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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I have a much-loved young niece stationed in that FUBAR nightmare of Iraq. I am signing your petition.
I have a much loved young nephew waiting for the orders that will send him to that FUBAR nightmare of Iraq. I am signing it as well.
I will sign this petition but I wish some of the evidence could be more explicit. What are the signs that she was attempted to be set on fire? What is the explanation for the trail of blood outside by the military?
jerzy:
The trail of blood was not addressed by the military.
I will try to get a more specific description of the indications of fire or burning.
This is very important to get to the bottom of this in so many levels. Example: How are our solders being treated by their own, How our govnment respects them as people and their families, are we not fighting for justice, if it was self inflected why is that rate rising among solders, if this is a cover up how many more of our solders deaths have been covered up,etc, etc…
In reference to the Lavena Johnson – I say – Damn you to hell Bush. You are the absolute worst of the world I’m from and I’m incredibly embarrassed!!! I wish to sign this petition and do anything I can to bring this issue to light. My condolences to her parents and family. I had to tell my 6 children all under the age of 11 years, of their 35yr old Dad’s death and of my broken heart. There are no differences between anyone who’s suffer the loss of a young person or loved one it their life – we are bound to each other by that experience. The loss of one’s hopes and dreams is
purgatory and walking through that heartache is excruciating – life is so precious. Sign me up. scmerrill2003@yahoo.com
I’ve signed the petition and written to my senator, Lindsey Graham. I’m posting a link to this on my blog in hopes that other people will do the same. This is a terrible tragedy, and I hope it doesn’t go unpunished.
This case touched me so much when it first came to surface, I felt like my own sister had been violated in the most heinous way. I was so in love with KMOV chanel 4 in Saint Louis Mo. when they were the only station to keep us abreast of the new found details surrounding the case, but still no results to what really happened to LaVena… say what you want, but we all know if this were a blonde hair blue eyed girl, facts would have been revealed… Im not trying to play the race card, its just the flat out truth…just Last Night, on CSI they had a show that dealt with cases of missing children not being investigated throughly when they were Black or Hispanic, they get those ideas from real-life situations is all im saying…I will most definitly be signing this petition and I will galvanize as many as I can to do the same…my heart goes out to the Johnson family and all others who have lost love ones in this senseless war…Israel
I have had the pleasure of meeting Dr. John Johnson and he is such a great person. Meeting him alone tells me that LaVena Johnson had to be an even more wonderful person. I want to send my condolence and my support any way possible and if it
My heart goes out to the family of PFC Johnson. I am a SGT and I have been deployed to Iraq before. Being a female doesn’t make anything easier but definitely harder. My thoughts and prayers are with her family in their time of need.
I will sign this petition, and I wish for all people to have empathy , empathy in general. Too often I think some people don’t care about what should really upset them, until it happens to them. It can happen to all us if we don’t stand up for whats right. My sincere sympathy for the Johnson family and friends. Hoping for the best— Karen
There are no words that can express what I wish to say regarding this tragedy.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10518131&pnum=0
Here’s more information about the burning and rape.
Melissa, I have a post here about the Tracey Barnett article.
I just read in our news paper today, here in New Zealand, about the tragedy of LaVena. OMG what the hell is wrong with those people???
We in New Zealand don’t think to highly of America as it is, without seeing this disgusting piece of news.
The American Government is so quick to condemn other countries when atrocities happen over there, i.e Zimbabwe and Mugabe…but when it happens in their (America) own back yard the government cover it up and say it was suicide!!! PLEASE!!! even this New Zealander can see the blatant lies that the U.S military and Government have told.
Why dont they just come clean and find the sick pervert that did it before he strikes again.
Where do I go to sign the petition. This is terrible.
I am absolutely outraged. Just when I thought I couldn
I heard Lavena’s story on Democracy Now. I’ve signed the petition and will spread the word. When there’s such a tragic death the last thing a family should have to do is fight the military for information.
I just heard the beginning of a Democracy Now interview of the family. I could not listen to much more of this heartbreaking report. My heart goes out to Dr. and Mrs. Johnson and their family. How horrible for a father to have to examine his beautiful young daughter’s body post mortem and discover this atrocity. Even more horrifying is the cover up, but to have to fight to prove the obvious is the ultimate insult. I am so sorry. You are in my prayers. God bless you Johnson family and may justice prevail.
I will pray for your family and I pray that God will bring justice for you daughter and expose everyone involved with this unsolved case. I pray that God will continue to bring justice for everyone woman that has suffered this same violent tragedy. God Bless!
I have a young daughter (and her husband) over in Iraq, and this just tore me up b/c I would have been besides myself with grief, anger and sadness. I would have blamed myself for somehow not being there to protect my baby from the coward(s) and fiend(s) who did that to this poor child. How we can sit idly by and pretend that all is well speaks volumes about why we shouldnt be there in the first place. I bet if it was some well placed heel in DC’s child they would have not gotten this treatment. Shame on the US Army. Be all that you can be, is nonsense. May God Bless the family of this poor girl. RIP LaVena.
I am so sorry to hear what has happened to your beautiful daughter, may God bless her soul and bestow peace and send closure to your loss. God Bless you.
RIP LeVena!
After having read the story I herby sign the petition too; I don’t have any suitable words available to express my anger, misconduction is governing under Bush!!
I am signing the petition as well, without having words available to express my anger about the failing so called USA justice system. Shame on you, bush man!
Not at all surprised since they even let convicted felons join now to meet their war quotas. So an investigation might turn up previously convicted felons to be guilty. That’s a scary headline for the Pentagon.
Please please have the Family contact every Senator with the facts of this case asking for help.
This is outrageous.
Everyone should have the opportunity for justice when something happens to someone they love. Because Pfc Johnson was serving her country when she died the military should be kept to an even higher standard. The military should not be allowed to cover up abuse that has occurred within their ranks. Pfc Johnson’s family deserves to have her story told and her abusers brought to justice. I want to sign your petition. Kai
When a country allows criminals to occupy the oval office, how can it be surprised that criminality will flourish down the chain of command?
As a liberal Christian clergyman, I believe in a solid wall of separation between church and state. But so long as 75% of voters who identify themselves as “Christians” are going to decide elections in this country I am going to continue fighting to persuade them to be “Liberals Like Christ”, rather than “phoneys like Falwell” (and all the other Right Wing wackos).
In addition to signing this and similar petitions, please help spread the word about my LiberalsLikeChrist.Org/ web site, in order to make such atrocities a thing of the past.
This is an embarrassment. We must act now or everytime something likes this happens it will be overlooked. Women are a minority in the arm forces and the “MEN” are supposed to watch over them and protect them. This happens too often and the Government mut do something about this. Rape is a “COWARD’S” crime and should be punishable by public hanging. If our government won’t protect our soldiers then send them “HOME”. I will sign every petition availble to make sure this doesn’t happen again. This is a shame. A younglady who went to fight for her country and a place we should not be in the first place is killed by her own. A crying shame and black eye to this country.
I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you. Let this administration take responsibility for this monstrous war and justice be served. God bless you all.
I am deeply saddened by this type of news, because it seems that every so often lately, one of our female soldiers is being killed. These beautiful young women went into the military to help serve their country, not get abused or killed. I just pray to God that the killer and animal who did this is brought to real justice. Remember, God knows who did this, and if you escape earthly justice, you will not escape heavenly justice.
I am deeply saddened by this type of news, because it seems that every so often lately, one of our female soldiers is being killed. These beautiful young women went into the military to help serve their country, not get abused or killed. I just pray to God that the killer and animal who did this is brought to real justice. Remember, God knows who did this, and if you escape earthly justice, you will not escape heavenly justice.
This is a shame, she was still a child. God bless your family.
It is an honor to sign this petition. I hope that it will help bring to light the actual events that transpired to bring about Ms. Johnson’s death. May God bless the Johnson family and all of our soldiers who serve our country each and every day.
So sorry. I pray that justice will prevail.
I’m a Vietnam era Vet and demand the U.S. Govt. perform a thorough investigation, the Govt is know for cover ups especially when they are trying to protect their integrity.
I am proud to add my name to this list of patriots. LaVena took an oath to protect us from threats foreign and domestic. I wish we could have protected her from the same.
Why isn’t there FIRE in the streets?
This incident is tragic. My heart goes out to the family and friends of this young sister. IT is obvious that a murder was committed, I signed the petition and hopefully we can hold someone (this institution, the military) accountable.
Have there been any marches for her death? We got out and marched for the JENA 6 to parade on the BET Awards. However, I just heard about this case July 28th through E-mail. And, I have seen little about it. We must place value on the lives and experiences of all people especially the people who give us life like Sis. LaVena and the lady raped earlier year by those dogs in West Virginia.
I will definitely sign your petition. I will say it is a pure shame and very sad that something like this has happen and been let go as if it never happened. i will keep your family in prayer. GOD will see to that who ever the demon was who committed this horrible crime and killing this young woman (and her family mentally), day by day will serve justice. God see’s everything when we don’t, and he also works in mysterious ways, and it will come out in due time. the government may have made a HUGE mistake, but GOD doesn’t make any mistakes… The person/people behind this childs murder will pay for it and they will suffer BIG time!!! just keep praying family, dont stop praying family, a family that prays together, stays together. LaVena may not be here on earth, but her spirit and her soul will live on for eternity in Jesus Name, AMEN Keep your heads up Family. you are not alone and your story is being told, i may be hard but be patient because Jesus is at work harder than we are. your day is coming family, just dont stop praying. in the world we live in today, thats all we can do is pray to Father GOD and leave it in his hands. i repeat its already being taken care of!! FAITH FAITH FAITH
Love you All, Bryon McDougal, MARYLAND
I am a 62 year old retired Coastie (US Coast Guard) I volunteered for service in 1965, at my first duty station I was treated by most as an oddity as there were almost no people of color w/ the exception of Native Americans, I transferred out to go aboardship in Boston, after family day and my fellow shipmates saw the different shades of color in my family I was subjected to beatings on a constant schedule, they came close to killing or sending me overboard on many occaisions, I was transferred to land stations and my (so-called) Race-mixing background followed me there as well, my car was destroyed, painted w/ KKK, windows knocked out and then set afire. Here we are in 2008 and there are understanding and otherwise intelligent White people expressing how much better things are, explain that to this beautiful young childs Mother and Father
What a nightmare for this family! and for all of us!
My heart aches! May GOD be with Ms Johnson’s family and all of the families who has endured such tragedy. For all of their love ones who have put their lives on the line for all of us in the U.S.A. may God help bring out the TRUTH.
This is another bloodstain on the hands of this government and the Army. It led us to a war knowingly based on lies for Iraqi oil, sodomized the strict religious civilian Moslems who were innocent of any crimes at Abbu Ghrab, murdered Pfc. Jesse Buryj and Cpl. Pat Tillman “Under friendly fire”, and lied through their teeth to cover it up. Now they rape, murder and desecrate this young black woman by burning her genitalia.
I hope this family gets multiple millions from this corrupt government and Army. It won’t bring her back but at least these murdering criminals masquerading as officials, would be held accountable. Roy
Why cant the family obtain a court order and have their daughter’s body exhumed for an independant autopsy by a non-military pathologist?
OKD
Wow! My heart is filled with sadness for the Johnson's family. I am disturbed by our so called government & judicial system. The family deserves closure and truth and if signing this petition helps that I am all for it. I pray to God that justice be serve in this case and the many more like it. May LaVena rest in peace.
My heart goes out to the family. This really touched me as I have been contemplating joining. I have heard the horror stories of woman in the battlefield.
How could the Army cover up such a horrible crime? Without the American people there wouldnt be a military.
I am def signing the petition to get the answers that the Johnson family deserves and the justice that is needed
Jim C
As a 3 Tour Vietnam Vet I feel this to be Absurd to this Great Country and a Slap in the Face to the COLORS I so HONORABLY Served! This Must NOT be Allowed to be MERELY “SWEPT UNDER THE RUG”!!!!
I feel that a full investigation should be conducted and all parties involve with the actual crime as well as the cover up should be held accountable. We are suppose to live in a country where you shouldn’t have to worry about the government, but it seems now you have to watch them closer than your worse enemy. We shouldn’t expect Bush to do anything at all. Remember, according to him, we are succeeding over in Iraq. So to him, this is of no importance. This is one of the reasons why we have to make a change in the White House in November. I am a sngle mother of two girls, and I try to do my best to protect them in this world that we live in. I don’t know what I would do if anything was to happen to them. We have to get behind those lazy bums in Congress and the House as well as those sorry examples of leaders in the White House and demand some action into the death of such a beautiful young woman. May God watch over her soul and her family and bring them peace of mind in their time of need. To the family, you have my prayers. May God bless all of you.
My heart goes out to the family… It is so sad that we have to worry about so many of our young soliders getting injured or killed from the battle but to be killed or injured by one of our own that is an outrage!!!
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Johnson family. Hopefully they will be able find some peace in Lavena’s death. Another example of how twisted this world is.
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