Top 10 on Military Justice for All in 2018 (December 31, 2018)

Forensic Files

10. Air Force Sgt. Joseph Snodgrass Hired Hitmen to Kill Wife at Clark AFB in Philippines for $400,000 Life Insurance Payout; Sentenced to Life in Prison (February 26, 1991) #ForensicFiles

Homicide Hunter

9. Army Veteran Brandin Penza Stabbed 74 Times in Colorado Springs Parking Lot by Stranger; Kevin Gooley Sentenced to 32 Years in Prison (September 23, 1994) #HomicideHunter

Forbidden Dying for Love

8. Navy Master Chief John Bench Murdered Son & Attempted to Murder Wife & Daughter in Japan, Then Killed Self in Motorcycle Crash (August 30, 2009) #ForbiddenDyingforLove

ft-hood

7. Army Soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas Are Dying at Alarming Rates Stateside (February 13, 2017) #NeverForget #HonorThem

Maggie Fetty

6. Army Spouse Melinda Stewart, Army Sgt. Daniel Stewart, Jill Yousaf & Army Soldier James Catlin Conspired and Murdered Homeless Colorado Teen Maggie Fetty (November 30, 1991) #HomicideHunter

A Stranger in My Home

5. Air Force Retiree Philip Inhofer Murdered by Nevada Escort for Money and 1975 Mercedes Convertible; Michelle Cummiskey Sentenced to 25 Years to Life (March 7, 1991) #AStrangerinMyHome

cold case

4. Army Pvt. Paige Fontenot Briles Found Unresponsive in Vehicle at Fort Hood Housing in Texas; Initially CID Investigated as Homicide But Later Ruled Suicide (December 24, 2016) #ColdCaseJustice

Forbidden Dying for Love 2

3. Army Staff Sgt. Paul Norris Fatally Shot Army Spc. Kamisha Block in Iraq After She Ended a Forbidden Relationship, Then Ended His Own Life (August 16, 2007) #ForbiddenDyingforLove

We Wil Never Forget

2. Fort Hood Army Spc. Zachary Moore Found Unresponsive in Barracks on Deployment to Camp Hovey, South Korea; CID Ruled Suicide (August 2, 2017) #NeverForget #HonorThem

And THANK YOU for making the MJFA Home Page our #1 for #Top10onMJFA with 85,945-4

1. Military Justice for All Home Page #ThankYou #HappyNewYear2019

Related Links:
Top 10 Posts on Military Justice for All in 2017

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ on ID: Mark Tatum Ambushed Neighbor David Allen in Louisville, Kentucky Home (July 28, 2018)

ID Go: A man who is meticulous about his lawn runs into conflict with a new neighbor who doesn’t have the same priorities. The feud between the two men viciously escalates, ultimately ending in an episode of shocking violence. -Dead Men Tell No Tales, Fear Thy Neighbor (S5, E9)

Mark Tatum fatally shot his neighbor and Army veteran David Allen, 67, on June 1, 2012 in Louisville, Kentucky after a long, protracted neighborhood battle. Tatum shot through the windows of Allen’s home and then shot him fatally while he was fleeing to safety in his backyard. Tatum used a silencer so the shots went unnoticed until David’s wife Sue returned home and found her husband lying dead in the backyard. Considering the pair’s long standing feud, Mark Tatum was immediately a suspect. Police found weapons and ammunition in his home and located Mark at a friend’s house, arrested him, and charged him with murder. Prosecutors believed that Mark acted with the intent to kill. Four years after shooting and killing David Allen, Mark went to trial and was found guilty of his murder in 2016. Mark Tatum was sentenced to 35 years in prison and has to serve at least 20 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. David’s wife Sue moved to California to be with family after her husband was murdered. David Allen met his wife Sue while serving in Korea with the U.S. Army.

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.

Related Links:
Obituary: David Thomas Allen, Louisville, Kentucky (June 1, 2012)
Man charged with murder, victim identified
New details released in connection with Gagel Avenue slaying
Man indicted after allegedly killing neighbor
Mark Tatum trial expected to begin
Man accused of killing neighbor to appear in court
Testimony to resume for man accused of killing neighbor after feud
Sentencing for man who fatally shot Gagel Avenue neighbor delayed
Louisville man headed to prison 4 years after shooting neighbor
Louisville man headed to prison 4 years after shooting neighbor
Mark Tatum v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (2016)
Watch! Fear Thy Neighbor “Dead Men Tell No Tales” Season 5 Episode 9 Full Episode
Sneek Peak: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Fear Thy Neighbor (Facebook)
Fear Thy Neighbor | 28 Jul 2018 | Season 5 Ep.09 “Dead Men Tell No Tales” Full HD
Watch Fear Thy Neighbor | Season 5 Episode 9 | SheKnows
Dead Men Tell No Tales | Fear Thy Neighbor | Investigation Discovery (S5, E9)
Dead Men Tell No Tales | Fear Thy Neighbor | Investigation Discovery (website)
Dead Men Tell No Tales | Fear Thy Neighbor | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Fear Thy Neighbor: 23 Veteran Cases Featured on Investigation Discovery

Army Pvt. Nicole Burnham Found Unresponsive in Fort Carson Barracks; Death Ruled Suicide After Sexual Assault, Retaliation & a Three Month Expedited Transfer Delay (January 26, 2018)

Nicole Burnham Army

Pvt. Nicole Burnham, U.S. Army

Army Pvt. Nicole Burnham reported a sexual assault at Camp Casey in Korea on September 15, 2017. Four days later, she requested an expedited victim’s transfer (EVT) asking for reassignment back to the United States. Nicole’s Commander approved the request a few days later but it would be 82 days before the transfer occurred. In the meantime, Nicole Burnham shared the same barracks with her attacker. And there was no evidence to suggest the Army even addressed the fact that Nicole shared the same barracks as her attacker until an incident occurred three weeks later when he allegedly jumped out in front of her in an attempt to scare her. It was at this time, the Commander separated the two and put them in different barracks. In the weeks that followed, Nicole suffered verbal harassment and cyberbullying from within the ranks. She received comments from soldiers and their wives over social media calling her a “slut” and “deserving of rape.” Investigators claimed Nicole did not report the harassment to the Chain of Command but in a sworn statement a fellow soldier said most of the leadership was aware of the harassment yet turned a blind eye.

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Nicole Burnham Justification for Expedited Transfer (photo: KSTP-TV)

In October 2017, a tearful Nicole told her supervisor she couldn’t “take it” anymore and the supervisor believed she was eluding to suicidal ideation. She was referred to the Officer in Charge (OIC) who then handed her off to the Chaplain for counseling. But according to the A.R. 15-6 investigation, it doesn’t appear leadership in the Chain of Command was aware of what the supervisor believed was suicidal ideation. Nicole reported a sexual assault on September 15, 2017 and experienced three months of retaliation before Army leadership finally transferred her on December 12, 2017. In addition, KSTP reports Army leadership at Camp Casey failed to inform Fort Carson that Nicole was a victim of sexual assault (and harassment, bullying, & cyberbullying). Nicole should have been offered mental health care and compassion. Don Christiansen of Protect Our Defenders said in a statement that the Chain of Command was without a doubt responsible for the failures in Nicole’s case that ultimately lead to her ending her life. Nicole’s death triggered two investigations, one into the allegation of sexual assault that allegedly included Nicole being attacked by multiple men at Camp Casey and the other into the cyberbullying. Of course, the Army declined to comment until the investigation was completed. According to the family, Nicole’s main attacker was courtmartialed and agreed to a plea deal that forced him to leave the Army with a less than honorable discharge. The outcome of the cyberbullying investigation of military personnel and military spouses is unknown.

“It’s inconceivable that they let her languish in Korea. After all these failures, we had this tragic ending to her life.” -Don Christiansen, Protect Our Defenders (January 13, 2020)

Editor’s Note: The military wives who lived on a federal base overseas do not fall under the jurisdiction of the military Chain of Command. Civilians living on base fall under the federal jurisdiction of the FBI who at this point are reluctant to investigate anything but murder. The federal government uses a crisis oriented approach with military personnel and crimes on military bases as opposed to a homicide prevention approach. And in the case of reservations, there has been no justice for missing and murdered Native Americans. 

Nicole Burnham KSTP-TV Timeline

AR 15-6 Timeline of Events for Nicole Burnham (Source: KSTP-TV)

As a result of Nicole’s tragic and untimely death and the KSTP-TV investigation, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota pushed the Army to take action and make changes to the expedited victims transfer policy. The pair asked the Army to track the time it takes to transfer victims of sex assault to another military base, citing the ‘unfortunate delays’ in the transfer of Pvt. Nicole Burnham. In response, the Secretary of the Army directed staff to update policies regarding the treatment of victims of sexual assault who request an off-base transfer. He asked that the Army update policies to mirror the timelines in the Department of Defense (DoD) policy. According to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, DoD policy states an EVT should occur within 30 days and Esper said the Army’s policies will now reflect that timeline. Nicole’s mother, Stacey Burnham, said 30 days is too long. She also said, “I cannot imagine being a victim, having your EVT approved but knowing you may still be there for another 30 days.” Stacey Burnham has called for more significant changes in the wake of her daughter’s death suggesting the timeline should be condensed even further. She runs a public Facebook page called Pooters Peeps in honor of her daughter.

Amy Klobuchar Letter

Letter from Amy Klobuchar & Tom Emmer to the Secretary of the Army (photo: KSTP-TV)

Sources: KSTP-TV, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Stacey Burnham

In the News:

A 21-year-old Fort Carson soldier who died after being found unresponsive on post last Friday was honored with a dignified transfer. -KOAA 5 (February 2, 2018)

Failing Nicole Burnham Tweet

Retweet on Twitter in honor of Pvt. Nicole Burnham.

Photos of Nicole Burnham:

Nicole Burnham 3

Nicole Burnham (photo: Pooters Peeps)

Nicole Burnham 2

Pvt. Nicole Burnham, U.S. Army (Image: Alex Wentz)

Pooters Peeps (Facebook):

Related Links:
Obituary: Nicole A Burnham of Andover, Minnesota | 1996 – 2018
Failing Private Burnham: How the Army Did Not Protect a Minnesota Soldier after a Sexual Assault
Dignified transfer performed for Fort Carson soldier who died on post
Soldier commits suicide after Army wives bullied her, told her she should die
Report: Soldier Kills Herself After Sexual Assault, Harassment, Cyberbullying
Failing Private Burnham | KSTP-TV | Facebook
5 Investigates “Making a Difference” | Midwestern Emmys
Veterans suicide prevention walk remembers Nicole Burnham
Letter to Secretary of Army from Amy Klobuchar & Tom Emmer
Klobuchar, Emmer look into Minnesota soldier’s sexual assault, suicide
Klobuchar, Emmer Push Army to Take Action after Minnesota Soldier’s Sexual Assault, Suicide
Army Secretary orders changes to policy after Minnesota soldier’s sexual assault, suicide
Army Secretary orders changes to policy after Minnesota soldier’s sexual assault, suicide
Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services Articles of Interest
The Murder of Pvt. Nicole Burnham – When Driven to Suicide, It’s Murder – Failure to Act Prudently Makes the United States Army an Accessory to Her Murder
HOR Oversight Subcommittee on National Security & Foreign Affairs Held a Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military (July 31, 2008)
Lauterbach Case Prompts Policy Reforms for Victims of Sexual Assault in the Military (December 25, 2011)
Rep. Mike Turner Says New Military Legislation Closes a Loophole & Includes Domestic Violence Victims in the Expedited Transfer Policy Law (May 1, 2018)
Pooters Peeps on Facebook (A Public Page Dedicated to Nicole Burnham)

Army Spc. Richard “Brennan” Cox Died Four Days After Suffering Gunshot Wound at Fort Riley, Kansas (August 16, 2017)

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Spc. Richard Cox, US Army

Army Spc. Richard “Brennan” Cox, 22, died August 16, 2017 after suffering a gunshot wound on Fort Riley in Kansas. Spc. Cox was found wounded August 13, 2017 and was rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment but succumbed to his wounds. Spc. Cox served as an indirect infantryman with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. Spc. Cox joined the Army in July 2013 and while stationed at Fort Riley, he was deployed to Kuwait in June 2013 and South Korea in October 2016.

Related Links:
Fort Riley soldier dies from gunshot wound
Army: Fort Riley soldier dies from gunshot wound
Fort Riley soldier dies at Topeka hospital after suffering gunshot wound
Black Hawk man dies from gunshot at Army base in Kansas
‘Devil’ brigade Soldier dies in Topeka
Fort Riley soldier dies from gunshot wound
Soldier from Black Hawk dies in Kansas
Helping veterans and soldiers with PTSD
Violent Crime, Suicide, and Non Combat Death at Fort Riley, Kansas

Fort Hood Army Spc. Zachary Moore Died by Suicide While on Deployment to Camp Hovey, South Korea; Delay in Medical Care Contributed to Death (August 2, 2017)

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Spc. Zachary Moore, US Army

Spc. Zachary Moore, 23, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was found unresponsive August 1, 2017 in his barracks room at Camp Hovey in South Korea. Spc. Moore was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital and pronounced deceased on August 2, 2017. Spc. Moore entered active-duty military service in March 2014 as a signal support systems specialist. He was assigned to the 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood in Texas since July 2016. The circumstances surrounding the incident were investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and the cause of death was ruled a suicide.

*****************************************

Was Zachary Moore’s Death Preventable?

In May 2017, Fort Hood announced they were deploying 3,500 troops to South Korea over the summer. Twenty-three (23) year old Zachary Moore was one of the soldiers deployed to South Korea. With full knowledge of Zachary’s recent mental health issues, the Chain of Command gave him a mental health waiver against his will, and most likely against medical advice, so they could deploy him to South Korea.

In October 2016, Zachary had a mental health breakdown and went Absent without Leave (AWOL). After a successful intervention, Zachary was found and returned to the custody of his Chain of Command at Fort Hood. Zachary’s command then sent him to an emergency room where he was hospitalized and prescribed medication. After Zachary was discharged from the hospital, he continued to seek treatment for mental health issues. Six months later, Zachary was given a mental health waiver by his command to deploy to South Korea.

About a month after Zachary arrived at Camp Hovey in South Korea, his depression medication was changed. As a matter of fact, his depression medication was changed the day before he was found unresponsive in his barracks room. Zachary attempted to kill himself on August 1st, less than 24 hours after the medication change. It was Zachary who called his Command for help as there is no 911 on the base in South Korea. He was found unresponsive and finally transported to the hospital about 1 ½ to 2 hours later. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, listed as critical then stable, yet passed away on August 2, 2017.

Why did Zachary Moore go AWOL?

The Chain of Command contacted Jeanette to report Zachary hadn’t been seen since October 18, 2016. They also informed her they were not actively looking for him but would file AWOL status on October 20th. When asked if they filed a missing persons report, Jeanette claims they told her they did but she says she was lead to believe Zachary trashed his room, took his things, and left willingly. She immediately flew to Texas from Florida to find him.

Jeanette contacted the Killeen Police Department as soon as she got to Fort Hood and the local law enforcement found Zachary the same day she arrived. Over the phone, the Command told Jeanette they filed a missing persons report but she learned from the Killeen Police Department that they never did. The Killeen PD noticed recent activity on Facebook so they pinged Zach’s cell phone & found that he was in a remote area of a local state park.

Zachary attempted to flee initially but after negotiations, he surrendered and was returned to the police station where his mom was waiting. Jeanette could tell Zachary was mentally broken and he admitted to her that he wanted to hurt himself.  The Killeen PD found Zachary and he had a knife in his possession. Zachary was returned to the custody of his Chain of Command at Fort Hood. Shortly after Zachary informed his mom that his superiors told him to tell her to leave town and stop interfering.

Jeanette reports that Zachary never had any mental health issues prior to this and suspected that Zachary was “singled out by his command and harassed.”

Areas of Concern in Zachary Moore’s Case:

  • Zachary revealed he was harassed by his Chain of Command. For example, his leave papers to visit family before deploying were denied; he was denied permission to see the Fort Hood Inspector General officer; he was harassed during training exercises; he was given exhausting extra duties; and was accused of taking a radio which was later found on a military officer’s desk. Why was he denied the opportunity to speak to the IG officer?
  • Zachary was accused of trashing his room and taking his belongings when he went AWOL. Jeanette believes the circumstances surrounding the vandalism of his room and the theft of his property could be evidence of harassment.
  • During mental health treatment, Zachary was facing the consequences of going AWOL; Zachary was accused of trashing his own room; and Zachary was accused of stealing a secure radio? What are the additional mental health impacts of the way the Chain of Command uses the military justice system?
  • The circumstances of the mental health waiver and the justifications for sending Zachary to South Korea while he was undergoing treatment for mental health issues and medication management should be investigated.
  • The effects of the medication change in South Korea should be investigated. Is Command aware that some medications can cause serious negative reactions? (Some depression medication causes suicidal ideation.) Who monitors serious medication changes in deployed locations? Is it safe to deploy soldiers in the early phases of medication management for mental health issues?
  • Finally, the delay in the Command’s response to Zachary’s call for help in South Korea should be investigated. Why did it take so long to respond to Zachary and why did it take so long to get Zachary to the hospital? Did anyone attempt to administer help while waiting for the ambulance?
  • If the Command was the cause of the mental health break, where was Zachary supposed to turn? How do we hold the Chain of Command accountable? How do we prevent the Chain of Command from retaliating and using the military justice system or non judicial punishment as a weapon? What was the role of the Commander? What was the role of the Fort Hood Inspector General? How can we prevent a young soldier from feeling like the only way out of their situation is AWOL or suicide? How could we have prevented Zachary’s death?
  • Soldiers have come forward, given their stories to the family and have offered to testify about what Zachary was put through which may explain why he died. Were these soldiers questioned?

Source: Jeanette Nazario (Zachary Moore’s mom)

Related Links:
U.S. Army SPC Zachary Moore Funeral – 8/11/17
Death of a Fort Hood Soldier – Spc. Zachary Charles Moore
Spc. Zachary Moore, 1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood soldier dies in South Korea
Fort Hood soldier dies in Korea
Fort Hood: Soldier found dead in barracks in South Korea identified
Soldier from VB dies after being found unresponsive in South Korea barrack
Virginia Beach soldier dies in South Korea
Army Soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas Are Dying at Alarming Rates Stateside
Violent Crime, Suicide, and Non Combat Death at Fort Hood, Texas (US Army)
Military Policy and Legislation Considerations for the Investigations of Non Combat Death, Homicide, and Suicide of US Service Members
Washington DC Veteran’s Presentation on the Current Status of the Armed Forces at Fort Hood in Texas (2017)
Soldier deaths in South Korea put spotlight on US military suicide crisis

Retired Army Veteran Marinna Rollins Died by Suicide Less Then Two Weeks After Arrested & Charged with Shooting & Killing her Estranged Husband’s Dog (May 7, 2017)

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Marinna Rollins, US Army Retired

Army veteran Marinna Rollins, 23, was found dead of an apparent suicide on May 7, 2017 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. According to reports, Rollins was medically retired from the Army with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after a traumatic event while stationed in South Korea. Rollins was involved in the execution style killing of her estranged husband’s dog Huey around April 16 or 17. The harrowing incident was filmed and released to the public resulting in worldwide coverage. Marinna and her accomplice, Jarren Heng, were both facing felony charges in court. Jarren Heng is an active duty soldier stationed at Fort Bragg and he still faces felony charges, although the conspiracy charge was dropped after Marinna died. Meanwhile a Facebook page was created called Justice for Huey and they are also petitioning the Army to take action. According to Marinna’s estranged husband, Matt Dyer, Marinna was watching the dog for him while he was in South Korea but at some point decided she wanted to keep the dog and didn’t want to give Huey back.

Meanwhile, she registered the dog as an emotional support animal. Matt shared that he was okay with her keeping the dog because he thought Huey would be good for her PTSD. Matt and Justice for Huey have been empathetic of Marinna and believe that had Jarren Heng never entered her life, this would not have happened. Matt expressed that he was aware that Jarren hated Huey and was controlling of Marinna. Marinna and Matt grew up together in Windham, Maine and were still technically married as their divorce had not been finalized yet. Initially it appears that Marinna did try and find a home for the dog with no success. Matt thinks Jarren Heng convinced Marinna to get rid of the dog. Did Jarren Heng pressure her to get rid of the dog because it was her soon to be ex-husband’s dog? We may never know the answer to that question but nonetheless this is a very heartbreaking situation: an innocent dog lost a life, another soldier with Post Traumatic Stress lost her life, and Matt lost his childhood friend & wife and his dog.

Related Links:
Justice for Huey on Facebook
Petition: To Seek UCMJ Punishment of Army Specialist Jarren Heng
Owner of dog slain by veteran and soldier speaks out on what really happened
Accused dog killer’s sister, separated husband still trying to process ‘shocking’ incident
Marinna Rollins & Jarren Heng: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Army veteran from Maine accused of brutally killing service dog
Vet And Her Soldier Boyfriend Shot Dog 10 Times, New Report Shows
A Veteran Tied Her Service Dog to a Tree and Shot It 5 Times, Officials Say
Cops: Ex-soldier kills her service dog while her boyfriend videotapes
Prosecutor: NC military couple laughed as they fatally shot service dog
Army vet, boyfriend laugh while killing PTSD service dog, DA says
Army vet and special ops soldier boyfriend charged with shooting her service dog
Veteran Charged with Tying PTSD Service Dog to Tree, Shooting 5 Times
Bail raised for veteran, soldier accused in execution of veteran’s PTSD therapy dog
Army veteran who filmed herself killing her own service dog gets bail increase to $25K
Marinna Rollins army vet: Why I filmed myself shooting my service dog dead 5 times
Veteran who shot service dog on video found dead
Army vet who killed her service dog is found dead
Female soldier caught on video killing dog found DEAD
Marinna Rollins: Ex-Soldier Recorded Shooting Service Dog Found Dead
Windham veteran accused of executing therapy dog, posting video on Facebook, found dead
Marinna Rollins, ex-soldier who was recorded fatally shooting service dog, is found dead
Army veteran kills herself after being filmed tying service dog to tree and shooting it dead
Army veteran accused of murdering service dog commits suicide nine days before trial
Female army veteran ‘who tied her PTSD dog to a tree and killed it is found dead’
Veteran arrested in dog’s killing on Facebook found dead
Army Veteran Arrested For Murdering Her Dog Commits Suicide
Sad end to grisly episode: Ex-soldier who killed dog is found dead

Camp Casey Army Sgt. Jacqueline Anderson Found Dead by Husband in Seoul, South Korea Apartment; Official Cause of Death Unknown (July 31, 2016)

Jacqueline Anderson

Sgt. Jacqueline Anderson, U.S. Army

Army Sgt. Jacqueline Anderson, 26, was found dead in her apartment in Seoul, South Korea on July 31, 2016. Sgt. Anderson’s husband, Sgt. Carl Anderson, found her unresponsive and asked neighbors to contact the police but she was dead upon their arrival. Sgt. Anderson was from Leesville, Louisiana and she joined the Army in January 2011. She was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th Field Artillery Brigade at Camp Casey, South Korea. She was stationed in Dongducheon with her husband who is also with the 210th Field Artillery Brigade. At the time of reporting, Jacqueline’s cause of death was under investigation by the Army Criminal Investigation Division. The outcome of the investigation and official cause of death is unknown.

Related Links:
2ID soldier found dead at home in South Korea
Cause of death of 2ID soldier from Leesville under investigation in South Korea

On This Day, Army Specialist Yingming Sun Died in a Flash Flood Training Accident at Fort Hood in Texas (June 2, 2016)

Yingming Sun Army

Spc. Yingming Sun, US Army

Spc. Yingming Sun, 25, of Monterey Park, California, joined the Army in October 2013. He was a motor transport operator and had been assigned to 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood since August 2014. His awards and decorations include National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Overseas Service Ribbon.

Learn more from III Corps and Fort Hood Facebook page here.

For more information: On This Day, Eight Army Soldiers & One West Point Cadet Died in a Flash Flood Training Accident at Fort Hood in Texas (June 2, 2016)

Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX):

Mr. Speaker, Texas has been hammered by historic torrential rain and flooding. As the Texas floodwaters rose, 12 soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, were crossing Owl Creek in a 21⁄2-ton Light Medium Tactical Vehicle when it became stuck in the Owl Creek low water crossing.

Suddenly, the vehicle was swept over and sent downstream by fast-moving water. Nine American soldiers drowned in the massive flood waters. Today, we remember them, and here they are: Staff Sergeant Miguel Colon Vazquez, 38, from New York.

He had just spent four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan; Specialist Christine Armstrong, 27, of California; PFC Brandon Banner, 22, of Florida; PFC Zachery Fuller, 23, of Florida; Private Isaac Deleon, 19, of Texas. He was the youngest of all of them.

He had only been in the Army for 17 months; Private Eddy Rae’Laurin Gates, 20, of North Carolina—a former homecoming queen; Private Tysheena James, 21, of New Jersey; West Point cadet Mitchell Winey, 21, of Indiana; Specialist Yingming Sun, 25, of California. These are the nine who drowned recently in the Texas floods.

The soldiers were members of the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division. These American soldiers were volunteers who swore to protect the United States.

They were a cut above the rest and were ready to defend freedom at home and abroad. Their lives were ripped from this world and their families all too soon. We are grateful for them and their families for their service and their sacrifices.

These soldiers are the best of America. Our thoughts and prayers are with the soldiers and their families, who have been devastated by the floods of Texas this spring.

Related Links:
SPC Yingming Sun (1990-2016)
Yingming Sun, 25, of Copperas Cove died June 2
Officials ID 9th Soldier Killed by Flood Waters During Training Accident
Army releases names of all 9 soldiers killed in Fort Hood truck accident
9th Soldier Killed in Fort Hood Flood Identified
Soldier killed in June 2 Fort Hood accident buried in Killeen
SoCal soldiers ID’d as 2 of 9 killed in Fort Hood training accident
2 SoCal Residents Among 9 Soldiers Killed in Fort Hood Accident
Two Southern California residents among nine soldiers killed in Ft. Hood accident
2 Southern California Residents Among 9 Soldiers Killed in Fort Hood Training Accident
Flash flooding kills 9 | Fort Hood Sentinel
The Faces of the Fort Hood Tragedy
Profiles of the Fort Hood Soldiers Tragically Killed By Texas Flooding
Fort Hood Flood Victims: Photos to Remember the Fallen Soldiers
Fort Hood memorial held for drowned soldiers
Community mourns soldiers killed in accident
Thousands honor Fort Hood fallen Soldiers
Fallen soldiers honored with flowers on Fort Hood
1 year since 9 died at Fort Hood
9 remembered on anniversary of deaths
Fort Hood: Anniversary of deaths of 9 soldiers passes quietly
Families remember the 9 who died in 2016 training accident
Families continue to grieve one year after nine die in flooding on Fort Hood
‘They never should have been out there’: Fort Hood soldier’s father struggles to understand deadly disaster
Army Soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas Are Dying at Alarming Rates Stateside
Violent Crime, Suicide, and Non Combat Death at Fort Hood, Texas (US Army)
The Fort Hood Nine | Ted Poe | Medium
The Fort Hood, Texas, Nine | Congressman Ted Poe

Air Force SSgt Cierra Rogers Dies Mysteriously on U.S. Soil Shortly After Saving a Family from a Burning Building in South Korea (May 20, 2016)

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SSgt Cierra Rogers, US Air Force

Never forgotten SSgt. Cierra Rogers.

Related Links:
People holding blanket save mom, kids from fire in S. Korea
Osan honors airman who died after helping rescue family from fire
Staff Sergeant Dies From Injuries After Helping Rescue Family From Fire Outside Osan Air Base
Local airman dies mysteriously after helping save S. Korean family
Osan Air Base mourns loss of hero airman
UNSUNG HEROES: The Airman Who Died After Rescuing A Family From A Burning Building

September: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2004)

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09/30/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joshua Titcomb, 20, Iraq, Camp Casey, Korea

09/30/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Tyler Prewitt, 22, Iraq, Vilseck, Germany

09/29/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Gregory Cox, 21, NCD, Iraq, Schweinfurt, Germany

09/29/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Kenneth Sickels, 20, NCD, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

09/28/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joselito Villanueva, 36, Iraq, Schweinfurt, Germany

09/28/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Eric Allton, 34, Iraq, Camp Hovey, Korea

09/27/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Robert Oliver Unruh, 25, Iraq, Camp Howze, Korea

09/27/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Clifford Moxley Jr, 51, NCD, Iraq, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

09/27/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Johnson, 37, Iraq, Oregon Army National Guard

09/25/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Aaron Boyles, 24, and Ramon Mateo, 20, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

09/25/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Timothy Folmar, 21, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/25/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ryan Leduc, 28, NCD, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/24/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Skipper Soram, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/24/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Lance Koenig, 33, Iraq, North Dakota Army National Guard

09/23/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Adam Harris, 21, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/23/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Nathan Stahl, 20, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/23/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Benjamin Smith, 24, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

09/23/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brandon Adams, 22, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

09/22/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Wesley Wells, 21, Iraq, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

09/22/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Robert Goodwin, 35, and Tony Olaes, 30, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/22/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Foster Harrington, 31, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Alabama

09/22/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joshua Henry, 21, Iraq, Schweinfurt, Germany

09/22/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Steven Cates, 22, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

09/21/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Thomas Rosenbaum, 25, and James Price, 22, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/20/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Gregory Howman, 28, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/18/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Christopher Ebert, 21, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/18/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Steven Rintamaki, 21, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/17/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Andrew Stern, 24, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

09/17/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Jaygee Meluat, 24, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/16/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Drew Uhles, 20, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

09/16/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Adrian Soltau, 21, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/16/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Tyler Brown, 26, Iraq, Camp Hovey, Tongduchon City, Korea

09/15/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualties: David Weisenburg, 26, and Benjamin Isenberg, 27, Iraq, Oregon Army National Guard

09/15/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Lauro DeLeon Jr, 20, Iraq, Texas Army Reserve

09/15/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Mathew Puckett, 19, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/15/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Kevin Shea, 38, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/15/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jacob Demand, 29, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/15/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Carl Thomas, 29, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/15/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Guy Hagy Jr, 31, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/15/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Dominic Brown, 19, NCD, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/15/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Michael Halal, 22, NCD, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/15/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Edgar Daclan Jr, 24, Iraq, Schweinfurt, Germany

09/14/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Martinez, 29, Iraq, Bamberg, Germany

09/14/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jason Sparks, 19, Iraq, Camp Casey, Korea

09/14/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Cesar Machado-Olmos, 20, NCD, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/14/2004:  DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: David Cedergren, 25, NCD, Iraq, 2nd Marine Division Fleet, Marine Forces Atlantic

09/13/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Jason Poindexter, 20, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/13/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Alexander Wetherbee, 27, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/10/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brandon Read, 21, Iraq, Kentucky Army Reserve

09/10/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Yoe Aneiros, 20, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

09/10/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James Faulkner, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/10/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Elvis Bourdon, 36, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/10/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Ryan McCauley, 20, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/09/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Chad Drake, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/09/2004:  Remains of American MIAs Found in North Korea

09/09/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Timothy Price, 25, Iraq, Hanau, Germany

09/08/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Shawna Morrison, 26, Iraq, Illinois Army National Guard

09/08/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Charles Lamb, 23, Iraq, Illinois Army National Guard

09/08/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Clarence Adams III, 28, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/08/2004:  DoD Identifies Air Force Casualty: John Boria, 29, NCD, Qatar, Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota

09/08/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Tomas Garces, 19, Iraq, Texas Army National Guard

09/08/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Devin Grella, 21, Iraq, Ohio Army Reserve

09/08/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Michael Allred, 22, David Burridge, 19, Derek Gardner, 20, Quinn Keith, 21, Joseph McCarthy, 21, Mick Nygardbekowsky, 21, and Lamont Wilson, 20, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/07/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Gary Vaillant, 41, Iraq, Camp Casey, Korea

09/07/2004:  DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: Eric Knott, 21, Iraq, Port Hueneme, California

09/05/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Nicholas Wilt, 23, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

09/05/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ronald Winchester, 25, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

09/04/2004:  DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Nicholas Perez, 19, and Alan Rowe, 35, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

09/03/2004:  DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joseph Thibodeaux, 24, Iraq, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii