Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State has a bit of a history of problems. I do not know whether this record is normal, below average, or above average, or even how much of it is factual. For soldiers and former soldiers at or from the base, there are those accused of
1) threatening his estranged wife, girlfriend and another lieutenant colonel at the base.
2) threatened to blow up the state Capitol in Olympia.
3) murdered his wife and stuffed her body into a storage crate.
4) set his wife on fire.
5) waterboarding his own young daughter for failing to know her ABCs.
6) shot and killed a National Park Service ranger at Mount Rainier National Park on New Year’s Day.
and

Even if this record is both true and well above normal, a sufficient explanation might be that cited above: the endless recycling of soldiers through the Middle East combat zones. It would also be interesting to know whether these soldiers are taking Lariam (mefloquine); I had thought that its use as an anti-malarial drug had been terminated in favor of drugs without psychotic side effects.

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/16/10722498-nbc-news-us-soldier-suspected-in-afghanistan-massacre-identified Ratigan segment is especially interesting.

This video, supposedly from CNN and titled "The Military Industrial Complex Has Got Us By The Throat!" Jack Cafferty," is appearing all over the conspiracy sites, RWNJ sites, Democratic Underground, and Daily Paul.

Soldier from Lake Tapps named in Afghan massacre

This could account for some of the other violent incidents associated with Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The more that I read of this (assuming it is true), the more I regret my initial thinking that I hope that the soldier does not get off with a "not my fault" defense. It is becoming clearer where the real fault lies, although "blind rage" is not an excuse for murder. If it were, a number of the murders in the U.S. would be faultless crimes.

This may have a broader effect than changing the schedule for our withdrawal from Afghanistan (which is not at all certain). It may raise questions about whether it is fair and prudent to ask young men and women to bear such a heavy load for so long a time. If we are going to go into war, maybe we need to do so with a larger military, one that can only be formed with the draft. That would make it harder for the wars to be out of sight, out of mind. Lots to think about here.

Although this story has been disappeared from http://www.army.mil, it can be found elsewhere:

KIRO-TV Bales was a team leader in past battle

The reaction to these murders in Afghanistan is much more muted than the reaction to the Koran burnings. I'm not sure what to make of that.

IMHO, there are several tribes that comprise Afghanistan. I would think that it would be important to the tribe or group but not all Afghanis. Now the Muslim religion is common to everyone in the country damn near. It is about the only common tie all of the folks have. It is also the thing that outside interests use to agitate.
My 2 cents...

When I first read that the soldier who did the killing was a Staff Sergeant, I immediately guessed that the current deployment was his fourth. That guess was based solely on knowing his rank and how many years of service someone in that pay grade will normally have. I don't know exactly what that says, but I think it says something.

One of the things I observed about the Army they will not promote anyone to E-7 (Sergeant First Class) that isn't at least 30 years old with 10 years time in service. Lots of folks make it about the 12th year in service depending on the slots open in the career field. As an E-6, he probably would have less than 12 years time in service. I think you will find that Officers are like that also (unless you are a doctor).

Associated Press March 17, 2012 Soldier accused in Afghan killings was family man

* Not yet found on the Web.

Recap and more Information...



More stuff including more background info.

There are some folks who don't understand something called a Status of Forces Agreement (SOF or SOFA).

Courtesy of Mr. Phil Cave on the CAAFlog http://www.caaflog.com




This is the part of the SOFA that indicates who can try whom.

Missed specific web page where the discussion is going on.

A college roommate once told me how her father, an army colonel, had done 3 tours in Vietnam under deep cover. She said her father slept with a gun under his pillow for two years. Mother had to move out of the bedroom because he tried to karate chop and strangle her during night terrors. He said his Vietnam memories were like "Apocalypse Now" once he felt safe to discuss the trauma many years later.

My father, a career (32yr) Marine and two tour Vietnam Vet, does not sleep in the same room as mom due to the fact that he has tried to strangle her a couple of times and has documented actions indicating that he could be a danger to others.

The Army provided basic information about Staff Sgt. Robert Bales (No middle initial)
Date of Rank: April 1, 2008
MOS: 11B (Infantry)
Duty Status: Active
Basic Active Service Date (Enlistment Date): Nov. 8, 2001

Assignment History:
2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd
Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (Sept 11, 2002 -- Present)

Military Education/Year Completed:
Combat Life Savers Course 2002
Warrior Leaders Course 2008
Sniper 2008
Visual Tracker 2008
Combatives Level 1 2010
Combatives Level 2 2010
U.S. Air Force Airlift Planner 2010
Advance Leaders Course (ALC) 2010

Civilian Education/Year Completed
Associate Degree (2 Yr College) 1992

Home of Record: Jensen Beach, Fla.

Deployment History/Time Frame:
Operation Iraqi Freedom (12 Months) / Nov. 1, 2003 - Oct. 1, 2004
Operation Iraqi Freedom (15 Months) / June 19, 2006 - Sept. 22, 2007
Operation Iraqi Freedom (10 Months) / Aug. 8, 2009 - June 4, 2010
Operation Enduring Freedom / Dec. 1, 2011 - March 2012

Awards and Decorations:
Army Good Conduct Medal (Three awarded)
Iraq Campaign Medal Campaign Star (Two awarded)
National Defense Service Medal
Overseas Service Ribbon
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Combat Infantry Badge
Expert Infantry Badge
Army Commendation Medal (Six awarded)
Army Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Two awarded)
Army Superior Unit Award

Thank you for sharing that your father had the same problem as my friend's dad.

It is termed 1 award and 5 Oak Leaf Clusters for this medal.
I wonder what he did/etc that prevented him from being promoted to E-7?? The "record" (if true probably) shows someone on the fast track. You don't get 6 Army Commendation Medals in 10 years without getting noticed for promotion. There is something else that someone is not saying as to why the board didn't pick him up, unless this was his first time in the Secondary or Below the Zone promotion (early). Most folks get picked when they are in the Primary Zone (Whatever the Army and MILPERCEN want the zones to be - time in service/time in grade). He didn't bring home a Bronze Star though. The Bronze Star is the wartime equivalent of the Army Meritorious Service Medal.

I served with lots of Vietnam Vets. Many of them that had "field experience" had little quirks, like swinging their fists when you try to wake them up. With some guys we would wake em up with a long stick to stay out of range.

So the PTSD defense almost sounds plausible except for the fact he massacred numerous civilians.

Whether he shot soldiers or civilians, The PTSD defense is plausible. He was on his 5th combat tour???

You can only go so long before the pressure gets to you. RUMOR-Then you mix in alcohol intoxication, a fully automatic weapon w/all the ammo he can carry, and one hell of a built up frustration.

He has a long bitch list. I can understand some of it, but that doesn't mean I agree.

It looks like he's been arrested a couple of times since joining the military - once for assaulting a girlfriend in 2002, and later for hit-and-run. That maybe had something to do with it. Or maybe not. I don't remember if it was last year or the year before, but there was an AMEDD unit I'm familiar with that had good NCOs with multiple combat decorations (as in "V" devices) get passed over.

The thing that I found interesting is that he's apparently spent his entire military career since initial entry training with the same battalion. That seems really strange.

The thing that I found interesting is that he's apparently spent his entire military career since initial entry training with the same battalion. That seems really strange.

That in my day would be unusual. But with the high degree of training needed to field a new weapons system, I can see where that would not be out of line.

We used to call that "homesteading" and it was frowned upon as you are supposed to have various assignments by the time you earn the senior rank. It was looked upon like you have something to hide. I spent 7 years at one place but with 3 different assignments (jobs) during that time. (Instructor (teacher), Battalion Staff, and then SQT test writer). They moved me (stateside to stateside) to Fitzsimons Hospital just to move me without the usual overseas tour in between.

IIRC (and I don’t guarantee that I do, but...) my 1st husband was Army and I remember people bitching over the years about not being able to get promoted regardless of how good their records were if there were no open slots for the next pay grade in their particular MOS. I dunno, maybe he was in a situation like that and that’s why he was unable to get promoted.

I did wait a long time as an E-5 to make E-6 (SP5 to SSG). My career field was packed. It was always news withing the MOS (Pharmacy) family when someone retired as a slot would open up.

I cannot imagine that in an army at war that you have too many infantrymen for the higher positions. This guy made it through the toughest part (E-5 and E-6 promotions). E-6 to E-7 is more of a beauty contest as no one sees you, just your record at MILPERCEN. I still maintain, there is "something" in the record that is keeping him from being noticed. You pretty much get several shots at it (at least 3) Secondary or Below the zone is for fast burners. As I said before, most folks get picked up for promotion first or 2nd time in the Primary Zone. If he is complaining about not getting picked up in the secondary zone - Only a few folks are selected. As an E-6 he can retire at 20 and will have several chances to be considered for promotion.

The Daily Mail has a lengthy article about Robert Bales as a person: From 9/11 volunteer to 'Afghan massacre soldier': How U.S staff Sergent gave up stock broker career to serve his country

There is little newsworthy in this article, but it does reveal another aspect of Bales' problems: his family was in financial trouble. With the family having already lost one home to financial troubles, three days before the murders his wife had told him that she was unable to keep up the payments on their current home and that she wanted to put their house on the market, at $50,000 less than they had paid for it.

There are also comments about Joint Base Lewis-McChord. In 2010,

Perhaps one of our military law members can comment on this, from article about possible defense strategy
"Courts-martial are similar to traditional criminal trials: they allow for a mental evaluation and an insanity defense, which in the military is known as "not guilty but only by reason of lack of mental responsibility." The threshold is high.
The military judge advocate who briefed reporters said defense lawyers had yet to successfully argue that a soldier was insane because of traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder"