Former Soldier Claims He Was Beaten During Training Exercise In Cuba

[Robbien]

<snip>

"They grabbed my arms, my legs, twisted me up and unfortunately one of the individuals got up on my back from behind and put pressure down on me while I was face down," said Baker. "Then he - the same individual - reached around and began to choke me and press my head down against the steel floor. After several seconds, 20 to 30 seconds, it seemed like an eternity because I couldn't breath. When I couldn't breath, I began to panic and I gave the code word I was supposed to give to stop the exercise, which was 'red.'" But, Baker says, the beating didn't stop. "That individual slammed my head against the floor and continued to choke me," he said. "Somehow I got enough air, I muttered out, 'I'm a U.S. soldier, I'm a U.S. soldier.'"

. . .

Nearly 15 months after that day, and countless medical treatments at Walter Reed Hospital, Baker is now medically retired from the military, but still suffers. "I sustained an injury to my brain a traumatic brain injury which has caused me to have a seizure disorder I deal with daily," said Baker.

Baker's traumatic brain injury is outlined in a military document in his possession, which says the injury "was due to soldier playing role as a detainee who was uncooperative."

. . .

The Kentucky National Guard confirmed Baker was a member of the 438th Military Police company, but would not comment on the investigation of the incident other than to say it was a "tragic, tragic accident."

http://www.lex18.com/Global/story.asp?S=1891343&nav=EQlpNN9R

[bluestateguy]

1. Sounds like something out of the movie "A Few Good Men"

Sounds like a Code Red.

[NNN0LHI]

6. This soldier got the code red too - MISSING SOLDIER DECLARED DEAD

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2002/b11012002_bt560-02.html

The Department of Defense today announced that Sgt. Ryan D. Foraker, 31, of Logan, Ohio, has been declared dead. Foraker was reported missing from his unit in Guantanamo, Cuba, on Sep. 24. Exhaustive ground, sea, and air searches were conducted in an effort to locate him but were unsuccessful.

Foraker's clothes and personal effects were found near the water's edge, leading the investigating officer, absent any evidence to the contrary, to determine that Foraker had died in the waters of Guantanamo Bay. An extensive criminal investigation uncovered no reason to suspect foul play.

Foraker was assigned to the 342nd Military Police Company, U.S. Army Reserve, Columbus, Ohio, which was deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom to support detainee operations in Guantanamo.

more

[Barrett808]

2. "You can't handle the truth!"

And so forth.

[LittleApple81]

3. Wow... if he had not been a soldier, they would have killed him...hmmm n/t

[UpInArms]

4. all it took was an "orange jumpsuit"

hmmmm...

orange jumpsuit?

What does that make me think about?

but back to the thread:

In light of recent revelations of prisoner abuse in Iraq, Baker felt the need to come forward with his story.

"I feel like I've been betrayed by my own troops because I would never have done to any detainee what had been transpired in my life what happened to me," said Baker. "I don't want this to happen to anyone else, what I'm living with daily."

If they did this to him, what would they do to someone with BDU's?

[Robbien]

5. Doesn't this story prove torture is a regular part of military duties?

This ex-soldier was taking part in a training exercise. The training exercise was torture training. If soldiers are trained to do torture, is not torture a US Military approved procedure?

[UpInArms]

8. you're right Robbien -

it does seem to be SOP and a part of the training.

It all is just so wrong, it makes me sick.

[Cronus Protagonist]

7. He's complaining about a stupid frat prank!

He must be a lierbarel!

/sarcasm

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