Comments on: LA Times profiles LaVena’s story http://lavenajohnson.com/2009/03/la-times-profiles-lavenas-story/ Calling on the House Oversight Committee to investigate the death of a young soldier in Iraq Sun, 06 May 2012 04:27:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Minnie Mouse http://lavenajohnson.com/2009/03/la-times-profiles-lavenas-story/comment-page-1/#comment-722 Minnie Mouse Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:37:41 +0000 http://lavenajohnson.com/?p=600#comment-722 I forgot to add that the person who assaulted me with the 9mm, did so, in front of his peers. The XO was present and saw it. Two majors were present and saw it. One captain was present and saw it. As soon as I returned from from Iraq and blew the whistle, I was so bombarded with counseling statements for every thing on the book you can imagine. My life was so unbearable that I felt helpless, the higher I went through the chain of command, the worse things got. I love the army so much I wanted to stay, I did my best on PT, I scored the best on the M249 machine gun, the best in the whole unit. I was always in every school that they ever sent me, an honor graduate. Everywhere they sent me and had to do with an active duty unit, I was always the best. Except the 7th Arcom. In Germany. It finally came to the point of either killing myself or get out and join the IRR, I chose the later, but this also proved to be a fatal mistake. Somehow the 7th Arcom made sure that I never return to the Army Reserve in any shape or form. The IRR transferred me to mandatory retirement with a code that I can never return or volunteer to fight for my country. In Iraq while in a hospital in Baghdad out of my better judgment I asked a female MP to take pictures with me with the prisoners that were injured in the hospital. My intentions were to show back home how the prisoners were treated versus the American soldiers in the Hospital. I was a patient myself, and I was sleeping on a cot. The prisoners were sleeping in a thick mattress and nice crispy white sheets and I with a green itchy green blanket. The prisoners had hot meals with real meat, and I MRE's. That was my intentions to capture on film I even fed one of these prisoners and capture it on video. I have asked one of the MP's to lend me his MP brasar so I can wear, I myself was an MP but my duties in Iraq really had nothing to do with being an MP, so to make a story short, I got into a lot of trouble. Unknowingly to most of us there was a top secret investigation about the Abu prison where allegedly Americans were abusing prisoners. Any how, the hospital staff confiscated my film and as a result I was busted one rank with forfeiture of pay, extra duty and I was to write about the Army Values do every Tuesday. In this film there was nothing abusive, on the contrary, other wise I would have really been burned. In our unit was another female which came from the states to support our unit. This female I as well as another NCO caught her in bed with an officer, the other NCO reported this incident to the commander and he, to my astonishment was yelled at. Remember the MSG whom I stated before gave us mandatory classes on sexual harassment? he, in front of many eye witness would come to my room where this female was and pick her up to "take a shower" this men would come with a towel wrapped around his waist. This female eventually made E-6 and I was busted for taking pictures of the prisoners, the same female was offered a job working at the HHC 7th ARCOM. This female was put on active duty, got her teeth fixed by an orthodontist (which I as bad as I needed braces, could not get it done, because you have to be in active duty status to get braces) after returning from Iraq, you get only six months to fix what is wrong with the body however, the waiting list for orthodontist work is about six months long, so by the time you get an appointment is too late. I will tell you, I do not want people to think that the U.S. Armed Forces is this corrupt. Had this happen in active duty unit, the major who assualted me would have been in jail before you can blink. If the MSG had been in an active duty unit not reserves, and was seen with only a towel wraped around him walking around with a female E-5 next to him "to take a shower" in front of everyone, that MSG would not be here to tell the tale. But I was trained in the real Active Army. I took my army values seriously but I, was the minority. I feel that it took from me a lot of courage and valor to face the chain of command for what is right. Everytime a female or a young soldier dies, specially at a young age, and I read: A. Reserves or National Guard, B. Under 24 years of age, C. Cause of death: "non Combat related" I feel right away a spiritual connection with that soldier. I have a lot of hope with President Obama, I feel this is the only chance we will ever get to fix something that has been wrong for a very long time. I forgot to add that the person who assaulted me with the 9mm, did so, in front of his peers. The XO was present and saw it. Two majors were present and saw it. One captain was present and saw it. As soon as I returned from from Iraq and blew the whistle, I was so bombarded with counseling statements for every thing on the book you can imagine. My life was so unbearable that I felt helpless, the higher I went through the chain of command, the worse things got. I love the army so much I wanted to stay, I did my best on PT, I scored the best on the M249 machine gun, the best in the whole unit. I was always in every school that they ever sent me, an honor graduate. Everywhere they sent me and had to do with an active duty unit, I was always the best. Except the 7th Arcom. In Germany. It finally came to the point of either killing myself or get out and join the IRR, I chose the later, but this also proved to be a fatal mistake. Somehow the 7th Arcom made sure that I never return to the Army Reserve in any shape or form. The IRR transferred me to mandatory retirement with a code that I can never return or volunteer to fight for my country. In Iraq while in a hospital in Baghdad out of my better judgment I asked a female MP to take pictures with me with the prisoners that were injured in the hospital. My intentions were to show back home how the prisoners were treated versus the American soldiers in the Hospital. I was a patient myself, and I was sleeping on a cot. The prisoners were sleeping in a thick mattress and nice crispy white sheets and I with a green itchy green blanket. The prisoners had hot meals with real meat, and I MRE’s. That was my intentions to capture on film I even fed one of these prisoners and capture it on video. I have asked one of the MP’s to lend me his MP brasar so I can wear, I myself was an MP but my duties in Iraq really had nothing to do with being an MP, so to make a story short, I got into a lot of trouble. Unknowingly to most of us there was a top secret investigation about the Abu prison where allegedly Americans were abusing prisoners. Any how, the hospital staff confiscated my film and as a result I was busted one rank with forfeiture of pay, extra duty and I was to write about the Army Values do every Tuesday.
In this film there was nothing abusive, on the contrary, other wise I would have really been burned. In our unit was another female which came from the states to support our unit. This female I as well as another NCO caught her in bed with an officer, the other NCO reported this incident to the commander and he, to my astonishment was yelled at. Remember the MSG whom I stated before gave us mandatory classes on sexual harassment? he, in front of many eye witness would come to my room where this female was and pick her up to “take a shower” this men would come with a towel wrapped around his waist. This female eventually made E-6 and I was busted for taking pictures of the prisoners, the same female was offered a job working at the HHC 7th ARCOM. This female was put on active duty, got her teeth fixed by an orthodontist (which I as bad as I needed braces, could not get it done, because you have to be in active duty status to get braces) after returning from Iraq, you get only six months to fix what is wrong with the body however, the waiting list for orthodontist work is about six months long, so by the time you get an appointment is too late. I will tell you, I do not want people to think that the U.S. Armed Forces is this corrupt. Had this happen in active duty unit, the major who assualted me would have been in jail before you can blink. If the MSG had been in an active duty unit not reserves, and was seen with only a towel wraped around him walking around with a female E-5 next to him “to take a shower” in front of everyone, that MSG would not be here to tell the tale. But I was trained in the real Active Army. I took my army values seriously but I, was the minority. I feel that it took from me a lot of courage and valor to face the chain of command for what is right. Everytime a female or a young soldier dies, specially at a young age, and I read: A. Reserves or National Guard, B. Under 24 years of age, C. Cause of death: “non Combat related” I feel right away a spiritual connection with that soldier. I have a lot of hope with President Obama, I feel this is the only chance we will ever get to fix something that has been wrong for a very long time.

]]> By: Minnie Mouse http://lavenajohnson.com/2009/03/la-times-profiles-lavenas-story/comment-page-1/#comment-721 Minnie Mouse Sat, 03 Jul 2010 10:49:09 +0000 http://lavenajohnson.com/?p=600#comment-721 I am 100% behind the family, my heartfelt condolence. I served in Iraq as well and was assaulted by a Major from a Reserve unit from Germany with a 9mm. I was harassed and mentally abused. I kept a diary of the daily abuse. Upon my return to my unit in Germany, the first thing I did was to speak to the CSM of the then 7th Arcom, that proved to be the worse mistake of my military career. After that my life got worse. I hope that someone out there read these comments, there is something really wrong. Many soldiers die of suicide in our military, not because of the armed forces itself, but because of harassment from the higher ranks to the lower ranks. In Iraq I was pissed when the very same Master Sergeant briefs us on Sexual Harassment and Racism and he, himself was the one doing all of these things. I hope and Pray that President Barrack Obama finds out about what is going on and fix it and I mean nip it in the bud. I want to say the the Active Army or active duty is not bad, but the National Guard and Reserves in Mainland U.S.A is very "red neck and political", for example the General might be also the Governor of a State and his cousin the commander and his school buddy the of another unit and so on. You can not complain to the chain of command because that might be his or her best friend or family member you are speaking about and if it is so, your life in the military is over. The military should have a reform, for example it should placed under a separate civilian office such as the FBI or the Department of Homeland Security. It against the law for a person who holds a public office to also be a member of the military. It should be against the law for a family member such as a General to be in the same chain of command with another family member. The law should be changed so that every lower enlisted that falls under an NCO, CO, XO and so on, participate in that soldier's evaluation report, and all these reports should go to a civilian office whom the army fall under, let's say the FBI or Homeland Security to review these reports written by the lower echelon and then weigh the evaluation of these senior enlisted and officers. As is now the NCOER's and OER are done by their own peers, the lower enlisted which are hundred of soldiers that work under that say officer or NCO has nothing to do with the performance or evaluation of this person. I hope this change. Soon!! I am 100% behind the family, my heartfelt condolence. I served in Iraq as well and was assaulted by a Major from a Reserve unit from Germany with a 9mm. I was harassed and mentally abused. I kept a diary of the daily abuse. Upon my return to my unit in Germany, the first thing I did was to speak to the CSM of the then 7th Arcom, that proved to be the worse mistake of my military career. After that my life got worse. I hope that someone out there read these comments, there is something really wrong. Many soldiers die of suicide in our military, not because of the armed forces itself, but because of harassment from the higher ranks to the lower ranks. In Iraq I was pissed when the very same Master Sergeant briefs us on Sexual Harassment and Racism and he, himself was the one doing all of these things. I hope and Pray that President Barrack Obama finds out about what is going on and fix it and I mean nip it in the bud. I want to say the the Active Army or active duty is not bad, but the National Guard and Reserves in Mainland U.S.A is very “red neck and political”, for example the General might be also the Governor of a State and his cousin the commander and his school buddy the of another unit and so on. You can not complain to the chain of command because that might be his or her best friend or family member you are speaking about and if it is so, your life in the military is over. The military should have a reform, for example it should placed under a separate civilian office such as the FBI or the Department of Homeland Security. It against the law for a person who holds a public office to also be a member of the military. It should be against the law for a family member such as a General to be in the same chain of command with another family member. The law should be changed so that every lower enlisted that falls under an NCO, CO, XO and so on, participate in that soldier’s evaluation report, and all these reports should go to a civilian office whom the army fall under, let’s say the FBI or Homeland Security to review these reports written by the lower echelon and then weigh the evaluation of these senior enlisted and officers. As is now the NCOER’s and OER are done by their own peers, the lower enlisted which are hundred of soldiers that work under that say officer or NCO has nothing to do with the performance or evaluation of this person. I hope this change. Soon!!

]]> By: Lori http://lavenajohnson.com/2009/03/la-times-profiles-lavenas-story/comment-page-1/#comment-699 Lori Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:30:08 +0000 http://lavenajohnson.com/?p=600#comment-699 This horrible story further sheds light on the reality of how unsafe women and children are in society. Although, I have worked in the media, I had never seen or heard of this case until today. Although, my effotrs may be small, I assure you that I will spread her story just as far and wide as I possibly can. My deepest prayers and condolences to the Johnson family. This horrible story further sheds light on the reality of how unsafe women and children are in society. Although, I have worked in the media, I had never seen or heard of this case until today. Although, my effotrs may be small, I assure you that I will spread her story just as far and wide as I possibly can. My deepest prayers and condolences to the Johnson family.

]]> By: Christina Nichols http://lavenajohnson.com/2009/03/la-times-profiles-lavenas-story/comment-page-1/#comment-686 Christina Nichols Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:01:06 +0000 http://lavenajohnson.com/?p=600#comment-686 Please tell me how to get ahold of John Johnson, or give him my email address, I would like to talk to him. My son died - Army Please tell me how to get ahold of John Johnson, or give him my email address, I would like to talk to him.

My son died – Army

]]> By: SGT Teague http://lavenajohnson.com/2009/03/la-times-profiles-lavenas-story/comment-page-1/#comment-682 SGT Teague Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:48:04 +0000 http://lavenajohnson.com/?p=600#comment-682 I am uphauled at this act. As a leader, if any of my soldiers ever even thought of such an act, they would find them selves out of my Army. If they acted upon it, they would get a good Wall-to-Wall counseling, and be spending there days in jail. My prayers are with the family, and I also pray that who ever commited this act will be brought to justice, and to God. Army Strong. Hooah! I am uphauled at this act. As a leader, if any of my soldiers ever even thought of such an act, they would find them selves out of my Army. If they acted upon it, they would get a good Wall-to-Wall counseling, and be spending there days in jail. My prayers are with the family, and I also pray that who ever commited this act will be brought to justice, and to God. Army Strong. Hooah!

]]> By: Caprice N. Manos http://lavenajohnson.com/2009/03/la-times-profiles-lavenas-story/comment-page-1/#comment-679 Caprice N. Manos Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:27:40 +0000 http://lavenajohnson.com/?p=600#comment-679 NEW PETITION FOR "SAFE-HOUSE" FOR SOLDIERS! in Washington, D.C. via Caprice Manos and Congressman Tim Ryan's office of Youngstown, Ohio. If you would like to sign the online counterpart so that the females will have a safe house while writing reports and so that things will not be able to be covered up anymore, please visit: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Safe-HouseForSoldiers/ Very Sincerely, Caprice N. Manos/ "Spiritjustice" NEW PETITION FOR “SAFE-HOUSE” FOR SOLDIERS! in Washington, D.C. via Caprice Manos and Congressman Tim Ryan’s office of Youngstown, Ohio. If you would like to sign the online counterpart so that the females will have a safe house while writing reports and so that things will not be able to be covered up anymore, please visit: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Safe-HouseForSoldiers/

Very Sincerely,
Caprice N. Manos/ “Spiritjustice”

]]> By: Luke Easter http://lavenajohnson.com/2009/03/la-times-profiles-lavenas-story/comment-page-1/#comment-675 Luke Easter Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:19:14 +0000 http://lavenajohnson.com/?p=600#comment-675 LaVena Johnson (In Memorial) Where Is The Justice? Just when you think you LaVena Johnson (In Memorial) Where Is The Justice?

Just when you think you

]]> By: KEITH http://lavenajohnson.com/2009/03/la-times-profiles-lavenas-story/comment-page-1/#comment-671 KEITH Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:30:42 +0000 http://lavenajohnson.com/?p=600#comment-671 CONTACT ME PLEASE I KNEW HER AND I KNOW THAT THEY COVERED UP HER DEATH I KNOW THEY DID I WAS IN THE UNIT AND YOUR DAUGHTER WAS A GREAT YOUNG LADY. I WISH THAT I KNEW WHO DID IT BUT I DO NOT BUT I WANT CLOSURE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALSO. GOD BLESS MAY THE LORD BE WITH YOU ALL. I HOPE TO SPEAK TO ONE OF YOU SOMETIME SOON. CONTACT ME PLEASE I KNEW HER AND I KNOW THAT THEY COVERED UP HER DEATH I KNOW THEY DID I WAS IN THE UNIT AND YOUR DAUGHTER WAS A GREAT YOUNG LADY. I WISH THAT I KNEW WHO DID IT BUT I DO NOT BUT I WANT CLOSURE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALSO. GOD BLESS MAY THE LORD BE WITH YOU ALL. I HOPE TO SPEAK TO ONE OF YOU SOMETIME SOON.

]]> By: Melissa http://lavenajohnson.com/2009/03/la-times-profiles-lavenas-story/comment-page-1/#comment-668 Melissa Sun, 31 May 2009 22:00:22 +0000 http://lavenajohnson.com/?p=600#comment-668 Sad stuff. Justice must be served. Sad stuff. Justice must be served.

]]> By: Keith http://lavenajohnson.com/2009/03/la-times-profiles-lavenas-story/comment-page-1/#comment-660 Keith Mon, 18 May 2009 16:31:24 +0000 http://lavenajohnson.com/?p=600#comment-660 When are we gonna hit the streets and protest? When are we gonna hit the streets and protest?

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