US Army Veteran Tomas Young (photo by Danny Clinch)
“I write this letter on behalf of those veterans whose trauma and self-revulsion for what they have witnessed, endured and done in Iraq have led to suicide and on behalf of the active-duty soldiers and Marines who commit, on average, a suicide a day. I write this letter on behalf of the some 1 million Iraqi dead and on behalf of the countless Iraqi wounded. I write this letter on behalf of us all — the human detritus your war has left behind, those who will spend their lives in unending pain and grief.” -Tomas Young, Disabled Army Veteran
Read the rest of The Last Letter to Bush and Cheney here.
Tomas Young, who joined the Army in the days after 9/11, was deployed to Iraq where he was shot and paralyzed just five days into his tour of duty. He spent ten years battling his injuries and speaking out against war and injustice before his death on the eve of Veterans’ Day, 2014. “Tomas told me that one of the reasons he joined the Army was to obtain GI Bill funding so he could go to college,” said [Mark] Wilkerson (author of Tomas Young’s War). “He wanted to study creative writing or journalism. After his passing, we felt a scholarship would be a perfect way to honor his legacy.” –Pearl Jam
Body of War, a film by Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue. It is an intimate and transformational feature documentary about the true face of war today. -The Real News
Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, US Marine Corps, sentenced to 6-12 years in a Philippine prison for killing Jennifer Laude, a trans Filipina sex worker, in October 2014.
“His sentence was downgraded from the usual 20 to 40 years for homicide under Philippine law, in part because Laude failed to disclose to Pemberton that she was trans.” -Buzz Feed
The Kill Team is a PBS documentary featuring the Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers in Washington who were accused of murdering innocent Afghanistan civilians on a deployment in 2010. The media came up with ‘The Kill Team’ designator to describe the actions of five Army soldiers specifically who were involved in this scandal. It turns out it wasn’t the scandal the media made it out to be after all yet all five soldiers featured in the media were sanctioned regardless. There were a total of eleven enlisted soldiers who were punished for their actions in Afghanistan. No Army leadership at the base were held accountable. The real scandals are the lack of oversight in Afghanistan, the lack of accountability for leadership, and the broken military justice system. This film clearly shows how the military justice system operates differently then the civilian justice system. If you want to learn more about how military justice works, watch this film. This film depicted the toxic leadership in the ‘Platoon from Hell’ and the dangers of being a whistleblower in the US Army. The Kill Team was nominated for an Emmy by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The Kill Team is now available for purchase on I-Tunes, Amazon Prime, Netflix, or where ever you purchase or rent films digitally.
Calvin Gibbs: Sentenced to Life; Granted new hearing in 2016 Andrew Holmes: Sentenced to 7 years in prison; Released from prison Jeremy Morlock: Sentenced to 8 years in prison Michael Wagnon: Murder charges dropped by Army Adam Winfield: Sentenced to 3 years; Released from prison
The American Army Has a Huge Hidden Rape Problem (June 23, 2016)
“What happened to LaVena Lynn Johnson and so many others speaks to a Pentagon culture which more closely resembles a rogue government–than a legitimate branch serving under civilian control. It is highly telling that this family, along with the Tillman family each had to have a documentary film made JUST TO ALERT THE PUBLIC TO THE TRUTH OF PENTAGON COVER-UPS. I urge everyone to view this important documentary–before the local military recruiter mandated under No Child Left Behind–‘friends’ their child at school. God forbid, they could wind up coming home in a body bag–like LaVena.” Read more from Truthouthere.
In the News:
Pfc. LaVena Johnson died in Iraq on July 19th, 2005 and her family needs your help. -Unsolved Mysteries (September 26, 2014)
Marine Corps spouse Erin Corwin, 19, was reported missing on June 29, 2014 by her husband who was stationed at Camp Pendleton near Twentynine Palms in California. After an extensive investigation and search, Erin’s body was found in an abandoned mine shaft on August 16th, 2014. During the investigation, authorities learned that Erin was having an affair with another Marine. This Marine was identified as Christopher Lee, 29, who was arrested in Alaska after Erin’s body was recovered from the mine shaft. Christopher admitted that he killed Erin but said it was because he became angry after she confessed to molesting his daughter.
The prosecution theorized he killed her to silence her and hide the pregnancy from his wife. He tricked her into believing that he was going to propose to her and instead he approached Erin from behind and strangled her for at least five minutes with a garrote made up of two pieces of rebar and a cord. After Lee was satisfied Erin was dead, he dragged her body to a mine shaft in the desert and pushed her in head first. Christopher Lee was found guilty of first-degree murder by civilian authorities and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In the News:
Investigators are searching for the beautiful, pregnant wife of a U.S. marine corporal who was last seen over a week ago. 19-year-old Erin Corwin was reportedly last seen leaving her Twentynine Palms, CA home around 7 a.m. on June 28 to go to nearby Joshua Tree National Park. Her husband of a year and a half Jonathan reported her missing the next day. Days after she disappeared, Erin’s mother Lore Heavilin found out that her daughter was about 3 months pregnant. -HLN (July 7, 2014)
An eyewitness spoke out Wednesday, describing the last time he saw the pregnant Marine wife who’s been missing for more than two weeks.Michael Beasley said he saw Erin Corwin get into a red car with another man and drive away. He added that it didn’t appear she was being forced into the car in any way.Corwin was last seen on June 28 leaving a home she shares with her husband, headed to Joshua Tree National Park. Her husband, Lance Cpl. Jonathan Corwin, reported her missing a day later when she never returned. -HLN (July 16, 2014)
According to a new search warrant affidavit released this week, homicide detectives now believe that — on the day she vanished — missing Marine wife Erin Corwin went on a day trip with a neighbor and ex-Marine whom she was romantically involved with. -HLN (July 22, 2014)
New police documents reveal Erin Corwin was having an affair with her married neighbor and told her friend the two were spending the day together when she went missing. -HLN (July 22, 2014)
Erin Corwin was last seen leaving her home on June 28, and was reportedly heading to Joshua Tree National Park. -HLN (July 22, 2014)
Following the discovery of Erin Corwin’s remains, friends and family father to honor her memory and begin healing. -WATE 6 On Your Side (September 19, 2014)
Part 1: Erin Corwin vanished after having a miscarriage and growing distant from her husband. She was allegedly pregnant at the time of her disappearance. -Crime Watch Daily (May 3, 2017)
Part 2: Erin Corwin vanished after having a miscarriage and growing distant from her husband. She was allegedly pregnant at the time of her disappearance. -Crime Watch Daily (May 3, 2017)
Part 3: Erin Corwin vanished after having a miscarriage and growing distant from her husband. She was allegedly pregnant at the time of her disappearance. -Crime Watch Daily (May 3, 2017)
Dateline (NBC):
When the 19-year old wife of a Marine vanishes without a trace in the California desert, investigators launch a massive search. They soon uncover a secret love triangle and a mystery with multiple suspects. -The Last Day, Dateline (December 1, 2016)
48 Hours (CBS):
Tonight’s episode of “48 Hours: NCIS” takes you inside the real-life investigation of a 19-year-old Marine wife who vanished in the desert. “The Marine’s Wife” uncovers the story of Erin Corwin and her disappearance. – CBS News (June 12, 2018)
Jennifer Norris: Senate bill will still keep military sexual abuse cases within the chain of command of the military, leaving victims vulnerable to retaliation
AI Image of an evil woman lying in a court of law…
Colleen Bushnell, a self proclaimed “MST advocate” working with Protect Our Defenders (PoD), didn’t just perjure herself in a court of law but she lied in two different states about her sons being sexually molested by the ex-husband and his family (who now have custody).
She accused them ALL of sex crimes in a court of law with no evidence where ANYONE accused of crimes against children are demonized in the public sphere. Much like my husband’s abusive ex-wife, she weaponized the court system to regain control of the situation after losing physical custody. Obviously, she had no history of “reports of abuse” to use as evidence. She is the abuser.
Law enforcement conducted an extensive investigation in two separate states only to find out that she simply made it up in an effort to get her children back under false pretenses. Colleen Bushnell has a history of falsely accusing people when she is the actual problem.
For about fifteen years, she’s been pushing herself out there as a “military sexual trauma advocate” despite treating veterans like shit. She has zero credibility with Congress, the Air Force, or in any court of law, therefore a significant risk to any client’s case or a movement. I met Colleen, the “advocate,” via Protect Our Defenders in 2012 and she started abusing me because I was chosen to testify for the House Armed Services Committee hearings in 2013 during the Lackland Air Force Base basic training sex scandal.
She was jealous because she wasn’t chosen to speak in front of Congress (probably because they vetted her) and she made my life a living hell from the time she found out until I testified. She spent weeks coming at me about how all my thoughts on any matters were wrong… and that she was the authority on the subject. You don’t speak for me or tell me that I don’t have freedom of speech after serving in silence for 17 years until my medical retirement was official. She had the nerve to fake console* me afterwards to get attention in the media and then began the gang bullying campaign against me on-line when she posted a fake “cease and desist.”
(The only thing I ever said about Colleen is that I didn’t want to work with her. I have every right to pick and choose who I will and will not work with. She is not a team player, she was abusing me, and she proved who she really is when she found out I didn’t want to work with her… she ruined me with lies and defamation on social media, the exact same thing she accused me of. Thanks for the hate Jeannie.)
*I was crying because of the abuse Colleen Bushnell put me through prior to the difficult task of testifying to congress about something so personal… and the fact that Air Force generals, most members of the HASC, and the audience who supported them walked out before hearing the testimony of two Air Force leaders. It was overwhelming to be treated so poorly before the testimony, during the testimony, and after the testimony after a lifetime of abuse and dehumanization. Colleen is connected to Nancy Parrish and is still a shill for Protect Our Defenders to this day. Both of them have a history of shutting down veterans to maintain control of the narrative.
This photo opp is so fake. Both of these women tried to control the narrative the entire time and beat me down because I didn’t see things their way. I wasn’t interested in demonizing the entire military, making this a woman only issue when the majority of victims in the military are male, and felt it was important that we include all crime, not just one. What do these people not get about sexual assault victims being trapped in unsafe situations and in harm’s way. There’s a reason suicide, homicide, and missing cases are a thing and of course these clowns won’t even address it. Nancy Parrish and Colleen Bushnell had a personal agenda to pass a sexual assault only law in Jackie Speier’s name. And they snuffed out anyone who got in their way. They also stole a survivor’s bill for all military crime and perverted it back into a sexual assault only bill. Notice the SA Express-News made the photo about Nancy and Colleen.
Colleen is a proven liar and still pushes the ineffective policies of military leaders for Protect Our Defenders to this day just like she did for the Air Force as a public affairs specialist. She is a master manipulator. Protect Our Defenders and the shitty people they choose to represent the masses is why this “movement” is failing. We get accused of falsely accusing people of sex crimes and PoD promotes folks who in fact do have a history of false accusations and ruin our credibility. We’re done watching this trainwreck.
You don’t have to convince me she’s a false accuser, she falsely accused me too. She’s a bully and when she’s confronted destroys your character to silence you and creates a collective disbelief or condemnation of the victim. Then she makes herself out to be the victim, just like the military did. Colleen Bushnell and Protect Our Defenders don’t stand for the reality of the circumstances service members are forced to deal with on their own while being abused. They are engaging in the same kind of behavior and their lack of knowledge of the issues and short sighted efforts are putting us in harm’s way.
Editor’s Note:
It’s not okay for me to be an alleged domestic violence victim who got charged with a crime for the alleged abuser’s alcohol instead of helped. But it is okay for Colleen Bushnell to falsely accuse her ex-husband and his family, get busted for it, and advocate on behalf of ALL military sexual assault victims with an organization run by civilians and military officers who are fucking us.
Cynthia Feathers, Saratoga Springs, for appellant.
Mitch S. Kessler, Cohoes, attorney for the children.
Rose, J. Appeal from an order of the Family Court of Montgomery County (Cortese, J.), entered August 31, 2010, which, among other things, granted petitioner’s application, in a proceeding pursuant to Domestic Relations Law article 5-A, to enforce a prior order of custody and visitation entered in Texas.
Respondent, the mother of two sons (born in 1999 and 2002), refused to release the children to the paternal grandparents for visitation and instead brought them to New York from Texas. A Texas court thereafter issued a temporary order granting custody to the father and petitioner, the paternal grandmother. Petitioner then commenced this proceeding seeking registration and enforcement of the Texas order (see Domestic Relations Law §§ 77-d, 77-g). Respondent did not contest registration of the Texas order, but requested that Family Court exercise temporary emergency jurisdiction based on her allegations that the paternal grandparents had sexually abused the children (see Domestic Relations Law § 76-c). Family Court placed the children in the temporary custody of the Montgomery County Department of Social Services and ordered an investigation into respondent’s allegations. Upon conclusion of the investigation, Family Court found the allegations to be unfounded and granted enforcement of the Texas order.
On her appeal, respondent contends that Family Court did not conduct an adequate investigation into her allegations prior to its determination. This claim, however, is not [*2]supported by the record. Family Court heard, without objection, testimony that the children met with a local sexual abuse validator who determined that there was no sexual abuse, and it reviewed an investigative report prepared by authorities in Texas after respondent made the same allegations there. The Texas authorities conducted an exhaustive review and found no evidence to substantiate the allegations of sexual abuse. In light of the information rebutting respondent’s claims, we agree with Family Court that her unsubstantiated allegations were insufficient to warrant the invocation of temporary emergency jurisdiction (see Matter of Hearne v Hearne, 61 AD3d 758, 759 [2009]; Matter of Randall v Randall, 305 AD2d 512, 513 [2003]).
Mercure, J.P., Lahtinen, Kavanagh and McCarthy, JJ., concur. Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs.
Air Force SSgt. Samuel Davis, 33, died at his off base home in Alaska on February 23, 2014. According to his family, he died from complications after a back surgery. SSgt. Davis was assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in 2011 where he worked as an aerospace maintenance craftsman with the 703rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Media reports indicate that SSgt. Davis was the fourth serviceman from JBER found dead this month: Army Sgt. Okan Cetinbag, February 11; SrA Katrina Jackson on February 15; and SSgt. Darian Miller on February 18.
MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL 