The Next Pat Tillman-Style Cover-Up? PFC LaVena Johnson. 1K post

[sce56]

The Next Pat Tillman-Style Cover-Up?

Posted by Philip Barron at 10:49 AM on February 22, 2007.



The Army has much to answer for in its investigation of Private LaVena Johnson's death. Post Tools

Private First Class LaVena Johnson
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There once was a young woman from a St. Louis suburb. She was an honor roll student, she played the violin, she donated blood and volunteered for American Heart Association walks. She elected to put off college for a while and joined the Army once out of school. At Fort Campbell, KY, she was assigned as a weapons supply manager to the 129th Corps Support Battalion.

She was LaVena Johnson, private first class, and she died near Balad, Iraq, on July 19, 2005, just eight days shy of her twentieth birthday. She was the first woman soldier from Missouri to die while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The tragedy of her story begins there.

An Army representative initially told LaVena's father, Dr. John Johnson, that his daughter died of "died of self-inflicted, noncombat injuries" and initially added it was not a suicide -- in other words, an accidental death caused by LaVena herself. The subsequent Army investigation reversed this finding and declared LaVena's death a suicide, a finding refuted by the soldier's family. In an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dr. Johnson pointed to indications that his daughter had endured a physical struggle before she died -- two loose front teeth, a "busted lip" that had to be reconstructed by the funeral home -- suggesting that "someone might have punched her in the mouth."

A promise by the office of Representative William Lacy Clay to look into the matter produced nothing. The military said that the matter was closed.

Little more on LaVena's death was said until St. Louis CBS affiliate KMOV aired a story on Thursday which disclosed troubling details not previously made public - details which belie the Army's assertion that the young Florissant native died by her own hand. The video of the report is available on the KMOV website.
http://www.kmov.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=123131

Reporter Matt Sczesny spoke with LaVena's father and examined documents and photos sent by Army investigators. So far from supporting the claim that LaVena died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the documents provided elements of another scenario altogether:


Indications of physical abuse that went unremarked by the autopsy


The absence of psychological indicators of suicidal thoughts; indeed, testimony that LaVena was happy and healthy prior to her death


Indications, via residue tests, that LaVena may not even have handled the weapon that killed her


A blood trail outside the tent where Lavena's body was found


Indications that someone attempted to set LaVena's body on fire

The Army has resisted calls by Dr. Johnson and by KMOV to reopen its investigation.

We have seen in other military deaths, most infamously that of Army Ranger and former professional football player Cpl. Pat Tillman, that the Army has engaged in an insulting game of deny and delay when it comes to uncovering embarrassing facts. Only when public and official attention is brought to bear on the matter - as happened, eventually and with great effort, with the case of Cpl. Tillman - do unpleasant truths come to light.

Astonishing as it seems, it takes that level of outrage to compel the Army to find the truth and tell it, to honor its own soldiers. No such groundswell has yet emerged in the case of LaVena; not enough voices have demanded that someone in the military, anyone, speak for her. At first glance, the contrast between the cases of Pat Tillman and LaVena Johnson seems vast, but at the core the situations are the same. In each case, the death of a young soldier in a dangerous place and time was not explained to the families they left behind, the families that gave them up so that they could serve us. An honest accounting of their passing is all the dead ask of us.

The mother of Pat Tillman put the matter in stark and honest terms:


"This is how they treat a family of a high-profile individual," she said. "How are they treating others?"

In the case of Private First Class Johnson, we know the answer.

The above is from the Blog
http://www.waveflux.net/archives/2007/02/the_coverup_of_a_soldiers_deat.php

Send a message to your Senator on the Senate Armed Services Committee asking what happened to this brave young american soldier.

Democrats
Carl Levin, Chairman (Michigan)
Claire McCaskill (Missouri)
Edward M. Kennedy (Massachusetts)
Robert C. Byrd (West Virginia)
Joseph I. Lieberman (Connecticut)
Jack Reed (Rhode Island)
Daniel K. Akaka (Hawaii)
Bill Nelson (Florida)
E. Benjamin Nelson (Nebraska)
Evan Bayh (Indiana)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (New York)
Mark L. Pryor (Arkansas)
Jim Webb (Virginia)

Republicans
John McCain, Ranking Member (Arizona)
John W. Warner (Virginia)
James M. Inhofe (Oklahoma)
Jeff Sessions (Alabama)
Susan M. Collins (Maine)
John Ensign (Nevada)
Saxby Chambliss (Georgia)
Lindsey O. Graham (South Carolina)
Elizabeth Dole (North Carolina)
John Cornyn (Texas)
John Thune (South Dakota)
Mel Martinez (Florida)


How many others were killed and then claimed by the Army to be suicides
http://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2005/12/philosophersold.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x126094


I searched hard to find a post worthy of my 1K post as this is that milestone. What better way than to Honor the memory of a fellow soldier and demand the truth as to how she was killed and why it was covered up!

[PA Democrat]

1. K & R

[trashcanistanista]

2. Horrific.

Condolences to her family.

[Mnemosyne]

3. Good on you, sce56, to use your thousandth post to bring this

heinous cover-up to light. How fucking cruel to tell the family it was a suicide, when physical evidence suggests otherwise.

Suicide is devastating to a family/close friends under any circumstances, but to lie about it is beyond reprehensible!


Links to contact the Armed Services Senate Committee:

Armed Services Committee
Address: 228 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Website: http://armed-services.senate.gov

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=sarme


FULL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/webreturn/?url=http://armed-services.senate.gov


Great post on an important subject sce! :hi:

[sce56]

7. Thanks for the kick

Yes it is bad and we need to do something about it just like the COL from West Point
that found evidence of contractor malfeasance then decided to commit suicide when he was trying to shine the light on the misdeeds of the war profiteers!

[Mnemosyne]

14. Wasn't he another one that shot himself twice

in the back of the head? :grr:

Hopefully, * and the dick start feeling suicidal soon.

The one thing Truman did that really impressed me was this:

snip>
editorial | posted April 24, 2003 (May 12, 2003 issue)

War Profiteering

Even before US troops arrived in Baghdad, looting broke out--in Washington. While Republicans in Congress and their allies in the media yammered about the need to silence dissent and "support the troops," corporations with close ties to the Bush Administration were quietly arranging to ink lucrative contracts that would put them in charge of reconstructing Iraq. Bechtel's contract, worth up to $680 million, to rebuild Iraqi roads, schools, sewers and hospitals drew a lot of media attention, but it was chump change compared with the deal greased through by Vice President Cheney's old oil-services firm, Halliburton. The Army Corps of Engineers told Representative Henry Waxman that a Pentagon contract awarded without competition to Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) to fight oilwell fires is worth as much as $7 billion over two years. The Halliburton subsidiary has been authorized to take profits of up to $490 million.

Congress dozes while the treasury is raided. Waxman has done the best job of monitoring the rapidly burgeoning relationship between the federal government run by Dick Cheney and a corporation formerly run by Dick Cheney. He's been asking polite, persistent questions such as, "What is the exact nature of the work that Brown & Root is expected to be asked to perform under the contract?"

But where's the outrage? Where is the leader with the courage to say, as Franklin Roosevelt did during World War II,

"I don't want to see a single war millionaire created in the United States as a result of this world disaster"?

Democrats in Congress--and Republicans who have not placed their conscience in a blind trust for the duration of the Bush/Cheney years, a group we hope still includes Arizona's John McCain in the Senate and Iowa's Jim Leach in the House--should borrow a page from past wars, when the nation's elected leaders knew what to call businessmen who used hostilities abroad as an excuse to raid the federal treasury. Senator Robert La Follette tagged them as "enemies of democracy in the homeland." During World War II Harry Truman referred to some forms of war profiteering as

"treason."

When he heard rumors of such profiteering, Truman got into his Dodge and, during a Congressional recess, drove 30,000 miles paying unannounced visits to corporate offices and work sites. The Senate committee he chaired launched aggressive investigations into shady wartime business practices and found "waste, inefficiency, mismanagement and profiteering," according to Truman, who argued that such behavior was unpatriotic. Urged on by Truman and others in Congress, President Roosevelt supported broad increases in the corporate income tax, raised the excess-profits tax to 90 percent and charged the Office of War Mobilization with the task of eliminating illegal profits. Truman, who became a national hero for his fight against the profiteers, was tapped to be FDR's running mate in 1944.

a little more here:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20030512/editors

It's worked out quite well for Helliburton/the dick, now hasn't it? Oh, and Uncle Bucky *, et al. I need to research Carlyle Group profits in the ME, surely there is much to find.

[Mnemosyne]

4. Oops! - Error: You've already recommended that thread. n/t

:kick:

[sce56]

18. Oops! - Error: you can't recommend your own topics

[Mnemosyne]

27. But we did/can and even give it a

:kick:

[sce56]

30. Well don't go saying that since all I could do was get an error!

Hehehehehe

[Mnemosyne]

36. My bad, spoke too soon before engaging brain to

hands!

You so bad too!:rofl:

[ikojo]

5. Her father is doing his best to see to it that

an investigation is done.

[PA Democrat]

6. Does anyone know if her family would have received less in military death benefits

if her death was ruled a suicide? It is absolutely despicable for the military to lie to this woman's family.

[sce56]

8. That is not the reason they rulled suicide!

The reason must be to hide crimes done in the prosecution of this illegal war. Once you set the dogs of war free it will embolden some to go for broke "What the heck will they do to me send me to Iraq" It seems from the evidence her father , a doctor, seen that she was raped and then killed to cover up the crime Then the Chain of Command did nothing about it other than to cover it up! Things like this will just get worse as they open up the Army to all kinds of undesirables with waivers to fill the dwindling ranks. http://journals.democraticunderground.com/DeepModem%20Mom/2969

[malaise]

9. That's my take on this

EfuggingNOUGH. When they're prepared to cover up the rape of their own, we're all in serious trouble.

K & R.

[Morgana LaFey]

10. Oh, they're EAGER to cover it up. That's SOP.

The Army -- no doubt all the branches -- is the very heart of misogyny. It's my understanding that rape, esp. in Iraq, is utterly rampant. And nobody who has the power to do anything about it gives a damn.

Hell, look what went on at the Air Force Academy not all that long ago.

[Mnemosyne]

15. My birth father was an Air Force lifer (ret.) and he is one of

the most misogynistic men I've ever known. He beat my mother regularly, sober, and was a horribly abusive father also. Too many of the men I've ever known have been fairly misogynistic, not all of them military, but more than should be. They do cover everything up unless it is too spectacular and cannot be avoided.

Is it something they put in the food in basic? Or just too much testosterone? :shrug:

[sce56]

17. I have seen lots of wierd things in my time! But one thing that sticks out

I saw after I retired, Officers adopting kids! I saw a Air Force Col's wife who moved to Japan to get a job GS while her husband stayed in Alaska. He was close to retirement and she needed to start her career of course there were rumors of strings pulled for her to get that job by her husband. She only brought the adopted daughter with her. Something about a Efficiency report containing reference to how they adopted helping them get promoted! Sick way of doing things I thought it was especially interesting that the wife would not leave the adopted one behind with the rest of the kids!

[Mnemosyne]

22. Mercenary cretins. Adoption for promotions, how despicable.

:puke:

She probably brought the adopted daughter so she could train her to work around the house. Many are adopting/fostering for the money/slave labor, it seems, more than the love nowadays. There are many good people that do adopt, but too many in it for the almighty dollar, imo. Poor kids.

[malaise]

19. I recently saw a case on Court TV

where this Senior Marine was a pedophile in the Philipines, also in Japan at at home. He raped several children including several children of army personnel. His mistake was to rape a particular Army man's daughter. That girl's father took it seriously and followed it up. The army played around with the trial and let him travel during it. He faked his own death during the trip and killed another man while doing so. The army said the dead man's dental records were the Marines and his stupid ex wife went along with it and moved back in with him, for the money, even as he continued to abuse his own children. He changed his name and everything. The army man's whose daughter was raped never believed he was dead and kept the pressure on. The army hierarchy suggested that he was crazy and obsessed about it. He was eventually caught and imprisoned after years of abuse and criminality.

As an aside, after I saw that I have grave doubts that Ken Lay really died.

[Mnemosyne]

23. The amount of molestation that happens in this country/world is astounding!

I was lucky that my mom divorced him when I was 6. He did much damage in that time, but my 8 year younger half-sister grew-up with him, having to have a dead-bolt on her bedroom door. I am so grateful not to have lived with that bastard any longer than I did. I threw him out of my life in 1997, and my only regret is I that I can't speak to my sweet step-mother, (80 yo, 8 years older than him, one lung and he has beaten and choked her throughout the years) nor my sister, thanks to that miserable prick.

He beat his wives/daughters for such ridiculous things as putting mayo on the table. He trained guys for Nam, and called anyone that came back with PTSD a pussy. He never went to battle, so it was easy for him. asshole. He doesn't like "dirty hippies" either.

What a guy! :puke:

What a mad world.

[CoffeeCat]

29. Hi Vickiss--

I just wanted to say I'm sorry about your abusive past.

I share a similar experience. I cut my father off also, and as a result--have lost my relationships
with my mother and siblings.

Their abuser just never ends and it reaches so far and wide.

I hope you are doing well and that you have been able to heal.

Peace and light to you--
:hugs:

[Mnemosyne]

34. TwoSparkles, I am also sorry that you had to suffer as a child. Only one of

my five half-sisters speaks to me now, the one younger than myself by 15 years. Three have one father, including my youngest sister, and two have different mothers than I do.

When my step-father died, somehow he became a saint, and all of the abuse is ignored and I am ostracized for acknowledging he was a human being with problems, mainly mercury poisoning from his occupation. No one is worthy of love unless perfect, don't ya' know? :sarcasm:

My mother complained daily about (step-)Dad's mean streak for almost 40 years, now she seems to be trying to take his place. She even tries to spin my biological father's horrible abuse. To Mom, anything bad is forgotten asap, let's focus on *your* incompetence instead. I love her much, but sheesh, it gets very tough to deal with such negativity most of the time!

I hope you have a great family of your own now. :hug: Mine is now found in my friends, for the most part.

We are SURVIVORS!

[CoffeeCat]

37. Your family is so similar to mine...

It's amazing how dysfunctional families follow the same playbook.

I grew up hearing my mother complain about how awful my father was. Now, when
I dare to bring how awful our home was or the pain he causes--my mother attacks
me and accuses me of "being overly sensitive" or "focusing on the negative". Like
you said, they "spin" the abuse.

One thing that I've realized about my mother--is that she is my father's partner in crime. She
positions herself as the victim of my father. However, she plays a role in perpetuating
the abuse dynamic between them. She's just as mean, and she's done nothing to give her
children a peaceful, happy life. She stays with him and forces her kids to endure a
total jerk. That's not an innocent victim--in my mind. My mother has not spoken to me
since I confronted my father about the sexual abuse of my childhood. My mother believed
my father and has not contacted me. It's been four years. There's no basis for
a relationship anymore. I'm happy to have moved on because they are both sick people.

It's hard with my siblings. I'm in contact with one of them, but I trust no one in the
family really. They all waffle between reality and complete denial. It's difficult to
have a relationship with people like that.

I'm glad you have found a new family of friends. That's so important. You are resourceful
and strong. So many people like us--who come from challenged backgrounds--find people we
love and trust and that is so courageous. I am married to an amazing man and we have
two adorable daughters. I consider myself the matriarch of a new, healthy family--and
that I have broken the cycle. Like you, my friends are invaluable.

My best wishes to you. I know how hard this is. I also know how much strength, peace
and enlightenment can be gained from healing from this type of a background.

[Mnemosyne]

38. Your family is truly blessed to have you as

it's matriarch. A family needs a strong woman they can count on. I think one of the hardest things about growing up in an abusive home is not being able to trust easily. How do you learn to trust when you cannot even trust or count on your parents?

I see your sweet Stinky is feeling better! So glad to see it! :applause:

In solidarity.:hug:

Namaste,
V

[malaise]

31. We were the lucky ones I guess

I knew nothing about child abuse until I was an adult. I'm sure it was going on but no one I knew was abused. I remember how shocked I was when a student on campus told a group of us that her 'well respected' father abused since she was eight.

[Mnemosyne]

33. I wish no child ever had to be aware

of abuse. Unfortunately, there are too many people that never learn to control their tempers, whether from nurture or nature, and kids are an easy target.

[Mnemosyne]

24. And I believe that Ken Lay is living here:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0610/S00308.htm

[PA Democrat]

12. I agree. I think their first motive is CYA. They have a lot of problems with rape and

brutal crimes being committed by members of the military and it seems the brass tries to cover it up at every turn. I was just curious as to whether there was an additional incentive to lie to this poor family. We know that they are doing all they can to cheat wounded vets out of as much disability pay and benefits as possible. I would not be surprised if they were doing this with death benefits as well.

[argyl]

11. Must have been rape and/or murder.What other scenario could suicide be

considered a better PR determination? What a nightmare for this poor young woman's family.

Sounds like her father has no intention of giving up until he finds the truth.I'll write my Senator(John Cornyn,Bush rubber stamp) on the Senate Armed Services Committee and urge him to find out the truth for the Johnson family. They deserve it and much more as well.

Although it's almost obligatory to say it,not all our young men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan are our "best and brightest." However,this does seem to be a most apt description of PFC LaVena Johnson.

[a kennedy]

13. I've sent my e-mails to the committee.....

This is just terrible and disgusting. :cry: Sure hope they can get to the truth.

[Waveflux]

16. Thank you, and handy contact info for Senate Armed Services Committee

My name is Philip Barron; I am the author of the AlterNet piece. Thanks much to sce56 for posting this and to all of you for your attention to LaVena's story.

Thanks also to vickiss for linking to senatorial contact into. For your convenience, direct links to the contact pages for each member of the Senate Armed Services Committee can be found at the end of the original post at my blog. Just click on your senator's link and send your message.

Thanks again and take care.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi Waveflux!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[sce56]

21. Hi Waveflux and welcome to DU

:hi:
Did I get you here? What did you think about the story of Col. Ted Westhusing above? And thanks for your story in Alternet.

http://web.archive.org/web/20030602211200/

[wicket]

25. K & R

My god, what have we done?

:cry:

[jtrockville]

26. I got an email from Claire McCaskill, I replied

asking her to investigate this matter. Thank you for posting this.

[Straight Shooter]

28. One more reason to bring the troops home NOW.

This makes me heartsick.

[sce56]

32. See Dear Abby's response to parents of kids being recruited

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=285964&mesg_id=286163
http://web.archive.org/web/20030602211200/

[EFerrari]

35. Motherfuckers.

:mad:

:kick: