tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99940632024-03-13T08:44:56.835-07:00We Are All Volunteers in This ArmyA site for writing about problems with the current medical hold system at the Training Bases in the US Army. The personal has become political...this is their story...the story of the young men and women who volunteered to serve our country and were injured in training. I'm the mother of two US veterans of the war in Iraq, one about to do his 2nd tour.Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-72703466058933954832008-09-03T07:25:00.000-07:002008-09-03T08:51:58.459-07:00Fort Benning Trainee "Double Timing" on Broken Leg<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYW75X5jrT0GvlF4ETslAKNqNB-9WuAQNEwaq8FrAhvlK52YOqRNnI_OujWS68MBUpabY9h7piFdam14Ra-ofHiLHB-YyCsewJyVqwhKkPi2tNELz-KlvKtZ4RiX-scHxgNHuZA/s1600-h/brokenlegcrutch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYW75X5jrT0GvlF4ETslAKNqNB-9WuAQNEwaq8FrAhvlK52YOqRNnI_OujWS68MBUpabY9h7piFdam14Ra-ofHiLHB-YyCsewJyVqwhKkPi2tNELz-KlvKtZ4RiX-scHxgNHuZA/s320/brokenlegcrutch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241802978390385362" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Apparently Fort Benning is not satisfied to leave Fort Sill resting on its laurels as the most documented location of abuse of injured Army trainees. The competition is heating up, so to speak. Sadly, as is common, the trainee in the following story has expressed that others are being treated worse than him.</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;">A young man who dreamed of nothing all his life except being a soldier is a trainee at Fort Benning. He seriously fractured his leg during Basic Training, and as a result is in a cast and on crutches.<br /><br />He has been informed that he is receiving a medical discharge (known as a "Med Board"). The Army has up to 90 days to effect this, once the decision has been made. Despite the obvious evidence of this Private's injury, his officers and NCOs have decided to have a little fun with him. I guess there's no appropriate place for this young man to be while he waits out his unwanted medical discharge, because they have him sitting in a training battalion headquarters building with those his senior (which is nearly everyone when you are a trainee Private). <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" > [Note: This Trainee's particular Training Drill Sergeant is NOT a participant in the following incidents] </span> </span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br />Outside of the miscellaneous insults he receives on a daily basis, the following are incidents of verbal and secondary physical ABUSE:</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br /></span></span><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">An OFFICER of the training unit required the trainee to look up and read the definition of "infirm" out loud and then informed the trainee, "that is you, you are the weak, the helpless, the useless." Small stuff, you might think. Now remember that the Officers set the tone for those under their command and read on.</span> </span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A DRILL SERGEANT took the trainee's crutch away from him and threw it in the bushes. As a note, the trainee then tried to get permission from the medical staff to forego his crutch. That permission was refused.</span><br /></span></span></li></ul><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Another DRILL SERGEANT made the trainee DOUBLE TIME around the building on his broken leg. </span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;">(Double time "begins with the left foot, raises the forearms to a horizontal position along the waistline, cups the hands with the knuckles out, and begins an easy run of 180 steps per minute with 30-inch steps, measured from heel to heel. Coordinated motion of the arms are maintained throughout")</span> </span></li></ul><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Yet another DRILL SERGEANT has ordered the trainee to recite the following [Note: as of this time, the trainee has refused to do it, and has recited the Soldiers' Creed instead]</span> </span></li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Sick Call Rangers Creed</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I am an American Profile.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I am weakly, and a burden to the team.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I serve the hospital and the people who work in it.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I will always be the first</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >to complain about the mission.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I will easily accept defeat.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" ><br />I will always quit.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I will be the fallen comrade.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I am always hurt, physically, and/or mentally.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >Trained and proficient in filling out the sick call slip,<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I will always complain about my arms,</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >my legs, and anything else wrong with me.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" ><br />I am on crutches and I am on quarters.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I sit, ready to duck, dodge,</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >and avoid the PT test</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >conducted by the Army of the</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >United States<br />of America</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" ><br />I am a guardian of the clinic and a sorry way of life.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I am an American profile.***</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Very clever, don't you think? Not quite on the level with Weird Al Yankovic, but considering the source, not a bad parody to use on an injured trainee who is already grappling with the apparent destruction of his lifelong dream. Causing physical pain and mental anguish to this young Private is justified, right? After all, he became <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">injured</span> in an attempt to serve his country, and that makes him useless, right? <span style="font-style: italic;">He should be out there running on a broken leg, right?</span> Oh, but wait, <span style="font-weight: bold;">HE ALREADY DID THAT.</span><br /><br />I have cut and pasted both the public comments made by his family member elsewhere on this blog, and excerpts from her private comments to me (with her permission) below the actual Soldiers Creed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">***[The "Real"] Soldiers Creed</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I am an American Soldier.</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I am a Warrior and a member of a team.<br />I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I will always place the mission first.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I will never accept defeat.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I will never quit.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" ><br />I will never leave a fallen comrade.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks<br />and drills.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I am an expert and I am a professional.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in<br />close combat.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I am an American Soldier. </span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Injured Trainee's Family Member Comments:</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />"I must say that had I read this a few months ago I would not have believed it. Now I know first hand. I have a son in the Army in basic at Benning and he is not being treated very well.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />Until his injury we were receiving very upbeat letters from him talking about how he loved the Army and how excited he was, he told us basic was hard but he was doing very well. About six weeks in he was injured and he called us to tell us they are discharging him under a medical discharge. That was three weeks ago. The letters we get now tell us that he sits in the HQ all day for 12 hours and more, staring at the wall, he mentioned that he is called names. He told us that his own DS and his company treat him with respect but others do not. <span style="font-style: italic;">The injured are ridiculed often and are all treated like quitters.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It is interesting that they label him a quitter even though he marched on a fractured leg without complaint and then broke it the next morning while running</span>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Today's letter told us that a Cpt there made him look up the word "infirm" and tell him the definition of the word and then informed him that "this is you, weak, feeble and useless".</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />It scares me, he has only mentioned these things in passing, most of his letters are just his despair at being sent home and his despair at watching the others go out and train while he sits and waits.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />I am angry over this treatment. <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am a veteran and come from a family of veterans.</span> I have taught my children patriotism and was proud when he chose to serve his country and proud of the letters I was receiving talking of his commitment to the Army and his desire to make a career of it and that he felt he had found a home, now I am ashamed that he is being treated like this.</span> In my opinion there is nothing more precious that we can offer our country than our brave sons and daughters and for them to be treated in this manner is deplorable.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />Reading this blog makes me even more concerned because it was my hope that he is simply facing a couple of people with no honor who are just being cruel, yet from reading this it seems it is common and I worry for his mental state if he has to stay in these conditions for very long. "</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">"He was part of the Young Marines program as a child and had trained in numerous martial arts programs all in preperation to become a soldier. He rarely talked about anything else growing up.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">We received many letters, in them he spoke of his pride at being a soldier, he said the training was hard but he loved it, and how he believed he belonged in the Army.</span> He was training to be an Infantryman. He spoke in letters of how he would most likely end up in Afghanatstein or Iraq and that we must not worry for him, that he was proud to go and serve, that it was his duty to do so.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">And then he was injured.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />On a ruck march he hurt his leg, he said he pushed himself and finished the march, his leg was bothering him but he was working through the pain. The next morning he went out to do PT and while running the bone fractured. The docters told him they think he fractured it the previous day on the march and fractured it worse when he attempted to run on it the next day.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Since that time, my son has been treated like a piece of garbage.</span> He is called names which I cannot mention in an email to a stranger. He says that his own drill sergeant and his company do not mistreat him, they have told him he is a soldier at heart and they are sorry to see him injured.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"> He is being discharged. He found out about the discharge on (recent date deleted) of this year. He is still at the (designation deleted) at Benning, he has to sit at their HQ every day and endure insults by both officers and NCO's. As his mother I made the mistake of sending an email to the commander of the (designation removed) and I got a very respectful reply back, but I found out today that this man asked my son to look up the word "infirm" and read him the definition and then he told my son <span style="font-style: italic;">"that is you, you are the weak, the helpless, the useless".</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />My son is very depressed and told me today that he is trying to endure, but it is very hard, he does nothing all day except sit and stare at the wall. He does this for 12 hours or more every day, and it is only broken up by the moments when NCO's and Officers come in and give him verbal abuse and insult him. And even through all this all he really wants is to be able to stay in the Army and finish his traning and become and Infantryman. He is not a quitter and can take a lot of abuse but this mental abuse is horrible and I fear they will break him."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">"All of them talk about his sitting around all day with nothing to do. He is not allowed to read or rest while the rest of the group are out training so he sits. Two letters make reference to the two persons who call him <span style="font-style: italic;">"broken dick"</span> and the officer that made him look up the definition of "infirm". <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">There are others there getting worse treatment</span>.</span> My son has it easy so to speak because he has the respect of his drill sgt and his group, <span style="font-style: italic;">some of the young men there have no one.</span> I cannot imagine the torment of the ones who just are not able to make the stress of basic training or the ones whose injuries are not readily visible. My son is in a cast and on crutches so at least he has something visible to look at showing he is injured."<br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">"He said one of his DS's told him that out of all the guys in the company that (name deleted) is the one he would not be afraid to go into battle with on day one. He said that made him proud."</span><p></p><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span lang="EN">"He says he is reading his Bible and praying and that doing that plus having the support of his company and his own drill sgt as well as the first sgt enables him to get through the days where the others are messing with him all the time. He is going to church each Sunday and he is speaking with a Chaplain when everything starts to get more than he can bear."</span><br /></span></span></span>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-82804164685923733372008-08-24T13:05:00.000-07:002008-08-24T13:47:15.554-07:00Fort Sill Treats Abused & Injured Hawaiian Trainee Like Prisoner<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MfA_zGvopIMp5u5RKJwLgSlcghVMYjRGtuIitJxbe_OqO6s0LMtRBXRtGJYzTl-j9lFXj6QF5JKj2FE5oqE4tIYt3krBppqALmZb2L8fbGct6o64FD7kMX5Y3ZoeL4ujBzOJFA/s1600-h/100_0381.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MfA_zGvopIMp5u5RKJwLgSlcghVMYjRGtuIitJxbe_OqO6s0LMtRBXRtGJYzTl-j9lFXj6QF5JKj2FE5oqE4tIYt3krBppqALmZb2L8fbGct6o64FD7kMX5Y3ZoeL4ujBzOJFA/s320/100_0381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238179778691232626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><h2>Is Fort Sill At It Again?</h2></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Today we're gonna "party" like it's still 2006...</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">They call it gallows humor. Yet, it wasn't funny when I started documenting </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html">the abuse of injured trainees at Fort Sill, Oklahoma</a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">...and it's not funny now, either.</span><br /><br />Today, I read the following comments on this site from <span style="font-style: italic;">"concerned mother"</span> Lisa Moniz and decided it was time to post here once again.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"My son is still at Ft Sill, it's been over a month since his injury. The outcome of the investigation, that I pushed so hard to get, was that the drill sgt acted inappropriately. Of course the military directed this so-called investigation. Due to his inappropriate act my sons vision and hearing is impaired. Per their own neurologist, at Ft Sil, my sons vision is permanently damaged. He is being harrased everyday, confined to his quarters, eating only if his drill sgt remembers to get him out of his quarters. Now, none of this was his fault, so someone please tell me, why is he being treated like a criminal? Since July 19,2008, when the incident occured, I write a letter evernite and send it off in the morning. Out of all those letters my son has recvd five. Isn't this the kind of treatment someone gets when the are sent to prison? What can I do to help save my son? The last conversation I had with my son was on Tuesday August 19,2008. Which was only possible because of his meeting with his attorney James Branum. My son is very depressed, he is falling apart with each passing day. If there is someone out there who can help, please respond. This is a desperate cry for help, please don't let my son be another lost soul."</span><br /><br />On July 19th, a Drill Sergeant at Fort Sill had a temper tantrum that resulted in a head injury to a trainee. Pvt. Ja Van Yiu Lin, age 19, is from Waianae, in Hawaii. He entered BCT (Basic Combat Training) on July 10th, 2008. On July 19th, his training came to an abrupt halt when an unnamed Drill Sergeant "pushed" a desk and a bunk bed into Yiu Lynn because he was angry. [Note: These are heavy cast metal bunks, see photo above] Pvt Yiu Lin's injury was a result of that Drill Sergeant's tantrum.<br /><br />The Drill Sergeant initially blamed Pvt.Yiu Lin for sustaining the injury, but later recanted and said it was an “accident.” Pvt Yiu Lynn couldn't remember anything from the time of impact until he was in the hospital Emergency Room the afternoon of July 19th. On July 20th, Pvt Yiu Lynn was allowed to call his mother. He informed her that he was having difficulty with his vision and hearing. He was taken to the Reynolds Community Hospital Emergency Room twice in two days, and received two clinic follow-ups. He was originally returned to duty, with restrictions on marching and running. His head still hurt, his vision was still blurred, and his hearing was impaired.<br /><br />Apparently, since the injury, he has not been allowed to make unsupervised phone calls to his family. [Note: Why? Unsupervised calls from the payphones to family are usually allowed in Basic Training] His mother, Lisa Moniz, was and is frantic.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><h3>Lisa Moniz blogs</h3></span>On <span style="font-style: italic;">July 23rd</span>, these remarks were posted in the comments area on this blog site from "concerned mother" a.k.a. Lisa Moniz:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Aloha,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">All the way from Hawaii. I acccidently came across your web site whil looking for information about new recruits in Ft Sill. My son is there for his basic training. I recvd some disturbing news that my son had recvd a head injury, which was inflicted by his drill sergeant. I've been told that there doing an investigation, but thats it. I've spoken to many sergeants, and still no progress. What should I do? The commander called and said "I assure you that your soldier is fine" So why is everything such a big secret? Why cant I speak to my son, without them listening in? Why did I recv. that disturbing phone call, stating that he was injured? What should I do? Pls help me, I'm at the end. ALso do they have the right to have my telephone conversations at home, work,and cell, tampered with? HELP"</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I responded with what, sadly, has become my standard procedure (I'm not going to reiterate it here, it's all over this site) about how to deal with this kind of crisis. It's hard to tell, sometimes, what to say other than the equivalent of "follow these instructions and call me in the morning." Often, parents make contact with me because they are angry, afraid, and they feel helpless. Many times they want "me" to "fix it" for them. I wish it were that simple. Sometimes it's even a hoax or an attempted setup. I hoped "concerned mother" Lisa Moniz was one of those bogus posters, just looking for attention. She was not.<br /><br />On <span style="font-style: italic;">July 24th</span>, "concerned mother" Lisa Moniz posted a follow-up comment:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RESPONDING. IT'S BEEN FIVE LONG DAYS AND, NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME ABOUT THIS SO CALLED INVESTIGATION. A GOOD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY, WHO IS RETIRED FROM THE ARMY, AND DID HIS TRAINING IN FT SILL ALSO GAVE SOME ADVICE. SINCE SPEAKING WITH HIM I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OUR SENATORS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN POSTING ME DAILY ON WHAT THEY ARE DOING. I'VE CONTACTED LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND NOW I'M RECIEVING THREATS FROM THOSE THAT WOULD'NT ASSIST ME. (" TO BACK OFF, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GETTING INTO") IT'S SCARY AND I FEEL ALL ALONE. BUT, I WON'T GIVE UP. AGAIN, (MAHALO) THANK YOU! I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED"</span><br /><br />To someone who has never had to deal with this situation, the above remark might sound hysterical or far fetched. Sadly, hate mail, veiled threats, ridicule, and discrediting attempts, both for you and your son or daughter, are the very least to be expected.<br /><br />On <span style="font-style: italic;">July 29th</span>, a story appeared in the Honolulu Star Bulletin. You can read it here:<br /><br /><a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html">http://starbulletin.com/2008/07/29/news/story02.html</a><br /><br />I was relieved that "concerned mother" was getting some assistance. I left for a long scheduled two week camping trip. When I returned, I found the <span style="font-style: italic;">August 1st</span> follow-up story. It was disturbing.<br /><br /><a href="http://starbulletin.com/2008/08/01/news/story04.html">http://starbulletin.com/2008/08/01/news/story04.html</a><br /><br />Even a layperson can tell that Pvt. Yiu Lyn’s symptoms could be signs of <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/traumatic-brain-injury/DS00552/DSECTION=symptoms">traumatic brain injury</a> . That alone should be enough to get Pvt Yiu Lyn some significant diagnostics. Instead, he's being treated like a prisoner, as Moniz related above.<br /><br />In the report that Moniz received from her Senator's office about the initial incident, the following statement was made:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The battalion commander concluded the drill sergeant acted inappropriately, and will take the action that he deems necessary and proper to address the matter. However, such behavior by drill sergeants is not acceptable nor is it tolerated by the Fort Sill command."</span><br /><br />If that is true, why does this keep happening? Why am I writing about abuse and medical neglect of injured trainees at the same Army post again just two years later?<br /><br />Most recently, the big news has been the mold at Fort Sill in the wounded warrior unit <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-08-17-mold_N.htm">http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-08-17-mold_N.htm</a><br />and the subsequent removal of the whistleblower who was responsible for alerting the media to the problem when nothing was done. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-08-19-fortsill_N.htm">http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-08-19-fortsill_N.htm</a><br />While this was headline news, it was hardly a surprise to those that know the deeply entrenched rot that permeates Fort Sill. That rot has caused severe injury and death in the past, and apparently it's a gift that keeps on giving.<br /><br />What is wrong at Fort Sill? Why does this stuff keep happening? And why is Pvt Yiu Lyn being punished and his medical treatment neglected? Why is this news confined to the <a href="http://starbulletin.com/2008/07/29/news/story02.html">Honolulu Star Bulletin </a>and this blog? Fort Sill is protecting the Drill Sergeant. Who is going to protect Pvt.Yiu Lyn? Why is he being kept under wraps? Why is he being harassed?<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">He, like many others, only wanted to serve his country. His life has been forever altered because of a violent outburst by his superior. Indeed, the most heart wrenching statement attributed to Pvt Yiu Lyn from the aforementioned Honolulu newspaper is that he still wants to remain in the Army. He still wants to serve his country... Now if only his country cared enough to help him.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">(Patricia deVarennes can be reached at ptrosss(at)gmail.com)</span></span><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-19484021303946249832007-03-18T19:31:00.000-07:002007-03-18T22:57:00.423-07:00“I Am A Casualty of A Broken System”—One Year Later<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu80GnlHFaLOvK_PK7XiYxGYAT9j_N9iuSRfBh_JfZpXHo2SENwXilSGi1MPJNsvHcAqLR3GfDw7UhRZdbDgnisd9EAPJJYj-XfDv0bU0pl3LkCVD2x_M2zpfXvuzpt85nSaaovw/s1600-h/mathewandchristen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu80GnlHFaLOvK_PK7XiYxGYAT9j_N9iuSRfBh_JfZpXHo2SENwXilSGi1MPJNsvHcAqLR3GfDw7UhRZdbDgnisd9EAPJJYj-XfDv0bU0pl3LkCVD2x_M2zpfXvuzpt85nSaaovw/s320/mathewandchristen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043478169056781986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:90;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Christen Scarano Bailey with photo of her late son, Mathew Scarano</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><br />In Memory of Mathew Scarano</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> by Patricia deVarennes</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >“I am a casualty of a broken system; I fell through the cracks of the bureaucracy that is the system which all of us must go through, as is every other one of us who have been here.”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >-– Mathew Sterling Scarano<br />February 1985- March 19, 2006</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >I only met Mathew Scarano once in person, when I went to visit my son in the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Program (PTRP) at Fort Sill. These locations are not often open for visitors. They have long operated in the shadows with little direction and even less oversight. Mathew and I communicated via email, when he could find a way to get to a library or hospital computer. [Later, a much ballyhooed "internet cafe" in the PTRP still only allowed PTRP-ers to check their official Army email and AKO (Army Knowledge Online)-PD]. Mathew Scarano was one of those special people that you never forget. It still seems impossible that he's gone. Yet Mathew Scarano is definitely gone. And there is a hole in the life of everyone he knew because of it.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >One year ago, this young Army trainee's life was lost. It wasn’t lost to war, it wasn’t lost to an unfortunate accident in a training exercise, it was lost in a Fort Sill, Oklahoma facility that was purportedly “designed for injured IET Soldiers, and provides a training environment that allows for proper healing and recovery.” (Army Pub TR 350-6). </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >The late PFC Mathew Scarano spent both his 20th and his 21st birthdays in Fort Sill’s Physical Training and Rehabilitation Program</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > (PTRP) before his unexpected and still unofficially explained death on March 19, 2006. (Mathew Scarano was not the first death at Fort Sill's PTRP. There was another, Pvt. Poirier, in 2005, of "acute methadone intoxication".)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >The PTRP program, according to regulations was for injured trainees “likely to fully recover within 4 months, and complete all of the physical requirements of training” and gave a maximum stay policy for “up to 6 months”(Army Pub TR 350-6). The punitive and abusive circumstances these young men endured was documented last year, initially in this blog, then twice in Counterpunch (</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.counterpunch.org/jw04052006.html">here</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > and </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.counterpunch.org/jw05172006.html">here</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > ), and finally by the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/12/us/12training.html?ex=1305086400&en=ad73e6c50322a8b2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">New York Times</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >(Thanks to JoAnn Wypejewski and Ralph Blumenthal)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >I have excerpted some of PFC Mathew Scarano’s own words below. They are taken from two essays he sent to me during his self-study research into group psychology. At the time of his death, we had also begun an exchange about mentoring new PTRP “inmates” </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >(His two essay letters are available in whole </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: times new roman;" href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_archive.html">here</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >):</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >“As of 15 MAR 05, I have been in PTRP continuously for over one year, through the equivalent of several generations of PTRP. I believe this gives me a unique position from which to examine the underlying, root problems afflicting us all, since no one else, save the couple others who have been in PTRP nearly (within a month) as long as I have, have objectively seen the evolution of PTRP and witnessed how it affects different people, and from that, the true nature of PTRP.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >"I am a living symbol of the failure of the system and after having been ignored for so long, despite trying to raise as much attention as I could, I might finally be able to get on with my adult life after spending over a third of it in PTRP, deprived of everything from being able to be with my family, to fundamental physical needs such as sleep and recuperation from my injury, to the basic human freedoms and creature comforts which I will never again take for granted.”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >On March 19th, 2006, five days after Mathew Scarano sent me a draft essay with his thoughts and observations about the Fort Sill PTRP, he was found dead in his bunk by his friends in the PTRP barracks.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >As of the writing of this blog entry, his mother, Christen Scarano Bailey, has had no final report from the Army on her son’s death. The toxicology report raised more questions than it gave answers, and the Drill Sergeant’s medication log from the night of Mathew’s death was mysteriously still "missing" at last report.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >In early 2006, the situation was tragically ripe for disaster. Another former Fort Sill PTRP occupant, Shane, had the following to say regarding "Scary" as he was known to many of his friends:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >“I was in PTRP from August 19th 2005 to December 15th 2005. I have dual feet injuries (the neurlogist believes its RSD which nothing can be done about.)’</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >"During my tenure in PTRP I saw Scarano in his overmedicated state before christmas exodus 2005. Many of us had helped Scary to final formation. Even to the point of bringing his blankets and pillow to it.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >"We usually had to support him back to the barracks. Another comment on Scary (Scarano), He had been denied christmas exodus </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >(note: exodus is the 2 weeks when training shuts down for the holidays-PD)</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > the year (2004) before after he had already been in PTRP for awhile."</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Of his own situation, Shane continues:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >“I was put on crutches and removed from them 4 seperate times. I had certain doctors tell me that I needed a med board. I had one who told it was nothing and just push thru. He actually removed me from profile completely and had me training to take my PT test by exodus. I now struggle to walk and am being told by doctors I may need a wheelchair for the rest of my life." </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >(Note: Shane currently has a disability rating of 70%)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >"I never had a bone scan, MRI, or EMG test. Those all came [were scheduled] when I applied for VA benefits when I realized I couldn't handle my old job at all. They didn't do anything for you when they knew you were leaving either. Most of us come out unprepared to reenter civilian life at all.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >"No one listened to us when said things were bad there. They said we were lying.”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Note: Shane currently has a disability rating of 70% and is working to have that percentage increased as he is completely unemployable.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Former Pvt. Damien McMahon, whose abuse at Fort Sill is documented both on </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: times new roman;" href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_archive.html">this blog</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > and in the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.counterpunch.org/jw04052006.html">Counterpunch</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > and </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/12/us/12training.html?ex=1305086400&en=ad73e6c50322a8b2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">New York Times</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > articles had a couple of additional remarks on this blog in response to another reader comment about Mathew’s death:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >"The first is about Scarano. I knew when the autopsy report came out there would be comments posted and mailed. It is amazing to me how somebody can make a death trivial because of the circumstances. Nevermind how long he had been there, the family who saw him 2 weeks out of the 52+ weeks he had been there, nevermind his love for the military and his desire to serve his country WHICH NEVER CEASED. Never mind the people who came to be like brothers to him, because some completely uninvolved person with a narrow outlook on life decides that his death is his own fault. Has this person who never met MATHEW STERLING SCARANO (who was still willing to sacrifice his life for their freedom) ever suffered from a dibilitating pain so bad that they had to be put on a sleep medication, a OTC anti-inflammatory, and two narcotic pain medications just to survive everyday life. And as if that wasn't bad enough, make sure that the people who lived in the place with him for 6 months plus, those who looked at Scary like a brother, are also to blame because we failed him...”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >During his interview with The New York Times, injured then-Private Justin Nugent expressed his admiration for Mathew Scarano's intellect. His shock and anger on discovering that his friend, Mathew, had died while Justin was on a short convalescence at home, was still evident. His father characterized the treatment at Fort Sill's PTRP as </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >"cruel and inhuman".</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > (Nugent, a former athlete, was discharged, is home and currently working for an administrative firm.)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Former Pvt. Clayton Howell, who was the first to document his lengthy stay (over one year) at Fort Sill's PTRP, had also earlier attempted to report Mathew Scarano's apparent overmedication. He'd been ignored. In his </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family: times new roman;" href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_archive.html">essay</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >, he documented the situation at Fort Sill at that time:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >"We are being told that if we complain to any of our superiors or talk to our congressmen that they will “step on us like a bug” “be destroyed” or “crush our nuts.” We live in constant fear of retaliation for something we do or something somebody else does because they don’t punish just one person they take it out on everybody.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >"Propaganda posters are strewn all over the building we live [in] about noncommissioned officers respecting their subordinates but none of us here have ever seen an ounce of respect, help, or the first sign of being treated like a decent human being."</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >I'd like to be able to say that things have changed at Fort Sill's PTRP since Mathew Scarano's death a year ago, but I can't. As late as December & January of 2006, I received information regarding abuses by Fort Sill PTRP Drill Sergeants. I get reports in comments and email that show the other medical hold and PTRP facilities at training bases are little better, even now. The abuses have been reported by both men and women. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Mathew Scarano and his PTRP peers were and are indeed Casualties of a Broken System. That particular system seeks to intimidate all those who would shed light on abusive and punitive actions taken in the guise of a medical environment unfortunately still entirely under the purview of Drill Sergeants untrained in dealing with injured trainees. Yet the young men who spoke up last year are more than "just" casualties. Mathew Scarano and many of Fort Sill's former PTRP occupants are heroes...they stood up for themselves and each other, speaking out and lifting each other up, sometimes literally, in an environment of fear and retribution wielded by their superiors.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Mathew Scarano has been gone for a year. Some of his friends and peers are at home now, struggling to rebuild their lives around permanent disabilities. Others (such as PFC Thurman) left the PTRP with a permanent medical limitation and have been deployed to Iraq. (At one point, an active duty Army officer calculated the odds of death in Iraq to the odds of death in Fort Sill's PTRP and declared Iraq to be safer.)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >There is some hope that new pending regulations governing Initial Entry Training, including the PTRP, will be more specific in their policies and procedures. They purportedly provide more guidance and requirements for those cadre members who are actually interested in improvement and more policies to govern those who are not (regarding abuse reporting, for example).</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Perhaps if harsh consequences for perpetrators of abuse and medical neglect were employed, those whom routinely practice it would be weeded out or kept on a shorter leash. Perhaps one day, the injured will not be treated as worthless malingerers and trash to be thrown out. Perhaps one day, my blog will be obsolete. That day can't come too soon for many PTRP and medical hold alumni and their loved ones.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >For now, abuse and medical neglect continue to be reported in these areas. Fear overrules most family members and trainees willingness to be more than anonymous commenters to those (including journalists) whose hands are often tied by that very anonymity. For now, the abusers and the apathetic in charge are protected, their faces also anonymous in the shadows. For now, there is no justice and little consolation for Mathew Scarano's family, or for any of the other "broke-dick" trainees past & present, whose lives have been lost or shattered while trying to serve their countries.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Chronological Record of Posts on Fort Sill's PTRP:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">(Note: These posts are archived by month, please scroll the pages to locate specific entries)</span><br /></span><ul><li style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">January 2006: <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html">Abuse is Rampant at Fort Sill, Oklahoma</a></span></li><li style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">February 2006: <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_archive.html">The Abuse at Fort Sill, Oklahoma Escalates/Cover up of Abuse Begins at Fort Sill, Oklahoma/Another Method to Silence Abused Injured Soldiers at Fort Sill/ Cadre at Fort Sill PTRP Thinks Abuse is Funny</a></span></li><li style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">March 2006: <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_archive.html">Abusive Drill Sergeant Removed at Fort Sill/ Injured Soldier PFC Mathew Scarano Dies in Fort Sill's PTRP</a></span></li><li style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">April 2006: <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_archive.html">Fort Sill’s Adjutant General Supports Abusive Tactics at PTRP/ Bully Behavior from Fort Sill...or It's Not Over</a></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >May 2006: </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006_05_01_archive.html"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Abuse is Old Hat at Fort Sill’s PTRP/ Fort Sill's PTRP -- th</span>e Aftermath</a><br /></span></li></ul>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1148311366420222852006-05-22T08:22:00.000-07:002006-05-22T15:53:29.853-07:00Fort Sill's PTRP -- the Aftermath<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/1600/100_0374.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/320/100_0374.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/1600/100_0380.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/320/100_0380.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">As expected, I have begun to receive comments and emails that essentially dismiss the importance of the situation at Fort Sill, because the autopsy report shows that PFC Mathew Scarano died by oral ingestion of fentanyl in an amount 3 times that of the lethal dose. By inference, some of those comments suggest that this negates everything that has happened at Fort Sill's PTRP. I started to reply in-depth to one of the more conscientious anonymous commenters, and then realized that it really was time to write another post here. My apologies to Mathew Scarano's family while I talk about him as if he were just a generic and faceless trainee (as if there were such a thing):<br /></span><br />Here is the 2nd comment from Concerned (located in Lawton, Oklahoma) and my response in italics:<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />From: Concerned <noreply-comment@blogger.com> Mailed-By: blogger.com<br />To: ptrosss@gmail.com<br />Date: May 22, 2006 3:12 AM<br />Subject: [We Are All Volunteers in This Army] 5/22/2006 12:12:24 AM<br /><br />Ms. DeV - I hold people accountable for their own behavior. There are hundreds of thousands of people in the USA who are prescribed narcotic medications for one reason or another. All are accountable for how they use it - they all don't need human monitors; just mature behavior on proper use of prescription medication. The majority have no problems.<br /><br />How I see it, is that PFC Scarano's fellow trainees betrayed him by not telling the ones in charge about their knowledge about his behavior, because they were afraid of punishment for PFC Scarano, as you suggested. Punishment rather than death would have been more preferable. Wouldn't you agree? Doctors aren't in the unit to manage day-by-day matters, the cadre are. Shame on drill sergeants too who didn't ask questions about overmedicated behavior.<br /><br />I beg to disagree -- we do know what killed PFC Scarano and that is by having three times the fatal limit of the pain medication in his body. The only way for that to happen is if he orally ingested his medication, just like others described. Look it up in a pharmacology textbook or talk to a pharamacist. His behavior. His choice. He was the one most responsible for his own death. Did other factors play a role; yes, how could they not.<br /><br />I hear there have been a multitude of changes in the Ft. Sill PTRP program since you and others have brought to light particular abusive situations that existed. Kudos on your efforts.<br /><br />The reason for my vocality is the seemingly grouping everything into one pot, when evidence suggests otherwise -- particuarly when it involves drug addictions. I have lived with family members who have had drug addictions and have even died from them. PFC Scarano's legacy at Ft. Sill should be to emphasis the need for increased knowledge about drug addiction and how fellow soldiers have an duty to them and commands in helping to identify and seek treatment for soldiers who need it. Something to think about from an anonymous okie. <br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><<span style="font-style:italic;">>Dear Anonymous Concerned Okie:<br /><br />I, too, hold people accountable for their own behavior. Yet when that behavior occurs inside an institutionalized setting, it creates dynamics that can't be ignored. I don't have an agenda, except to bring as much info about the PTRP situations to light as possible.<br /><br />What I believe that you aren't seeing is that it was common knowledge that PFC Scarano was overmedicated. That is, the <b>Drill Sergeants</b> saw him every day, and multiple members of the chain of command, in addition to his his peers. Of the two sets of observers, the PTRP-er who had been there longest (more than a year), and the eldest in age, (Pvt Howell) reported to CMHS (Community Mental Health Service) that Pvt Scarano was overmedicated, and not using his medication properly. This was reported by Pvt Howell to his own doctor, who was also PFC Mathew Scarano's doctor! Howell then reported that action back to his fellow trainees. That was the time for intervention by the authorities at Fort Sill, was it not? I don't understand why you aren't acknowledging that in fact, his situation had been reported. Perhaps you aren't aware that the CMHS is the authority at Fort Sill that prescribes and monitors many of the narcotic medications.<br /><br />I am not doubting that Mathew Scarano ingested fentanyl. I have read about fentanyl until my eyes are crossed. I believe there is more to the story. <span style="font-weight:bold;">When a key piece of evidence is missing, it is suspicious, no matter how you frame it.</span> That piece of evidence is the medication log for Saturday. Mathew Scarano was typcally issued his patches, by his request (around the time of his death), after final formation at 6PM. In earlier months, he was given his medication earlier. Yet his mother spoke with him in the late afternoon of the night of his death (Saturday) and his speech was already slurred, which was unusual. Why was his speech already slurred? Apparently, there's no physical evidence in the autopsy report that Mathew Scarano ingested his patch. Even assuming that he was able to remove it from his mouth, after ingesting 3 times the amount required to cause death, how would he have disposed of it? Did a comatose Mathew Scarano get up out of bed and throw it away somewhere that the CID couldn't have found it first thing in the morning when the area was closed off for investigation? If they did find something, would it not have been included in the report? That would have been the easiest and simplest way to place the "blame" back on the deceased young man, would it not? <br /><br />But this is all in the way of splitting hairs (albeit important) after the fact. Mathew Scarano was in the PTRP far longer than even the regulations at the time permitted him to be there. So were many others. The new regulations are an improvement if they are followed, but if the previous 6-month regulation had been adhered to, Mathew Scarano would have been at home months ago. <br /><br />Assuming, for the sake of argument, that Mathew Scarano had become a prescription drug addict over his 13 months (minus one week return to training) in the PTRP at Fort Sill, consider this... He was 19 years old when he went in, and turned 20 and 21 in the PTRP. How many tools does someone that age have to deal with a growing addiction and no support? When your only in-person contact with your family is 2 weeks at Christmas, and a weekend once a month (and that only started THIS YEAR in February), what happens to you? When your entire world revolves around multiple Drill Sergeant's whims for 13 months, what happens to you? I'm not just speaking to PFC Mathew Scarano's state of mind, but of the entire PTRP, many of whom have had stays of longer than 6 months. <br /><br />These 36-40 young men were confined to a small, designated area that included only their bay (quarters), dining hall, and a small workout area. The trainees were not allowed off-post passes, and for part of the time, they weren't allowed away from that designated area at all, even on-post. To stray outside the area of confinement meant that you were subject to arrest. Even within that area, you were subject to administrative action (like Article 15s) for walking alone. You could not go from one building to the next in your proscribed area without a companion. If you drank a Coke from a vending machine, you were punished. If you possessed a cellphone and got caught, you were punished. When you went to your doctor's appointments at the Medical Center on post, there was a Drill Sergeant telling to stop talking, to sit up, to wake up, etc. If you were working at your assigned job, you were subject to harassment by civilian employees. The boot camp scenario, that in the "real" Army world only lasts for 9 weeks, was perpetuated for more than a year for some trainees. Mathew Scarano was one of those trainees. <br /><br />Add abuse on to this minimum security prison-like environment, and what happens? Fort Sill has carefully worded their statement to point out that verbal abuse in the form of cursing was going on... but cursing is the least of the verbal abuse that they endured. These young men were told day in and day out that they were worthless. They were told that they were lazy, were malingerers, and lying about being injured, even though they can't get into the PTRP without a valid medical diagnosis and test results (x-rays, mri, bonescan, etc.). Day in and day out they were told that they did everything wrong, even to having to re-scrape and re-wax a floor because it wasn't good enough. When they tried to go through their chain of command, they were ignored and threatened and laughed at. Once the information was public, they were threatened and verbally abused and laughed at again.<br /><br />Even after PFC Mathew Scarano's death, when the CSM (Command Sgt Major) for Fort Sill's Training (in April) went on a tour through the PTRP, he wasn't familiar with their circumstances. Obviously, the chain of command didn't advise him. The CSM remarked, upon seeing a television, that the PTRP-ers shouldn't watch so much TV. He noticed that a pool table was pushed against the wall. He said that playing pool burned more calories than watching TV and suggested their TV time be curtailed and that they should play more pool. The Battery Commander didn't bother to tell the CSM that the pool cues and balls had been confiscated back in DS Langford's era because it was a "waste of time", and those items never returned. Nor did he bother to inform the CSM that TV time was confined to 2 hours in the evenings, and that with rare exceptions, the only programming allowed was military related documentaries or the news. The CSM also wasn't informed that the able PTRP-ers already did PT (Physical Training) twice a day, and weren't apt to be in danger of getting fat. No one has ever addressed the abuse situation directly with the trainees, to this day. They have to read it in the paper -- that is -- when they can get it.<br /><br />Mathew Scarano exhibited all the symptoms of being overmedicated. His fellow trainees often assisted him to formation, and even insured that he was in the correct sleeping positions. At least one trainee reported suspected drug abuse to his doctor at CMHS. Their actions went above and beyond simply coexisting with him. As I reported in earlier posts, there were a significant number of trainees exhibiting a variety of mental health problems and symptoms of overmedication. I can't stress enough that a toxic environment was and is the problem at Fort Sill.<br /><br />The climate of fear of reprisal that existed, that caused the trainees not to trust their chain of command, continues to exist at Fort Sill's PTRP even today. Until that is remedied, it doesn't take a crystal ball to predict there will be more incidents of various types. As late as April 18th, a young African-American trainee was refused his medications by a Drill Sergeant because he was late to the allocation. In the wee hours of the morning, that trainee had to be rushed to the Emergency Room. April 18th. Just a month ago. And this supposedly after the "climate" for abuse that is acknowledged by Fort Sill has supposedly changed. Why isn't that on the front page of a newspaper? Why, because most of the occupants of the PTRP and their families are still afraid to speak out. <br /><br /></span>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1147142335098239432006-05-08T19:35:00.000-07:002006-05-08T20:28:31.696-07:00Medical Hold Abuse Reaches Beyond Fort Sill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/1600/MyBasicRights.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/400/MyBasicRights.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">by Patricia deVarennes</span><br /><br />If you are perceived as weak, you will be abused. If you are still in training status, you have no status. That seems to be a common attitude among those in command of soldiers in the various medical hold systems at some Army training bases in our country. <br /><br />During the past five months of blogging about the <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/01/abuse-is-rampant-at-fort-sill-oklahoma.html"> abusive</a> and <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/02/abuse-at-fort-sill-oklahoma-escalates.html"> inhumane </a> situation at <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/02/cover-up-of-abuse-begins-at-fort-sill.html"> Fort Sill</a>, I have received a large amount of feedback about the PTRP (Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation program) and medical hold programs, not only at Fort Sill, but at other training facilities. One soldier, who asked for complete anonymity, described to me that at one point in the PTRP process, he forgot his first name and had to look it up. He’s never told anyone else that before, but wanted people to understand how dehumanizing and overwhelming the PTRPs can be…<br /><br />Their stories deserve to be heard. <br /><br />Although Fort Knox has court-martialed drill sergeants for abuse in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/26/national/26training.html?ex=1280030400&en=04366f63b26ccd63&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss">Basic Training</a>, abuses in their PTRP apparently went unpunished in the same time frame. <br /><br />On March 7, 2006, John related his story (additional comments by him were added later and are also included):<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Profiles," or the paperwork that denoted the limits of what you could physically do, were frequently violated by drill sergeants. In one incident, a drill sergeant jokingly jumped on an injured private and cracked some of his ribs. I personally had hair ripped from my chest by a drill sergeant. Getting six hours of sleep and spending all day doing manual labor and standing in formation is not a sufficient way to "heal." <br /><br />…I was at PTRP at Ft. Knox from early August 2004 to early October 2004. The commanding officer at the time was a physical therapist (this was used to bolster their claim of what a great program it was). Despite this, the return to duty rate seemed relatively low. When people were granted their medical discharge papers by their doctors he would often threaten to shred them, and I believe in the case of one Private in October of 2004 he actually did such.<br /><br />After I was out, I contacted my congressman. Senator John Cornyn's office actually sparked an investigation with a governing medical unit in the Army. Their conclusion? Well, it pertained to my medical treatment. I really didn't have any complaints there; I was angered at that unit. Their response? "Any claims against the unit should be addressed by the unit." Did the unit ever respond? Nope.<br /><br />…From what I've heard about Jackson's PTRP, it isn't too bad. Knox, Sill and Benning all have awful reputations, though. In my six weeks there I witnessed one person desert and two others openly threaten suicide to the point where they were discharged. Not that the drill sergeant who said, "Kill yourself, I don't care. You probably deserve it," was much of a morale booster to dozens of injured and disenchanted privates.<br /><br /> While there are good souls who work the PTRPs around this nation, it is keen to remember an old proverb: the fish stinks from the head. My old commanding officer threatening to put medical paperwork through a paper shredder is case in point. PTRPs are often archaic, festering shitholes that have no business existing in the American military, and some of what goes on there is a disgrace to the hundreds of thousands of men and woman who honorably serve our country. I wish I could say that I've mentioned all the downsides to PTRP, but it's only the tip of the iceberg.”<br /><br />There's plenty I didn't cover- like having injured soldiers buffing all night, all types of bizarre threats, and injuries that people received while in PTRP. One private fell down the stairs and broke his foot; another had a drill sergeant jump on his chest a joke and crack his ribs. Granted, he was friends with the drill sergeant in question, but when a 30 year old man (Drill Sergeant) is jumping on an injured trainee as a game, you have to wonder about their integrity. He was also fond of forcing us to do pushups. I'll never forget Private (name deleted) in medical hold getting "smoked" with us shortly before departing to Walter Reed hospital for back surgery. This is still just the tip of the iceberg. (note: smoking is “corrective training, frequently pushups, used to punish trainees for infractions, real or imagined).</span><br /><br />Another Army soldier, who is still in active service, sent me the card shown above. They were apparently issued to all incoming trainees at Fort Benning. He was not injured, but relates what he observed happening to those who were (note: “recycling" means repeating basic training):<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“If a soldier was ill or injured enough they sent them home which I know because we had 4 soldiers re-enter during my cycle from other battalions. My corroboration in with what is happening at Ft. Sill though comes from those soldiers I knew well who, for legitimate medical reasons or other reasons were set aside but were right along side of us for our training.<br /><br />They all should've been gone within a week of being pulled out but most were around till the 7-8th week of training and were being given the run around, one week they'd come in all smiles after being told they'd be discharged in a week and the next day they find out it could take 6. We had one guy hang himself with his belt on his bunk and apparently while we were gone one of the "softer" trainees found himself in the middle of a Drill Seargeant 'Shark Attack' and later that day slit his wrists with his shaving razor. <br /><br />...There wasn't a minute that went by when the Drill Seargeant's didn't make some type of verbal attack at them or to the rest of us about them to make sure that they and we knew it. With the exception of those that went AWOL, which as I learned when I had to go to the Infirmary happens with alarming frequency despite the warning that it's an offense punishable by "death," that those guys didn't really deserve it. The stigma behind joining the group of 'flunkies' was such that a soldier in my platoon was so against being put in that group that he attempted to stay with us with a back problem so bad he could barely do anything at times.<br /> <br />Not being recycled is the only thing that keeps people from going to sick call sometimes no matter the pain, which is a shame….Especially since the card that they handed us at Benning specifies that as one of our basic, your son's as well, rights along with the right, "To be treated fairly and with the respect which all men and women deserve." <br /> <br />It hurts me to know that so few people are able as in the case with Abu Ghraib and so many other things in life can tarnish the image of many and bring su much pain and unneeded suffering to others. Reading the story of the PTRP unit at Sill just shows the bullheaded stubbornness that a few misguided soldiers can have, in this case the NCOs the ones who are to be the backbone of the Army. That is the type of unprofessionalism that some of the older NCOs that I've come across in my short time in the Army have warned me about. I know that if when and if I reach that level I won't repeat those types of offenses.<br /> <br />I'd like to thank you for sounding the alarm for these types of abuses happening within the system that is to breed the sons and daughters that are to bleed. If it's going to happen anywhere the last place it should be is on US soil and definitely not in training, or bowels therein. While my experience at Ft. Benning was not the most perfect of times the bulk of my Drills were looking out for us and for that I thank them. </span><br /><br /><a href="http://pfcski.bravejournal.com/index.php">“PFC Ski” </a>runs a <a href="http://www.geocities.com/ptrp43ag/"> site</a> dedicated to the PTRP . He has made his story public in order to try to help other current and former PTRP occupants, and to try to open a dialog with the Army. His injuries are permanent…so is his pain. Here is an excerpt of his story:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">PTRP</span> it's a name that anybody who has been in will never forget.<br />I outlasted most of the SGTs and all of the IET [Initial Entry Trainees] and AITs [Advanced Individual Trainees] at FLW [Fort Leonard Wood].<br /><br />It is Groundhog Day, and the only time we felt like soldiers is when somebody did something wrong or it as a bad day for the SGT on duty. Most people I served with want to forget what happened, some of them don't talk at all about it like it never happened.<br /><br />I was 26 in 2000. My father and his father both Army, my father being a cop I had a different childhood then most . My point is that I was no HS grad that never had a job, I worked as a Loss prevention Detective and worked court cases (I never lost a case). I know whats right and wrong.<br /><br />My first clue that things were not right was when we were sent to burn in the sun in PTs with no head gear July in MO, the MO heat has melted the wax off my combat boots, and it did it that week. My skin has not changed back where I was burned, and some had to got the hospital for burns.<br /><br />Even the coldest shower on my head hurt like hell.<br /><br />What happened while I was in PTRP was not military, it was hate, nothing less then hate for us.<br /><br />The Army knows whats going on Patricia, they just have to look at the amout of stress fractures going into PTRP and then coming out.<br /><br />At FLW PTRP they got rid of most the bad SGTs, and for a while it was just the every day "Groundhog Day" that was the problem.<br /><br />While I was in we only had 2 books our Army "smart Book" and our religious choice. No other reading was allowed. We were to read standing at the end of our bunks, we would go months without phone calls, we had to sneak body soap and writing paper from people who went to the hospital as the SGTs maybe took us to get stuff once a month; people wanted paper and pens more then soap that should tell you something.<br /><br />I have seen things that I think my own blood family thinks I'm lying about.<br /><br />I have seen people forced out of med profile only to hurt them self more and get medboarded.<br /><br />They would stick FTU [Fitness Training Unit] in with us, they have no military anything and would cause problems and we PTRP would also get punished. They did this fully knowing this would happen.<br /><br />I have seen people forced to kneel on ACLs [torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament, severe injury of the knee] forced "front back gos" people while stress fractures in hips no less...[Front =pushup position; back =flutter kick position; go = running in place].<br /><br />Some do this because they want to weed out people that most likely will not make it back, and they think that hurting them more will hurry this and move other people into a bunk.<br /><br />Some do it because they are well F**ked, I seen good people get broke because they would "smoke them" before their test to get out of PTRP.<br /><br />2 fireguards a night for 2 weeks does strange things too you, on top of no sleep you cant take your pain meds on fear of falling asleep on duty. They know this fully.<br /><br />AWOLs, some killed themselves after getting to the holding company going out of the Army, the list goes on. We even had SGTs who would smoke us right after we ate, some threw up because of their pain meds.<br /><br />I did 2 basics before PTRP, I was sent back to week 1 1/2 because I missed 4 sit-ups on my last test. I did basic again mostly helping soldiers and odd jobs BRM D&C map training, but me and other holdovers never did anything dangerous like a course. The last week before graduating they sent all the holdover and myself on a course. My Buddie that came with me from my first time around basic went with me to ask if we had to do this as we seen many people get hurt the first time we did it.<br /><br />SGT said no we had to do it, I got half done with the course, went up 30 feet and fell. After I fell they pulled all the hold overs and anybody who did it before off.<br /><br />It was found that 1 should not have been sent back too another basic 2. I should have never been on that course. I got retired 30%<br /><br />I had too fight to get 100% SS and 100% VA, I was but on TRDL Temp Retired Disabled List and have had too go to Walter Reed every year too get checked too see how I'm doing.<br /><br />I just got a letter 5 days ago that they want to drop my retirement to 20% just off being retired. They can only keep you on TRDL for 5 years this was my last year I have been found disabled all these years but the last year they can keep me on they want to short change me.<br /><br />So now I have to fight again.<br /><br />…I have a torn rotor cuff and nerve damage RSD yahoo search RSD and you will see how bad this is. I am unable to do anything I did before the Army and it hurts all the time.<br /><br />I was promoted just before I left , I was also retired with a flag, I have no show able vise with the Army, as in I have no 15's or had to leave with problems, I<br />was shown as a model soldier.<br /><br />I also worked outside PTRP was given freedom tho this was at the end of it all.<br /><br />I miss the Army more then my own life. The family you have in the Army is closer then Blood family and if they said they could fix me but it would take 15 years off my life I would do it so I could go back in the Army.</span><br /><br />As bad as it is for all this to happen here, at home, I did not imagine that it happened in a war with the same arrogance and lack of purpose. In some ways, it was yet more shocking to me when I received the following comment on my blog:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“Date: Mar 27, 2006 10:37 AM<br />Subject: [We Are All Volunteers in This Army] 3/27/2006 06:37:53 AM<br /><br />I was called up for the first gulf war despite the fact that I had a broken ankle and a torn ligament in my knee and was wearing a cast. The colonel in charge of the battalion wanted 100 percent mobilization.<br /><br />When I got to the mobilization station I was shuffled off to a similar temporary holding unit with other injured soldiers. As an NCO I wasn't treated nearly this badly, but we were basically abandoned til the war ended and then they couldn't dump us out fast enough. Despite having a cast and crutches, I had to supervise civilians and soldiers outdoors in subzero temperatures in snow and ice. Consequently, I fell and reinjured my ankle.<br /><br />During this whole time you are made to feel like a criminal, as if you had done this to yourself just to get out of something. I have read many articles that say the same things are happening now and talked to a few old buddies who are still on active duty that say the same. Once you are no longer of use to them they quit caring about you.<br /><br />I am in the American Legion now and we are constantly fighting the cuts to the VA benefits this admnistration has put forth. It is the same mindset at work.”<br /></span><br />The situation at the various PTRP or medical hold locations throughout the Army is longstanding and, in some cases (such as Fort Sill), critical. Their stories speak for themselves. Their stories are all too familiar. It should not be this way. These young men and women are our family members, our friends, out friends’ kids, our coworkers and our neighbors. <br /><br />The PTRP and medical hold systems need a complete overhaul. The original purpose of the PTRP was intended to relieve soldiers of many of the physical and psychological strains and stresses associated with the IET (Initial Entry Training) environment at training posts. Obviously, the situation is intensified and more dangerous when soldiers are in a training environment, but even release from that environment is no insurance against abuse if you are injured. If the Drill Sergeants and chains of command over these injured soldiers are incapable of supervising the care of the injured, they should pass these soldiers over to those who can take care of them in their home communities, or at the very least, in a competent medical rehabilitation setting that addresses their physical injuries and treats them as human beings instead of trash.<br /><br />(Note: Any blog comments are available for review throughout the various blogposts)<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Thanks</span> to <a href="http://www.thenation.com/directory/bios/joann_wypijewski"> JoAnn Wypijewski</a> for keeping me going when I got discouraged, and believing in this story when no one else did.Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1147142057125317712006-05-08T19:03:00.000-07:002006-05-08T20:44:29.570-07:00Abuse is Old Hat at Fort Sill’s PTRP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/1600/40FARfinal.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/200/40FARfinal.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />by Patricia deVarennes<br /><br />At Fort Sill, the attitude toward injured soldiers in training is that they are “pretending to be injured”. That’s the word from a soldier who recently graduated from Basic Training at Fort Sill and asked not to be identified. <br /><br />In a system that was designed to remove soldiers from the rigors of the Basic Training environment, it depends entirely on the individual Drill Sergeants as to how the occupants are treated. Some of these injured soldiers have actually completed all their training. Others are at various stages in their training programs when they are injured. Fort Sill’s policy has been to take some Drill Sergeants who were at the end of their stint in Basic Training, and have them “cool down” in the PTRP. Unfortunately, their cooling down process often made the PTRP occupants the objects of their contempt. <br /><br />Regulations outlining a maximum 6-month stay have been ignored. Several occupants were retained for over a year, and many more exceeded the six-month cap. That has placed injured soldiers in a situation where they may be subject to the whims of multiple Drill Sergeants and commanders over their stay, with little in the way of consistency or follow-up investigation into their situations. <br /><br />In addition, there appears to be a tradition of abusive behavior in Fort Sill’s PTRP. It was hardly surprising, then, that my reporting the recent situation there was initially met with a complete lack of understanding of the reason why I called it abuse. This comment from Alex illustrates a history that goes back to 1990:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“I found out about your blog on another website, checked it out and was sickened by the information, as well as the groundswell of emotions that came over me.<br />I was a member of Delta Battery, 2/80 in the summer of 1990, where I came down with viral brochitis. After 3 days in the hospital, I was sent to the PTRP at the 95th AG. It horrifies me to find out that 16 YEARS LATER the same damned things are still happening."</span><br /><br />Additional documentation by those current or recent occupants of Fort Sill’s PTRP is available <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/03/injured-soldier-pfc-mathew-scarano.html"> here</a> (scroll down). One trainee dropped in who had escaped the confines of Fort Sill’s PTRP and FTU to corroborate the recent events documented in earlier posts:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Date: Mar 12, 2006 5:18 PM<br /><br />I was in PTRP for 6 months and was treated badly as well as all the other privates...there were people in there with knee or arm problems and they told us we ALL had to stay up past lights out and scrape the floor...now mind you a lot of us could not get on our knees to scrape or use our arms to scrape...im glad DS (expletive deleted) is gone. B-Btry needs to be shut down...</span><br /><br />One aspect of the PTRP situation at Fort Sill that remains unresolved is the practice of moving the soldiers back and forth between the FTU (Fitness Training Unit) and the PTRP. Even through the current time, some soldiers, having run out of options to get proper medical care, will accept being moved into the FTU in the hopes of getting out one way or the other (either through passing their final PT (Physical Training) test or by attempting it enough times within a several week period that they could be “chaptered”. Some families who do try to intervene on behalf of their family members are met with an escalating process of being placated, then ignored. Unfortunately, some of our government representatives can’t even be bothered to “support the troops” here at home: <br /><br />Such has been the case with Jacqi’s son, whose head injury, received during physical therapy for a knee injury, has potentially dangerous symptoms. Her comments on my blog over time illustrate this aspect of what happens when you try to get past the laissez faire attitude of the system and those outside it:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">March 4, 2006<br />When I read these articles I really went nuts. Being from a military family, I expect my son to be "made a man", however there is a difference between character building and abuse. My son is in PTRP and he had suggested I look for a sight called suffering at Fort Sill as it described his very first day there. I couldn't find that however I did find this one. I immediately contacted the IP and he confirmed that (with a grain of salt) these stories are somewhat true with a little embellishment of course. However an investigation had been launched and that the sargents in question are no longer there. I spoke to my son last night and he confirmed that as well and said that things are starting to change and it is getting better. His first day was the kneecapping and he was also on the second wave of scraping the wax. His knee injury happened in November and at this time they still have 3 different diagnosis's and have yet to do anything. That as of yesterday is also changing. Master Sargent Dixon was very helpful and I now feel alot better about the situation knowing that he is a man of his word. Within one day he had accomplished what he had promised to me. Thank you for posting this site so that I was able to know what was going on as my son could not tell me anything and able to do something about it.”<br /><br />April 21, 2006<br />“Well the inadequate health care still continues. My son during physical therapy had a 50 lbs weight dropped on his head ended up luckily with only 8 staples in his scalp. No further tests were done on this and since has been suffering with crippling headaches which drop him to his knees. They are refusing to do a cat scan as they want a Doctor to prescribe it and as they are putting him in a 3 week limit to pass his run he is now longer receiving physical therapy (though still needed) and doesn't have a "doctor" to authorize a CAT scan. My son has opted for the transfer for the PT test so as to finally be out of 95th one way or the other. Of course if he is discharged he will very likely have no medical back up for his injuries either. The depression has gotten out of hand as has the verbal and psychological abuse causing it . I have written to all the representatives, congress and the president and not one has responded either verbally or in writing. Obviously the Government has no desire to take care of thier own.<br /><br />May 3<br />“My son was also just charged with an article 15 for having his cell phone which supposed after March 1st they could have. As he graduated Basic and AIT all except his run due to his knee injury he was supposed to have the same privilges which of course he is not. He stated that he will accept punishment for the cell phone as he did have it but he is now in a battle about the rights that they are entitled to. Of course as he has spoken to the IP for the previous investigations and has stated flat out to them that he will fight the abuses they do not look kindly at him. He is still being denied the CAT scan as they "feel there is probably nothing wrong" although they still cannot explain the excruciating headaches just gave him aspirin. I have written and paid for delivery of letters directly to the President, and every member of Congress as well as the first lady. The last batch of letters were done on the 24th of April and still not even an acknowledgement. They have however deleted my letters (for the second time)from the "letters to leaders section. The Government is a joke and there is no one in power that is willing to step in and help. I cant even get the press interested enough to look into it.”</span><br /><br />It appears that no one in command is motivated to intervene for these young men, individually or collectively.<br /><br />Pvt. Clayton Howell, a fearless advocate for his fellows in the PTRP, was another of the injured who was shuffled back and forth from the PTRP to the FTU (see his document <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/03/injured-soldier-pfc-mathew-scarano.html"> here</a> or <a href="http://nitnoid.blogspot.com">here</a> when you scroll down ). Uncomfortably for Fort Sill, he also went to the CMHS (Community Mental Health Service), who was administering the late Mathew Scarano’s medication well before Pvt. Scarano’s death, to register his concern over the drugged state Scarano was in each night. He reminded the CID (Criminal Investigation Division) of this upon their interview. For his efforts, Howell is currently awaiting a discharge for a psychological disorder. At least he will be out of the PTRP and FTU arenas…but at what personal cost?<br /><br />For Fort Sill, problems of corruption and dishonesty within its command community are eye opening:<br /><br />In January of 2005, a Drill Instructor and Staff Sergeant were convicted of selling <a href="http://www.kauz.com/kauznews/fullnews.php?id=681"> PT insurance </a>to trainees to guarantee their passing the final test. The Drill Instructor was also convicted of assault and conspiracy. <br /><br />In April of 2006, thirteen soldiers, at least 8 of whom were from Fort Sill, including a Captain, and 6 sergeants, had either pleaded guilty or were convicted and awaiting sentencing from “Operation Tarnish Star”, <a href="http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=64593">a drug operation involving cocaine trafficking</a>.<br /><br />Recently, two regulations were changed. One involves the P2 or Permanent Medical Profile. An injured trainee, under certain circumstances, can apply for a permanent medical profile. These P2s, as they are called, are most commonly given to those trainees with extremity injuries. P2s who have not completed their training program are theoretically allowed to return to training, to try once again to complete their training regimen. If they have completed training, they are then allowed to retake their final PT test with an alternate event.<br /><br />However, the command at Fort Sill has categorically informed those at the PTRP that they need not waste their time attempting to return to training. One young man who attempted to do so was immediately sent back to the PTRP, rejected for training. Because he was considered healed, the PTRP sent him upstairs to the FTU. What happens to these soldiers who are branded no longer injured, but not allowed to return to training? The unfortunate soldiers who already have their P2s are now stuck trying to figure out how to get rid of them. What seemed like a viable solution from TRADOC command to further the Army’s goal of retention had now turned into a limbo of another sort. Permanent medical profiles allowing an alternate event (a long standing practice with specific regulations and guidelines for those outside the training environment) are being rendered useless by the Fort Sill Training command’s commitment to a power struggle.<br /><br />This power struggle that continues between the Training command and the Medical command once again has the lowest ranking soldiers as its victims. The only time in recent history that they have had a common interest was when Pvt. Mathew Scarano died unexpectedly.<br /><br />The other regulation that has been changed looks promising on the surface. I received the following communication on April 17th from the TRADOC command Surgeon’s Office.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“I would like to officially let you know that we have changed the wording of TRADOC Regulation 350-6 as highlighted below. This change has been authorized by the Commanding General of Army Accessions Command, and notice has been sent to all Brigade Commanders, TRADOC wide.<br /> <br />I appreciate your efforts on behalf of the entire PTRP Community. Please be aware that your efforts have had a positive impact on how the PTRP system is run across the entire army, and not just a Fort Sill. The intent of PTRP was to help injured warriors recover by moving them to a safe place to heal, and not to risk further worsening injuries by continuing to overuse joints or limbs that needed a safe place to heal. It is a good program, with a noble intent, and we are now much further down the road to repairing the problem you noted.”<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">7) Within 90 days of assignment to PTRP, Commanders will obtain a written statement of clinical prognosis from the supporting medical community (i.e. Physical Therapist, Orthopedic Surgery Staff) concerning assigned Soldier's progress and likelihood of full recovery by 4 months of PTRP assignment. This recommendation should contain a clinical assessment of whether the Soldier is expected to recover sufficiently to withstand the rigors of Army training, and complete all of the physical requirements of BCT/OSUT by 4 months of PTRP assignment. See paragraph H-3b for details.<br /><br />c. Ninety-day clinical assessment. PTRP Commanders will request recommendations from their Soldiers' physicians, 90 days following assignment to the PTRP, concerning a Soldier's progress and likelihood of full recovery by 4 months of PTRP assignment.<br /> <br />(1) This recommendation should contain a clinical assessment of whether the Soldier is expected to recover enough to withstand the rigors of Army training, and complete all of the physical requirements of BCT/OSUT by 4 months of PTRP assignment.<br /> <br />(2) If there is a low likelihood of recovery from the injury, then the physician, after discussion of the Soldier with the PTRP/RECBN Commander, should initiate a MEB.<br /> <br />(3) If there is a reasonable likelihood that the Soldier will indeed recover, then the Soldier should continue to be supported through rehabilitation, with the long-term expectation that he or she will return to training. After 90 days of assignment, a new assessment of the Soldier's progress and likelihood for recovery should be made and documented every 30 days thereafter (assuming that an MEB was not initiated at the 90-day mark).<br /></span><br />If this new regulation is followed, it will mean that many of the situations of the past year at Fort Sill will be avoidable in the future.<br /><br />As always, some individuals rose above the politics of the situation to deal with the problems at hand. Members of TRADOC’s Surgeon’s Office have been by far the most concerned about the well being of injured soldiers in training. <br /><br />Fort Sill’s PTRP situation should be relatively easy to improve. Yet, the response by Fort Sill’s command has been inadequate at best, and criminal at worst. All these young men in the PTRP volunteered to serve their country in a time of war. They deserve our respect, not our derision. The late Mathew Scarano described himself and his fellows in the PTRP as <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/03/injured-soldier-pfc-mathew-scarano.html">“casualties of a broken system.”</a></span><br /><br />As long as the Fort Sill PTRP system depends entirely on the kindness and professionalism of individuals, it remains a situation always ripe for cruelty, and the history of abuse at Fort Sill will have more chapters.Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1146103894567874172006-04-26T18:58:00.000-07:002006-04-26T19:42:17.153-07:00Bully Behavior from Fort Sill...or It's Not OverI suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. For my son, who just last week finally made his exit from Fort Sill’s PTRP (Physical Training and Rehabilitation program), to his first duty station, <span style="font-style:italic;">it’s not over.<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span> After 8 months at Fort Sill, and more than ½ of that time in Fort Sill’s PTRP environment (for stress fractures in his ankle), my son, amidst support from his Command Sgt Major, passed his alternate PT test. <br /><br />Now someone in the chain of command at Fort Sill has apparently decided that revenge is required. On this day, his second day of actual duty at his first duty station, my son was advised that an email had been sent from the chain of command at Fort Sill, about his problem. Yes, he was a “problem”, and in good company. He and some of his peers cared more about their fellow injured soldiers than you did. He and they cared more about the truth than they did about their own hides. He and they saw the pack mentality of those that were over them, and refused to let their fears paralyze them. They refused to become institutionalized. They did not develop <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome">Stockholm Syndrome</a> or anything else like that. Instead, they took their Army values seriously and stood up for themselves and each other. A gimpy Band of Brothers in a no-win situation. <br /><br />Let’s just quickly review those values, in case you don't know them or have forgotten:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Loyalty</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. constitution, the Army, and other soldiers.<br />Be loyal to the nation and its heritage.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Duty</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Fulfill your obligations.<br />Accept responsibility for your own actions and those entrusted to your care.<br />Find opportunities to improve oneself for the good of the group.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Respect</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Rely upon the golden rule.<br />How we consider others reflects upon each of us, both personally and as a professional organization.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Selfless Service</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.<br />Selfless service leads to organizational teamwork and encompasses discipline, self-control and faith in the system.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Honor</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Live up to all the Army values</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Personal Courage</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Our ability to face fear, danger, or adversity, both physical and moral courage.<br /></span><br />Obviously, some of you at Fort Sill have forgotten these, or you never believed them. So why am I surprised that you continue your bully tactics now? <br /><br />Your own actions or inaction (some of which were unethical at best and illegal at worst) have caused your own consequences. Revenge is a two-edged sword that can slice your hand as easily as your intended mark.<br /><br />I was planning to leave the Fort Sill events in the capable and ethical hands of a major newspaper writer and editor. I was envisioning a gradual return to normalcy, of eventually leaving my self-imposed part-time job studying Army regulations in general and Fort Sill in particular. I’m told that disciplinary actions have been taken with some of those in charge of Fort Sill's PTRP. I’m told that the investigation continues from multiple levels, including the Inspector General’s office, but I don’t know. I’ve been <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persona_non_grata ">persona non grata</a> for a while now. <br /><br />Maybe the cadre at Fort Sill missed reading my blog? Well, miss me no longer, because here I am. I was just taking a break, and hoping to broaden my scope a little. Perhaps those in the chain of command might think about the sequence of events and the context that allowed those events to happen -- the verbal abuse, punishing and potentially injurious physical activities, assault -- and the tragic death of Mathew Scarano last month. <br /><br />Now, so that no one at Fort Sill misses me too much, here’s a blog comment that was left on one of my posts here on 4/21/06, by the parents of an injured soldiers who spent some quality time in Fort Sill’s PTRP: <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“Well the inadequate health care still continues. My son during physical therapy had a 50 lbs weight dropped on his head ended up luckily with only 8 staples in his scalp. No further tests were done on this and since has been suffering with crippling headaches which drop him to his knees. They are refusing to do a cat scan as they want a Doctor to prescribe it and as they are putting him in a 3 week limit to pass his run he is now longer receiving physical therapy (though still needed) and doesn't have a "doctor" to authorize a CAT scan. My son has opted for the transfer for the PT test so as to finally be out of 95th one way or the other. Of course if he is discharged he will very likely have no medical back up for his injuries either. The depression has gotten out of hand as has the verbal and psychological abuse causing it . I have written to all the representatives, congress and the president and not one has responded either verbally or in writing. Obviously the Government has no desire to take care of thier own." </span><br /><a href=”http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/02/abuse-at-fort-sill-oklahoma-escalates.html" ">Original comment here </a>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1144302564818819682006-04-05T21:09:00.000-07:002006-04-18T12:05:53.093-07:00Fort Sill’s Adjutant General Supports Abusive Tactics at PTRP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/1600/100_0218edtd.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/320/100_0218edtd.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> (Let's Move Furniture!)<br /><br />by Patricia deVarennes<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The recap:</span> On January 31, 2006, I began to publicly document abusive tactics employed by <span style="font-weight:bold;">Fort Sill’s PTRP</span>.(Physical Training & Rehabilitation unit). This unit is supposed to be a place of healing and physical rehabilitation for soldiers injured during training (also known as IET, Initial Entry Training). The PTRP is only available to those injured soldiers who are sufficiently impaired for the Training Command to remove them from their Basic Training or AIT (Advanced Individual Training) environment – or – in the case of some – graduates of OSUT (One Station Unit Training), a combination of Basic Training & AIT under the umbrella of IET (Initial Entry Training). Common injuries include (but not limited to) dislocated and separated shoulders, torn ligaments, broken bones, miniscal and ACL knee injuries, stress fractures (usually of the extremities), groin hernias, and other physically traumatic injuries. <br /><br />PTRP stays are to be 4-6 months according to regulations. Yet at Fort Sill, some soldiers are warehoused there for a year or more (add link here). In some instances, soldiers have been moved to the FTU (Fitness Training Unit) upstairs in the same building for a week or so, then restarted in PTRP as if they hadn’t spent months there already, and the 4-6 month term begins anew. <br /><br />(Note: See <a href="http://www.nitnoid.blogspot.com">here </a> a snapshot of the Army's PTRP regulations and other primary source documents in reference to this shameful situation)<br /><br />All PTRP soldiers, regardless of status (graduated or in training) or length of time in the Army, are considered IETs (Initial Entry Trainees). That means they live under most of the same restrictions as a recruit fresh off the bus, and even more restrictions than soldiers in AIT(Advanced Individual Training). They have been informed that they are subject to arrest if they leave an area outside of a short block of buildings that house Reception, PCU (Physical Conditioning Unit for recruits who can’t pass the physical test to enter Basic Training) & FTU (Fitness Training Unit). Even within that area, they are not allowed to walk alone. Their uniforms differ significantly from those who are considered “permanent party” (6 months or more in the Army, unless you’re in the PTRP or FTU)regardless of their length of service. On weekends, they can only get a limited time on-post pass. Even in AIT (Advanced Individual Training), the soldiers are given off-post passes as rewards.(see below)<br /> <br />My son and approximately 40 other soldiers at various points in their training or post-graduation, were confined to the PTRP, ostensibly to heal and either return to training or take/re-take their PT (Physical training) test and move on to their first duty stations. Medical treatment was at least lacking, and sometimes highly questionable. I requested an inquiry from my congressman’s office (Connie Mack). While I was initially told that my son would have to fill out a form, his office has since been of assistance.<br /><br />While the very nature of the PTRP could be interpreted as punitive, beginning in January of 2006, a drill sergeant was put in place whose tactics were openly abusive. The environment was dangerous and low morale essentially disintegrated to no morale amidst the abuse. <br />(Select the following blogposts from the Archives on the right sidebar for background: <br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Abuse is Rampant at Fort Sill, Oklahoma<br />The Abuse at Fort Sill Oklahoma Escalates<br />Coverup of Abuse Begins at Fort Sill, Oklahoma<br />Another Method to Silence Abused Injured Soldiers<br />Cadre at Fort Sill Thinks Abuse is Funny <br />Abusive Drill Sergeant Removed at Fort Sill)</span></span><br /><br />Thanks to the courage of the members of the PTRP at that time, the Inspector General’s office at Fort Sill was able to document enough information for an investigation. The abusive drill sergeant was removed, and it was hoped by the PTRP-ers that they could begin to put those incidents behind them and move on. (See Abusive Drill Sergeant Removed) Unfortunately, that was not to be. On March 19, 2006 PFC Mathew Scarano died in the PTRP. (See <a href=http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/03/injured-soldier-pfc-mathew-scarano.html> Injured Soldier PFC Mathew Scarano Dies in Fort Sill’s PTRP</a> or his own letter and document <a href="http://www.nitnoid.blogspot.com">here</a> and be prepared to scroll down to find it).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Now:</span><br />While some who should have been dispersed from the PTRP some time ago now have been discharged or moved on, others have not. Some have become targets for a low level but persistent harrying campaign. One incident was initiated by a civilian employee who made baseless accusations of theft in an easy access facility that at the time wasn’t even secured by working locks! Very sad.<br /><br />Don’t get me wrong. <span style="font-weight:bold;">No one expected that after PFC Mathew Scarano’s death, everyone was going to circle around, join hands and sing Kumbaya.<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> Yet the PTRP inmates who remain from January were witnesses to and/or recipients of abuse, indifference, alleged medical incompetence or neglect; numerous lies, and the death of their friend and peer just two weeks ago. They are worn down, exhausted, and frustrated. <span style="font-style:italic;">They have had their complaints and suffering ridiculed by the chain of command, and once again, essentially been told that they didn’t see what they saw, or experience what they have lived.</span><br /><br />And now, I have received a letter full of falsehoods, easily disproven, forwarded from Connie Mack’s office, who received it from the Adjutant General’s office at Fort Sill. It boggles my mind with the quantity of lies that compose it. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com"><img src="http://i2.tinypic.com/t510qu.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">FALSE.</span> My son did not injure himself while climbing off a vehicle. In fact, he is completely mystified as to why this story has been fabricated. The Red-Leg Challenge was a live-fire field exercise. My son was injured back in August of 2005. In fact, I was so concerned that I wrote to the Training Liaison’s office on August 21st!. (<a href="http://www.nitnoid.blogspot.com">see my email here</a> & be prepared to scroll down) <br /><br />After that, he received a total of ten temporary medical profiles! (of which there are nine still in existence in hard copy) for his injury (stress fractures in his ankles) before graduation day on November 18th. An interesting note is that -- mysteriously -- his hard copy medical records are missing! He was recently supposed to be evaluated for a permanent medical profile (to facilitate his qualifying for an alternate physical test event) based on the recommendation of the Army orthopaedist, but oops, you can’t do that without your hard copy medical records. <br /><br />I wonder why they are missing? I’m told that everything is on the computer now…but no one is interested in pressing the <span style="font-style:italic;">Print</span> button. It would be interesting to review the computer record and compare them to the orginials…wouldn’t it? (<span style="font-style:italic;">Pssst, those medical records were last seen in the area of the Colonel’s office over in the Basic Training Area. How about someone taking a look there?)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">In addition<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>, my son and two others completed their Basic Training, and their AIT (Advanced Indvidual Training) and were <span style="font-weight:bold;">ordered<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> last November to take an alternate event for the running portion of the APFT (final physical test). All three <span style="font-weight:bold;">passed<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> the alternate event, and graduated! They were literally pulled out of line to sign out, go home on leave, and then report to their first duty stations.<br /><br />Because the PTRP is only for trainees, and the three amigos had graduated, they had to be “ungraduated.” Why? Because there’s a power struggle going on between the Training side of the command and the Medical side of the Command. They were simply caught in the middle, as have been many others...<br /><br />The next selection from the Adjutant General’s letter:<br /><a href="http://tinypic.com"><img src="http://i2.tinypic.com/t55bly.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">BIG PROBLEM: </span> The PTRP units are <span style="font-weight:bold;">supposed to be different<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> from the other IET (Initial Entry Training) sites throughout the Army according to their own regulations! You don’t have to take my word for it, glance <a href="http://www.nitnoid.blogspot.com"> here </a>. In other words, these injured young men are supposed to be healing. <span style="font-style:italic;">Look at the absurdity of the above letter's statement.</span> An entire platoon of injured soldiers is instructed to scrape and wax the floors (twice). In order to wax the floor each time, all of the furniture (including wall lockers and bunks -- see photo above) had to be moved out of the building and back in again. The tool for scraping was a glorified razor blade with a handle. Now, what kind of injury would this activity NOT hurt? As previously documented (See Abuse is Rampant,) the entire platoon was told to accomplish the task in a given timeframe or else punishment would be given to the group as a whole. These are injured soldiers. The lie is given to the final statement about limits by the entire preceding paragraph. If you can’t even figure out that the above activity is bad for those convalescing from injuries, how can you determine abuse?<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com"><img src="http://i2.tinypic.com/t563pw.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br />The guidelines do not say that it’s okay to house soldiers in an area where raw sewage regularly backs up. They did, and it did. This has since been addressed. Square footage is no doubt within the guidelines. However, soldiers at different levels of training are not supposed to be housed with new recruits who have never been to training at all. Mentally ill soldiers are not supposed to be housed with soldiers whose injuries are physical. They did both, they know it, and enough said.<br /><br />Moving on to another paragraph of the Adjutant General’s letter:<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com"><img src="http://i2.tinypic.com/t5681i.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">FALSE. </span> This program was not presented to anyone in the PTRP as <span style="font-style:italic;">voluntary</span>. The PTRP occupants were <span style="font-weight:bold;">ordered</span> to report to their various places of employment. <span style="font-style:italic;">The irony is that they learned to love their jobs, even those that had physically overtaxing jobs, because they were treated like regular soldiers, instead of pariahs.</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">Since it has been discovered that the few remaining veteran PTRP-ers like their jobs after all, and take pride in their work, they are now being removed from them for any flimsy pretext the chain of command can manage. Isn’t that just all of a piece with the campaign so far?</span><br /><br />Next worthy paragraph:<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com"><img src="http://i2.tinypic.com/t56a9g.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br />Well, this isn’t very recent at all. It happened during the “bad times” I’ve previously blogged about since January. And it's interesting, because this was never a complaint from anyone as far as disciplinary action …but it probably does work for their attempt to discredit my other complaints. Of note is that the monetary punishment for having a pack of cigarettes and a lighter is the same as someone else having a positive urine test for cocaine. Also of note is that consuming a soft drink can also get you an Article 15. I agree that discipline must be maintained. Yet, I find it passing strange that <span style="font-weight:bold;">in AIT</span> (Advanced Individual Training), which some of the injured PTRP-ers have completed, <span style="font-weight:bold;">both alcohol and tobacco use</span> are <span style="font-weight:bold;">rewards </span>for those of legal age! I guess it all depends on which side of the tracks you live at Fort Sill. See below (excerpt from TR 350-6):<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com"><img src="http://i2.tinypic.com/t56dcl.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br />Moving on...<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com"><img src="http://i2.tinypic.com/t56etc.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br />At the March Family Day, we were given impressive presentations about our family members’ medical care. This was a week before PFC Mathew Scarano’s untimely death. <span style="font-style:italic;">Needless to say, the reality is significantly different from the presentations.<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span> <span style="font-style:italic;">Instead of a wakeup call, recent events have seen butts being covered at a rate that belies the near legendary snail’s pace of the Army bureaucracy.<br /></span><br />On a more personal level, the medical community, in the person of the Orthopaedist, has determined that a permanent medical profile is in order due to the likelihood of reinjury (my son has healing stress fractures in his left ankle), and an alternate walking event is necessary for my son to once again pass the final PT test <span style="font-style:italic;">(did you ever see the movie, "Groundhog Day" -- he's been there done that and passed the test once already)</span> and continue on to his first duty station. However, his permanent medical profile status is being circumvented due to his <span style="font-weight:bold;">missing medical records<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>. Hello???? Is anyone home? (Note the regulations <a href="http://www.nitnoid.blogspot.com">here </a>that require medical records to accompany a soldier into the PTRP). This resource page also has an interesting excerpt from a TRADOC command meeting in 2005 in which the attending powers that be decided that <span style="font-weight:bold;">all</span> PTRPs should have Physical Therapists as commanders.<br /><br />And so it goes...<br /><br />Hang in there, Private Gopher. Hang in there, Private Sincere. Hang in there, Private Howell, and all the rest of you at Fort Sill's PTRP. <br /><br />Good luck, Private Meadows. So glad you made it out, Private Candlestick Maker! Thanks for all your help. <br /><br />God rest your soul, Mathew Scarano. I will never forget you. <br /><br />In closing, my 83 year-old mother had this to say: “I know there’s a war going on, but it’s not supposed to be in OKLAHOMA!” I couldn't have said it better myself.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nitnoid.blogspot.com"> (see the entire Fort Sill Adjutant General's letter and other primary documentation sources here)</a>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1143080329928156892006-03-22T18:13:00.000-08:002006-03-22T18:18:49.970-08:00Injured Soldier PFC Mathew Scarano Dies in Fort Sill's PTRP<span style="font-weight:bold;">TO THE COMMAND AT FORT SILL:</span><br /><br />I would like for you all to know that my son (and you know who he is...) is NOT responsible for releasing information about PFC Scarano after being told not to discuss it. In fact, you started giving him a hard time BEFORE I posted anything to this blog (I know exactly who looks at it and when). Now I wonder how and why that happened? Just so you know, I was not the only person contacted about PFC Scarano's death. Within two hours of my knowledge of this death on Sunday morning, I received emails from non-military people who asked me if I knew about it! Once again I am being credited with far more power than I possess. I am not the single pipeline to the outside world from Fort Sill, though sometimes I have felt that way.<br /><br />I don't know exactly why it is so important to you that one of PFC Mathew Scarano's last written documents be kept quiet, but I do know from our correspondence that he would want his death to mean something in the context of what he suffered, and his fellow soldiers' suffering. You can rail at my son about disrespect for the dead, and blame him for your problems...instead of looking in the mirror at the real culprits. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TO MY SON AND THE FORT SILL PTRP-ers</span><br />Son, I want to apologize to you from the bottom of my heart if my re-publishing this upsets you and the others in the PTRP, or causes any of you to be further harassed for my actions. I know that Mathew Scarano was your friend and a peer. He had asked me to publish the first document two weeks ago, and I didn't do it. I will regret that for the rest of my life. There are things I have recently learned about the struggle for power and the subsequent rot that has set in at Fort Sill that make me sick at heart. And I toss and turn at night wondering what will become of you and the forty or so other young men in the PTRP. The light of truth never dishonors the honorable. And it is in that spirit that I republish my original post below, just as it was published late last evening. <br /><br />Following that, I have also published Pvt. Howell's account. I'm sorry Pvt. Howell -- you wrote to me first and gave me permission to publish. I honor your courage. I had excerpted your words in an earlier entry, but am now adding your entire document for the record. You are all grown young men, and I will take you at your word when you tell me that you know what you are doing. I'm no longer going to second guess you and try to protect you from your decisions.<br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com"><img src="http://i1.tinypic.com/ru9ziq.gif" alt="Image hosting by TinyPic" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > How Many More Will Have to Die Before It Stops?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In Memory of PFC Mathew Scarano<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">-by Patricia deVarennes</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">PFC Mathew Scarano died</span> Saturday night/Sunday morning in his bunk between the hours of 10PM and 6AM, at the age of 21. Mathew had been an occupant of Fort Sill's PTRP (Physical Training and Rehabilitation Program) for a year, <span style="font-style: italic;">against regulations </span>(which call for a max stay of 6 months). Mathew Scarano was one of those I blogged about as having been heavily drugged. <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/01/abuse-is-rampant-at-fort-sill-oklahoma.html">(See Abuse is Rampant)</a> He was also one of those I referred to when I posted about injured soldiers on sleep meds being rousted in the middle of the night for another Drill Sergeant's entertainment. He was concerned that I referred to him drooling, when that was actually someone else ("I don't drool"). He was bright and articulate. I met PFC Mathew Scarano last weekend at Fort Sill when I visited my son. He walked up and shook my hand and thanked me for trying to help the PTRP occupants. He had already written to me a few times...and this past week he wrote to me again.<br /><br />I'd been "sitting" on his documentation (that he gave me full permission to publish) because he was part of the now ongoing investigation of the PTRP. I didn't want him to get into trouble...and intended to post his information stripped of his name. He was working on another document to give to his commander and asked for my feedback. He'd been studying psychology on his own to try to understand what had happened to him and his fellow injured soldiers, still in training status (IET) regardless of their length of service, over this past year. He wanted to do something constructive...and now he's gone. I guess I don't have to worry about him getting into trouble any more.<br /><br />Mathew told his fellow soldiers in the PTRP that his doctor had just significantly increased his pain medication for his shoulder injury. He was on a narcotic called Fentanyl which is described as having "a potency of about 80 times that of morphine". In addition, warnings say, "Symptoms of a fentanyl overdose include slow breathing, seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness or coma, confusion, tiredness, cold and clammy skin, and small pupils." His friends and peers in the PTRP noticed that Mathew looked pale. He went to bed, and one of the guys noticed that Mathew was sleeping on his injured shoulder. He turned Mathew over so that he wouldn't wake up in even more pain. At that time, he was alive. When everyone awakened on Sunday morning, Mathew Scarano did not move. One of his fellow soldiers tried to awaken him, only to discover that he was dead.<br /><br />In light of this latest event in the lives of these injured and abused young soldiers, I am even more concerned. I'm sure the Medical Center will have a perfectly plausible explanation as to the cause of Mathew Scarano's untimely demise. I wouldn't be surprised if every effort is made to divert attention and place the blame anywhere except where it belongs (damage control, right?). I hope I am incorrect in my thoughts. Yet, Mathew Scarano was in the care of the Drill Sergeants and the so-called physicians at Fort Sill for <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">a year</span>. This is verifiable! <span style="font-style: italic;"> Any medical problem he may have had is known to Fort Sill.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Who will take responsibility for this fine young man's death? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And now, who will take responsibility for those <span style="font-weight: bold;">still living</span> to prevent this from happening again?</span><br /><br /></span>There is quite a flurry of activity at the Fort Sill PTRP. There has been a virtual parade of personnel through there. Apparently the Mental Health people don't understand why, when they ask the injured peers of Mathew Scarano how they <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">feel</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>about his death, the guys are overwhelmingly <span style="font-weight: bold;">angry</span>. Aside from the fact that anger is an entirely normal and expected part of grieving (didn't anyone tell them that in school?), the PTRP guys say they think it will happen again. This is not an unreasonable concern under the circumstances.<br /><br />Mathew Scarano was not suicidal. I leave you now to read his own story in his own words, just as I received it. It's the best tribute I can think of:<br /><br />From: mathew.scarano@us.army.mil <mathew.scarano@us.army.mil> Mailed-By: us.army.mil<br />To: ptrosss@gmail.com<br />Date: Mar 7, 2006 2:01 PM<br />Subject: Casualties of a broken system<br />Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Add sender to Contacts list | Delete this message | Report phishing | Show original | Message text garbled?<br /><br />First off, I want to thank you for becoming our champion when no one else would. Thanks almost exclusively to you blowing the whistle when it came to the status quo in PTRP, things may indeed be changing for the better, some permanent institutional practices regarding PTRP are starting to take form. I was one of two individuals who spoke privately with the Investigator-General.<br /><br />My name is Mathew Scarano, PFC. I turned 21 last month. One of your first articles about PTRP mentioned me briefly when it came to very heavily medicated individuals being sometimes unable to make it to final formation. (I still try.)<br /><br />I'm also the longest-serving member of PTRP, by a margin of nearly a month. Some of the seniors among us jokingly refer to each other by our rank in terms of seniority. (3 being third-longest, 2 second-longest), etc. I am number one. As of 1 MAR I have been in PTRP for exactly one year, and Fort Sill even longer. Mind you that I mean consecutively - no leave whatsoever outside of the two-week "Christmas exodus". Perhaps that is my fault; I should have been more vocal about that. It just seems that there is rarely an opportune time, considering that sometimes the few who went on leave, either convalescent or personal leave, often either didn't come back within the period of time they were allowed or didn't come back at all and that I would be perceived as being a flight risk.<br /><br />Needless to say, it has been extremely emotionally and physically taxing on me. I liken being here to being incarcerated, and it often helped during the bleaker points in PTRP history to think of it as such: I'm far from being any kind of expert on the subject, but perhaps it was a psychological self-defense mechanism to try to perceive what was going on as being punitive in nature.<br /><br />When I first entered PTRP on 1 MAR 2005, there was no FTU or PCU; the Bravo Battery building was dedicated entirely to PTRP. The only other individual in PTRP who came in the following month agrees that conditions then were more tolerable for various reasons, but mainly I believe it is largely because we could at least tolerate one another. The nature of the people made it more interesting and the bold but often reckless escapades of some of the MEB-bound soldiers (housed in PTRP at that time) kept us on our toes. We had priority in the mess hall over Alpha Battery, which consists of newly-arrived in-processing soldiers, and therefore didn't have to wait in line behind hundreds of people. (I am unsure why this changed.)<br /><br />I could go on about the differences between the past and present but I digress.<br /><br />My injury is degenerative and getting worse.<br /><br />I was lied to about surgery, as were many others, and it was brought to the attention of the Investigator-General that the medical community had been telling us that we face courts-martial or severe forms of non-judicial punishment if we declined the surgery suggested to us by the doctors here at Fort Sill. This has since been demonstrated to be a bald-faced lie.<br /><br />I was told that I'd receive arthroscopic shoulder surgery initially, which had little chance of success, and when that failed I would receive a full shoulder replacement, after which my left shoulder would be essentially disabled for the rest of my life.<br /><br />Just a little rudimentary research into the subject revealed that there are countless other, infinitely more promising options available to me in the civilian world, which I choose to explore, instead of being a guinea pig to a medical system I have no faith in, whatsoever. This is the same medical system which has botched surgeries and performed procedures without the patient's knowledge. I guess their rationale is that up until recently, the patients, in our case, were under the impression that we had virtually no input in the matter, anyway.<br /><br />I've recently been told, by our case worker, that I'm getting an MEB but as of now my consultation is pending, I've heard no further word yet but am hopeful that as a result of the controversy caused by the attention garnered by your blog, I'll be out of here soon. I am a casualty of a broken system; I fell through the cracks of the bureaucracy that is the system which all of us must go through, as is every other one of us who have been here.<br /><br />I am a living symbol of the failure of the system and after having been ignored for so long, despite trying to raise as much attention as I could, I might finally be able to get on with my adult life after spending over a third of it in PTRP, deprived of everything from being able to be with my family, to fundamental physical needs such as sleep and recuperation from my injury, to the basic human freedoms and creature comforts which I will never again take for granted.<br /><br />As deep as my hatred is for the institution that is PTRP, I have learned a lot about both myself and human nature during my tenure here. It has given me time to study certain subjects, time which I lacked on the outside, and get around to literature that I'd always wanted to read. Such pursuits are my only real escape from my dismal little reality, other than my medication. (I realize how the latter sounds but sadly it is true. It is my only real deliverance from the chronic, piercing and sometimes debilitating pain in my shoulder.)<br /><br />At any rate, I felt compelled to write to you because of what you have done for me, and more specifically, all of us. You managed to shock the system out of its complacency, at least to the extent where hopefully in the future conditions improve and individuals are not retained in PTRP over six months.<br /><br />So, on behalf of a very grateful PTRP, thank you, very much.<br /><br />P.S: I have no problem if you want to print this in your blog, nor do I care if it's done anonymously or not, especially since it wouldn't be very hard to deduce who I am.<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />From: mathew.scarano@us.army.mil <mathew.scarano@us.army.mil> Mailed-By: us.army.mil<br />To: ptrosss@gmail.com<br />Date: Mar 14, 2006 2:13 PM<br />Subject: Something you may be interested in:<br />Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Add sender to Contacts list | Delete this message | Report phishing | Show original | Message text garbled?<br /><br />I've been studying psychology on my own, and I'm trying to apply it to the underlying problems of PTRP. It isn't finished yet, as I am still unsatisfied with it, but I intend to show it to our commander when I am finished. I hope it is at least, in some small, minor way, a bit insightful. I've wanted to do this for a long time, and finally the time is right - also, at least when I get out of here one day, I can say that when asked what should happen to address the problems of the PTRP, I actually said something instead of being characteristically indifferent or cynical.<br /><br />(incomplete)<br /><br />As of 15 MAR 05, I have been in PTRP continuously for over one year, through the equivalent of several generations of PTRP. I believe this gives me a unique position from which to examine the underlying, root problems afflicting us all, since no one else, save the couple others who have been in PTRP nearly (within a month) as long as I have, have objectively seen the evolution of PTRP and witnessed how it affects different people, and from that, the true nature of PTRP.<br /><br />Being in PTRP puts one in a state of perpetual cognitive dissonance, most particularly in those who have needlessly been here for an unreasonably long amount of time, more specifically those who have been in PTRP longer than six months in contrast to the official TRADOC position (AR 350-6, section 4-4).<br /><br />Cognitive dissonance is the perception of incompatibility between two cognitions, which for the purpose of cognitive dissonance theory can be defined as any element of knowledge, attitude, emotion, belief or value, as well as a goal, plan, or an interest. In brief, the theory of cognitive dissonance holds that contradicting cognitions serve as a driving force that compels the mind to acquire or invent new thoughts or beliefs, or to modify existing beliefs, so as to minimize the amount of dissonance (conflict) between cognitions. Experiments have attempted to quantify this hypothetical drive. (Leon Festinger, A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance, 1957).<br /><br />This is simply because of the arising of conflicting cognitions: the underlying, fundamental need for a sense of purpose and meaning, conflicting with the conscious realization of the monotony and mundane, typically pointless nature of our daily life, the utter lack of self-determination and control of one's own fate and decisions, as well as the needlessness of the extremely long durations of the stay of a few members of PTRP, and the manner in which we are frequently treated (usually by individuals outside of our battery who typically have no valid understanding of our situation) – such as being lied to about potentially life-altering medical procedures in a patronizing and passive-aggressively demeaning manner, or being treated in a belittling manner by some of the TMC staff, for a couple examples – creates a psychological condition which fosters disassociation from reality, often profound periods of depression, escapism and self-destructive behavior, and an indifference towards authority at all levels from once motivated and disciplined individuals, all of which I have personally experienced and witnessed over the past year in PTRP without any serious reprieve.<br /><br />Not to mention the element of the physical pain most of us experience. Though I have no references to substantiate this, I believe that the tremendous psychological pressures we undergo weakens our means of rationalizing our pain, which contributes to the dehumanizing experience. It is my firm belief that this could lead to long-term drug dependency when there is no other means of dealing with pain if one is not cautious.<br /><br />This is all undoubtedly part of the elaborate self-defense mechanism on the part of the psyche to correct this conflict, and the nature of the adverse reactions to PTRP, ranging from the extreme and destructive to more subtle, such as social withdrawal and introversion, depend largely on the conditions present at the time (the conditions in PTRP are always changing – one could even call them cyclical), the disposition of the individual detained in PTRP, social and environmental factors, and that individual’s experiences in life thus far.<br /><br />The disparity between members of PTRP is also a huge factor, and in my opinion and experience, one of the most significant. The nature of the micro-society within PTRP changes with the departure of some somewhat "senior" members, and the arrival of new ones. These individuals have ranged in age from 17 to 39 and thus their maturity level and means of dealing with the stressors and aforementioned inner conflicts associated with being in PTRP, especially for an extremely long period of time , vary as much as the individuals, leading in some cases to inevitable personality conflicts and irreconcilable differences which can only be solved by keeping the conflicting individuals separated as much as possible, and interaction on a professional level limited only to what is absolutely necessary.<br /><br />Attempts to remedy these conditions from training cadre have been either successful or counter-productive depending on the circumstances and the nature of the changes, either rewarding or punitive. However, in the long run these remedies - such as increased privileges including use of electronics and limited personal time - though often successful and beneficial in the short term, and undoubtedly well-intended, are ultimately only superficial “stop-gap” measures which do not address the underlying long-term conditions creating the problems currently facing PTRP, due to the “cyclical” nature of the actual PTRP platoon, and the (until recently) unchanging nature of the ineffective, overly bureaucratic medical system, in respects to PTRP. The only long-term solution for PTRP would be an expedient passage through, and out-processing from PTRP, and a far more strict adherence to the Army regulations regulating PTRP, instead of using the “six month” regulation (AR 350-6 Sectio n 4-4, subsections 1(c) and 6(d)) as a guideline, as it was (arguably) not intended as one.<br /><br />Unfortunately these conditions cannot be remedied at our "local" level, by which I mean within our battery. It will require a serious overhaul of a neglectful, malfunctioning bureaucracy which has, in the past, been indifferent to our plight (at best) or outright harmful (at worst). These changes will by no means initiate themselves and if necessary, should be forced upon the system by higher authority.<br /><br />Quite recently, and for the first time in my year-long subjective experience, some changes in the system are indeed in the early phases of manifesting themselves. Whether or not they will be helpful or lasting in the long run, or whether the system will revert to its previous form when no longer under outside scrutiny, can only be determined by time and ongoing evaluation.<br /><br />In conclusion, the problems of PTRP are multi-faceted: personal, psychological, and physical. The often notorious morale problems associated with PTRP, and the problems which stem from it, as well as cause it, result in a highly problematic environment which creates the conditions we see today, causing individuals to undergo a sometimes radical, permanent attitude change as the result of the extremely demoralizing inner conflicts which everyone in PTRP will eventually go through to some degree, depending on the length of stay. PTRP is not the cause of the problems which are attributed to it, but rather the victim. On a personal level these conditions will worsen, directly proportional to the amount of time spent in PTRP, with one growing progressively less motivated, and more demoralized, until a critical point is reached.<br /><br />It is my opinion that it is time to stop paying lip service to these many problems and either make legitimate, calculated efforts to solve the problem in the long run, for the future generations of PTRP as well as the present, or do away with PTRP altogether.</mathew.scarano@us.army.mil></mathew.scarano@us.army.mil></span><br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Pvt. Howell's document now begins:<br /><br />From: Clayton Howell <gen_sherman@hotmail.com> Mailed-By: hotmail.com<br />To: ptrosss@gmail.com<br />Date: Feb 16, 2006 3:44 PM<br />Subject: Hello<br />Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Add sender to Contacts list | Delete this message | Report phishing | Show original | Message text garbled?<br /><br /><br />I am also a member of FTU/PTRP My name is PVT Clayton Howell. I know of all<br />the situations and am doing my best to work on it. I have compiled a list of<br />complaints and sent them to various sourses to include your post on blogger.<br />The only name I am using is my own. I intend to send you a full list of the<br />complaints once I have completed them for now here is my parcial list.<br /><br />Any thing you wish to talk about I would be glad to share information or<br />listen to any information you might have. I have limited internet acess<br />during the day when I am at "class"(I once attended school during our lunch<br />time, but recently they have forced me to not go to class.<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />A Compilation of Complaints from Bravo Battery 95th <br /><br /><br />Below is a compilation of complaints from soldiers at Bravo Battery 95th to include PTRP, PCU, and FTU. All complaints were collected by me and typed and edited for language, rhetoric, grammar and spelling to the best of my abilities. To the best of my abilities I believe that I did not alter the meaning of or the context of any of the complaints given to me. I will make additions, alteration, and exclusions form this list as misinterpretations, new material, complaints, or grammatical errors are brought to my attention. As of now the soldiers’ names will be left anonymous unless they ask to have their names included or it is required by a recipient of this paper.<br /><br />All of the material following are valid and original complaints relayed to the author of this paper:<br /><br />I enjoyed my 6 month stint in a state correctional facility before I was pardon for my crimes, much more than being here for the past year. I have been confined here for a year and have yet to commit any crime. I wanted to serve the United States by being a member of the armed forces. I wanted to do nothing more than to fight for and to promote freedom. All I have done here is what I have been told to do. And for that I have been robbed of my dignity, freedom, and many basic human rights many people take for granite. Companionship and the continuing meaningful relationship with others (wife/kids/families in too many soldiers’ cases) is not possible here. We are allotted 20min to 1 hour to use the phone in the evening sometimes. Over 200 people to use 24 phones to talk to wives, children, loved ones, family, and friends. For no reason at all we are not allowed to possess cell phones, laptops, or any other kind of communication device. So a few minutes every few days is all we have to maintain relationships outside the building we live in. Death, back to prison, or death in prison would be more preferable than this. I have seen homeless men with more of a life, more purpose, and more motivation than me. I feel as if I no longer have a soul.<br /><br />Duty hours are from 0400 until 1800 (4:00am until 6:00pm) with an hour for personal time. Unless our drill sergeants want to hang around and bitch at us or complain about how we do not have motivation or aren’t good enough to be in the army.<br /><br />Being in formation outside in all weather conditions for 20-45 min sometimes well over an hour. Not able to wear a hat that covers our ears or gloves to cover our hands. Seeing permanent party wear scarves and thick non issue gloves, that we aren’t authorized to wear. If we wear our winter cap we are not authorized to wear our ear flaps down. If we have to wait for over 15 or 30 min in degraded weather conditions while the first sergeant and drill sergeants stand inside watching us and talking to each other; why cant they come out and be information with us or at least let us leave early.<br /><br />We are sometimes punished by having our phone/personal time taken away for “mandatory entertainment.” For example: <br />4th of July there was a southern rock concert held in the chapel.<br />Super bowl Sunday we were stuck in a room to enjoy it.<br />The reenactment of historical baseball at Fort Sill.<br />Christian concerts, ceremonies, and rituals regardless of faith.<br />And various other activities around Lawton/OKC.<br /> All of these events were made mandatory that we had to attend instead of calling family, writing letters, or reading books (for those who are lucky enough to have them). On most occasions we are told they are “optional” then only 2 or 3 people will volunteer to have their private time taken away. When they don’t have enough “volunteers” or they can’t find anybody who wants to come and watch the others who are left behind they make them “mandatory” for all. The main reason we are conscripted for these “entertainment events” is to make our unit, the base, or the army look good. Because nobody in their right mind would want to go to them.<br /><br />On Christmas we were forced to buy a $75 ticket to get off base. The same bus ticket would cost $20 or a taxi ride would cost $50 or $25 if you found another soldier to ride with you. We asked why we had to buy a bus ticket from only this company who was on base and why we could not take a cab we were told that we aren’t being authorized to leave any other way and we would have to stay on Fort Sill over Christmas exodus if we did not by this exuberantly priced ticket.<br /><br />In bravo battery there are many people who have finished basic and AIT but forced to live in a basic training style barracks and being governed by drill sergeants. We are being told that if we complain to any of our superiors or talk to our congressmen that they will “step on us like a bug” “be destroyed” or “crush our nuts.” We live in constant fear of retaliation for something we do or something somebody else does because they don’t punish just one person they take it out on everybody. Our treatment is very poor, prisoners and detainees get treated better than us. They lecture us on our personal time when we spend literally all day doing absolutely nothing. Being stuck in an over glorified closet with no windows or ventilation all day(in the battalion). Not having furniture in the room we live in other than the beds, which we aren’t allowed to sit on. Being told in an “open floor” discussion to “go fuck yourself” when we bring a valid problem or complaint to the drill sergeant. <br /><br />They blatantly disrespect us constantly and they treat some privates better than others if they like football or basketball and will talk to the drill sergeants about it. Almost every private is fearful of retaliation even if we file a legitimate complaint. When we bring up violations of rules and regulations they tell us they don’t care but when somebody is out of regulation or policy they will give them an article 15 take away 2-4 weeks pay and be on restriction/extra duty for 45 days. Propaganda posters are strewn all over the building we live about noncommissioned officers respecting their subordinates but none of us here have ever seen an ounce of respect, help, or the first sign of being treated like a decent human being.<br /><br />Letters, certified packages, and other parcels are being singed in our name and being received by others. The mail system takes only days to deliver a letter going out, but on Feb 13 soldiers were getting letters postmarked on the 12th of Dec. Packages and letters are delivered to the wrong building and they put them in a stack or throw them into a locked room and don’t actively seek out who they belong to.<br /><br />Many people have been here for 6-18 months in I.E.T status for a variety of reasons. Some of us had more privileges and better treatment in AIT and basic. People coming into basic now can smoke, use smokeless tobacco and keep their cell phones. <br /><br />Mass punishment is wrong and does not work over long periods of time. Many believe it only serves to demoralize. Once you have a privilege (like using the phone or leaving the barracks on the weekends for 2 hours) they take them away for no real reason. And once they have taken all of your privileges what then can they punish you with? Most people just don’t care when they take everything away. “If I am going to get punished for doing everything right just the same as the guy who got caught with cigarettes, I might as well just smoke myself. Why would I do the right thing?” Why is it that 100+ people are responsible for 1 person hiding a can of smokeless tobacco in his mattress? And if you do try to correct them nobody will listen to you, so you notify the drill sergeant and he proceeds to punish everybody including the person who was trying to help.<br /><br />Some privates run around hitting people in the genitals and think it’s funny or will put their genitalia on people while they sleep. Or they will urinate or put seamen into their canteens when they are not looking or are asleep. There are many other soldiers who whiteness these acts and sit by idly. There are many other cases of sexual abuse/assault that happen among the privates here and nothing can be done. We notify the chain of command and they might yell at us because they don’t know who did it but nothing ever happens.<br /><br />(Approximately Jan 28th)<br />I have no idea why I do not care anymore I just want to sleep all the time. The new revelation started last Friday when I was put back into FTU from PTRP (the first instance of this ever.) There is no reason that I should be treated the way that I have been for the last 50+ weeks. For the initial 9 weeks of basic training I can understand the hazing and ruthless treatment, but not for over a year. I used to be able to cope by listening to music, calling people on a hidden cell phone, or talking to my friends in the bay. But now they will no longer let me talk to my friends or listen to music on the radio, and they found the hidden cell phone and confiscated it. If I was just able to do anything to mentally get away from this place I would. Just to forget who I am and what I am doing day in and day out. An hour or two of disassociation is the only way I was able put up with the meaningless and mindless bullshit and torment of being here “on duty” 16 hours a day. The only way to describe my life is sorrow, loathing, spitefulness, depression, and endless tortuous misery. Nobody is willing to help improve our treatment or listen to our complaints. I joined the army to make a difference and to help other people. Now I am being help prisoner, doomed to a fate worse than death. At one point I know I had a purpose. At one point I know I cared. I do not know when I lost it and if I will be capable of ever possessing it ever again. I am not sure if I lost it in AIT or the beginning of June when I was attached to FTU. I know that I have lost more since Friday and even more last night. I do not know how, why or how I can recover. I do not think I have shown any of the army values for a very long time. I believe I projected the image that I cared for many months and it was just an act; but it was all that I could do. I am being set up for failure and have been for weeks. The fact that this unit will not follow regulations does not inspire hope or willingness to comply with any orders or any of their bogus policies. In my opinion none of the cadre show any of the army values to any of the soldiers here. That is just my opinion and I may not see the whole picture. On exodus I came back with renewed motivation that I have not had since basic training. Drill sergeant Frazier and Langford managed to snuff out all of my hope and drive within the first few days we were all back. I will try to do my best, but I can not manage a positive thought for very long. The army values did mean something to me at one point even though it is just propaganda on paper. I have always known it was just propaganda, but they are a good base for morals if people would lead by example. In conclusion I hope this paper reaches somebody and they read it in whole and are not too judgmental. I also hope that I can improve myself and the situation that I am in. Perhaps I can be what they want me to be. Perhaps I can fulfill my enlistment and be productive, but that is not realistic. And it is not what I really want; all I want in this world is to be anywhere but here. I believe that I have permanent physical and psychological damage from this place. If I could describe this place in 2 words it would be: “Malevolentia Imperium.” <br /><br />1 Malevolentia: Latin, malevolent; having or exhibiting ill will; wishing harm to others; malicious. Having an evil or harmful influence <br />2 Imperium: Latin, can be translated as “power”. In Antiquity this concept could apply to people, and mean something like "power status" or "authority", or could be used with a geographical connotation and mean something like "territority".<br /><br />For no good reason yesterday February 14, somebody decided to take my pillow off my bunk and wipe their ass with it and they also thought it would be a grandiose idea to piss into my canteen (the only drinking container that I have because we are not afforded cups.) I have never done anything to this individual nor have I ever talked badly about him. He just has some malicious hatred for me. This is another fine example of the quality of human beings that we are forced to live with. When I notified the cadre of this they just yelled at and punished everyone including me.Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1143061719598973912006-03-22T13:05:00.000-08:002006-03-22T13:08:39.616-08:00If You Have Come Here Looking for the Post...If you have come here looking for the latest post about Fort Sill...you will have to be patient for a short time. It will be back up here soon. Meanwhile, please read the rest of the related posts to understand the situation. My apologies to readers, but there's nothing I can do about it at the moment. Stay tuned...<br /><br />Thank you for your patience.<br />-Pat deVarennesPat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1141615546063391002006-03-05T18:56:00.000-08:002006-03-06T16:55:29.306-08:00Abusive Drill Sergeant Removed at Fort Sill<b>The Drill Sergeant whose abusive actions included assault on an injured soldier in the Fort Sill Physical Training and Rehabilitation program (<a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/02/abuse-at-fort-sill-oklahoma-escalates.html"> </b>see here</a>)<b> has been removed from supervision of their environment.</b> This sergeant is still in residence in the general area, but is no longer in charge of the injured soldiers. He is wearing a beret now, and not a Drill Sergeant’s hat. <br /><br />The Senior Drill Sergeant whom he was replacing (whose time in PTRP was nearly up) is once again in charge until a replacement takes over. He’s a stern, sometimes harsh individual, who is thought to be fair, and generally respected by those in the PTRP. <br /><br />Make no mistake about it; a few blog entries did not make this positive change occur. Those of you who have commented about me ruining careers give me far more credit than is correct. Documentation and involvement at multiple levels of the Army system were responsible for the changes. As a soldier who has served for some years in the Army told me, those who were involved in the abuses well knew they were violating regulations. Yet the most important factor during this time was the courage the injured PTRP-ers exhibited when finally given an opportunity to speak up for themselves and their fellow injured soldiers in an objective environment.<br /><br />A liaison from the Medical Center has been assigned to the PTRP to handle issues with medical care and medical profiles. The mental health group is also reviewing the state of soldiers in the PTRP. Punishing physical tasks as previously related (<a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/01/abuse-is-rampant-at-fort-sill-oklahoma.html">see here</a>) have been suspended at the time of this posting. Weekend on-post passes have been restored to PTRP-ers, unless there is a legitimate reason to revoke them. <br /><br />In addition, the 180-day regulation (i.e., a soldier’s stay in PTRP is not supposed to exceed 180 days) is expected to be adhered to in the future. If that occurs, then the PTRP will not be utilized to warehouse injured soldiers. The housing situation remains an issue, with injured soldiers in the PTRP now occupying crowded bunk space in the same room with new recruits (their situation is called PCU) requiring further conditioning before proceeding on to Basic Training. Other issues are under ongoing consideration and/or investigation.<br /><br />During the worst of this situation, I received a letter from a soldier who had been in the PTRP for an extended stay. I have his permission to use that letter as I see fit. In my own consideration for his personal situation and anything that may be part of ongoing investigation, I’m only excerpting it here. His was not the only communication I received. But it best narrates how some of the 39-50 injured soldiers were struggling within themselves each day:<br /><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;">“...I wanted to serve the United States by being a member of the armed forces. I wanted to do nothing more than to fight for and to promote freedom. All I have done here is what I have been told to do. And for that I have been robbed of my dignity, freedom, and many basic human rights many people take for [granted].<br /> ...When we bring up violations of rules and regulations they tell us they don’t care but when somebody is out of regulation or policy they will give them an article 15 take away 2-4 weeks pay and be on restriction/extra duty for 45 days. Propaganda posters are strewn all over the building we live about noncommissioned officers respecting their subordinates but none of us here have ever seen an ounce of respect, help, or the first sign of being treated like a decent human being.<br /> ...I have no idea why I do not care anymore I just want to sleep all the time.<br />If I was just able to do anything to mentally get away from this place I would. Just to forget who I am and what I am doing day in and day out. At one point I know I had a purpose. At one point I know I cared. I do not know when I lost it and if I will be capable of ever possessing it ever again.”<br /></span><br />I hope that this Private, along with the other injured soldiers in the Fort Sill PTRP, will be able to put this situation behind them now. Some problems and issues have been addressed. If other previously mentioned issues are also addressed in a constructive manner, perhaps these injured soldiers can now focus on progressing in their physical rehabilitation. Perhaps they can heal instead of being further harmed. That is, after all, the stated purpose of the PTRP. <br /><br />It’s sad that a significant portion of the feedback I’ve received about the situation at Fort Sill ridicules these young men who’ve committed to serve their country, and derides their families for being concerned about their welfare. Some of these young men will go on to sacrifice their lives in that service. For that alone, in my opinion, the “least” of them deserve basic respect. <br /><br />In some places, such as Fort Knox and Fort Jackson, significant changes have been made in the way they operate PTRPs. They have Physical Therapists as company commanders. If the <a href="http://www.tradoc.army.mil/pao/TNSarchives/August05/083305.htm">official article </a> is to be believed, their level of understanding and operation is entirely different than Fort Sill’s. <span style="font-style:italic;">(Press Browser back button to return)</span> Even if the official perspective is exaggerated, it certainly shows that other methods have had more success than the old model in place at Fort Sill. Perhaps now that the PTRP at Fort Sill is under more scrutiny, they will use this opportunity to move toward an operational strategy that’s both more humane and effective than their current plan.<br /><br />Note: For those of you who are family members of Fort Sill PTRP occupants and have come to this blog lately, I have a letter to you with suggestions (updated today) <a href="http://www.nitnoid.blogspot.com"> here. </a>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1140244295217749442006-02-17T22:18:00.000-08:002006-02-17T22:31:35.233-08:00Cadre at Fort Sill PTRP Thinks Abuse is Funny<span style="font-weight:bold;">The cadre (command group) over the Fort Sill’s PTRP (Physical Training & Rehabilitation Program) and related areas think their abusive tactics toward their own soldiers are funny.</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">Those in command of these injured soldiers in the PTRP check out my blog and use the information in it to ridicule and harass their own men.</span> Some of them make cute comments (that I choose not to delete). The cadre knows who’s who, of course. The identities of the soldiers are not a mystery to them. <br /><br />When I first began this campaign to draw some attention to the sickening circumstances the injured soldiers at Fort Sill’s PTRP were enduring, there was a part of me that hoped maybe, just maybe, it was one or two “bad apples” (sound familiar?). I have come to understand that the situation is far worse than that. And so the rest of my post is: <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">An Open Letter to Members of the Cadre who can’t Stop Laughing and to Those Who Claim to Have No Knowledge of Any Abuse:</span><br /><br />Dear Cadre members,<br /> I understand that you think that the abusive tactics displayed by you and/or those in your command are funny. You share that with some people in a little place called Abu Ghraib. They had some bad actors, too. I wouldn’t call the company that you share “good” but I’m beginning to understand a great deal more about how that situation must have come to happen. <span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">It all starts when you have no loyalty or compassion for your own men, your own soldiers.</span> </span><br /><br /> That’s’ right. <span style="font-style:italic;">Like it or not, these are your own men.</span> These are the soldiers you are charged with overseeing. I don’t know how you came to be at the PTRP or FTU (Fitness Training Unit). Maybe you are all poor achievers who have to step on others you perceive as weaker in order to feel better about yourselves. Maybe this is just a transition post for you, and you have bigger and better things to do than worry about a bunch of “Broke Dicks” (yeah, I know that and worse are what they are called). Maybe you are actually functionally illiterate and can’t read or understand the PTRP soldiers’ medical profiles sufficiently to command these soldiers daily activities. <br /><br /> In the end, though, it doesn’t matter. <span style="font-weight:bold;">They are not failures. They are not weak. They are not cowards. You are all three of these things. </span><br /><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;">You fail them every time you curse at them for having injuries, or add just one more bully tactic to see if someone will break…and sometimes one does.</span> Maybe that relieves your boredom. You fail them when you don’t set an example by your own behavior, when you lash them instead of leading them, when you insult them instead of inspiring them. <span style="font-style:italic;">You should be ashamed instead of laughing.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;">You are weak because you can’t resist the temptation</span> to browbeat and beat your own men when they are already fighting to regain their physical abilities, fighting to live with daily pain, and fighting to make themselves put one foot in front of the other every day with no end in sight. <span style="font-style:italic;">You should be silent instead of laughing.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">You are cowards because you have verbally and physically abused those who are unable to defend themselves. </span> You who hold all the “aces” in your hands, sneer at them for taking your abuse, and hand out punishments when they can’t accomplish your latest whim, or can’t take it any longer and speak or act out. Don’t insult my intelligence with your talk of discipline and the good old days. You have deliberately driven some of them to the thin edge of their sanity, and a couple of them over it. T<span style="font-weight:bold;">hese are the acts of cowards and bullies, not of brave men.</span> Those of you who stand by and turn a proverbial blind eye (you know who you are and so do I) to all this are even more cowardly because you know better but you are too afraid for yourselves to help your own men, your own soldiers. Some of you use your rank as a shield, and in this case, it's a human shield made up of your own soldiers. <span style="font-weight:bold;">You should be court-martialed, not commended.</span> <br /><br /> You don’t deserve the soldiers you have in your charge. Despite all your efforts, they have, for the most part, taken care of each other the best way they could manage with little to no resources. They have, for the most part, developed a loyalty to each other. They have tried to help each other. They have endured your abuse for months (and more than a year for some), and survived. I would be proud to call almost any of them my son, beyond the one I already have in your "care". <br /><br /> In closing, I would like to express my fondest personal wish for you: <span style="font-style:italic;">May you have to walk two miles with a full rucksack in each of your own injured soldier’s combat boots with people like yourself treating you just the way you have treated your own men.</span>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1139802624409655062006-02-12T19:42:00.000-08:002006-02-13T17:46:26.520-08:00Another Method to Silence Abused Injured Soldiers at Fort SillFebruary 8, 2006<br /><br />The Command Sgt. Major of the PTRP (Physical Training & Rehabilitation Program) Battery met with its inmates at Fort Sill on Wednesday, February 8th. She informed the injured soldiers that the Army had an <span style="font-style:italic;">Open Door Policy</span>. She cautioned the PTRP inmates to be careful what they told their family members, as things could be interpreted incorrectly. <span style="font-style:italic;">In addition, she revealed her bias by stating that she would, “of course”, after any report then check with the drill sergeants to see “what really happened.”</span> Drill Sergeant Langford was seen to be strolling in and out, and it’s hardly a mystery why no Privates stepped forward at that time to challenge “what really happened.” Regarding family members, the Com. Sgt Major stated that if any phone calls were received regarding mistreatment of injured soldiers, Fort Sill staff would be sure to tell their own side of the story. <br /><br />After the meeting, Langford crowed about his early victory. He informed his victims not to worry, that he wasn't going anywhere. He’s been coached now, about how to legally continue the abuse. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Here’s yet another Catch 22 for the injured soldiers:</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">The Drill Sergeants do not order the injured individuals to do injurious tasks (such as hand scraping the floor, moving heavy furniture, etc.). They merely state (as they have in the past) that a certain task must be complete by a certain time or else battery wide punishment will be exacted. If an individual who should not be performing a potentially injurious task performs it, he is violating his medical profile and will be punished if he admits to having done so.</span> <span style="font-weight:bold;">That’s what I would call “damned if you do and damned if you don’t”. </span> But apparently the Army, in the person of Sgt. Langford and his chain of command call, “pushing you to the limit of your profiles.”<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nitnoid.blogspot.com">IF YOU ARE A FAMILY MEMBER OF AN INJURED SOLDIER IN THE PTRP AT FORT STILL, PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO AN OPEN LETTER TO YOU </a>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1139243340180531372006-02-06T08:18:00.000-08:002006-02-09T14:06:02.286-08:00Cover up of Abuse Begins at Fort Sill, Oklahoma<span style="font-weight:bold;">Breaking News on Thursday, Feb 9th:</span></span> See <a href="http://www.onlyvolunteers2.blogspot.com/"> Another Family with a Son in PTRP at Fort Sill Weighs In on the Abuse! </a> (press back button on your browser to return here)<br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Private Gopher, the young soldier who was recovering from knee surgery when Sergeant Langford kicked his legs out from under him on January 31st (see <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/02/abuse-at-fort-sill-oklahoma-escalates.html"><br />“Abuse Escalates” </a>below), has been motivated to sign a statement that says he did not receive any ill treatment at the hands of his sergeants.<span style=""> </span>For this, they are dangling a discharge in front of him…sweet escape from his tormentors.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Any soldier who was present (i.e., entire Physical Training Rehabilitation Program contingent) should not have seen the act that did not occur, as they were ordered (by the 1</span><sup style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">st</sup><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Sgt) to turn around as it was happening.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Therefore, any soldier who DID see anything [that did not happen] is guilty of failure to obey a lawful order (which is a punishable offense).</span></span><span style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> </span>The details of the statement are not known, as Private Gopher can’t discuss them with his anyone lest his superiors renege on the deal.<span style=""> </span>What an expedient way to get rid of someone who has become an inconvenient victim.<span style=""> </span>As a footnote, it has been revealed that Private Gopher was one of two soldiers who were on suicide watch for a young man who broke under the stress (see <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/01/abuse-is-rampant-at-fort-sill-oklahoma.html"><br />“Breaking News” </a>below) and had to be taken to a crisis intake center in Lawton, Oklahoma for several days. That young man has since been returned to Fort Sill, and awaits discharge as well.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Discharges have become highly sought after items these days at the PTRP at Fort Sill.<span style=""> </span>This is hardly news to those who know what these young soldiers, who volunteered to serve their country, are enduring on a daily basis. (See Abuse is Rampant below)<span style=""> </span>Prepared to serve their country, they were shocked to be treated in a fashion that violates the <a href="http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/91.htm">Geneva Convention:</a><br />at the hands of their own superiors.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Forbidden acts in the convention include: (a) Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture; (c) Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment; 2. The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Let’s not forget that these are soldiers whose offense was getting INJURED during training. </span>Some are technically graduates who were prevented from proceeding to their first duty assignment; some are trainees who were felled at various points in training.<span style=""> </span>At least one has been in residence at PTRP for fourteen months!<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">Family Day Weekend – What to do with the Families of Injured Soldiers?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was Thursday, February 2<sup>nd</sup>.<span style=""> </span>Family Day Weekend was due to start on Friday, February 3<sup>rd</sup>.<span style=""> </span>The bay floor, painstakingly [sic] hand-scraped by injured soldiers in the PTRP, was still not waxed.<span style=""> </span>That was unacceptable.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">After all, the families were arriving on Friday. All wall lockers (full length lockers) were hauled out by the PTRP soldiers, again without regard for recovering injuries, and placed outside in the field.</span><span style=""> </span>When the PTRP soldiers completed waxing the floor, they replaced all wall lockers.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">5AM Friday, February 3<sup>rd</sup>:<span style=""> </span>Oh happy day!<span style=""> </span>Soldiers in the PTRP were informed that they would be able to possess some portable electronic devices that had been confiscated (walkmans, etc.).<span style=""> </span>They would be allowed to leave the post with their family members, and wear their [coveted] civilian clothing!<span style=""> </span>In addition, on Sunday they would be allowed to watch the Super Bowl and order pizza!<span style=""> </span>Thus the report to the families would be rosier than might have been expected.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Between 0900 and 1500 (9AM-3PM), families were given a tour of the facilities (soldiers were disappointed that no one noticed the floors), and an overview of the “treatment” given their family members.<span style=""> </span>One parent questioned his son’s continued detention after an injury that remained unimproved after five months and was quickly hushed by being told he would be spoken to one-on-one.<span style=""> </span>Since at least November of 2005, PTRP families have been told that their sons (there are no females in Basic Training at Fort Sill) would soon be moved to a barracks at Fort Sill, instead of being housed like livestock, 40-50 to a room.<span style=""> </span>This rabbit was again pulled from the hat to deflect any questions about the living conditions of the PTRP soldiers.<span style=""> </span>However, as usual, no time frame was given for this transition.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There needs to be a full investigation of the abusive practices at Fort Sill.<span style=""> </span>Those practices have resulted in soldiers being retained for up to fourteen months and given medication that renders them incoherent; injuries that are verifiable with bone scans are not treated as “real” (“no bony protrusions”); heavy physical labor is ordered without regard to severity of injury or recover status; verifiable psychological and physical abuse goes unpunished; and just last week, an assault took place that is being covered up.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The IET (Initial Entry Training) status of these soldiers is being used to excuse mistreatment the like of which has made national headlines when used on foreign detainees.</span><span style=""> </span>Are we so numb to the abuse of “enemy combatants” that we no longer care that our own sons, brothers and husbands are receiving similar treatment right here at home?<span style=""> </span>If so, then we have come to a place where I am ashamed to be an American. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">My eldest son served in Iraq.</span><span style=""> </span>He is one of the lucky ones to come home safe and sound and whole.<span style=""> </span><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->The young men retained at the Fort Sill, Oklahoma PTRP deserve no less.<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1138856996575820942006-02-01T21:02:00.000-08:002006-04-28T19:17:03.270-07:00The Abuse at Fort Sill, Oklahoma Escalates<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Kneecap – The definition from allwords.com is: verb</span> 1. To shoot <b>or otherwise damage</b> <b>someone's kneecaps as a form of revenge, torture or unofficial punishment</b>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Derivative</i></b>: kneecapping<span style=""> </span><i><span style="">noun</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>You wouldn’t think that kneecapping would be an acceptable punishment for someone who bought a carton of cigarettes and 4 cans of chewing tobacco.<span style=""> </span>Yet that is what happened on Tuesday night, January 31<sup>st</sup> in Fort Sill.<span style=""> </span>The privates don’t deny that the perpetrators deserved disciplinary action, and they accepted their usual military measure of being chewed out with the guilty.<span style=""> </span>But what happened after that is almost unbelievable:<br /><span style=""> </span>Morale wasn’t too high at the FTU (Fitness Training Unit) yesterday after a Private lost his composure, cut himself up and smeared himself with feces after his sojourn in the PTRP at Fort Sill (See <a href="http://onlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/2006/01/abuse-is-rampant-at-fort-sill-oklahoma.html"><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Breaking News"</a></span> below. Still, who really knows why a soldier in the FTU commissioned another soldier (Private Gopher) in the PTRP (Physical Training Rehabilitation Program) to obtain the above named contraband for him in the first place?<span style=""> </span><br /> At one point in the public disciplinary process, Private Gopher, who very recently had knee surgery, lost his composure and turned and walked away from his sergeants’ wrath (ripping off his BDU shirt, tee shirt, and hat).<span style=""> </span>The Sergeants understandably became even more upset.<span style=""> </span>At that point, one of them ordered two brand new recruits who were witnessing the process to take Private Gopher down.<span style=""> </span>They did so.<span style=""> </span>At no time did Private Gopher resist.<span style=""> </span>He returned to his lawful place in formation and donned his cast off uniform components.<span style=""> </span>He was then ordered by one of the sergeants to “take a knee”.<span style=""> </span>According to witnesses, Private Gopher replied, “I CAN’T take a knee, sir, but I will sit down.”<span style=""> </span>He was ordered again, louder this time, to take a knee.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><i>Remember that these sergeants are fully aware of the physical state of their various “privates”. They KNEW Private Gopher had just had knee surgery.</i><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Again Private Gopher replied that he<span style="font-weight: bold;"> could not</span> take a knee, but he could sit down, and would do so.<span style=""> </span>At that point, in full view of the rest of the PTRP soldiers, Private Gopher’s legs were knocked out from under him and he “fell down screaming”.<span style=""> </span>[The account as related to me on Feb 1<sup>st</sup>] Then, the remaining PTRP soldiers were ordered to turn away from this spectacle and told that they didn’t need to watch.<span style=""> </span>And so the intimidation campaign and abuse has escalated to another level.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1138640819762456992006-01-30T08:46:00.000-08:002006-01-30T16:58:36.723-08:00Abuse is Rampant at Fort Sill, Oklahoma<p class="MsoNormal">After an absence from blogging for many months, I’m going to co-opt my own forum for what may seem to be a side issue.<span style=""> </span>It has come to my attention that there is a place at Army Basic Training installations called PTRP (Physical Training Rehabilitation Program).<span style=""> </span>Theoretically, it’s for soldiers who have been injured during training to rehabilitate and be returned to training.<span style=""> </span>Perhaps that is the case at some of those facilities.<span style=""> </span>I really couldn’t say.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">But in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, home of the Field Artillery, it’s different.</span><span style=""> </span>I’ve discussed the tale that I’m about to tell with many regular folks, and some soldiers on active duty.<span style=""> </span>Their responses range from disbelief to incredulity. The sad thing is that those with the power to change it view it as business as usual.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Whatever its original purpose, the PTRP at Fort Sill is now a warehouse for a sliding inventory of 40-50 injured soldiers, and its occupants have been there for tenure of up to <b>fourteen months</b>.<span style=""> </span>Current regulations state that in order to be admitted to PTRP, a soldier “is likely to recover within 4 months, and complete all the physical requirements of training.”<span style=""> </span>In another area of the TR 350-6, they do acknowledge that a stay can be “up to 6 months in duration”. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It all started in August, 2005, when a young man whom will we call Private Sincere enlisted in the Army.<span style=""> </span>He probably should have known when his first MOS (job description) was misrepresented to him, that this did not bode well for his future in the Army.<span style=""> </span>Still, his brother was on duty in Iraq, and he wanted to “do something”.<span style=""> </span>He went back to the MEPS (military entry processing station) with his recruiter, who helped him to change to the MOS he “thought” he had in the first place.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Once in Basic Training, Private Sincere was injured by late August.<span style=""> </span>He called his home, alarmed at the fact that his feet were so swollen he couldn’t lace his combat boots, and he was in extreme pain.<span style=""> </span>He was not allowed to seek medical attention, or to take anything to relieve his pain and inflammation.<span style=""> </span>Pvt. Sincere was derided as if he had somehow deliberately created the symptoms.<span style=""> </span>His mother wrote to the liaison officer, and Private Sincere was sent to “sick call” (after more verbal abuse).<span style=""> </span>He received ibuprofen and was restricted from running.<span style=""> </span>He did well in all other aspects of his training.<span style=""> </span>He finished his Advanced Individual Training and was second in his class.<span style=""> </span>He was ordered to take an alternative event (walking instead of running) and passed all other aspects of his final PT (physical training) test.<span style=""> </span>In fact, he finally received a bone scan (nearly 3 months after the symptoms began) an hour after he successfully completed the final PT test. The scan revealed stress fractures.<span style=""> </span>Private Sincere graduated and then, immediately after the ceremony, was informed that he and two other soldiers were being assigned to the PTRP.<span style=""> </span>They wouldn’t be going to their first duty stations.<span style=""> </span>So sayeth <span style="font-weight: bold;">Colonel Fulton</span>, who waited until the last moment to have his subordinate, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Captain Cunningham</span>, drop this on the drill sergeants of the three graduates as their families, who had come from across the country, waited for them.<span style=""> </span>Later, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Capt. Cunningham</span> would have to “ungraduate” the three young soldiers in order for the PTRP to accept them.<span style=""> </span>It had made good theater, however, at the graduation ceremony, to be able to say that they had 100% graduation (this naturally didn’t include those who had been discharged in the early stages of the process).<span style=""> </span>The drill sergeants and officers were all quite self-congratulatory that they had taken this motley crew of useless “recruits” and turned them into soldiers.<span style=""> </span>Somehow, the fact that these young men had all volunteered in service to their country, and stuck it out until the end, didn’t matter.<span style=""> </span>[I recall when my eldest son graduated from Basic Training at Fort Knox in 2000, the presentation, at least, was quite different. -PD]</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At first, it wasn’t too bad for Private Sincere and his fellow retainees.<span style=""> </span>Soldiers were given limited exercise and duty, and RICE (rest, ice compression, elevation), and allowed to watch some TV or read while they maintained their quarters and recuperated. In Private Sincere’s case, the initial rest (sprinkled with a little hope) was the only thing that could help him.<span style=""> </span>The three graduates were in an awkward position, because technically they had completed all their training.<span style=""> </span>They had been promised (as had their families) that they would be treated humanely, and that they would retain their status as graduates.<span style=""> </span>They might not be able to wear their hard won berets, but<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Capt. Cunningham</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">assured the concerned parents of the three holdovers that he would speak to the sergeant at PTRP and explain their special circumstances as graduates.</span> This, of course, was soon remedied by the fact that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Capt. Cunningham</span> had to “ungraduate” them.<span style=""> </span>And so began the three privates descent into a real twilight zone.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">IMAGINE A BOOT CAMP THAT NEVER ENDS…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Inspector General’s office</span> found no regulations had been broken in the “ungraduation”.<span style=""> </span>Instead, it was related that those in charge had exceeded their authority by ordering an alternate walking event for the unsuspecting three.<span style=""> </span>Regulations did not forbid the alternate event, but did not provide for it, either.<span style=""> </span>What “should” have happened in Private Sincere’s case was that he “should” have been assigned to PTRP when his injuries first became apparent.<span style=""> </span>He was described as “lucky” to have been allowed to complete his training.<span style=""> </span>[How is it lucky to continue to stress an injury for nearly 3 months after it occurs?]<span style=""> </span>“All” he had to do now was to run 2 miles in 16 minutes and 36 seconds (8 mins and 18 secs per mile) and on he could go to his first duty station…or back to basic training (recycled) as if he had not been through that gauntlet already and graduated.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The initial living conditions in the PTRP were bad enough.<span style=""> </span>There were 50 “privates” in a bay (like a crowded dorm).<span style=""> </span>Sewage backed up on a regular basis, creating obvious health hazards.<span style=""> </span>Mentally ill privates were housed with privates whose injuries were purely physical in nature.<span style=""> </span>One private frequently cut himself.<span style=""> </span>Another sang at the top of his lungs, 24 hours a day.<span style=""> </span>Another talked to himself constantly, muttering and cursing, and trying to start fights.<span style=""> </span>Some were on medication, and couldn’t even stand up for evening formation…literally incoherent and drooling on themselves [one particular private who fits this description has been in PTRP for 14 months].<span style=""> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">These privates were initially put into PTRP for physical injuries, but had deteriorated over time.</span><span style=""> </span>Exploratory surgeries were done on some, and they’d wake up to discover that multiple procedures had been performed <span style="font-style: italic;">without their knowledge</span>.<span style=""> </span>On at least one soldier, those procedures had to be corrected by additional surgery.<span style=""> </span>Some soldiers were alarmed and went to the mental health counseling unit where they were told, “We’re getting tired of being the counselors to PTRP.”<span style=""> </span>There was a parade of temporary drill sergeants, some who actually cared about these young men.<span style=""> </span>One of them even managed to get permission for these soldiers to enroll in college classes while they were in PTRP.<span style=""> </span>But that was before <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sergeant Langford.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sgt. Langford</span> is permanently assigned to the PTRP.<span style=""> </span>He’s certain that these injured soldiers are all malingerers…he’s been heard to say so.<span style=""> </span>This is despite the fact that no soldier in PTRP is there without a medical profile that states their condition and allowed activity levels.<span style=""> </span>After canceling all weekend on-base passes (PTRP soldiers are not allowed off-base passes), one of Langford’s first acts was to require these injured soldiers to scrape the bay floor with glorified razor blades and re-wax it.<span style=""> </span>Soldiers with a variety of injuries, including those who’d recently had surgery, and those with broken bones, were crawling around on their hands and knees, scraping the floor [note: the size of this floor area takes days to scrape].<span style=""> </span>They completed this task and waxed the floor, only to be told that it wasn’t good enough. <span style=""> </span>The scraping began again, and as of the time of this blog post, continues.<span style=""> </span>In addition, the PTRP occupants are no longer allowed to sit down when not working on the floor, in direct conflict with their medical profiles.<span style=""> </span>The rest of the base is now benefiting from these soldiers’ plight as well as a source of “free labor”. The privates are now required to work at various locations, regardless of the degree of physical activity, regardless of their medical profiles.<span style=""> </span>I’m told, however, that the privates look forward to this because they are treated like human beings at these jobs.<span style=""> </span>So they perform their work without regard for the physical toll it may take on them…anything to get away from the punitive conditions in the PTRP.<span style=""> </span>Oh, and those soldiers who were unfortunate enough to enroll in classes before Langford’s arrival…they’re allowed no time to do their homework.<span style=""> </span>The FTU (Fitness Training Unit) is overflowing, and as a consequence, the PTRP occupants (currently numbering 40+) are stuffed into ½ the space they had before (i.e., ½ a bay).<span style=""> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Raids, euphemistically known as “health and welfare” have been instituted, with searches for forbidden items.</span><span style=""> </span>Last raid, a pack of cigarettes was found…and that soldier’s punishment by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sgt. Langford</span> exceeded the punishments for several AWOL soldiers who returned from Christmas break 6 days late, and the two soldiers whose urine tests were positive for hard drugs like cocaine.<span style=""> </span>Confidential medical records sent for another private were read aloud by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sgt. Langford</span> as he made fun of the soldier.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It appears that <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sgt. Langford</span> has found his soul mate</span>.<span style=""> </span>This past weekend, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sgt. Bullock</span>, of the FTU, ordered all 70 members of the FTU and PTRP to arise from their beds every hour from 10PM to 2AM for formation.<span style=""> </span>Anyone who did not comply would be given an Article 15 (non-judicial punishment).<span style=""> </span>Three of the soldiers in the PTRP were on sleep profiles; i.e., mandated 7 hours of sleep per night, and given sleeping medication to ensure it.<span style=""> </span>So their fellow privates had to get them out of bed, help them to dress and stumble out to formation, at 10 PM., 11 PM. 12 AM, 1AM, and 2 AM.<span style=""> </span>Just to keep it interesting, Sgt. Bullock required two uniform changes.<span style=""> </span>That made sure that the exhausted soldiers couldn’t just fall back into bed in their uniforms and rise up for formation.<span style=""> </span>Finally, they were allowed to sleep after 2AM formation, until 5AM.<span style=""> </span>The members of PTRP already have to report for formation five times a day.<span style=""> </span>Now it appears that 5 times a night is acceptable as well.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Remember, this is a PHYSICAL REHABILITATION UNIT.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">THESE SOLDIERS HAVR DONE NOTHING WRONG. THEY WERE INJURED</span>.<span style=""> </span>They are not supposed to be in detention, and yet they are being punished over and over again.<span style=""> </span>The final irony is that the PTRP families have received invitations to <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Family Day Weekends”</span> at Fort Sill for PTRP soldiers (February 3<sup>rd</sup>, March 10<sup>th</sup>, and April 14<sup>th</sup>).<span style=""> </span>This is supposed to boost morale.<span style=""> </span>Perhaps <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sgt. Langford</span> will invite the families to watch their injured relatives scrape the floors?<span style=""> </span>Maybe <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sgt. Bullock</span> can give everyone a laugh and invite them to a midnight formation of the injured and the drugged?<span style=""> </span>Maybe a plunger party?<span style=""> </span>Perhaps <span style="font-weight: bold;">Captain Cunningham</span> will be on hand to explain to the parents of Private Sincere and his two fellow graduates why he lied to them? [We all know why, to get rid of them, but it might be interesting to see him squirm]<span style=""> </span>Perhaps <span style="font-weight: bold;">Colonel Fulton</span> could explain why he is allowing this abuse in the name of PHYSICAL REHABILITATION?<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal">If abuse like this of our own soldiers is systemic, is it any wonder that abuses occur with the helpless and weak (as well as the detained) when our soldiers are deployed?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After following all the existing protocols for complaint she could find, and a fax to her congressional representative [no response], Private Sincere’s mother finally decided to go public on this blog.<span style=""> </span>She is concerned for the ramifications for her son.<span style=""> </span>What will happen to him?<span style=""> </span>To his credit, Private Sincere’s frustration with his own situation is nothing compared to his outrage at how the severely injured and helpless are treated.<span style=""> </span>I hope some of you who read this will share his outrage.<span style=""> </span>Imagine that these fine young men are your sons, husbands, brothers, etc.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Imagine a boot camp that never ends and pray that your relatives never have to endure it.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Breaking News:</b><span style=""> </span>Since I posted the above information today, a soldier at Fort Sill who’d been in PTRP for some months cracked up.<span style=""> </span>He’d been returned to training, where he was informed that OSUT (one station unit training) no longer existed for his MOS.<span style=""> </span>He was shuffled back to PTRP, who refused to take him (of course) because they no longer considered him injured.<span style=""> </span>[He had a broken finger, and it healed in such a way that he couldn’t close his fist…his finger sticks straight out.]<span style=""> </span>Four days after being returned to training, he was sent to the FTU [is the FTU becoming a warehouse as well?].<span style=""> </span>Seven days later, this young man (who had appeared to be stable according to his former peers) silently appeared at noon formation.<span style=""> </span>He was bleeding from self-inflicted cuts and covered with feces he’d smeared upon himself.<span style=""> </span>He was wearing only his combat boots and his socks.<span style=""> </span>He just couldn’t take it any longer.<span style=""> </span>He was hauled away in an ambulance with a police escort.<span style=""> </span>God bless him.</p>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com109tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1120184866280151792005-06-30T19:27:00.000-07:002005-07-01T10:50:30.460-07:00A Few Words & Soldier's Blogs and PhotosI look at my blog and realize that it's been over a month since I posted. What happened? We are lucky. My son came home on two-weeks of leave from Iraq. He was able to spend some time with his wife and kids, siblings, and me, his Mom. In some ways it was harder to say goodbye than the first time. Maybe because last time I was in shock. This time I'm just damned discouraged...for all of our sons and daughters, present and future. I have drafts sitting on my hard drive, too much to say without the right words. I'm discouraged and disheartened that, despite more clear evidence indicating <span style="font-style:italic;">this</span> war, at least, was unnecessary, most seem not to care. I couldn't believe it the other night when a CNN news "guest" expounded the tired nonsense about fighting the terrorists over there instead of over here, and the so-called moderator did not point out that EVERYONE now knows there were no links between the 9/11 terrorists and the war in Iraq...let alone the fact that a war in Iraq doesn't prevent anything from happening over here...<br /><br />So while I get my act back together and finish those drafts, I've decided to share some blogs and flickr photo sites that I peruse, of soldiers who have been or are in Iraq. This is an independent action -- I didn't ask their permission. These links should not be construed as an endorsement by the linkees of anything I have written on this blog. The thumbnails are teasers to get you to follow the links to their sites. <br /><br /><li><a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/chaotic_nipple/">My Inner Child Plays With Matches--Mike C's Blog</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.goetzit.com/">All the King's Horses--Daniel's Blog</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://ftssoldier.blogspot.com/"> Fight to Survive</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://leonardclark.com/blog/">Leonard Clark's Blog</a></li><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/1600/13658759_0e8227b28a_t.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/200/13658759_0e8227b28a_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.misoldierthoughts.blogspot.com/"><br />A Soldier's Thoughts--Zachary's Blog</a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nevadog/">Zachary/Nevadog's Flickr site</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/1600/2720364_b582eb1222_t.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/320/2720364_b582eb1222_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=enlistedcowboy">Enlisted Cowboy's Blog</a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/enlistedcowboy/"><br />Enlisted Cowboy's Flickr Site</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/1600/13593645_9b45e2ec16_t.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/200/13593645_9b45e2ec16_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luodanli/"> luodanli's Flickr site</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/1600/7394321_44cb5f87d1_t.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/200/7394321_44cb5f87d1_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ob1/"> ob1left's Flickr site</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/1600/5930707_af158addf5_t.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/320/5930707_af158addf5_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgobble/">Jeff G's Flickr site</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/1600/2229096_92cfcbd9b3_t.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/181/753/320/2229096_92cfcbd9b3_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cake/">At Ease's Flickr site</a>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1116564241795242532005-05-19T21:44:00.000-07:002005-05-19T21:45:37.663-07:00Fate Taps Twice...<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wenslydale/13133314/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://photos9.flickr.com/13133314_3f6b02824d_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wenslydale/13133314/">DSCN1054</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/wenslydale/">wenslydale</a>.</span><br clear="all" /><p>"A man must know his destiny...if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder...<br /><br />So as through a glass, and darkly<br />The age long strife I see<br />Where I fought in many guises,<br />Many names, but always me."<br /> -Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.</p>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1113536931799199712005-04-14T20:48:00.000-07:002005-04-14T20:48:51.800-07:00taji_line<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luodanli/9319540/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://photos6.flickr.com/9319540_75e68246dc_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luodanli/9319540/">taji_line</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/luodanli/">Luodanli</a>.</span><br clear="all" /><p>The caption for this photo says that both sides of this railroad track are the "wrong side". I couldn't agree more.</p>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1112075193864749052005-03-28T21:46:00.000-08:002005-03-28T21:46:33.863-08:00many_casings<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luodanli/7406229/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://photos5.flickr.com/7406229_33563d73f8_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luodanli/7406229/">many_casings</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/luodanli/">Luodanli</a>.</span><br clear="all" /><p>blanket of 5.56mm shell casings covers the floor of a self-propelled artillery piece.</p>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1112075022105581502005-03-28T21:43:00.000-08:002005-03-28T21:43:42.106-08:00cartman<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luodanli/7407662/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://photos4.flickr.com/7407662_fa7d969757_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luodanli/7407662/">cartman</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/luodanli/">Luodanli</a>.</span><br clear="all" /><p>Another interesting photo from Iraq...</p>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1111644147431645412005-03-23T22:02:00.000-08:002005-04-20T20:31:05.603-07:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/249/2990/640/7039785_2cde62c0d9.jpg"><img style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 102, 0); margin: 2px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/249/2990/320/7039785_2cde62c0d9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />"Steel Wool" -- a euphemism for Razor Wire. These are my only entries for the moment. Non-writing family duties have kept this peace-nik mom and grandma busy. But just a little pictorial reminder that war is not pretty.<br /><span style="font-size:8;">Photo contributed by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luodanli/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Luodanli</span></a></span>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1111643953661226472005-03-23T21:59:00.000-08:002005-04-20T20:23:18.086-07:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/249/2990/640/5540373_fca62d213c.jpg"><img style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 102, 0); margin: 2px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/249/2990/320/5540373_fca62d213c.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />My son sent this picture...it reminds him of a dragon...hmmm.<br /><span style="font-size:8;">Photo contributed by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luodanli/" target="ext">Luodanli</a></span>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1111643850860548442005-03-23T21:57:00.000-08:002005-04-20T20:24:18.686-07:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/249/2990/640/5677228_cd072498f9.jpg"><img style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 102, 0); margin: 2px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/249/2990/320/5677228_cd072498f9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Hanging on by a Thread...<br /><span style="font-size:8;">Photo contributed by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luodanli/" target="ext">Luodanli</a></span>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9994063.post-1111643781471864682005-03-23T21:56:00.000-08:002005-04-20T20:25:18.906-07:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/249/2990/640/5546669_c0a6c3342b.jpg"><img style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 102, 0); margin: 2px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/249/2990/320/5546669_c0a6c3342b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A Little Levity? Here camel camel camel...<br /><span style="font-size:8;">Photo contributed by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luodanli/" target="ext">Luodanli</a></span>Pat deVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01174863345867344637noreply@blogger.com0