Once upon a time lived a young woman from a St. Louis suburb. She was an honor roll student, she played the violin, she donated blood and volunteered for American Heart Association walks. She elected to put off college for a while and joined the Army once out of school. At Fort Campbell, KY, she was assigned as a weapons supply manager to the 129th Corps Support Battalion.
She was LaVena Johnson, private first class, and she died near Balad, Iraq, on July 19, 2005, just eight days shy of her twentieth birthday. She was the first woman soldier from Missouri to die while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The tragedy of her story begins there.
An Army representative initially told LaVena’s father, Dr. John Johnson, that his daughter died of “died of self-inflicted, noncombat injuries,” but initially added that it was not a suicide. The subsequent Army investigation reversed this finding and declared LaVena’s death a suicide, a finding refuted by the soldier’s family. In an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dr. Johnson pointed to indications that his daughter had endured a physical struggle before she died – two loose front teeth, a “busted lip” that had to be reconstructed by the funeral home – suggesting that “someone might have punched her in the mouth.”
A promise by the office of Representative William Lacy Clay to look into the matter produced nothing. The military said that the matter was closed.
Little more on LaVena’s death was said until St. Louis CBS affiliate KMOV aired a story last night which disclosed troubling details not previously made public – details which belie the Army’s assertion that the young Florissant native died by her own hand. The video of the report is available on the KMOV website.
Reporter Matt Sczesny spoke with LaVena’s father and examined documents and photos sent by Army investigators. So far from supporting the claim that LaVena died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the documents provided elements of another scenario altogether:
- Indications of physical abuse that went unremarked by the autopsy
- The absence of psychological indicators of suicidal thoughts; indeed, testimony that LaVena was happy and healthy prior to her death
- Indications, via residue tests, that LaVena may not even have handled the weapon that killed her
- A blood trail outside the tent where Lavena’s body was found
- Indications that someone attenpted to set LaVena’s body on fire
The Army has resisted calls by Dr. Johnson and by KMOV to reopen its investigation.
We have seen in other military deaths, most infamously that of Army Ranger and former professional football player Cpl. Pat Tillman, that the Army has engaged in an insulting game of deny and delay when it comes to uncovering embarrassing facts. Only when public and official attention is brought to bear on the matter – as happened, eventually and with great effort, with the case of Cpl. Tillman – do unpleasant truths come to light.
Astonishing as it seems, it takes that level of outrage to compel the Army to find the truth and tell it, to honor its own soldiers. No such groundswell has yet emerged in the case of LaVena; not enough voices have demanded that someone in the military, anyone, speak for her. At first glance, the contrast between the cases of Pat Tillman and LaVena Johnson seems vast, but at the core the situations are the same. In each case, the death of a young soldier in a dangerous place and time was not explained to the families they left behind, the families that gave them up so that they could serve us. An honest accounting of their passing is all the dead ask of us.
The mother of Pat Tillman put the matter in stark and honest terms:
“This is how they treat a family of a high-profile individual,” she said. “How are they treating others?”
In the case of Private First Class Johnson, we know the answer.
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What the hell has gone awry when captives held by the U.S Army who were striped and humiliated are given more justice than our servicemen ? The perpertrators in that case stood trial and were sentenced to jail AND THOSE VICTIMS LIVED. And let’s not be so naive that we blame the Army allowing convicts to enlist, female service personnel have been victimized throughout history and it’s time WE ALL stand up!!
My prayers go out to you and your family.
my thoughts and prayers goes out to the families who have lost love ones 2 these types of tragedies,,brought upon by our crooked government and military..these innocent people were nice enough 2 swear under oath to service and protect our country an this is the thanks they get,there life mysieriously taken..more investigating needs 2 be done..this is so so sad..its very scary cause i have military family members and god knows i wouldnt want nothing 2 happen 2 them as well..”WHO CAN YOU TRUST” YES! I WILL SIGN YOUR PETITION..THIS MESS NEEDS TO STOP!!!!!!ASAP
It is very sad
abc123I’m praying that God will release the Spirit of Truth to uncover every lie in this matter.
i will definitely sign this petition… may the Lord continue to guide you and your family with strength and courage to find out the truth regarding Pfc. LaVena Johnson.
OKD wrote: Why cant the family obtain a court order and have their daughter’s body exhumed for an independant autopsy by a non-military pathologist?
The Johnsons did just that last year; results were “inconclusive.” More here.
In signing this petition helps me to know that …together we can make a difference! It's such an horrific shame to witness how corrupt the American judicial system & government are …what an awful mess!!!
I pray that God continues to guide the Johnson family and expose and rid! the evils of this world.
Every female considering the armed forces should know about the dangers she may incur upon joining such demonic forces.
The truth will be exposed! EQUAL justice for ALL!
May God be with and bless LaVena Johnson and her family.
Laila Muhammad
I WILL GLADLY SIGN YOUR PETITION!! I am so saden by this story! This young lady wanted to serve her country and this is how she is treated. I hope that everyone involved in this cover up get what is coming to them. GOD DON’T LIKE UGLY, SO I KNOW HE WILL TAKE CARE OF WHOEVER DID THIS. The family is in my prayers.
My heart gose out to the Johnson family. As well as others who are serving in the military. I anm signing your petition. And I pray the truth comes out.
This is totally unacceptable as an American citizen I am truly outraged that the US Army has not given the family of this young woman whose death was not investigated and reported to her family.
This young girl did not commmit suicide; she was murdered. The facts point to this irrefutable truth. Our military is once again trying to “cover up” one of their bungled investigations. It is my prayer that the truth will be revealed; thereby, leading those around the world and Americans to have greater distrust in the American Government.
Brenda
My heart goes out to the Johnson’s family in theri time of need. I hope that they find the SOBs’ that did this. It is a crying shame when we go and fight a war over in another country that no longer wants us there. Our soldiers are trying to protect themselves from the Iraqians to only have our own brutalize our own. Is this is what Bush was talking about and the fact that the military is covering up a tradegy like this is low. What other tradegies is America covering up? We have lost so many men and women over in Iraq is the cause of death exactly what they stated or is that another load of bull that they are telling us?
This is unacceptable why her death has not been investigated nor were her parents notified of the results.
I demand some answers to this method of dealing with the details of this investigation on behalf of young women everywhere serving our country.
I pray that GOD will continue to bless, strengthen, and comfort the Johnson family. I hope that the truth will come out and that JUSTICE will be served, so this family can find closure. There is a GOD, and if you serve HIM, nothing is impossible for HIM. With GOD all things are possible and HE will shed some light on what really happened. What is done in darkness, must come out in the light. God is in control.
My deepest condolences to LaVena’s family. This is so heartbreaking. Just think, there are probably similar cases the public will never come to know. One big coverup.
Alvah
I have a young daughter who is not in the Armed Services,but my heart goes out to LaVena’s family and I know GOD comforts them and GOD will see that justice arrives,and it won’t be too late for it.
I am signing the petition.
SHAME ON AMERICA
The White Washed Rape and Murder of
US Army PFC LaVena Lynn Johnson
July 19, 2005
An Afro-American female solider was raped and brutally murdered in Iraq over three years ago and not one peep, not one line, not one word out of local or national news media. We ask ourselves
I AM SADDEN AND APPAULLED AT THIS HORRIBLE INJUSTICE AGAINST LIFE, BUT I AM NOT SURPRIZED…AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE END OF DAYS THE ACTS OF THE DEVIL WILL BE MORE VIOLENT AND VICIOUS…WE MUST FIGHT INJUSTICES AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT ANY COST, HOLDING ALL ACOUNTABLE…SHAME ON YOU CONGRESS. WHERE IS YOUR LOYALTY TO YOUR PEOPLE!!! WHERE IS YOUR LOVE OF LIFE AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS? WHERE IS YOUR HONOR!
As a fellow serviceman and veteran of Iraq, I can personally speak on the atrocities that frighten you goin in or being in a war zone, on top of all the thoughts of home and family to be betrayed by allies is the last thing you can expect, my condolences to the family of this beloved soldier, I pay my respects by signing this petition.
No justice in the system is a historical affair
GOD BLESS YOU ALL! DO NOT GIVE UP THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE FOR YOUR BABY GIRL!!!!
But for this email, I who live in NY, would not know about this atrocity. I signed because I believe the military hides what they don’t want you to know and glorify everything else. My blessings go out to the Johnson family for their strength and their tenacity to get to the truth.
I thank God for Color of Change organization. If it wasn’t for them I would not have known of this terrible tragedy. I pray that the Johnson family find peace through this storm. God knows all and will make sure that the person or persons responsible for this enhumane act be punished to the fullest extent.
It is not uncommon in the military for rape murder and suicide. And you wouldnt see any of the type on the news i was in 4th id and with in one month over 1/2 a dozen people were killed with rumour of suicide and rapein my company alone. I am sorry to all the families involved in these situations and i will sign anything to help to stop these things from going on. But the government is who we must go through for justice and they are the ones responcible it is a hard battle to fight good luck!
It is not uncommon in the military for rape murder and suicide. And you wouldnt see any of the type on the news i was in 4th id and with in one month over 1/2 a dozen people were killed with rumour of suicide and rapein my company alone. I am sorry to all the families involved in these situations and i will sign anything to help to stop these things from going on. But the government is who we must go through for justice and they are the ones responcible it is a hard battle to fight good luck!
UNBELIEVABLE!
As if it is not difficult enough just living as a woman of color, this princess was de-humanized in such a manner and the army did not have her back.
Should we encourage young men and women interested in joining the military to boycott the army? I sent my letter to congress, but if nothing is done about this, we may as well brace ourselves for an increase in military violence and a decrease in army enrollment.
If she was a relative of a congress member, celebrity, or known politician, we would probably not have to be sending letters requesting action, would we?
I am thinking the best way to get some action is to hit the army where it hurts, in thier recruting efforts. I thionks we should print thousands of pictures of leVena and put her story on the back of the pictures. Then we stake out every army recruting office and hand one of the flyers to every woman who thinks about joining the army. The US Army is hurting for volunteers and this would really hit them hard. If we coorddinate it on a national level the press will not be able to ignore it.
I extend my condolences to the Johnson Family in the loss of their daughter. It is my hope that all of our men and women will come home from this fight alive. It is my hope that all grieving families will receive the “necessary care and concern” they deserve. We all have endured the political rhetoric however, it is the grieving families who need us to assist them in getting the closure they need. You have my support.
Under the circumstances mentioned in the information which is available to me, it seems clear and without doubt that an investigation into the cause of Lavana Johnson’s death should take place immediately. Should the investigation prove that Ms Johnson was murdered, as qualified statement has indicated, the person or those people responsible should be brought to justice and punished in keeping with right and due American legal process. That members of the American military could be involved in distorting or in otherwise interfering with actual fact relating to Ms Johnson’s death should be carefully considered during the investigation and if proven to be the case, any member of the military found guilty of this should be punished severely for their participation. For the record, such suspicion as this casts a dark and threatening shadow over all those who are representing our nation in Iraq. If we cannot trust our own military for accurate information concerning what is taking place abroad, we should be troubled both from a parental point of view and from the point of view of our own vulnerability at home to the prospect and the eventuality of high ranking members of our military and their forces turning against us with much more than just the distortion of truth…
My prayers are with you this is the worst kind of trgedy I can imagine. The people invlved should be prosicuted to the fullest extent of the law. This administration sends our men, women and children of to a unprovoked war and then has the odascith to cover up such an horrific act of violence. Could this be becase the all volunteer military now accepts people with criminal backgrounds of all types. Once again Bush and his band of losers have disgraced our country and the proud tradition of military service!
To LaVena’s loved ones: I am so sorry for your loss. I sincerely hope your daughter’s case gets justice. Justice for her will be justice for all of us. May her death be the start of opening our nation’s eyes to this unacceptable war and the failed state of our army/government.
I am signing the petition! My young daughter is a military veteran. She has recently reenlisted to further serve her country in the reserves. I really feel for the family, friends, and community of this young woman. I saw the beautiful flyers that were made for this cause and would like to help by printing and distributing them. I will be supporting this case until conclusion. Thanks for creating this website. Too many of us would never know about this if it had not been for this website. Thank you.
I am absolutely speechless…
I am inspired to do something that resonates…
I will give it thought, and start by signing the petition.
LaVena’s dad is right…they picked the wrong one to fuck with.
Her death will not be in vain.
May the Creator’s power be with all who are affected by this savagery.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the Johnson family. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I pray that God will continue to give you the strength and peace that you need. I feel very saddened and hurt by this. Not surprised at all! Outraged yes! I feel that this is total disrespect towards this beautiful woman who willingly went to serve her country and what reward did she get…. injustice. This is truly disgusting. I gladly sign this petition and I will urge others to do the same. My sister served in the military and I couldn’t imagine being in this family’s position. The Johnson family deserves answers and justice. We have to all come together to insure that they get what is due to them. LaVena deserves better than this. Please add me to your petition. Blessings and love to the Johnson Family
Tina Hattley
Just FYI…the petition is now in Austin Texas via email and thousands of people are signing it everyday. I just forwarded it to about 50 others. Also a local radio station here in Austin, KAZI 88.7 FM has a morning show called “The Breakfast Club” with Tommy Wyatt owner of the Villager Newspaper and Akwasi Evans owner of Nokoa the Observer local newspaper and they talked about LaVena’s story extensively and have featured her story in their newspapers.
God bless your efforts!
Mrs. Clinton
God bless your efforts!
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