Fort Campbell Army Pfc. Jennifer Cole Died of a Non Combat Related Incident in Bayji, Iraq; Cause of Death Ruled Negligent Homicide (August 2, 2008)

On August 2, 2008September 13, 2019 By AdministratorIn Accidents, Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Non Combat DeathLeave a comment

Army Pfc. Jennifer Cole died of a non combat related incident in Bayji, Iraq on August 2, 2008. Pfc. Cole was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom on behalf of the 426th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. An investigation revealed that Jennifer died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen. According to the family, she was accidentally shot by a fellow Army soldier while they were cleaning their weapons. They learned that the weapon had not been cleared prior to the cleaning and no one is sure how it got into the place where Jennifer was shot. The soldier (Thurston) responsible for the accidental shooting was charged with negligent homicide. He spent 30 days in military jail and was given a general discharge from the Army. Jennifer’s mom, Candy Gholson, shared with Napa Valley, California newspapers that the Army wouldn’t give her information, provide her with paperwork, or tell her exactly what happened to her daughter.

Candy Gholson shared that she heard three different versions and wanted to know exactly what happened. She also shared that she learned from Jennifer’s roommate in the Army that no one ever questioned her and they both thought that odd considering most investigations start with those closest to the victim. Both Jennifer’s parents shared the frustration that it is not easy getting answers from a military organization or is it easy dealing with the bureaucracy of the Army and their typical federal government run-around. The parents were told to go through the Freedom of Information Act for the investigation report but the Army warned them it could take up to a year to get the trial transcript they were requesting. Jennifer’s step father, a US Marine Corps veteran, reiterated that he too wanted to know the details of what happened and that he didn’t have hard feelings towards the soldier who killed his step-daughter. But he does feel that Thurston’s superiors should have been court-martialed for ineffective supervision and oversight of the weapons.

“I understand they had a trial for the guy (Thurston) who shot my daughter. I was told he spent 30 days in a military jail and was discharged from the Army. He didn’t get a dishonorable discharge, but the one just above that. But I have never received any paperwork to that effect,” Gholson said. “I just want answers. And it’s not easy trying to get them from a military government institution. “I’ve heard three different stories from the Army about what happened the day Jennifer died,” Gholson said. “I want to know what exactly happened that day. There were witnesses. Why can’t the Army get the story straight?” ~Napa Valley Register (December 11, 2008)

May: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (May 31, 2008)

On May 31, 2008May 4, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, Navy, Non Combat Death, Suicide, USAF, USMCLeave a comment

05/31/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Nunez, 27, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

05/29/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Chad Trimble, 29, Afghanistan, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

05/28/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Justin Buxbaum, 23, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Hood, Texas

05/28/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Gathercole, 21, Afghanistan, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

05/28/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jason Dene, 37, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Stewart, Georgia

05/27/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Leimbach, 38, Afghanistan, South Carolina Army National Guard

05/27/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Frank Gasper, 25, Afghanistan, Fort Carson, Colorado

05/27/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Blake Evans, 24, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

05/27/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Kyle Norris, 22, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

05/27/2008: Airmen MIA From Vietnam War are Identified

05/23/2008: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: Jeffrey Ammon, 37, Afghanistan, Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni

05/21/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeffrey Deprimo, 35, Afghanistan, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

05/21/2008: DoD Identifies Air Force Casualty: Joseph Moore, 54, NCD, Djibouti, Idaho Air National Guard

05/20/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Davy Weaver, 39, Afghanistan, Georgia Army National Guard

05/20/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Branden Haunert, 21, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

05/20/2008: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: William Cooper, 22, Afghanistan, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

05/16/2008: Soldiers Missing from The Korean War are Identified

05/16/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: John Daggett, 21, Iraq, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

05/14/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Victor Cota, 33, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

05/12/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jessica Ellis, 24, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

05/12/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Matthew Brown, 20, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

05/12/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joseph Ford, 23, NCD, Iraq, Indiana Army National Guard

05/11/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Ara Deysie, 18, Afghanistan, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

05/10/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Mary Jaenichen, 20, NCD, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

05/10/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Isaac Palomarez, 26, Afghanistan, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

05/09/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Aaron Ward, 19, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

05/09/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Alex Gonzalez, 21, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

05/08/2008: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Casey Casanova, 22, Miguel Guzman, 21, James Kimple, 21, and Glen Martinez, 31, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

05/08/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Jeremy Gullett, 22, and Kevin Roberts, 25, Afghanistan, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

05/05/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Corey Hicks, 22, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

05/04/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeffrey Nichols, 21, Iraq, Fort Polk, Louisiana

05/03/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Lawrence Ezell, 30, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

05/03/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Chad Caldwell, 24, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

05/03/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jerry DeLoach, 45, NCD, Iraq, WTU, Fort Knox, Kentucky

05/02/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Andrew Pearson, 32, and Ronald Tucker, 21, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

05/01/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Bryan Bolander, 26, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

05/01/2008: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Merlin German, 22, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

05/01/2008: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Clay Craig, 22, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Fort Campbell Army Sgt. Tracy Birkman Died of Non-Combat Related Injuries in Owesat, Iraq (January 25, 2008)

On January 25, 2008September 13, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, Non Combat Death, Suspicious DeathsLeave a comment

Army Sgt. Tracy Birkman, 41, died from non combat related injuries in Owesat, Iraq on January 25, 2008. Sgt. Birkman was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom on behalf of the 626th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. At the time of the Department of Defense press release, the incident was under investigation which is typical of non combat death. But the official cause of death is unknown.

Birkman’s father, Jerald Griffith, a Vietnam War veteran, said he was angry with military officials for releasing information about his daughter’s death and with the news media for its portrayal of soldiers such as himself. “I didn’t want it released. I am so [furious] about all this I can just scream,” said Griffith, also of New Castle. “I hate the media with just an unmitigated passion. You . . . lied about me when I was in Vietnam.” He said his daughter was on her third deployment.” She’s over there in a war we shouldn’t even be involved in, on her third tour,” Griffith said. –The Washington Post (January 29, 2008)

Honor and Dishonor: The trials of Sgt. Brent Burke

On September 11, 2007June 6, 2017 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, Military Policy, Scandals2 Comments

H onor and Dishonor: The trials of Sgt. Brent Burke

Sergeant Brent Burke earned his stripes at Fort Campbell, Kentucky — home base for his division, the legendary 101st Airborne. Once under the command of former General David Petraeus, the soldiers of the 101st have seen more action than most soldiers in the U.S. Army. It is also where Sgt. Burke will learn if he will continue to serve in the Army, or if he will serve out his life in prison, because military prosecutors in the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps, known as JAG, will court martial Sgt. Brent Burke for double homicide.

“I would say that the tough part of any case like this is the fact that it was four years old … and it was mostly circumstantial evidence and when you put all that together it certainly makes for a difficult case,” JAG prosecutor Lt. Col Matthew Calarco told “48 Hours” correspondent Richard Schlesinger. Lieutenant Colonel Matt Calarco’s mission, after four civilian trials failed to get a verdict, is to finally prove Sgt. Burke shot and killed his wife, Tracy, and her ex-husband’s mother, Karen Comer, on Sept. 11, 2007.

Army SSG Alicia Birchett Died of Injuries Suffered From a Non-Combat Related Vehicle Accident in Baghdad, Iraq (August 9, 2007)

On August 9, 2007August 1, 2019 By AdministratorIn Accidents, Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, Non Combat Death1 Comment

Army SSG Alicia Birchett, 29, died of injuries suffered from a non-combat related vehicle accident in Baghdad, Iraq on August 9, 2007. SSG Birchett was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom on behalf of the 887th Engineer Company, 326th Engineer Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. At the time of the Department of Defense August 15th press release, the incident was under investigation. According to media reports, her family said Alicia was fatally injured when the brakes of a military truck failed while she changed a tire.

Samuel Fagan & Rebekah Smallwood Died as a Result of a House Fire at Fort Campbell; Army Spouse Billi Jo Smallwood Found Guilty of Arson, Sentenced to 25 Years (May 29, 2007)

On May 29, 2007May 29, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Child Abuse, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, ScandalsLeave a comment

Preview: The Ballad of Billi-Jo, True Crime with Aphrodite Jones (S4,E9)

On May 29, 2007, Billi Jo and Wayne Smallwood experienced a fire in their Fort Campbell, Kentucky home. They had three children living with them at the time of the fire: Sam, Rebekah, and Nevaeh. The neighbors ran outside to see what was going on only to find a chaotic scene. Wayne was on the ground with a broken ankle and Billi Jo was still on the roof attempting to escape the smoke and fire and screaming for help; she was holding her 14 month old Nevaeh. After passing the child down to firefighters, Billi Jo was reluctant to get off the roof because her other children were still in the home. Firefighters entered the burning home and found Rebekah but she was already dead and Sam was still alive when they carried him out of the house but he wasn’t stable enough to fly to the burn unit in Nashville. He died of his injuries at the local hospital. Billi Jo was airlifted to a Nashville hospital with second and third degree burns on her legs and one of her arms. Wayne arrived later in Nashville with a shattered ankle.

Before the fire, Wayne and Billi Jo had a pretty normal life. Wayne returned from his first deployment to Iraq nine months earlier. Like most military families, the Smallwood family struggled with their finances and the stresses of military life too. Both Billi Jo and Wayne had children from other relationships. Rebekah and Sam were Billi Jo’s kids and they stayed with her and Wayne’s son Cote lived with his mother. And just over a year before the fire, the couple had their own baby together: Nevaeh. Local authorities brought in federal authorities to investigate the burned out home. They found that one of the smoke detectors had been taken down and placed on a baby highchair. ATF also found a partly burned spout on a gasoline can. They brought in a working dog and the dog discovered an accelerant; the ATF believed gas had been used to start the fire and this was arson. They also found the Smallwood’s car had been vandalized, all the tires had been slashed, and someone left a threatening note keyed on the car.

Investigators interviewed Billi Jo and Wayne Smallwood in the hospital. Billi Jo told them earlier in the day they had driven back from Georgia after visiting Wayne’s family. On this day, Wayne was being especially nice to Sam which was atypical because he was usually pretty hard on him. According to Billi Jo, when they returned home, Wayne took the last of the cash and headed down to a bar on base to drink with his friends; the couple struggled financially. Billi Jo claims that while Wayne was gone, a man called the house threatening to harm Wayne. Billi Jo called the military police to report the threatening phone call, then she called Wayne at the bar. Instead of rushing home to check on his family, Wayne stayed at the bar. The MP’s checked in with Billi Jo but they told her soldier’s quite often played pranks on one another. Eventually, Billi Jo fell asleep with Nevaeh and Wayne fell asleep with Rebekah. When Billi Jo realized the house was on fire, she grabbed Nevaeh so they could get to safety yet Wayne jumped from the second story floor without any of the children.

ATF Agents interviewed the Smallwood’s small circle of family and friends to see if they could find anyone who had a reason to commit this crime. They learned that Wayne was embroiled in a contentious custody battle with his ex-wife. According to Billi Jo, Wayne had recently met with his ex-wife about their son and it lead to an argument; the two fought often. In the meantime, arson investigators determined that because all the locks were engaged downstairs, someone from inside the house had to have started the fire. Agents scrutinized both Billi Jo and Wayne looking for any inconsistencies. Billi Jo told them she went to Wal-Mart earlier in the evening to pick up some items for the baby but when they checked surveillance footage, there was no sign of Billi Jo at the Wal-Mart. When investigators questioned her about the inconsistency, she told them that it was a K-Mart, not Wal-Mart. The second time Billi Jo told the investigators what she bought, it included a gas can. This was a disturbing revelation but Billi Jo’s explanation was simple: military members are fined if they don’t mow the grass.

Samuel Fagan (9)

Rebekah Smallwood (2)

Prosecutors wanted to prove that Billi Jo torched her home on base in an effort to kill her husband Wayne and collect the $400,000 life insurance pay-out. When constructing their arguments, they noted that the Smallwood’s already had a couple gas cans in the back yard therefore Billi Jo didn’t need to purchase another one. Billi Jo said she forgot to bring a gas can with her when she ran errands and it was easier to just buy another one. ATF Agents visited K-Mart and learned that BJ had in fact visited the store that day. They also learned that the the nozzle on the gas can she bought matched the one found in the fire. And although Billi Jo said she needed to mow the grass, it had not been mowed that day. Federal investigators suspected someone who lived in the house started the fire so they interviewed Wayne and gave him a polygraph; he passed. In a separate interview, Billi Jo admitted she saw blue flames and this was a moment of revelation for the investigators because you are only going to see blue flame when the fire is first lit.

Billi Jo and Wayne argued a lot and Billi Jo testified that Wayne had a violent side too. Billi Jo admitted to confronting Wayne numerous times about his inability to manage money; Wayne’s gambling caused problems too. Investigators theorized Billi Jo had enough of Wayne and this was her motive. On the same night as the fire, the Smallwood’s were overdrawn on their bank account and Wayne had spent the last of their money on alcohol. If Wayne died in the fire, Billi Jo would receive $400,000. Hoping to find out who made the threatening phone calls, prosecutors subpoenaed the telephone records and found no threatening call had been made. Billi Jo says there was a phone call but the phone company said their records are almost 99% accurate. Prosecutors believe everything that comes out of Billi Jo’s mouth is a lie. Billi Jo’s injuries to the legs and one arm were also suspicious. They believed these burns were caused when a fire was ignited in front of her; they believe she was kneeling when she lit the fire.

In preparation for trial, the remains of the Smallwood’s home were removed and taken to a crime lab. It was at this time that forensic experts found overlooked evidence. They determined that the dining room window had been up about 6-8 inches at the time of the fire. This information damaged the prosecution’s theory to an extent because Billi-Jo believed a stranger entered the home and started the fire. The investigators believed either Wayne or Billi Jo started the fire because the house was locked up. Prosecutors moved forward with Billi Jo as their prime suspect because of her connection to a gas can and a financial motive to kill her husband. The prosecution took a look at the intruder theory and couldn’t understand how an adult got through the window and didn’t break or knock anything over. Investigators deduced it was highly unlikely that an intruder would enter the home and not alert the family dog.

Six months after the fire, Billi Jo reported that Wayne was acting erratically and in November 2007, he attacked Billi Jo with a knife. He was convicted of assault and spent eleven months in jail. Billi Jo and Nevaeh move to Georgia with her mother. Two weeks after Wayne was released from jail, Billi Jo was arrested for setting the fire that killed her two children Sam and Rebekah. Five years after the fire that killed Sam and Rebekah, Billi Jo went to trial. The prosecution claimed Billi Jo’s motive was to kill her husband for the life insurance money but the plan backfired and she accidentally killed two of her children. In court, the defense attacked the prosecution’s circumstantial evidence but the jury wasn’t buying it. Billi Jo Smallwood was found guilty and sentenced to twenty-five years in federal prison. Billi Jo’s mother believes she is innocent and that someone out there knows something.

Source: The Ballad of Billi-Jo, True Crime with Aphrodite Jones

Investigation Discovery:

ID Go: When a house fire takes the lives of Wayne and Billi Jo Smallwood’s two young children, everyone on the Fort Campbell military base is grief-stricken for them. But when it turns out the fire was intentionally set – grief turns to outrage. -The Ballad of Billi-Jo, True Crime with Aphrodite Jones (S4,E9)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch all of the Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. Download the ID Go app and binge away. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $2.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict.

September: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2006)

On September 30, 2006September 1, 2017 By AdministratorIn Accidents, Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, National Guard, Navy, Non Combat Death, Suicide, USAF, USMCLeave a comment

09/30/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Blaney, 19, NCD, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/29/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Edward Reynolds Jr, 27, and Henry Paul, 24, NCD, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/29/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: James Chamroeun, 20, Iraq, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

09/28/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jose Lanzarin, 28, Iraq, Baumholder, Germany

09/28/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James Lyons, 28, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/28/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Casey Mellen, 21, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/27/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jared Raymond, 20, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/27/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Christopher Riviere, 21, Iraq, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

09/26/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Velton Locklear III, 29, and Kenneth Kincaid IV, 25, Iraq, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

09/26/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Carlos Dominguez, 57, Iraq, Army Special Operations Command, New York

09/26/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Windell Simmons, 20, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Howard March Jr, 20, and Rene Martinez, 20, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Eric Kavanagh, 20, Iraq, Schweinfurt, Germany

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Charles Jones, 29, NCD, Iraq, Kentucky Army National Guard

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Bobby Callahan, 22, NCD, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Ashley (Henderson) Huff, 23, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Allan Bevington, 22, Iraq, Baumholder, Germany

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Cesar Granados, 21, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/22/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Robb Needham, 51, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/22/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Yull Estrada Rodriguez, 21, Iraq, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

09/22/2006: First Identification of U.S. Soldier Missing in Action from World War I

09/22/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Aaron Smith, 31, Iraq, Baumholder, Germany

09/22/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Jennifer Hartman, 21, and Marcus Cain, 20, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/21/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Christopher Zimmerman, 28, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/21/2006: Navy Aviator Missing In Action From Vietnam War is Identified

09/19/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Russell Makowski, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/19/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James Worster, 24, NCD, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

09/19/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeffrey Shaffer, 21, Iraq, Bamberg, Germany

09/19/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Adam Knox, 21, Iraq, Ohio Army Reserve

09/18/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Davis, 32, Iraq, Fort Wainwright, Alaska

09/18/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Clint Williams, 24, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/18/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Bernard Deghand, 42, Afghanistan, Kansas Army National Guard

09/18/2006: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: David Roddy, 32, Iraq, Norfolk, Virginia (Multi-National Corps – Iraq)

09/16/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Emily Perez, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/16/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ryan Miller, 19, Iraq, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

09/15/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Ramsey, 27, NCD, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/15/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Harley Andrews, 22, Iraq, Bamberg, Germany

09/15/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Weir, 23, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

09/14/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Matthew Mattingly, 30, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/14/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeremy DePottey, 26, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Drum, New York

09/13/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Fuga, 47, Afghanistan, Missouri Army National Guard

09/12/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Alexander Jordan, 31, Iraq, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Anthony Seig, 19, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: John Carroll, 26, Iraq, Baumholder, Germany

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Merideth Howard, 52, and Robert Paul, 43, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Nathaniel Lindsey, 38, Afghanistan, Oregon Army National Guard

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Johnathan Benson, 21, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Luis Montes, 22, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/09/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Gordon, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/08/2006: Airman Missing in Action From the Vietnam War is Identified

09/08/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Jason Merrill, 22, and Edwin Andino II, 23, Iraq, Wurzburg, Germany

09/08/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Vincent Frassetto, 21, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/07/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeremy Shank, 18, Iraq, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

09/07/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Marshall Gutierrez, 41, NCD, Camp Virginia, Area Support Group, Arijan, Kuwait

09/07/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Germaine Debro, 33, Iraq, Nebraska Army National Guard

09/06/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Richard Henkes II, 32, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/06/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Angel Mercado-Velazquez, 24, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/06/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Ralph Porras, 36, and Justin Dreese, 21, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/06/2006: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: Christopher Walsh, 30, Iraq, Missouri Navy Reserve (Multi National Corps – Iraq)

09/06/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Hannah Gunterman, 20, NCD, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Shannon Squires, 25, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Matthew Vosbein, 30, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ryan Miller, 21, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Jared Shoemaker, 29, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Oklahoma

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Eric Valdepenas, 21, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Massachusetts

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Shane Harris, 23, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Cliff Golla, 21, and Philip Johnson, 19, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Eugene Alex, 32, Iraq, Fort Wainwright, Alaska

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Deason, 28, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Nicholas Madaras, 19, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

09/01/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joshua Hanson, 27, Iraq, Minnesota Army National Guard

09/01/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Colin Wolfe, 19, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/01/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Moises Jazmin, 25, Qixing Lee, 20, Shaun Novak, 21, and Tristan Smith, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2006)

On August 31, 2006August 17, 2017 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, Navy, USAF, USMCLeave a comment

08/30/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Christopher Warndorf, 21, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/30/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Matthew Schneider, 23, NCD, Iraq, Wiesbaden, Germany

08/29/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Kenneth Cross, 21, and Daniel Dolan, 19, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/29/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joshua Jones, 24, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/29/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Darry Benson, 46, NCD, Kuwait, North Carolina Army National Guard

08/29/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Almazan, 27, Iraq, Friedberg, Germany

08/29/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Donald Champlin, 28, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/29/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Seth Hildreth, 26, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/29/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeffrey Hansen, 31, NCD, Iraq, Nebraska Army National Guard

08/28/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Edgardo Zayas, 29, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/28/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: David Weimortz, 28, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/26/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Jordan Pierson, 21, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Connecticut

08/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: William Thorne, 26, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Marquees Quick, 28, Iraq, Friedberg, Germany

08/25/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Gordon Solomon, 35, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeremy King, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/25/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Dwayne Williams, 28, Iraq, Okinawa, Japan

08/24/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Thomas Barbieri, 24, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/24/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: James Hirlston, 21, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/24/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeremiah Cole, 26, Afghanistan, Fort Drum, New York

08/24/2006: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: Paul Darga, 34, Iraq, Naval Expeditionary Combat Command

08/24/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Ruben Villa Jr, 36, NCD, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait

08/23/2006: Missing World War II Airmen Identified: David Nelson, Henry Kortebein, and Blake Treece Jr, US Air Force

08/23/2006: DoD Identifies Air Force Casualty: Brad Clemmons, 37, Iraq, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska

08/22/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Wakkuna Jackson, 21, Robert Drawl Jr, 21, and Christopher Sitton, 21, Afghanistan, Fort Drum, New York

08/22/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Gabriel DeRoo, 25, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/22/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Adam Galvez, 21, and Randy Newman, 21, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

08/22/2006: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: Chadwick Kenyon, 20, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

08/22/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeffrey Loa, 32, Iraq, Baumholder, Germany

08/21/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joseph Blake, 34, Afghanistan, Fort Drum, New York

08/21/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James Arellano, 19, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/20/2006: DoD Identifies Air Force Casualty: Adam Servais, 23, Afghanistan, Hurlburt Field, Florida

08/18/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Michael Glover, 28, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Albany, New York

08/18/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: John McKenna IV, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Albany, New York

08/18/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: John Phillips, 29, Iraq, Okinawa, Japan

08/15/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Michael Lloyd, 24, and Kevin Zeigler, 31, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/15/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Kenneth Jenkins, 25, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/14/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Aaron Jagger, 43, Ignacio Ramirez, 22, and Shane Woods, 23, Iraq, Friedberg, Germany

08/14/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Rogelio Garza, Jr, 26, Andrew Small, 19, and James White, 19, Afghanistan, Fort Drum, New York

08/11/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Jeremy Long, 18, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

08/11/2006: DoD Announces Army Casualties: Steven Mennemeyer, 26, and Jeffery Brown, 25, NCD, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

08/11/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Tracy Melvin, 31, Iraq, Baumholder, Germany

08/10/2006: Soldier Missing in Action From the Korean War is Identified: Edward F. Blazejewski, US Army

08/08/2006: Missing WWII Marine is Identified: John H. Branic, US Marine Corps

08/08/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Stephen Seale, 25, Carlton Clark, 22, and Jose Zamora, 24, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/07/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brian Kubik, 20, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/07/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Leroy Segura Jr, 23, NCD, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/06/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Clint Storey, 30, and Bradley Beste, 22, Iraq, Friedberg, Germany

08/05/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Daniel Suplee, 39, NCD, Iraq, Florida Army National Guard

08/04/2006: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: Marc Lee, 28, Iraq, Naval Special Warfare Command

08/04/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Kurt Dechen, 24, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/04/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: George Ulloa Jr, 23, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/04/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joshua Ford, 20, Iraq, Nebraska Army National Guard

08/03/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Hai Ming Hsia, 37, Iraq, Baumholder, Germany

08/03/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Joseph Tomci, 21, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/03/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Dustin Laird, 23, Iraq, Tennessee Army National Guard

08/03/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Ryan Jopek, 20, Iraq, Wisconsin Army National Guard

08/02/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Jason Hanson, 21, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

08/01/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Phillip Baucus, 28, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

08/01/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Anthony Butterfield, 19, and Christian Williams, 27, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

Army Criminal Investigation Report for the Death of Pfc. LaVena Johnson in Balad, Iraq (April 28, 2006)

On April 28, 2006May 5, 2021 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Cold Cases, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Non Combat Death, Scandals, Sexual Assault, Suicide, Suspicious DeathsLeave a comment

Fort Campbell Army Pfc. LaVena Johnson Died of Non Combat Related Injuries in Iraq; Death Ruled Suicide But Independent Investigation Revealed Rape and Murder (July 19, 2005)

We are not exactly sure when Army Pfc. LaVena Johnson’s CID Report was dumped on-line by the government but it appears to have shown up after the death of Vanessa Guillen. (Source: US Army CID)

Army Criminal Investigation Report for the Death of Pfc. LaVena Johnson in Balad, Iraq (April 28, 2006)

Military Murder Podcast Featured the Suspicious Death of Fort Campbell Army Pfc. Lavena Johnson in Balad, Iraq (July 27, 2020)

‘The Silent Truth’ Documentary: The Rape, Murder & Military Cover-Up of Army Pfc. LaVena Johnson in Iraq (July 1, 2014)

Dr. John Johnson clarified in an interview on the Donny Walker Morning Show that wound statin was found on LaVena’s genitals. Listen to the full interview here.

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2005)

On August 31, 2005August 19, 2017 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, In Their NameLeave a comment

08/31/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Charles Rubado, 23, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/31/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Dennis Hay, 32, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/30/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joseph Martinez, 21, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/30/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Obediah Kolath, 32, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/29/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Damion Campbell, 23, Afghanistan, Vicenza, Italy

08/27/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Trevor Diesing, 30, and Ivica Jerak, 42, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/27/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Timothy Shea, 22, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/26/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Hatim Kathiria, 23, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/26/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Chris Chapin, 39, Iraq, Vermont Army National Guard

08/24/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Victoir Lieurance, 34, and Joseph Hunt, 27, Iraq, Tennessee Army National Guard

08/24/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Carlos Diaz, 27, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joseph Nurre, 22, Iraq, West Virginia Army Reserve

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ramon Romero, 19, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Elden Arcand, 22, and Brian Morris, 38, NCDs, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: James Cathey, 24, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Phillip George, 22, Iraq, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Willard Partridge, 35, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Blake Hall, 20, Joshua Hyland, 31, Michael Lehmiller, 23, and Christopher Palmer, 22, Afghanistan, Vicenza, Italy

08/22/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Nathan Bouchard, 24, Jeremy Doyle, 24, Ray Fuhrmann II, 28, and Timothy Seamans, 20, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/19/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Laura Walker, 24, and Robert Davis, 23, Afghanistan, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/19/2005: Air Force Officer MIA From Vietnam War is Identified: Gregg Hartness

08/17/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Stokely, 23, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/16/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jose Ruiz, 28, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/16/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Thomas Strickland, 27, Joshua Dingler, 19, and Paul Saylor, 21, NCDs, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Asbury Hawn II, 35, Gary Reese Jr, 22, and Shannon Taylor, 30, Iraq, Tennessee Army National Guard

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Toccara Green, 23, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Rusty Bell, 21, NCD, Iraq, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brian Derks, 21, Iraq, Fort Irwin, California

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Giaimo, 24, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeremy Chandler, 30, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Anthony Kalladeen, 26, and Hernando Rios, 29, Iraq, New York Army National Guard

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Edward Heselton, 23, Afghanistan, South Carolina Army Reserve

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Ryan Ostrom, 25, Iraq, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Miguel Carrasquillo, 25, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Evenor Herrera, 22, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/11/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Nathaniel Detample, 19, John Kulick, 35, Gennaro Pellegrini Jr, 31, and Francis Straub Jr, 24, Iraq, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

08/11/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Katzenberger, 25, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/11/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Benson, 40, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

08/10/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Falkel, 22, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/10/2005: Twelve MIAS from Vietnam War are Identified

08/10/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ramon Gonzales Cordova, 30, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/09/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jonathon Haggin, 26, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/09/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Brahim Jeffcoat, 25, and Kurt Krout, 43, Iraq, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

08/09/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Chase Comley, 21, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Seferino Reyna, 20, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Robert Derenda, 42, NCD, Iraq, New York Army Reserve

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brett Walden, 40, NCD, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Terry Ball Jr, 36, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/07/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Damian Garza, 19, and John Henderson Jr, 21, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/07/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Nils Thompson, 19, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/06/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Theodore Clark Jr, 31, Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, California

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Victor Anderson, 39, David Jones Sr, 45, and Ronnie Shelley, 34, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Victor Anderson, 39, Mathew Gibbs, 21, and Charles Warren, 36, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Chad Simon, 32, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Wisconsin

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Christopher Dyer, 19, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Adam Strain, 20, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Nicholas Bloem, 20, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Montana

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Bradley Harper, 25, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Virginia

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: David Stewart, 24, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Mississippi

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Timothy Bell Jr, 22, Eric Bernholtz, 23, Justin Hoffman, 27, and David Kreuter, 26, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: Thomas Hull, 41, NCD, Arabian Gulf, USS Princeton, San Diego, California

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Grant Fraser, 22, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Alaska

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Kevin Waruinge, 22, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Mississippi

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Michael Cifuentes, 25, Aaron Reed, 21, Edward Schroeder II, 23, and William Wightman, 22, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/03/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James McNaughton, 27, Iraq, New York Army Reserve

08/03/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Roger Castleberry Jr, 26, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Texas

08/03/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Jeffrey Boskovitch, 25, David Coullard, 32, Daniel Deyarmin Jr, 22, Brian Montgomery, 26, and Nathaniel Rock, 26, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/02/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: James Graham III, 25, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Oklahoma

08/02/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Adrian Butler, 28, and John Tollefson, 22, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Jason Montefering, 27, Ernest Dallas Jr, 21, Milton Monzon, 21, and Ramon Villatoro Jr, 19, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jason Scheuerman, 20, NCD, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Robert Swaney, 21, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James Carroll, 23, Iraq, Tennessee Army National Guard

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Tag: Fort Campbell

Fort Campbell Army Pfc. Jennifer Cole Died of a Non Combat Related Incident in Bayji, Iraq; Cause of Death Ruled Negligent Homicide (August 2, 2008)

May: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (May 31, 2008)

Honor and Dishonor: The trials of Sgt. Brent Burke

Samuel Fagan & Rebekah Smallwood Died as a Result of a House Fire at Fort Campbell; Army Spouse Billi Jo Smallwood Found Guilty of Arson, Sentenced to 25 Years (May 29, 2007)

September: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2006)

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2006)

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2005)

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