feel about these people. They’re [Air Force] treating me like dirt. They are driving me crazy. It’s like they’re playing with my mind, giving me bad information.” -Gloria Barrios (Blanca’s mom)

The incident is under investigation by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Sheppard AFB security forces squadron. Anyone with information regarding the case should call Sheppard Air Force Base security forces at (940) 676-2981 [or Sheppard AFOSI at (940) 676-1852].

Eye to Eye with Katie Couric on CBS News: Veterans and Suicide (November 13, 2007)

On November 13, 2007September 20, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, National Guard, Navy, Non Combat Death, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Scandals, Stateside Death, Suicide, Suspicious Deaths, USAF, USCG, USMC, VeteransLeave a comment

Paul Sullivan of Veterans for Common Sense tells Armen Keteyian that the No. 1 problem facing vets of Afghanistan and Iraq will be mental health. -CBS News (November 13, 2007)

President George W. Bush Signed the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act Into Law (November 5, 2007)

On November 5, 2007September 3, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, National Guard, Navy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Stateside Death, Suicide, USAF, USCG, USMC, VeteransLeave a comment

House of Representatives Veterans Suicide Prevention Act Debate:

The House debates the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, which directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop and implement a comprehensive program to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. The bill is named for an Iraq veteran who took his own life, and recognizes the special needs of veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and elderly veterans who are at high risk for depression and experience high rates of suicide. The bill follows hearings in the Oversight and Veterans Affairs committees seeking to address the tragic mental anguish experienced by many veterans, and is part of ongoing, comprehensive efforts by the new Congress to make veterans a top priority. Rep. Tim Walz speaks in favor. -Nancy Pelosi (October 23, 2007)

Rep. Bruce Braley speaks in favor. -Nancy Pelosi (October 23, 2007)

Rep. Tim Walz speaks in favor. -Nancy Pelosi (October 23, 2007)

Congressman Boswell’s floor statement before the final passage of the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act. (October 23, 2007)

Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act Signed Into Law:

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, Congressman Leonard Boswell, Sen. Tom Harkin and Sen. Charles Grassley present Randy and Ellen Omvig with the red line copy of the bill signed by President George W. Bush at a Jan. 25 ceremony at the Iowa Statehouse. Joshua Omvig was an Iowa soldier who committed suicide upon returning home from Iraq. The Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, authored by Boswell, is now national law. –
IowaPoliticsDotCom (January 25, 2008)

Part 1 -IowaPoliticsDotCom (January 25, 2008)

Part 2 -IowaPoliticsDotCom (January 25, 2008)

Part 3 -IowaPoliticsDotCom (January 25, 2008)

Rep. Boswell Asks for Increased Funding for Soldier Suicide Prevention:

In 2007, Boswell’s legislation, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, was the first major legislation passed and signed into law to address and prevent veteran suicide. Since enactment, the Veterans Crisis Hotline and VA Suicide Prevention Coordinators have made more than 21,000 life-saving rescues. -Rep. Leonard Boswell (July 9, 2012)

September: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2007)

On September 30, 2007September 10, 2017 By AdministratorIn Accidents, Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, National Guard, Navy, Non Combat Death, Suicide, USAF, USMCLeave a comment

09/27/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Mathew Taylor, 21, Afghanistan, Vicenza, Italy

09/27/2007: Airman Missing In Action From WWII is Identified

09/27/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Pfeifer, 21, Afghanistan, Schweinfurt, Germany

09/26/2007: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: Charles Milam, 26, Afghanistan, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/26/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Zachary Tomczak, 24, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/26/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Anthony Bento, 23, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/26/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Kevin Brown, 38, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/25/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Matthew Blaskowski, 27, Afghanistan, Vicenza, Italy

09/24/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Watson, 29, NCD, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/24/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joshua Reeves, 26, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

09/23/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jonathan Lankford, 42, NCD, Iraq, Joint Base San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston), Texas

09/22/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Roselle Hoffmaster, 32, NCD, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

09/22/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: John Young, 24, NCD, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

09/21/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Luigi Marciante Jr, 25, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/21/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Graham McMahon, 22, NCD, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/20/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Edmund Jeffers, 23, NCD, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

09/20/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christian Neff, 19, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

09/19/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Aaron Walker, 23, Iraq, Vilseck, Germany

09/19/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Joseph Landry III, 23, Nicholas Olson, 22, and Donald Valentine III, 21, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington

09/19/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Matthew Emerson, 20, NCD, Iraq, Fort Bliss, Texas

09/18/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brandon Thorsen, 22, NCD, Iraq, Fort Bliss, Texas

09/17/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Townes, 29, NCD, Iraq, Fort Hood

09/17/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Terry Wagoner, 28, Todd Motley, 23, Jonathan Rivadeneiva, 22, and Christopher McCloud, 24, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/17/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Terrence Allen, 21, NCD, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/17/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: John Mele, 25, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

09/14/2007: Marine Missing From Korean War Is Identified

09/13/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Yance Gray, 26, Gregory Rivera-Santiago, 26, Michael Hardegree, 21, Omar Mora, 28, Nicholas Patterson, 24, Ari Brown-Weeks, 23, and Steven Elrod, 20, NCDs, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/12/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Courtney Hollinsworth, 26, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

09/12/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Carlos Gilorozco, 23, and Jon Hicks Jr, 20, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/12/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Travis Woods, 21, Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, California

09/11/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Javier Paredes, 24, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

09/11/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Sammie Phillips, 19, NCD, Iraq, Kentucky Army National Guard

09/11/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Lance Clark, 21, NCD, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/11/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Alexander Gagalac, 28, Iraq, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

09/10/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Drew Jensen, 27, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/10/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Marisol Heredia, 19, NCD, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/10/2007: History Of 9/11 Attack On The Pentagon Published

09/10/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Ryan Woodward, 22, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/10/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Christopher Poole Jr, 22, Bryan Scripsick, 22, John Stock, 26, and Michael Yarbrough, 24, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/08/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Lee Wilson, 30, Jason Hernandez, 21, and Thomas Hilbert, 20, Iraq, Fort Bliss, Texas

09/08/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Mykel Miller, 19, Afghanistan, Arizona Army National Guard

09/07/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Joel Murray, 26, David Lane, 20, and Randol Shelton, 22, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

09/07/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Keith Nurnberg, 26, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

09/07/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Cooper Jr, 36, NCD, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/07/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Delmar White, 37, Iraq, Kentucky Army National Guard

09/06/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: William Warford III, 24, and Dane Balcon, 19, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/05/2007: Airman Missing from WWII is Identified

09/05/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Rodney Johnson, 20, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

09/05/2007: DoD Identifies Air Force Casualty: Patrick Magnani, 38, NCD, Afghanistan, Aviano Air Base, Italy

09/05/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Patton, 21, NCD, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/05/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Kevin Gilbertson, 24, Iraq, Schweinfurt, Germany

09/03/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Justin Sanders, 22, NCD, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/03/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Travis Virgadamo, 19, NCD, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

09/01/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Daniel Scheibner, 40, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/01/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Andrew Nelson, 22, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2007)

On August 31, 2007August 19, 2017 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, Non Combat Death, USAF, USMCLeave a comment

08/31/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jason Butkus, 34, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

08/30/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Edward Brooks, 25, Iraq, Schweinfurt, Germany

08/30/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: John Tanner, 21, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/30/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Erick Foster, 29, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/30/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Henry Ofeciar, 37, Afghanistan, Fort Riley, Kansas

08/30/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Scott Ball, 38, and Jan Argonish, 26, Afghanistan, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

08/29/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Rocky Herrera, 43, Cory Clark, 25, and Bryce Howard, 24, Afghanistan, Fort Lewis, Washington

08/29/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James Collins Jr., 35, Iraq, U.S. Army Reserve, Jackson, Michigan

08/29/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Thomas Wilson, 21, Afghanistan, Vicenza, Italy

08/28/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Rogelio Ramirez, 21, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/27/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Nicholas Carnes, 25, Afghanistan, Kentucky Army National Guard

08/27/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Joshua Morley, 22, and Tracy Willis, 21, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/27/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Matthew Medlicott, 21, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/25/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Daniel Miller, 43, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Riley, Kansas

08/25/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Scott Carney, 37, NCD, Afghanistan, Iowa Army National Guard

08/25/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Heringes, 36, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/25/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Edgar Cardenas, 34, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/25/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Adrian Elizalde, 30, and Michael Tully, 33, Iraq, Fort Lewis, Washington

08/23/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Sandy Britt, 30, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/23/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Corry Tyler, 29, Paul Flynn, 28, Matthew Tallman, 30, Rickey Bell, 21, NCD, Iraq, Fort Lewis, Washington

08/23/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Derek Dobogal, 26, Jason Paton, 25, Garrett McLead, 23, Jeremy Boufard, 21, Phillip Brodnick, 25, Joshua Harmon, 20, Nathan Hubbard, 21, Michael Hook, 25, Jessy Pollard, 22, and Tyler Seideman, 20, NCD, Iraq, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

08/23/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Omar Torres, 20, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/23/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Donovan Witham, 20, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/23/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Willard Powell, 21, Iraq, Fort Lewis, Washington

08/22/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: George Libby, 23, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Lewis, Washington

08/20/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Paul Norris, 30, and Kamisha Block, 20, NCD, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/20/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Fielder, 35, NCD, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/20/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jonathan Edds, 24, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/19/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Princess Samuels, 22, and Zandra Walker, 28, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/16/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Robert Pirelli, 29, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/16/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Alun Howells, 20, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/16/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Eric Cottrell, 39, Juan Lopez Jr., 23, and Paulomarko Pacificador, 24, Iraq, Fort Bliss, Texas

08/16/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Christopher Johnson, 31, Jackie McFarlane Jr, 30, Sean Fisher, 29, Stanley Reynolds, 37, and Steven Jewell, 26, NCD, Iraq, Fort Wainwright, Alaska

08/15/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Alicia Birchett, 29, NCD, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/15/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Shawn Hensel, 20, Iraq, Fort Lewis, Washington

08/15/2007: Air Force Pilot Missing From Vietnam War Is Identified: Alton C. Rockett, Jr.

08/14/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: William Scates, 31, Scott Kirkpatrick, 26, Andrew Lancaster, 23, and Justin Penrod, 24, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/14/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Michael Tayaotao, 27, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/13/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Jeffrey Kettle, 31, Jesse Clowers, 27, and Charles Kitowski, 31, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/13/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: William Edwards, 23, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/13/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Alan Austin, 21, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/13/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jordan Goode, 21, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/13/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joan Duran, 24, NCD, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/10/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Reynold Armand, 21, NCD, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/09/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Donald Young, 19, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/09/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Jacob Thompson, 26, Nicholas Gummersall, 23, Juan Alcantra, 22, and Kareem Khan, 20, Iraq, Fort Lewis, Washington

08/08/2007: Soldier Missing In Action From The Korean War Is Identified: Frank Bunchuk, U.S. Army

08/07/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Justin Blackwell, 27, and Jeremy Bohannon, 18, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/07/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Jon Bonnell Jr., 22, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/07/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Neiberger, 2, Iraq, Schweinfurt, Germany

08/07/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Travis Bachman, 30, Iraq, Kansas Army National Guard

08/07/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Bradley Marshall, 37, and Daniel Reyes, 24, Iraq, Fort Richardson, Alaska

08/07/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Charles Leonard Jr., 29, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/06/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Matthew Murchison, 21, Iraq, Hanau, Germany

08/06/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Dustin Wakeman, 25, Jason Lafleur, 28, and Jaron Holliday, 21, Iraq, Fort Richardson, Alaska

08/06/2007: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Cristian Vasquez, 20, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/06/2007: Soldiers Mia From Vietnam War Are Accounted For: Dennis C. Hamilton, of Barnes City, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer Sheldon D. Schultz, of Altoona, Pa.; Sgt. 1st Class Ernest F. Briggs Jr., of San Antonio, Texas; Sgt. 1st Class John T. Gallagher, of Hamden, Conn.; and Sgt. 1st Class James D. Williamson, of Olympia, Wash

08/06/2007: DoD Identifies Air Force Casualty: Joey Link, 29, NCD, Germany, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas

08/05/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Braden Long, 19, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

08/05/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Julian Rios, 52, Iraq, Puerto Rico Army National Guard

08/05/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Fernando Santos, 29, Christian Rojas-Gallego, 24, and Eric Salinas, 25, Iraq, Fort Lewis, Washington

08/04/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Taurean Harris, 22, Afghanistan, Fort Gordon, Georgia

08/03/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Zachariah Gonzalez, 23, Charles Heinlein, 23, and Alfred Jairala, 29, Iraq, Fort Lewis, Washington

08/03/2007: Airmen Missing in Action from Vietnam War are Identified: James H. Ayres, of Pampa, Texas, US Air Force and Lt. Col. Charles W. Stratton, Dallas, Texas, U.S.Air Force

08/02/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jason Kessler, 29, Iraq, Fort Lewis, Washington

08/02/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Stephen Maddies, 41, Iraq, Tennessee Army National Guard

08/01/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Benjamin Hall, 24, Afghanistan, Vicenza, Italy

08/01/2007: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Camy Florexil, 20, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams Featured ‘The Other PTSD: Sexual Abuse of Women in the Military’ (May 4, 2007)

On May 4, 2007February 23, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, In Their Name, Medical, Military Policy, Navy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Scandals, Sexual Assault, Suicide, USAF, USCG, USMC, VeteransLeave a comment

The Other PTSD: Sexual Abuse of Women in the Military, NBC Nightly News (May 4, 2007)

“All the stories you hear about women not doing anything about it and crawling into their own little hole and hiding from it and not talking about it — I always thought, ‘Well, that’s ridiculous. If it happens to me, I’m gonna be out there,” Tina says. “That’s not what I did at all. I hid and I didn’t talk about it.” –NBC Nightly News

Air Force Reservist Karl Hoerig Murdered at Home; Suspect & Spouse Claudia Fled to Brazil to Avoid Extradition; 10 Years Later Back in US to Face Charges (March 12, 2007)

On March 12, 2007September 6, 2018 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Scandals, USAFLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2018-02-23 at 6.51.30 PM — Karl Hoerig, Air Force Reserve

48 Hours:

After “48 Hours” correspondent Erin Moriarty tracks down the accused killer of a decorated military pilot in Brazil, the woman is extradited to the United States . Will the pilot’s family get justice?

To get justice for his death, Karl Hoerig’s family in the United States must first navigate the Brazilian criminal justice system, which may keep his suspected murderer from facing extradition. -48 Hours

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio, 13th District) has appealed to three U.S. Presidents to try and help Major Karl Hoerig’s family get justice for the U.S. Air Force veteran’s murder. “48 Hours” Erin Moriarty talks to the congressman about his push to have Claudia Hoerig extradited to the United States to stand trial. -48 Hours

The family of a murdered military hero is embroiled in an international fight for justice. Karl Hoerig was killed in his Ohio home in March 2007. His family immediately suspected his wife, Claudia, but she boarded a flight to her native Brazil hours after her husband’s death. U.S. investigators charged Claudia with murder, but more than 10 years later, the Hoerig family is still seeking justice. Erin Moriarty, who traveled to Brazil to track down Claudia, joins “CBS This Morning” to preview her “48 Hours” report.

Missing: Lackland AFB Nurse 1st Lt. Nonnie Dotson Disappeared; Last Seen at Brother’s Home in Littleton, Colorado While on Leave (November 19th, 2006)

On November 19, 2006July 27, 2020 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Cold Cases, Felony Crime, In Their Name, Military Policy, Missing, USAFLeave a comment

Editors Note: Need to get up to speed quick with the missing case of Lackland Air Force Base nurse Nonnie Dotson, please check out Episode 4 on the Military Murder Podcast

Air Force nurse 1st Lt. Nonnie Dotson, 33, was last seen by family members the afternoon of November 19th, 2006. She left her brother Tony Dotson’s residence in Littleton, Colorado where she had been visiting, and told him she was going to have a smoothie with friends. Dotson had no vehicle with her so she either left the residence on foot or was given a ride. Dotson had flown into Colorado by commercial airline on November 16, 2006 from San Antonio, Texas, where she was on active duty serving as a nurse at Lackland Air Force Base with the United States Air Force. She failed to return to active duty as scheduled and the return flight portion of her ticket was never used. She left behind a 16-month-old daughter at her brother’s home in Colorado. She was scheduled to discharge from the Air Force in March 2007.

“The day after Nonnie disappeared, police did get a ping from her cell phone not far from the area she was last seen. Dogs traced her scent there, but no evidence was found.” –9 News

Investigators believe Nonnie was taken against her will and her parents know she wouldn’t just walk off. Cold case detectives said solving the disappearance of Nonnie Dotson is going to take someone coming forward after all these years to say ‘this is what I know happened.’ Nonnie Dotson’s family is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. The Denver Post reports, “the Doyles are using their retirement money for legal fees, and trying to sell their house in California with the hope of using the money to increase the reward to $100,000.” Please click here for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation case details for Nonnie Ann Dotson. Anyone with information about Nonnie’s disappearance is asked to call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. A detective has been assigned to the case.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 303-271-5612. (Reference NamUs #MP10563)

Nonnie Ann Dotson

Missing Poster:

Nonnie Dotson CO Lostnmissing — Colorado LostnMissing: Nonnie Dotson

Colorado Bureau of Investigation:

Colorado Bureau of Investigation

In the News:

“Nancy Grace America’s Missing” spotlights the case of missing 31-year-old Nonnie Dotson of San Antonio, Texas. -HLN (February 11, 2011)

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Category: USAF

Senator Patty Murray Calls for Changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Wake of Suicides (May 1, 2008)

CBS News: Veteran Suicides An Epidemic (March 20, 2008)

Cold Case: Air Force Reservist SrA Blanca Luna Discovered Stabbed to Death in Base Lodging at Sheppard AFB in Texas (2008)

Eye to Eye with Katie Couric on CBS News: Veterans and Suicide (November 13, 2007)

President George W. Bush Signed the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act Into Law (November 5, 2007)

September: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2007)

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2007)

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams Featured ‘The Other PTSD: Sexual Abuse of Women in the Military’ (May 4, 2007)

Air Force Reservist Karl Hoerig Murdered at Home; Suspect & Spouse Claudia Fled to Brazil to Avoid Extradition; 10 Years Later Back in US to Face Charges (March 12, 2007)

Missing: Lackland AFB Nurse 1st Lt. Nonnie Dotson Disappeared; Last Seen at Brother’s Home in Littleton, Colorado While on Leave (November 19th, 2006)

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