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fort carson: fIrst of tWo Parts

We have a public disaster here, and no one really knows how to deal with it.” “SISTEr KATErI KoVErmAN — A social worker who has counseled people in war zones for almost 40 years

THE GAZETTE fIlE Troops from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team marched as they were arrested welcomed home after completing their first tour in Iraq in 2005. In kIllIngs In the Army Arrested casualties

Kenneth Eastridge

TIP of war by dave philipps JAR For one The Gazette particularly — efore the murders started, Anthony Marquez’s battered mom dialed his sergeant at Fort Carson to unit, what warn that her son was poised to kill. Bruce Bastien Jr. happens It was February 2006, and the 21-year-old Bsoldier had not been the same since being wound- when the ed and coming home from Iraq eight months be- hell of war fore. He had violent outbursts and thrashing night- mares. He was devouring pain pills and drinking comes too much. He always packed a gun. home “It was a dangerous combination. I told them he was a walking time bomb,” said his mother, Teresa Hernandez. onlIne > His sergeant told her there was nothing he could louis Bressler In depth do. Then, she said, he started taunting her son, For audio of East- saying things like, “Your mommy called. She says ridge’s prison you are going crazy.” interview, a Eight months later, the time bomb exploded ● letter written when her son used a stun gun to repeatedly shock a by Needham and an small-time drug dealer in Widefield over an ounce Army report on the of marijuana, then shot him through the heart. “Lethal Warriors,” go Marquez was the first infantry soldier in his bri- to gazette.com — see soldiers • page 3 John Needham

edItor’s note

For as long as wars have been waged, When soldiers come home, they bring the soldiers have been sent to kill or be baggage of intense, prolonged brutality. killed. The lucky ones survive. Some Today, following months of interviews return home unscathed; others are shell- with soldiers and their families and the shocked and emotionally scarred for life. examination of medical and military re- That’s been true forever. But something cords, court documents and photographs, Jomar falu-Vives changed in Iraq. Thanks to modern medi- The Gazette presents the first of a two- cine, transportation and gear, soldiers day report that retraces the steps of the survived injuries that would have killed soldiers who ended up behind bars. yesterday’s troops. They patrolled streets A word of caution: The details of battle without battle lines, where smiling civil- are graphic, and the language is, at ians waved one day and silently watched times, profane. ambushes the next. Multiple deployments Finally, a disclosure in the interest of moved soldiers from war to home and keeping our journalism transparent: back, again and again. One former soldier interviewed for Most found a way to cope. But in one this report, Kenneth Eastridge, is serv- Fort Carson unit that took heavy casual- ing time in prison. After Eastridge’s Thomas Woolly ties, men began to break. Some recall war arrest, his court-appointed lawyer was crimes. Some came home, to Colorado Amanda Philipps, wife of Dave Philipps, Springs, and kept killing. the reporter who wrote these stories. InsIde Those killings have prompted Fort Car- Dave Philipps did not make contact with Violent deployments, violent son to re-examine how it treats soldiers. Eastridge until after his wife’s professional homecomings: Chart details the For the first time, the Army is demanding obligations to Eastridge were concluded. high cost of war — both on the that commanders look for signs that a Amanda Philipps provided neither access battlefield and at home — as soldier is in trouble. This issue is of par- to, nor information about, Eastridge. battle-scarred troops return ticular concern to the Pikes Peak region. JEff THomAS, EdITor stateside. Page 3 Sunday

calendar > life 2 travel > in sports nation & world > a10 obituaries > a16, 18-19 opinion > a20 movies > life 2 books > life 5 Sunday, July 26, 2009 ❘ the gazette ❘ A3 casualties of war soldiers: In Iraq, slaughter became a way of life

from page 1 — gade to murder someone af- Violent deployments, May 26, 2008 Jomar Falu-Vives allegedly ter returning from Iraq. But April 28, 2008 December 2006 shoot Zachary Zsody he wasn’t the last. Jose Barco accused of shooting Start of surge in Baghdad His 3,500-soldier unit — violent homecomings at a crowd, hitting Ginny Stefancic now called the 4th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Com- In two bloody deployments to Iraq, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, June 6, 2008 August 2007 Falu-Vives allegedly gun bat Team — fought in some 4th Infantry Division had twice the casualties of the average Army Feb. 22, 2006 of the bloodiest places in Daniel Freeman shoots Bruce Bastien, Louis Bressler down a couple putting up Iraq, taking the most casual- brigade combat team. Upon its return to Colorado Springs, two of Kenneth Tatum in a bar fight mug and kill Robert James signs for a garage sale ties of any Fort Carson unit its infantry battalions, the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment and by far. 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, have been plagued by soldiers October 2007 Back home, 10 of its infan- Bastien, Bressler and Kenneth Sept. 1, 2008 Oct. 22, 2006 trymen have been arrested committing violent crimes, including murders. Now both battalions Eastridge mug, stab Erica Ham John Needham allegedly beats just deployed again. Anthony Marquez Jacquelyn Villagomez to death for murder, attempted mur- murders Johnathan December 2007 der or manslaughter since Smith Bastien, Bressler and 2006. Others have commit- March 20, 2003 Eastridge kill Kevin Shields ted suicide, or tried to. November 2004 War begins Deadliest month for U.S. forces in Iraq Almost all those soldiers May 10, 2009 were kids, too young to Thomas Woolly allegedly buy a beer, when they vol- shoots Lisa Baumann unteered for one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Almost none had se- JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASOND rious criminal backgrounds. Deployed to Many were awarded medals In United States Deployed to Al Anbar, Iraq In United States Deployed to Baghdad, Iraq In United States Jalalabad, Afghanistan for good conduct. 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 But in the vicious confu- sion of battle in Iraq and with no clear enemy, many Toll of war said training went out the Changing names, same soldiers Active-duty soldiers window. Slaughter became a 800 750 part of life. Soldiers in body diagnosed with PTSD The 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment has been called a few names since the Iraq war armor went back for round 700 began in 2003. after round of battle that at Fort Carson 600 547 535 would have killed warriors Name: 1st Battalion, Name: 2nd Battalion, Name: 2nd Battalion, a generation ago. Discipline 500 450 506th Infantry 12th Infantry 12th Infantry 386 deteriorated. Soldiers say 400 Regiment Regiment, 2nd Regiment, the torture and killing of Nickname: “Band of Brigade Combat Team, 4th Brigade Iraqi civilians lurked in the 300 Brothers” 2nd Infantry Division Combat Team, 4th ranks. And when these sol- 200 When: until they Nickname: “Lethal Infantry Division diers came home to Colo- 106 returned from Al Warriors” Nickname: “Lethal Warriors” rado Springs suffering the 100 Anbar in August 2005 When: while they were stationed at When: In April 2008, after emotional wounds of com- 0 Fort Carson in 2005 returning from Iraq 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 bat, soldiers say, some were ignored, some were neglect- Military bookings at ed, some were thrown away 600 Deployed to the deadliest places and some were punished. the El Paso County jail 516 Soldier deaths by province and the deployment diers said, packs of feral 500 471 Some kept killing — this 450 locations of the 4th BCT, as of April 2009 dogs fought over the scraps. time in Colorado Springs. Pat Dollard, a documen- Many of those soldiers are 400 0-49 50-99 100-249 250-499 501-1,099 1,100+ tary filmmaker embedded in now behind bars, but their 295 0 100 mi the area at the time, wrote troubles still reach well 300 TURKEY that it looked like “Satan beyond the walls of their had punched a hole in the 200 182* cells — and even beyond the 162 Earth’s surface, plopped Army. Their unit deployed down his throne, and set up 100 again in May, this time to shop.” SYRIA one of Afghanistan’s most 0 Second tour Marquez was assigned to dangerous regions, near 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 in Iraq hunt terrorists in the city. Khyber Pass. *As of April 17 Eastridge patrolled the This month, Fort Carson Military bookings includes all military installations in El Paso County highway between Ramadi released a 126-page report 8 and Fallujah. With him was 8 Fort Carson soldiers by a task force of behavior- IRAN Bressler, a quiet, friendly al-health and Army profes- 7 who committed suicide Al Anbar gunner later arrested with sionals who looked for com- 6 Eastridge for murder. 6 mon threads in the soldiers’ Going on a mission usually 5 crimes. They concluded 5 meant tramping house to that the intensity of battle, 4 First tour house in dust-colored cam- the long-standing stigma in Iraq ouflage, loaded down with against seeking help, and 3 rifles, pistols, body armor, 2 2 2* shortcomings in substance- 2 ammo, grenades and water abuse and mental-health 1 IRAQ to fight the incessant heat. treatment may have con- 1 Soldiers went out day and SAUDI ARABIA verged with “negative out- 0 night, knocking on doors — comes,” but more study was 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 KUWAIT sometimes kicking them in. needed. *As of June 2009 They set up checkpoints. Marquez, who was ar- They seized weapons. They rested before the latest pro- SOURCES: Evans Army Hospital, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, ESRI, icasualties.org THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, ERIN CLENNON, THE GAZETTE clapped hoods over suspect- grams were created, said he ed insurgents. They rarely would never have pulled the found terrorists, but the ter- trigger if he had not gone to ghanistan. Fort Carson fail to take care head until it is instinct: Kill der. He was trying to get his rorists found them. Iraq. Leaders, too, have changed. of soldiers, or did soldiers everybody, kill everybody. life together after growing A few days into the deploy- “If I was just a guy off the The brigade is on its third fail to take advantage of care And you do. Then they just up with a mother addicted ment, a sniper’s bullet killed street, I might have hesitated commander since 2005 and they were offered? think you can just come to cocaine. He had been ar- Marquez’s lieutenant. Then to shoot,” Marquez said this the officers in its smaller And, most importantly, home and turn it off. ... If rested for reckless homicide another friend died in a car spring, as he sat in the Bent units are almost all new. But since the brigade is now in they don’t figure out how to when he was 12, after he bombing. Then another. County Correctional Facility, many soldiers in the brigade Afghanistan, is there a way take care of the soldiers they accidentally shot his best Combat brigades always where he is serving 30 years. have served at least one if not to keep the violence from trained to kill, this is just go- friend in the chest while take higher casualties than “But after Iraq, it was just two war tours with the unit, happening again? ing to keep happening.” playing with his father’s an- the rest of the Army because natural.” changing uniform patches Maj. Gen. Mark Graham, tique shotgun. He pleaded they fight on the front lines, More killing by more sol- with the name change but who took command of ‘Satan’s throne’ guilty and was sentenced to but, even by those standards, diers followed. seeing no change in their Fort Carson in the thick of The violence started to take counseling. After that, his the 3,500-soldier brigade got In August 2007, Louis mission. the murders and ordered root in Iraq’s Sunni Triangle, record had been clean. pummeled. Sixty-four were Bressler, 24, robbed and shot The vast majority of those marked changes in how re- where the brigade landed in Felons cannot join the killed and more than 400 a soldier he picked up on a soldiers have not committed turning soldiers are treated, September 2004. Army unless they get a waiv- were injured in the yearlong street in Colorado Springs. crimes, but the number who said he hopes so. “It was actually beauti- er from a recruiter. Eastridge tour, according to Fort Car- In December 2007, Bressler have is far above the popu- “When we see a problem, ful. There were lots of palm said he called a dozen until son — double the average and fellow soldiers Bruce lation at large. In a one-year we try to identify it and really trees,” said Eastridge, who one told him, “Son, it looks for all Army brigades that Bastien Jr., 21, and Kenneth period from the fall of 2007 learn what we can do about is a working-class kid from like you just need someone have deployed to Iraq and Eastridge, 24, left the bullet- to the fall of 2008, the mur- it. That is what we are trying Kentucky who had never re- to give you a chance.” Afghanistan. riddled body of a soldier der rate for the 500 Lethal to do here,” Graham said in ally been anywhere before Like Marquez, Eastridge As the insurgents learned from their unit on a west- Warriors was 114 times the a June interview. “There is he joined the Army. wanted to join the infan- their craft, attacks became side street. rate for Colorado Springs. a culture and a stigma that But, he said, “the situation try because, he said, “that’s more gruesome. In May and June 2008, po- The battalion is overwhelm- need to change.” was ugly.” where you get to do all the A truck loaded with ex- lice say Rudolfo Torres-Gan- ingly made up of young men, Under his command, near- It was a little more than a awesome stuff.” plosives careened into East- darilla, 20, and Jomar Falu- who, demographically, have ly everyone — from colonels year after President George After basic training, the ridge’s platoon, killing his Vives, 23, drove around with the highest murder rate in to platoon sergeants — is W. Bush had landed on an Army sent both men to squad leader, blowing fist- an assault rifle, randomly the United States, but the now trained to help troops aircraft carrier in front of South Korea. size holes in his platoon ser- shooting people. brigade still has a murder showing the signs of emo- a “Mission Accomplished” They were in different bat- geant and pinning the burn- In September 2008, police rate 20 times that of young tional stress. Fort Carson banner to announce the end talions of what became the ing engine against the baby say John Needham, 25, beat males as a whole. has doubled its number of of major combat operations. 4th Brigade Combat Team. of the unit, Jose Barco. a former girlfriend to death. The killings are only the behavioral-health counselors But the situation was grow- Marquez was in the 1st Battal- Bombs meant to kill sol- Most of the killers were headline-grabbing tip of a and tightened hospital regu- ing worse. Rival militias ion, 9th Infantry Regiment; diers shredded anyone in from a single 500-soldier unit much broader pyramid of lations to the point where of Sunnis and Shiites were Eastridge, the 1st Battalion, the area. Women had their within the brigade called the crime. Since 2005, the bri- a soldier visiting an Army gaining strength. Looting 506th Infantry Regiment. arms ripped off. Old men 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry gade’s returning soldiers doctor for any reason, even had crippled cities. And in Both were foot soldiers. Both along the road were reduced Regiment, which nicknamed have been involved in brawls, a sprained ankle, can’t leave a war with no clear front or were surrounded by other to meat. itself the “Lethal Warriors.” beatings, rapes, DUIs, drug without a mental health enemy, the average monthly young, gung-ho GIs with no “It just got sickening,” said Soldiers from other units at deals, domestic violence, evaluation. Graham has also body count for U.S. soldiers battle experience. And both David Nash, a then-19-year- Fort Carson have committed shootings, stabbings, kid- volunteered Fort Carson as was up 25 percent from a learned in the spring of 2004 old private and Eastridge’s crimes after deployments — napping and suicides. a testing ground for new year earlier. that they were going to Iraq. best friend. “There was a military bookings at the El Like Marquez, most of the Army programs to ease sol- The brigade was in the “We thought it would be massive amount of hate for Paso County jail have tripled jailed soldiers struggled diers’ transition from war to worst of it. cool. It was what we signed us in the city.” since the start of the Iraq to adjust to life back home home. None of it bothered Mar- up for,” Marquez said. One of the jobs of the in- war — but no other unit has after combat. Like Mar- Eastridge, an infantry spe- quez. It turned out not to be cool fantry was to bag Iraqi bod- a record as deadly as the sol- quez, many showed signs of cialist now serving 10 years In high school, he had been at all. ies tossed in the streets at diers of the 4th Brigade. growing trouble before they for accessory to murder, said a co-captain on the football Ramadi, where Marquez night by sectarian murder The brigade has used dif- ended up behind bars. Like it will take a lot to wipe away team and had run track. Af- landed, had a population the squads. ferent names over the years. Marquez, all raise difficult the stain of Iraq. ter graduation, he joined the size of Colorado Springs but “First thing in the morn- It was called the 2nd Bri- questions about the cause of “The Army trains you to be infantry because the Army had no dependable electric- ing, all we would do is bag gade Combat Team of the the violence. this way. In bayonet train- commercials full of guns ity, let alone law and order. bodies,” Eastridge said. 2nd Infantry Division on its Did the infantry turn some ing, the sergeant would and helicopters looked like Sewage ran in rubble-choked “Guys with drill bits in their two Iraq deployments before men into killers, or did kill- yell, ‘What makes the grass the coolest job in the world. streets. The temperature eyes. Guys with nails in their being designated the 4th ers seek out the infantry? Did grow?’ and we would yell, Eastridge felt the same way. sometimes rose to 120 de- heads.” Brigade Combat Team of the the Army let in criminals, or ‘Blood! Blood! Blood!’ as we He was the closest thing to a grees. Eastridge said he was tar- 4th Infantry Division before did combat-tattered soldiers stabbed the dummy. The criminal in the group of sol- And when roadside bombs — its recent deployment to Af- fall into criminal habits? Did Army pounds it into your diers later arrested for mur- blew civilians to bits, sol- see soldiers • Page 6 A6 ❘ the gazette ❘ Sunday, July 26, 2009 casualties of war soldiers: Iraqi locals were hated and mistrusted

from page 3 In the front — row, from geted by snipers twice. Both left, Josh bullets smashed against Butler, Ken- walls so close to his face that neth East- they peppered his eyes with ridge and grit. He laughed at his luck. David nash He loved being a soldier. celebrated Anthony In February 2005, East- their safe Marquez ridge was in the gun turret return of his Humvee when it drove from Iraq over an anti-tank mine. A in 2005. deafening flash tore off the Eastridge front end. Eastridge woke always up a few minutes later, sev- wanted to eral feet from the smoking be an in- crater. fantryman He sucked it up. He was because bandaged up and sent back “that’s on patrol. He said cerebral where you fluid was leaking out of his get to do Daniel ear. all the Freeman That was the job of the in- awesome fantry. Eastridge’s battalion stuff.” Even was created in World War though he II and became known as was almost the “Band of Brothers.” It killed twice parachuted into Normandy by snipers, on D-Day and fought in the Eastridge Battle of the Bulge. In Viet- loved his nam, it helped turn back the job. Tet Offensive and take Ham- burger Hill. CourTEsy Men who heard the stories oF KEnnETH Torres- of past glory almost never EAsTrIDGE Gandarilla got a chance for their own in Iraq. The enemy was in- visible. The leading cause of Toward the bank. I even had it right next death was hidden roadside end, we were to me when I took a shower. bombs. so mad and tired and It makes you feel powerful, Sometimes, Marquez felt frustrated. You came less scared. You have to have his only purpose was to it with you every second of drive up and down roads in too close, we lit you up. every day.” an armored personnel car- You“ didn’t stop, we ran Some returning soldiers, rier called a Bradley to clear your car over with the especially those with fam- away hidden bombs. Bradley.” ily members to notice their To unwind, soldiers spent behavior, went into counsel- Daniel Freeman hours playing shoot-’em- ing. Soldier in the 1st Battalion, 9th up video games. They even infantry regiment More than 200 Fort Carson played one based on their soldiers have been referred own unit in Vietnam. They to First Choice Counseling said it offered a release. Center, a private counseling They could confront a clear- The screening asks soldiers service in Colorado Springs. ly defined enemy. They could a long list of questions about Davida Hoffman, the direc- shoot, knowing they had the the deployment: Do you tor, said her counselors were right guy. They could win. have trouble sleeping? Are unprepared for what they In Ramadi, Marquez and you depressed? Did you clear heard. other soldiers said, it felt houses or bunkers? Were “We’re used to seeing peo- like they were losing. you shot at? Did you witness ple who are depressed and “It just seemed like the lon- brutality toward detainees? want to hurt themselves. ger we were there, the worse Did you have friends who We’re trained to deal with it got,” said Marquez’s friend were killed? that,” she said. “But these in the 1st Battalion, 9th In- “Did you shoot people? Did soldiers were depressed and fantry Regiment, Daniel you kill people? Did you see saying, ‘I’ve got this anger, I Freeman. CourTEsy oF KEnnETH EAsTrIDGE dead civilians? Did you see want to hurt somebody.’ We Freeman was knocked In February 2005, a Humvee in which Eastridge was the turret gunner struck an anti- dead Americans? Did you weren’t accustomed to that.” unconscious by a roadside tank mine and had its front end sheared off. Waking up minutes later, several feet from see dead babies? No. No. No. In units that have seen the bomb, but the most rattling a smoking crater, Eastridge said he was bandaged up and sent back out on patrol. No.” Eastridge said, mimick- toughest combat in Iraq, one thing, he said, was driv- ing how he answered the in four soldiers can screen ing through the eerie calm, questionnaire. positive for PTSD, the direc- knowing an improvised ex- four soldiers interviewed by “then just started shooting.” can include heavy drinking, “I had seen and done all tor of psychiatry at Walter plosive device, or IED, could The Gazette said a number According to the Army, two drug use, domestic violence, that stuff, but you just lie to Reed, Dr. Charles Hoge, said kill every soldier in a Hum- of soldiers ordered the stun soldiers died. Marquez said slacking off at work or dis- get it over with.” in an e-mail interview. vee without warning, or guns over the Internet and three others were wounded. obeying orders. Several soldiers said the “Many soldiers continue to maybe just smoke one guy carried them on raids. The Brigade commanders didn’t You can often see it com- same: They lied because be able to perform their du- in the truck, leaving the oth- brigade refused to make make anyone familiar with ing, said the most recent they didn’t want the hassle ties very well despite having ers to wonder how, and why, other soldiers who served the incident available. commanding general of Fort of more screening. significant symptoms,” Hoge they survived. during the tour available for Marquez was flown to Wal- Carson, if you know what to When the young infantry- wrote. But others show what Hatred and mistrust sim- interviews. The Army said it ter Reed Army Medical Cen- look for. men were set free in Colo- he called “serious impair- mered between soldiers and destroys disciplinary records ter in Washington, D.C. Soldiers usually go through rado Springs, many packed ment,” and the worse the locals. Locals who waved to after two years, so it has no He was still bleary on mor- a jubilant high for a few Tejon Street bars such as combat and the longer units them one day would watch knowledge of whether sol- phine on the Fourth of July months after they come Rendezvous Lounge and are exposed, the worse the silently as they drove toward diers in the unit were pun- weekend that he was told home, Graham said. He calls Rum Bay. When the bars effects. an IED the next. ished. Bush was coming to award this time “the Kumbaya pe- closed, soldiers said, they The affliction is as old as “I’m all about spreading After 10 months, Marquez him a Purple Heart. riod.” often picked fights in the war itself. freedom and democracy and said, all he wanted to do was Marquez’s sister, who was “Soldiers have served their street. Eric Dean, an author in everything,” said Josh But- go home. visiting, didn’t want to see country, they’ve made it By 2006, the police were Connecticut who special- ler, another soldier in the In June 2005, with a month the president because she back, they’re home. It’s all being called to break up bar izes in war’s psychological 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry to go, his platoon was walk- was so angry about the war great. It’s later that prob- brawls almost every night. toll, reviewed records from Regiment. “But it seems like ing across a field when a and her brother’s wounds, lems start to surface,” Gra- Extra police were assigned the Civil War for his 1997 the Iraqis didn’t even want sniper’s bullet smashed but Marquez was honored. ham said. to the area. book, “Shook Over Hell,” it.” through his best friend’s “I had gotten hurt, but it is Usually, problems don’t The Colorado Springs Po- and found the same surge of Soldiers said discipline skull under the helmet. part of the job. I wasn’t mad show up for three to six lice Department doesn’t crime and suicide that Fort started to break down. The platoon circled its at nobody,” Marquez said. months, he said. track the crime statistics of Carson has seen. “Toward the end, we were guns and grenade launchers, He was in the hospital for When the brigade landed individual units, but accord- “They have been in every so mad and tired and frus- Marquez said, and “tore that three months and had 17 in Colorado Springs, most ing to the El Paso County war,” he said. “They never trated,” Freeman said. “You neighborhood up.” surgeries so he could keep soldiers had spent a year Sheriff’s Office, jail bookings readjusted. They ended up came too close, we lit you up. That night, Marquez got hit. his leg. Marquez was being in Iraq and a year in South of military personnel as a living alone, drinking too You didn’t stop, we ran your His squad had just finished medically discharged from Korea. Most had saved sev- whole increased 66 percent much.” car over with the Bradley.” hosing his friend’s blood out the Army and could have eral thousand dollars. Many in the 12 months after the They were “the lost genera- If soldiers were hit by an of their Bradley when they stayed at the hospital, but he were old enough to legally brigade returned. tion” of World War I. They IED, they would aim ma- were called out on another transferred to Fort Carson drink in the United States The “Kumbaya period” are the veterans of Vietnam chine guns and grenade mission. They loaded into on Sept. 13, 2005, to spend for the first time. They had lasted about six months, sol- who disproportionately pop- launchers in every direction, two Bradleys and rolled to- his remaining months with survived the worst of Iraq, diers said. ulate homeless shelters and Marquez said, and “just light ward downtown Ramadi. his war buddies, who had and they were jonesing to Eastridge said he blew prisons today. the whole area up. If anyone Marquez was riding in the just returned from Iraq. blow off steam. through almost $27,000, The psychological casu- was around, that was their dark, cramped rear of the He eventually learned to All they had to do was go mostly drinking at bars, but alties may be particularly fault. We smoked ’em.” lead Bradley. In a flash, a walk without a cane, but through a few post-deploy- the first thing he did was buy heavy in Iraq, he said. Other soldiers said they blast tore through the floor. other wounds proved harder ment debriefings that Fort guns: pistols, shotguns and “In the Civil War, if you ex- shot random cars, killing ci- The engine exploded. Diesel to heal. He started having Carson still uses. an assault rifle similar to the perienced really traumatic vilians. fuel spewed everywhere in a nightmares about the war. Soldiers sit through classes one he carried in Iraq. fighting, chances are you “It was just a free-for-all,” plume of fire. Marquez said He felt worthless and crip- that warn them that troops “After being in Iraq, it feels didn’t make it,” he said. “To- said Marcus Mifflin, 21, a he watched the driver scram- pled, depressed and angry. often have unrealistically like everyone is the enemy,” day, you can be blown up friend of Eastridge who ble out screaming, flames On a visit home to Califor- rosy notions of home. They he said. “You feel like you multiple times and go right was medically discharged leaping from his clothes. nia, he made his mom put are told to be understand- need a gun so they don’t back into the fight.” with PTSD after the tour. Marquez and the others away all his high school ing with spouses and loved come to get you.” In Vietnam, most draftees “You didn’t get blamed un- clambered into the dark sports trophies. ones. They are cautioned to His friends all felt the same did one yearlong tour. Since less someone could be ab- street, rifles ready. Another The only things that made be careful with drinking and way. the start of the Iraq war, solutely sure you did some- bomb slammed them to the him feel better were the pain driving, and they are warned Nash slept with a loaded some soldiers have been de- thing wrong. And that was ground. pills the doctors prescribed that the time for carrying .45 under his pillow. ployed three times for 12 to hard. So things happened. Then came a flurry of bul- for him — and only if he a gun everywhere ended in Butler kept a Glock .40-cal- 15 months each. Taxi drivers got shot for no lets spitting across the dirt. took too many. Iraq. iber with him all the time, When a soldier faces con- reason. Guys got kidnapped Marquez was hit four times All personal guns must be even when he rocked his stant threat of attack, studies and taken to the bridge and in the leg. ‘Kumbaya period’ stored in the post’s armory newborn baby. suggest, the brain is flooded interrogated and dropped As blood spurted from his Post-traumatic stress disor- — not in soldiers’ barracks, Marquez bought three pis- with adrenaline, dopamine off.” femoral artery, Marquez der is like a roadside bomb. not in their cars and not tols, a riot-style shotgun and and other performance-en- Soldiers later told El Paso said, he raised his grenade The symptoms can remain tucked in their belts. an assault rifle like the one hancing chemicals that the County sheriff’s deputies launcher to return fire and hidden for months, then Then Fort Carson screens he carried in Iraq. He car- body naturally produces in investigating Marquez for realized the storm of bullets explode. They can cripple every soldier for PTSD and ried a pistol constantly, he a fight-or-flight response. murder that, in Iraq, he got had come from the heavy some soldiers and leave oth- other combat-related prob- said, even when he went to Over time, the brain can his hands on a stun gun machine gun on the other ers untouched. And just like lems. church. crave these stimulants, like similar to the one he later Bradley, which had just bombs disguised as trash or If there are no red flags, His buddy, Freeman, said a junkie for his fix. used on the Widefield drug come around the corner. ruts in the road, PTSD can soldiers can go on leave. If he bought himself a “big, When the stimulant of dealer. They said he used it “They must have seen our look like something else. there are, they are referred scary” snub-nosed .357 re- combat is taken away, sol- to “rough up” Iraqis. Bradley on fire, figured it In many cases, it looks like for further diagnosis, offi- volver. diers often have trouble Stun guns are banned by was an attack and thought a bad soldier. In addition to cials at Fort Carson’s Evans “I couldn’t go anywhere sleeping, said Sister Kateri the Geneva Conventions. Us- we were all dead,” he said flashbacks and nightmares, Army Community Hospital without it,” he said. “I took — ing one is a war crime, but this spring, shaking his head, Army studies say, symptoms said. it to the mall. I took it to the see soldiers • Page 7 Sunday, July 26, 2009 ❘ the gazette ❘ A7 casualties of war soldiers: Drugs traded like students trade desserts

page 6 Members of — the 2nd Bri- Koverman, a social worker gade Com- who has counseled people bat Team in war zones for almost 40 received years. They can feel irri- specific table, numb and paranoid, instructions she said. They can sink into prior to depression. marching to And they can search for a welcome- another substance to replace home the rush of war. ceremony “Often they’ll use booze or at Fort Car- drugs to mask their symp- son’s Spe- toms until they become cial Events explosive,” said Koverman, Center in who moved to Colorado July 2005. Springs from her convent in Soldiers Ohio this year to help with return- the wave of PTSD. “We have ing from a public disaster here, and combat no one really knows how to zones often deal with it.” undergo a Men from the unit mostly period of dealt with it on their own. euphoria Mifflin got deep into smok- that can ing pot to ease his nerves. last a few Nash was mixing pills and months. booze. Problems Eastridge got blotto on may take whatever. three to six Butler said he and a lot of months to guys started doing ecstasy begin crop- and cocaine. ping up. Marquez started destroy- ing himself with the pills KEvin KrECK, that were supposed to help THE GAZETTE him. For his injuries, he said, doctors at Carson’s Evans Most of these guys were ordinary people unit. He said he had to do Army Community Hospital put in really (expletive) situations — the the menial tasks designed prescribed him 90 morphine side effect is you turn good people into ravenous to punish the others, such as pills, 90 Percocets, and five beasts.” pull weeds along the road. fentanyl patches every three He started not showing up weeks. DaviD Nash for duty. He took more pills. “They were for pain,” he “ He bought more guns and said. “And I still had pain. kept them in his car, he and But, mostly, I was using back from Ramadi, Mar- home from the Sunni Tri- other soldiers said. them to get high.” quez’s friend, Freeman, who angle, sergeants sometimes It was no secret. Sergeants He could not get Iraq out had been injured by a road- refused to let soldiers seek later told police that Mar- of his head. Doctors pre- side bomb, said he started help for PTSD and taunted quez had showed off his scribed antidepressants and to feel “shell-shocked” and them for being weak or fak- stash of weapons. His moth- sleeping pills, but he said depressed and decided to go ing it, said Andrew Pogany, er said they did nothing. they didn’t help. He was sav- to Evans Army Community a former Fort Carson Special Sergeants also told sher- ing up Percocet, then down- Hospital. Forces sergeant who now in- iff’s deputies they thought ing a handful on an empty “I did it on the down-low vestigates complaints for the he was abusing pills. stomach. because I didn’t want my advocacy group Veterans for “Maybe if they had pun- He said he started trading unit to know,” he said. America ished him like they were his morphine with other sol- The psychiatric ward was “They just don’t want to supposed to, he would not diers for an anti-psychotic overwhelmed by soldiers, he deal with it,” Pogany said. be in for murder,” his moth- called quetiapine and an said. Cases of PTSD at Fort Some commanders pun- er said. anti-anxiety drug called Carson had climbed from 26 ished soldiers for displaying On Oct. 22, 2006, three clonazepam. Improper use in 2002 to more than 600 in PTSD symptoms, soldiers days before Marquez was of either can cause psychotic 2006, according to the hos- said. scheduled to be honorably reactions, anxiety, panic at- pital. Getting an appoint- Mifflin, who is now un- discharged, he limped down tacks, aggressiveness and ment could take weeks, sol- employed and lives in his to the Widefield drug deal- suicidal behavior, but, Mar- diers said. Counseling in the mother’s house in Florida, er’s basement, carrying a quez said, injured soldiers ward, in most cases, was in went to a Fort Carson psy- .45-caliber pistol in one hand traded them like children in group settings only. chiatrist for counseling be- and a 500,000-volt stun gun a lunchroom swapping des- Freeman said the hospital cause he said he sometimes in the other. He shocked the serts. staff prescribed him anti- wanted to kill civilians in dealer — 19-year-old Johna- “It was real common depressants and told him Colorado Springs. The psy- than Smith — with the stun among the guys who were they were so busy that he chiatrist checked him into gun and grabbed his stash hurt,” Marquez said. wouldn’t receive counseling Cedar Springs, an inpatient of marijuana, according to At one point, Marquez said, for a month. mental hospital in Colorado witness statements to El he ate his three-week supply A few weeks later, on Feb. Springs. He stayed for about Paso County sheriff’s inves- of meds in half the time, then 22, 2006, Freeman got in a a week, he said. tigators. When the dealer went back to Evans claiming fight with a man he had nev- “As soon as I got out, I had tried to fight back, investiga- he had lost his pills. er met, Kenneth Tatum, in a scheduled bitching ses- KirK SPEEr, THE GAZETTE tors say, Marquez shot him He said a doctor told him the China Express restaurant sion with the sergeant so he Maj. Gen. Mark Graham, Carson’s former commander, said through the heart, picked up security measures prevented on B Street. Freeman pulled could yell at me about what “there is a culture and a stigma that need to change” in the shell casings, grabbed him from giving Marquez out his .357 and, before he a liar I was,” he said. “After regard to how soldiers returning from war are treated. the weed and walked out. more narcotics, but he could knew it, he said, Tatum was they found out a guy was Prosecutors said he was write the soldier a paper bleeding on the ground. He getting evaluated for PTSD, planning a robbery. Marquez prescription he could fill in had shot him through the they would try to find any ridge and told him to come health reasons. said he was just there to buy Colorado Springs. thigh. little thing to kick him out.” over to his house. He wanted Butler went to prison for some weed and, when a fight Marquez agreed. Freeman was arrested Dozens of soldiers who his buddies to shoot him in beating his wife, who was started over the price, his in- Fort Carson said privacy for attempted murder and screened positive for PTSD the leg so he wouldn’t have pregnant at the time. He fantry reflexes took over. laws prohibit commenting pleaded guilty to felony men- received an “other than hon- to go back to Iraq. said their child was born “When someone grabs you on medical treatment. acing. He served two years orable” discharge from the “We were all excited we with severe birth defects or something, you’re going Marquez’s mother is a po- and got out in January. He Army — the equivalent of be- were going to get to shoot and died. He blames it, in to light ’em up,” he said. “It lice officer in Southern Cali- is unemployed, living at his ing kicked out — for infrac- him,” Eastridge said. part, on their fights. probably won’t even be that fornia. She said when her mother’s house in Alabama. tions such as missing duty When he got to the apart- There is no easy way to hard because it’s not like it’s son came home to visit at He said he still has head- and drug use, Pogany said. ment, Barco, the platoon track how many Butlers your first time.” Christmas 2005, six months aches and memory problems If soldiers are kicked out, baby who had been burned are out there — soldiers Marquez didn’t respond to after being shot, she knew and is getting therapy for they often aren’t eligible for by the exploding Humvee in who didn’t commit violent letters asking him why he something was seriously PTSD at a nearby Veterans free health care, counseling Iraq, was there. crimes until after they were used a stun gun and wheth- wrong. He would stay in his Affairs hospital. or other benefits that sol- They found a dark parking kicked out of the Army and er he used it in Iraq. room all day in a daze and Because of his crime, he is diers who are medically dis- lot, Eastridge said, and Barco left Colorado Springs. A week after the murder, try to down old pain pills not eligible for most Army charged with PTSD receive. shot Butler through the calf “That’s the shadiest thing sheriff’s deputies questioned in the medicine cabinet. He benefits. Often, Pogany said, that with a .32. Butler screamed. about the Army. They just his commanders at Fort Car- would have dreams so vio- “I was a good soldier be- means veterans who need Blood went everywhere. throw these guys away,” said son in search of a motive. lent that she was afraid to fore this,” he said. “Now I’m help the most don’t get it. “It was hilarious,” said Mif- Nash, now a pipeline welder Capt. David Larimer, the wake him. a screwed-up Iraq vet with Some soldiers coming back flin,who saw him shortly af- in Louisiana. He said he still soldier’s company com- In February 2006, she said, a felony conviction. I don’t to Colorado Springs seemed terward. “He only ended up struggles with the effects of mander, told detectives Mar- she called his sergeants and have many prospects. I was fine. Bressler, who later mur- getting out of duty for a few combat. He can’t go to bars quez had been diagnosed told them he was a danger good at what I did in the dered two soldiers, seemed days, but that’s only part of because he gets into fights, with PTSD, but Larimer to himself and others and infantry. . . . Too bad it fol- as nice and mellow as ever, why he did it. He also want- and his car is loaded with didn’t believe it. According needed help. lowed me home.” soldiers said. He got mar- ed the Percocets they pre- what he called “enough guns to the detectives’ written She said the sergeants told The Army spends millions ried, always showed up for scribed him at the hospital.” for World War III.” summary, Larimer said he her that her son would have of dollars to help soldiers training and seemed to be After a number of 4th Bri- “The Army neglected their thought Marquez was just a to seek treatment on his such as Marquez and Free- doing well. gade soldiers got in trouble responsibility to take care “whiny bitch.” own. man. It has programs to Others fell apart. for DUIs and drugs, the bri- of soldiers they trained to An Army spokesman said mentally prepare soldiers Eastridge, who had been gade increased the number be this way,” he said. “Most ‘Heart of Darkness’ there is no Army policy on for deployment, treat them awarded medals for achieve- of random drug tests sol- of these guys were ordinary The day Marquez was ar- how to handle such calls. overseas and rehabilitate ment and good conduct, diers have to take, troops people put in really shitty rested, his brigade was on It is up to individual com- them when they return. Top started having nightmares said. The rate of Fort Carson situations — the side effect its way back to Iraq. manders. brass, including the highest- and mouthing off to his com- soldiers testing positive in is you turn good people into They were sent to tame The response didn’t make ranking officer in the Army, manders. In March 2006, he 2006 was 16 times what it ravenous beasts.” the one spot in the country sense, she said. As a law en- Gen. George Casey, have said got in a drunken fight with had been in 2004, according So many soldiers were that was more dangerous forcement officer, if she shot taking care of returning sol- his girlfriend and was ar- to the post. Twenty percent leaving or getting kicked than their first assignment: someone, she was required diers’ mental health is a top rested for putting a gun to of them were enrolled in out of Eastridge’s company downtown Baghdad. to go through counseling, priority. her face. After that, he said, substance-abuse programs. in 2006, Eastridge said, that “Violence is probably as she said. Her son had weath- But sentiments and pro- he stopped showing up for Most, soldiers said, were just commanders created a new bad as I’ve seen it, in Bagh- ered a long, gruesome com- grams at the top sometimes work. He said he was AWOL given the boot. Nash and platoon for them. dad in particular,” Gen. bat tour, yet he had no such don’t reach the trenches, sol- on and off for six months. Butler were kicked out of the Marquez’s battalion creat- John Abizaid, commander requirement. diers and experts said. “I started slapping my wife Army for snorting cocaine in ed a similar company, called of U.S. forces in the Middle Few of the young infantry In infantry units such as around, too,” Butler said. the summer of 2006. Echo Company, soldiers said. East said just weeks before soldiers felt like they needed the Lethal Warriors, soldiers “She just never called the Eastridge was supposed to Soldiers called it the “Shit- the soldiers arrived. “If not counseling. said, toughness and bravery police.” be kicked out too, soldiers Bag Brigade.” stopped, it is possible that “We were just partying,” are prized above all else. Any- Butler said he was emo- said, but he wasn’t around An Army spokesman said it Iraq could move towards Butler said. “Some guys went one who says he has PTSD is tionally numb some days to be discharged. “is unknown” whether these civil war.” in for PTSD, but we thought immediately thought of as and ready to explode oth- More than 400 soldiers units existed. In the warren of city streets, that was just a bullshit ex- not worthy of wearing the ers. He couldn’t understand have been kicked out of the Marquez was assigned to terrorist bombs killed scores cuse to get out of the Army.” uniform, soldiers said. In why he was so angry, but he brigade for misconduct since the Shit-Bag Brigade even of civilians. Sunni and Shi- Those who did seek treat- Army slang, they said, he is still thought PTSD was just the start of the war, accord- though his only offense was ite murder squads mas- ment faced obstacles. deemed a “shit bag.” a lame excuse. ing to Fort Carson. Only 57 being too physically disabled — Six months after getting When the brigade returned One night, he called East- were discharged for mental to train with the rest of his see soldiers • Page 12 A12 ❘ the gazette ❘ Sunday, July 26, 2009 casualties of war soldiers: New unit a mix of veterans, untested youth

from page 7 The Army hasn’t supplied — disciplinary records for sacred one another by the Eastridge or several other thousands. The United Na- soldiers requested under the tions estimated that 3,000 Freedom of Information Act, Iraqis were being murdered but Eastridge’s account was a month. confirmed by his platoon The Lethal Warriors were sergeant. assigned to one of the dead- Bressler and Bastien start- liest corners of the city, a ed losing it, too. bullet-riddled neighborhood In May 2007, Bastien went called Al-Doura. The War- home on leave. While there, riors’ battalion commander, the medic was thrown in Lt. Col. Stephen Michael, jail for beating his wife, ac- called it the “Heart of Dark- cording to police records. ness.” Bastien, who is in prison, Eastridge showed up for declined to be interviewed duty shortly before the bri- for this story. After his ar- gade shipped out. He was rest, the Army kept him in happy to be there. He never Colorado Springs. felt more alive than when he In June 2007, Bressler saw was in a war zone. his best friend killed in a “It’s almost like a religious firefight, according to sol- experience to see a battle- diers. After that, Bressler, field,” he said. “To hear the who had always been a mel- explosions — to see a per- low, stable guy whom sol- son bleeding out and die — diers could find at the poker see everything on fire and table in the COP, started to smell the smoke and burn- withdraw, soldiers say. ing flesh. It makes you truly In July 2007, Eastridge realize what it is to be alive. said, Bressler went crazy Combat is the biggest rush and attacked his command- you can have.” U.S. AIr ForCe phoTo By MASTer SgT. JonAThAn DoTI ing officer, threatening to Since the start of his first Troops from Fort Carson conducted a foot patrol in the Al-Doura neighborhood of Baghdad in July 2007. In the spring kill him. deployment, he had covered of that year, soldiers left the security of their central base to man small outposts throughout the city’s enclaves. Bressler, who is in prison, himself in tattoos. declined to be interviewed. On his arm was a memo- He was diagnosed with rial to his sergeant killed by threat of roadside bombs PTSD, according to his wife. a car bomb. On his wrists started to get to him. He online > The Army decided he was were red dotted “kill lines” couldn’t sleep. He was on in depth too unstable and danger- marking where, if needed, edge all the time. Doctors at ● For audio of East- ous to be in Iraq, so they he could slit them. On his the base diagnosed him with ridge’s prison interview, a sent him back to Colorado arm were the twin lightning PTSD, depression, anxiety letter written by Needham Springs. bolts of the Nazi SS. Wrap- and a sleep disorder. They and an Army report on the Eastridge went on one ping his neck like a collar gave him antidepressants “Lethal Warriors,” go to more mission. were the words “BORN TO and sleeping pills and put gazette.com He was the gunner man- KILL, READY TO DIE.” him back on duty. ning the M240 machine If the Army had followed When he went back to the gun on a Humvee — a big its own rules, he would not doctors a few weeks later gun that shoots 600 rounds have returned to Iraq for an- saying the pills were not price. per minute. He said he was other tour. working, his medical records Under the strain of daily ordered to guard the street Army regulations bar any- show, they doubled his dose. violence, Eastridge, Bastien while the rest of his platoon one with a pending felony In the spring of 2007, as and Bressler started to lose searched a house. from deploying. part of the surge to take it. Eastridge said he told his Eastridge was awaiting back Baghdad, the 500 Le- Needham did, too. A few lieutenant he was going to trial for putting a gun to his thal Warriors were moved weeks after arriving in Bagh- kill people as soon as the of- girlfriend’s head. He said his out of their central base into dad, he was on foot patrol CoUrTeSy oF KenneTh eASTrIDge ficer was out of sight. Then commanders knew it. 100-soldier Combat Out- when a sniper’s bullet shat- eastridge was “surgical” with a machine gun, fellow sol- he asked the driver to put But when the young soldier posts, known as COPs, scat- tered his friend’s head, splat- diers said. he recorded approximately 80 kills in Iraq. some heavy-metal “killin’ showed up and begged his tered in the neighborhoods. tering Needham with brains. music on.” sergeant to let him go back “Once we got to the COPS, In the months that followed, His lieutenant laughed and to Iraq, he did. The Army it was way worse,” East- he was hit by six IEDs, Need- borhood blaring warnings Walter Reed Army Medical walked off, Eastridge said. was evasive about if, and ridge said. “We would have ham wrote in letter to his fa- to insurgents in Arabic that Center. Families were out play- why, commanders know- mortars and rocket fire and ther. One blast made him hit “they would be next.” “What led him to the ing soccer and barbecuing. ingly deployed Eastridge drive-bys every single day.” the roof of his truck so hard Other Iraqis were shot for point of such deep despair Eastridge said he just start- with a felony hanging over With the wounded list that he cracked his spine. invented reasons, then muti- that he would attempt sui- ed shooting. He pumped a his head. mounting, noncombat sol- On every occasion, his lated, Needham said. cide?” his father, a retired long burst of rounds into a Eastridge said there was a diers were pulled in to fill father, Michael Needham, The sergeants particularly Army officer, asked. “I un- big palm tree where a few reason the unit wanted him combat positions when guys said, his sergeant’s response liked removing victims’ brains, derstand it. He was trained old men had gathered in the back. He was one of the best got hit, soldiers said, and was to “suck it up.” according to Needham. as a soldier. He was a good shade. gunners in the battalion. even they couldn’t fill the For the most part, Need- Needham offered a photo- soldier, and his group was People started running. Soldiers said he was “surgi- holes. By summer 2007, the ham did. When a rocket-pro- graph of a soldier removing doing things he knew was They piled into their cars cal” with a machine gun and company was so depleted pelled grenade blew a fellow brains from an Iraqi on the wrong. And he was in this and sped away. There was utterly fearless. that Humvees designed to soldier, Thomas Woolly, out hood of a Humvee and other prolonged combat situa- a no-driving rule in effect “He was really good. If I be manned by five soldiers of the gun turret of a Hum- photos as evidence. His fa- tion where they have all in the neighborhood, so, had 10 Eastridges, my job were going on patrol with vee in their convoy, Needham ther supplied copies to The this armor and lifesaving Eastridge said, he put his would be a lot easier,” said three, said Eastridge and his jumped behind the gun and Gazette. technology to keep them cross hairs on every car that his platoon sergeant, Mi- sergeant. started firing, Needham’s fa- The Army’s criminal inves- alive, but mentally, they are moved. chael Cardenaz. There was no time for men- ther said. tigation division interviewed in pieces.” “All I could think of was Eastridge had the most tal health care in the COPs, “He wasn’t giddy about be- several soldiers from the car bombs, car bombs, car kills of anyone in his com- Eastridge said. Often, his ing there,” his father said. unit and said it was “unable The breaking point bombs, and I just kept shoot- pany, Cardenaz said. squad would come in from “But he was secure in what to substantiate any of his al- Eastridge started to crum- ing,” he said. He was exactly the type of an all-night mission, pull he was doing, fighting as an legations.” ble around the same time. Orders came over the radio soldier to have in the Heart off their body armor, get at- infantryman in an honor- “Those guys were seriously He had been a decorated to cease fire, he said, but he of Darkness. tacked and have to slap their able way.” whacked,” Needham’s father soldier during his first tour. kept yelling, “Negative! Neg- Only a few of Eastridge’s armor right back on and go Then something began said. “And it began to grate But in the second, his judg- ative!” buddies from the last tour out. Sometimes, he said, they gnawing at him, his father on him.” ment melted away. Eastridge said he shot more were still with him. Louis wouldn’t sleep for days. said. In March 2007, Needham He started searching medi- than 1,700 rounds. When Bressler, a cool, unflappable Eastridge’s Iraqi translator In the quest to win, Mi- went to the battalion’s doc- cine cabinets for Valium asked how many people he gunner, was there. So was introduced him to Valium chael Needham said that his tor, saying he was “losing it” while raiding houses. killed, he said, “Not that Jose Barco, who, soldiers as a way to relax. At first, son told him that some in and needed a break, accord- Then he started stealing many. Maybe a dozen.” said, had persuaded com- he would just take a couple his platoon turned ugly. ing to a summary of his ser- cash and weapons from ci- He was court-martialed manders to let him return to before missions. Then he The soldier said some load- vice that he wrote. He was vilians, which he said he a short time later on nine Iraq even though he was so was taking a couple all the ed their rifles with hollow- prescribed the antidepres- would sell back to the Shiite counts, including drug pos- burned from the explosion time. Then he was taking a point bullets designed to sant Zoloft and sent back to militia. session and disobeying or- in his previous tour that he lot more. expand on impact, making work. In May, Needham said, He was disciplined by his ders. Killing civilians wasn’t had trouble sweating. them more lethal. These bul- he went back to the doctor battalion for stealing once, one of them. Many of the unit’s other Winning and losing it lets are banned by interna- and was again sent back to he said, after he ransacked For that, he said, he was soldiers had been kicked The surge worked. tional treaties. work. In June, according to a house, but only because it put on guard duty. out for drugs, or discharged Lethal Warrior command- It wasn’t just one platoon, medical records, he went belonged to a well-connect- Then, in August 2007, ser- with PTSD or other disabili- ers designed a victory strat- either. Eastridge said sol- again. And in September. ed man. Most of the time, he geants found him with 463 ties, soldiers said. The Army egy based on intensive foot diers in his platoon, includ- Commanders always sent got away with it. Valium pills in his laundry would not provide numbers. patrols and strong com- ing himself, used hollow- him back out on patrol, he He was disciplined again and a naked female soldier But for every missing soldier, munity ties, where soldiers point bullets, too. It was easy said. when he flipped out on pa- in his bed, according to court there was a new kid. were assigned to patrol to get them sent from home, Around that time, he post- trol. Someone shot at his testimony. His staff ser- Jomar Falu-Vives had small neighborhoods and Eastridge said. Both soldiers ed a note on his MySpace squad from a nearby farm- geant confronted him about signed up because his moth- ordered to get to know ev- said some guys in their units page: “I’m falling apart by house. Eastridge fired about the woman, and Eastridge er was a nurse stationed ery neighbor. They built a carried illegal stun guns, as the seams it seems the days 20 grenades into the house, lashed out, according to his in Baghdad, and he wasn’t Baghdad version of Neigh- soldiers had in the first de- here bleed into each other I then stormed in and said he mother, Leanne Eastridge, going to let her go without borhood Watch, where lo- ployment. have to find the will to live found a farmer and his two screaming that he would kill him. cals could be the eyes and The Army said it investi- man I miss my brothers. dogs in the back and spotted the sergeant, suck out his John Needham was a surf- ears of the Army. Cardenaz, gated Needham’s claims and These walls are caving in my a shell casing from an AK-47 blood and spit it at his chil- ing champion from Califor- who started the tour carry- found no evidence. despair wraps me in its web, on the ground. dren. Eastridge was court- nia who signed up because, ing a cell phone so he could But there was more to the I feel I’m sinking in, throw Eastridge demanded to martialed for disobeying with the insurgency raging, call his wife to say goodbye platoon’s tactics. me a lifesaver throw me a know where the shooter orders and drug possession it looked as if his country if he got shot, began hand- In a December 2007 letter life worth living. I’m a part was. and sent to a prison camp in needed him. ing out his number to locals to the Inspector General’s of death I am death this is The man said he didn’t Kuwait for a month. Bruce Bastien was a skinny, as a hot line on where to Office of Fort Carson, which hard to admit but this shits know. This spring, Eastridge said red-cheeked guy from Con- find the bad guys. investigates crimes within getting old.” Eastridge shot one of the it was funny that sex and necticut who was assigned During the first six months the Army, Needham told of A few nights later, on man’s dogs, then asked drugs were what got him as the new medic for East- of the 15-month deployment, the atrocities he saw. His fa- Sept. 18, Needham and a where the shooter was. court-martialed, consider- ridge’s platoon. soldiers were attacked mul- ther provided a copy to The fellow soldier bought a The man said he didn’t ing the things he did in Iraq, Not even the veterans were tiple times every day, accord- Gazette. contraband can of whiskey know. “Things that can never be prepared for how bad Bagh- ing to an ARMY magazine One sergeant shot a boy and tried to drink away Eastridge shot the man’s told, but that everybody dad would be, Eastridge said. article by a Lethal Warrior riding a bicycle down the their sorrows. Then Need- other dog. knew about and approved of At one point, the unit was captain. street for no reason, John ham took out a gun and His lieutenant told him he — basically war crimes.” losing a soldier a day to the By the end, he wrote, they Needham said. When Need- fired a shot at his head, needed to cool off and go sit He got a health screening hospital or the morgue. were not getting attacked at ham and another soldier his father said. The bullet in the truck. as part of the court-martial. At first, Eastridge said, he all. rushed to deliver first aid, missed. Needham was de- On the way out, Eastridge Doctors diagnosed him with enjoyed the intensity of it. In the first six months, sol- the sergeant said, “No, let tained by his commanders passed the man’s herd of chronic PTSD, antisocial He had a competition go- diers had to collect mutilat- him bleed out.” for illegally discharging a a dozen goats. He leveled personality disorder, depres- ing with Bressler to see who ed Iraqi bodies left by mur- Another sergeant shot a firearm. After a few weeks them with a machine gun. sion, anxiety and hearing could kill more bad guys. der squads every morning. man in the head without of arguing by phone and Then he ordered a private loss. In late September 2007, His final count, he said — By the end, there were no cause while questioning e-mail, Needham’s father to shoot the man’s two cows. his commanders decided he and his sergeant confirmed bodies to retrieve. him, Needham said, then convinced the unit to let Then he shot his horse. was too unstable and dan- — was about 80. Bomb attacks dropped to mutilated the body, lashed his son see a doctor. The “I was really (expletive) los- gerous to stay in Iraq, so the But after a few months, near zero. it to the hood of his Humvee soldier was diagnosed with ing it,” Eastridge said, shak- Army sent him back to Colo- the raids, gore and constant But the victory came at a and drove around the neigh- severe PTSD and flown to ing his head. rado Springs. monday July 27, 2009

THE NEWS TODAY 75 cents ❘ Informing the Pikes Peak region since 1872 ❘ gazette.com LocaL Rental-unit fee on council’s agenda Plan would keep code fort carson: second of two parts enforcement by charging landlords $1 per unit. A3 Smaller crimes at first — DUI, domestic violence, drugs. It was clear to many that something wasn’t right, that something needed to be done. Person killed in Springs shooting Another suffered serious injuries. A3 Rain makes a mess of area roadways Up to 2 inches fell. A3

TIP JAR A chance for used books Born Again Used Books, 1529 N. Union Blvd., is holding its biannual Home-school Book Fair, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 8. Free for home-school- ers and those who teach home-schoolers to buy, sell or trade books. To reserve a spot, call 528-8622.

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Times are tough. BryAN oLLer, the GAZette Know of a great soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat team learn to relax as part of a new class editor’s note bargain, helpful job designed to teach soldiers to manage combat stress. This is the second in a resource or clever way two-part series that retraces to save money? the steps of a group of Fort E-mail bill.radford@ Carson soldiers who fought gazette.com. in Iraq and returned home to Colorado Springs, some of them to kill. It also details Warning how the Army is trying to nation help soldiers who have been Palin leaves office traumatized by battle. This package represents inTIP Parnell’s hands months of interviews with Alaskans JAR got a new soldiers and their families governor Sunday. Sarah and the examination of Palin stepped down, and Lt. medical and military re- Gov. Sean Parnell stepped cords, court documents and in. True to form, Palin did photographs. not go quietly. A13 A word of caution: The details of battle are graphic, and the language is profane Troops came close signsdave philipps [email protected] at times. to going to Buffalo Finally, a disclosure in George W. Bush consid- the interest of keeping our ered sending U.S. forces fter coming home from Iraq, 21-year-old medic Bruce Bastien was driving journalism transparent: to capture members of a with his Army buddy Louis Bressler, 24, when they spotted a woman walk- One former soldier New York group linked to interviewed for this report, al-Qaida in 2002. A13 aing to work on a Colorado Springs street. Kenneth Eastridge, is in prison. After his arrest, his Pathogen facility Bressler swerved and hit the court-appointed lawyer woman with the car, according was Amanda Philipps, wife put in risky locale to police, then Bastien jumped of reporter Dave Philipps. The Department of out and stabbed her over and Dave Philipps did not contact Homeland Security is under over. Eastridge until after his wife’s fire for building a research It was October 2007. A fellow professional obligations to center for highly infec- soldier, Kenneth Eastridge, 24, Eastridge were concluded. tious animal diseases in a watched it all from the passen- Amanda Philipps provided tornado-prone part of the ger seat. neither access to, nor infor- country. A7 At that moment, he said, it mation about, Eastridge. was clear that however messed Jeff thoMAs, eDItor up some of the soldiers in the worLd unit had been after their first online > in depth Nuke-powered sub Iraq deployment, it was about Part I of the series, pre- to get much worse. ● vious stories about this launched by India “I have no problem with kill- unit, a letter by soldier John The country celebrated ing,” said Eastridge, a two-tour photo Courtesy of MIChAeL NeeDhAM Needham alleging war crimes, the debut of its nuclear- infantryman with almost 80 John Needham on patrol in Baghdad in 2007. A few days later, his father audio of Kenneth Eastridge’s powered submarine, — said, the truck was bombed, wounding several soldiers. Needham has prison interview and more at and the U.S. sees India’s see soldiers • page 8 been charged with killing a woman in California. gazette.com growing military might as a possible counter to long- dominant China. A14 sports Oh, Broncos fans, it’s time for camp And Alphonso Smith will be there. The cornerback selected in this year’s draft inked a deal on the eve of training camp. B4 See-saw stays on side of Rockies Colorado wrapped up a series with the San Fran- cisco Giants with a 4-2 win. In doing so, the Rockies increased their lead over the Giants in the wild-card standings to two games. B1 Vive le Contador! Spaniard wins Tour .Alberto Contador took the yellow jersey. Lance Armstrong was third. B1 local weather High 80 • Low 57

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Vol. 138 • No. 126 copyright © 2009 Freedom colorado information, inc. Daily

calendar > breakout 2 technology > in breakout nation & world > a13 obituaries > a14 opinion > a15 movies > breakout 2 comics > breakout 4-7 A8 ❘ the gazette ❘ Monday, July 27, 2009 casualties of war soldiers: Violence patterned like a crescendo

from page 1 — confirmed kills. “But I won’t just murder someone for no reason. He had gone crazy.” All three soldiers belonged to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, part of Fort Carson’s 4th Brigade Combat Team. The 500-sol- dier infantry battalion nick- named itself the “Lethal Warriors.” They fought in the deadliest places in the war twice — first in the Sunni Triangle, then in downtown Baghdad. Since their return late in 2007, eight infantry soldiers have been arrested and accused of murder, attempted murder or manslaughter. Another two soldiers from the brigade were arrested and accused of murder and attempted mur- der after the first tour. Others have committed other violent crimes. Others have commit- ted suicide. Many of the soldiers be- hind bars and their family members say the violence at home is a consequence of the violence in Iraq. Soldiers came home angry, confused, BRYAN OLLER, THE GAZETTE paranoid and depressed. Soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan often have trouble coping with daily life back home. Some of that stress might be responsible for They had trouble getting ef- criminal activities involving soldiers, officials say, leading to increased efforts by Fort Carson to manage the problem. fective mental heath care. Most buried their symptoms in drugs and alcohol until matic stress disorder. of breaking a civilian’s jaw had been court-martialed in tify her attackers, and police the same charge and also got they exploded. The pattern of trouble is in March. Another is await- August 2007 on suspicion of had no leads. 60 years. The Army is seeking new clear in hindsight, Graham ing trial in the shooting of a possession of drugs, disobey- The stabbing sobered East- Eastridge pleaded guilty to ways to care for return- said, but hard to spot when pregnant woman. ing orders and threatening ridge up, he said. He turned accessory to murder and got ing soldiers and keep the it is developing. Graham, who handed over an officer. Medical records himself in for his year-old 10 years. violence from continuing “Our challenge is to catch command of the post last show that, after two bloody domestic violence charge None used their experienc- — crucial now because the it early, so we can help these week, said Fort Carson is do- deployments, the Army di- and spent most of November es in Iraq as a defense. unit shipped out in May soldiers,” he said. “We are ing everything it can to help agnosed him with paranoia, in the El Paso County jail. He “When I was sentenced, to Afghanistan, where the educating young command- its soldiers. “I wish I could depression, insomnia, anti- bonded out on Nov. 27, 2007. the judge told me ‘Look at monthly coalition casualty ers on taking care of their predict how all this is go- social personality disorder, A few days later, he returned how many people go to Iraq rate has doubled since the soldiers. But it’s a very tough ing to go,” he said. “I can’t PTSD, homicidal thoughts to Fort Carson, where he re- and how few come back and beginning of the year. Sol- problem.” say it is not going to happen and hearing loss caused by ceived an “other than honor- commit crimes,” Eastridge diers are scheduled to re- Graham, who had one son again.” constant shooting and ex- able” discharge for posses- said, turn to Colorado Springs in killed by a roadside bomb in plosions. sion of drugs in Iraq. “But that’s not fair. A lot of spring 2010. Iraq a year after his other ‘All I know how to do is kill’ His Army escorts were tak- After two tours in Iraq, the soldiers who go to Iraq The first step toward solv- son committed suicide while For Bastien, the Army med- ing him to Fort Carson — not Eastridge was depressed, just drive trucks or check ing the problem, the post’s training to be an officer, ic, the crescendo started to for treatment, he said, but to paranoid, violent, abusing IDs or sit in the Green Zone. most recent commander made mental health a focus peak just after midnight on get kicked out of the Army. drugs and haunted by night- Look at combat troops. And said, is to understand it. upon taking command of Aug. 4, 2007, when he was From there, he was going mares. But because he was look at what kind of combat Maj. Gen. Mark Graham Fort Carson. driving his silver Audi to get to jail. In Colorado Springs, other-than-honorably dis- they did. My unit was in the took command of Fort Car- He said suicide and homi- cigarettes after a night of there was a warrant wait- charged, he said, he was in- worst neighborhood in the son in September 2007, cide are “different reactions drinking at Bressler’s apart- ing from a year before, when eligible for benefits or health bloodiest part of the war. just before the worst of the to the same or similar prob- ment. he skipped a court date on care. He was no longer Uncle Even in my platoon, there violence. He said that after lem. You treat both in the The rest of their battalion charges of putting a gun to Sam’s problem. He was on were guys that stayed in studying the murders, he same way.” was still fighting in Iraq. his girlfriend’s head. his own. the truck and guys that did saw that soldiers rarely snap Under his watch, Fort Car- Bastien was in Colorado At the baggage claim, East- “I had no job training,” he most of the fighting. Look at without warning. Guys who son more than doubled the Springs because he had ridge said, while his escorts said. “All I know how to do is that tiny number. It’s not the get in big trouble often get number of mental health been arrested and accused waded into the crowd to kill people.” hundreds of thousands that in little trouble first, and the counselors. A new Army of beating his wife while on grab their bags, he ran. He A few days later, on Nov. go, it’s the few hundred that problem grows until it ex- program will soon give each leave in May 2007. said he hopped in a cab, took 30, 2007, Eastridge went see heavy, heavy combat. It plodes. brigade a “master resil- Bressler was in town be- it to a cheap hotel and called drinking with Bastien and changes lives.” Graham calls this pattern iency trainer” to strengthen cause the Army had sent the only people in town he Bressler. According to court “the crescendo.” troops’ psychological fit- him back from Iraq early, in knew: Bastien and Bressler. documents, the three ran ‘Give me the gun’ It may start with a soldier ness the way drill sergeants July, with PTSD, according “When I met up with those into a fellow soldier, Kevin The rest of the Lethal War- showing up to work reeking strengthen their muscles. A to his wife. He was awaiting guys, they were weird,” he Shields, who was celebrating riors returned home from of booze, getting arrested for special unit has been created a medical discharge because, said. They were paranoid his 24th birthday. Iraq in December 2007. domestic violence, or mouth- to track soldiers who are too Eastridge said, he attacked and aggressive, he said. They downed shots at the Some went wild in the bars, ing off to an officer. physically or psychologically an officer in Iraq. “They kept saying, ‘Do you downtown bars until closing, overflowing with the same “When a guy who had it to- wounded to stay with their Bastien and Bressler de- want to go rob someone? Do then drove around, smoking pent-up jubilation troops ex- gether starts showing little battalions. Soldiers visiting clined requests for inter- you want to go kill someone? a joint, until they were lost perienced after the first tour. problems, it could be a sign a doctor at Fort Carson for views. I just thought they were kid- on the west side. Then the crescendo started. of something much bigger,” even a sprained ankle are According to court docu- ding, but they had gone a In the first, dark hours of Jose Barco, who was Graham said. now screened for symptoms ments, that night the pair little crazy.” Dec. 1, 2007, Bressler and burned so badly in the first Most of the soldiers now be- of PTSD and depression. spotted a drunk 23-year-old Eastridge did have plans Shields got in a fight when tour that, soldiers said, he hind bars back up Graham’s And perhaps most impor- Fort Carson private they to rob someone. Compared Shields teased the tough had to beg commanders to theory of the crescendo. tant, Graham said, in the didn’t know named Robert with Iraq, it would be easy. gunner for throwing up in allow him back for the sec- Before Bastien stabbed the Army, where mental illness James, who was walking He wanted to do it alone, the car. Bressler told Bastien ond tour, was arrested on woman in 2007, he was ar- has long been taboo, com- home from a bar, and pulled but he had no car and no to pull over because he need- suspicion of domestic vio- rested three times on suspi- manders at Fort Carson are the Audi over to give him a gun. Bressler and Bastien ed to puke again. Bressler lence. Then drunken driv- cion of beating his wife and being trained to tell soldiers ride. had both, Eastridge said, leaned against a pole like ing. Then burglary with a burning her with cigarettes. it is OK to seek treatment. Bastien later told police and they insisted on coming he was sick, then turned deadly weapon. Then he got Before Bressler shot two “There is a culture and a that he and Bressler decided along. around and shot Shields in divorced. Finally, he was ar- soldiers in Colorado Springs stigma that need to change,” to rob James. They drove to On Oct. 29, 2007, wearing the head. The soldier fell rested and accused of taking in 2007, Eastridge said, he Graham said. a dark parking lot. all black, they attempted to to the ground, and Bressler a pistol to a house party. assaulted his commanding It is unclear if the new Bressler pointed a .38 rob a nightclub manager as shot him four more times. On April 25, 2008, he was officer and tried to kill him- measures can counter the revolver at James and de- she emerged from a club. Bressler fished a few things with a crowd in the base- self. entrenched Army culture or manded his money. James When they botched that, out of Shields’ pockets to ment of a friend of a friend’s Before Jomar Falu-Vives, the effects of repeated de- pulled a few rumpled bills they drove off and spot- make the shooting look like house, police say, when he 23, allegedly gunned down ployments. Though some of from his pockets — about ted a young woman named a robbery, and they sped got in an argument, pulled three people in Colorado the new programs have been $25. Bressler shot him twice Erica Ham walking down away. out the gun and shot a round Springs in two drive-by in place for two years, the and gathered the scattered the street. Bressler hit her Soldiers who saw the trio through the ceiling. There shootings in 2008, his wife violence has not stopped. bills. with the car and she crashed drinking with Shields at was a fight. He was thrown said she called his sergeants Colorado Springs police The random crime left po- onto the hood. Then Bastien Rum Bay helped police tie out. A few minutes later, to warn he was liable to arrested a Fort Carson sol- lice with no leads. jumped out to grab her bag them to the crime, court when the party crowd was “take someone’s life.” dier from the Lethal War- A little over a month later, and started stabbing her. documents say. still standing on the front Before John Needham, 25, riors in May in the killing in late September, Eastridge When she tried to fight back, Bressler was convicted of lawn, he drove by, spraying allegedly beat a woman to of a 19-year-old woman. An- landed under Army escort Eastridge pulled out a pistol conspiracy to commit mur- bullets. Police say one hit death in 2008, his father other soldier shot himself in at the Colorado Springs Air- and yelled for her to get on der and sentenced to 60 19-year-old Ginny Stefanic, said, he tried repeatedly to the head this year. Another port. the ground. years. — get treatment for post-trau- was arrested on suspicion The once-decorated soldier Ham was unable to iden- Bastien pleaded guilty to see soldiers • Page 9

Breakdown of a soldier

John Needham was hit by six explosive devices in Iraq, according to his father. He repeatedly asked for help for post-traumatic stress disorder in 2007 but received only pills. After 11 months at war, he tried to commit suicide. After being discharged from the Army in 2008 with PTSD, he allegedly beat a woman to death in his father’s California home.

COuRTESY OF THE COuRTESY OF MIkE NEEdHAM COuRTESY OF MIkE NEEdHAM COuRTESY OF MIkE NEEdHAM ORANGE COuNTY JAIL John Needham home on leave from John Needham on the hood of a Humvee John Needham on patrol in Baghdad. His father said Arrested on suspicion of Iraq in January 2007. shortly before attempting suicide. the Army didn’t provide sufficient help. beating a woman to death. Monday, July 27, 2009 ❘ the gazette ❘ A9 Casualties of war soldiers: Problem is hard to see, hard to act on

from page 8 or the Army’s deployment of — soldiers with pending civil- who was six months preg- ian felonies. nant, in the thigh. Stefanic The study recommended suffered minor injuries. better mental health care Barco, who declined to be and training, programs to interviewed, was arrested “ensure there is no humilia- Jan. 7. He posted $25,000 tion or belittling” of soldiers bail and is awaiting trial for seeking mental health care, attempted murder. and more studies to “assess It was a classic case of the a possible link between de- pattern that Graham said ployment, combat intensity, most soldiers follow when and aggressive behavior.” they spiral out of control. But Graham said the report Before the big stuff, there does not offer a simple cure. is little stuff. Catching it in “We didn’t see any one time can save lives. thing that we could identify Fort Carson has trained and say, yes, this is the rea- key leaders to spot the warn- son these soldiers do this,” ing signs. he said. When a soldier is drink- Instead, he said, Fort Car- ing too much or acting out, son and the Army have instead of punishment, they instituted a wide array of are supposed to get help. changes. “But it’s a very tough prob- Evans Army Community lem,” said Graham, who or- Hospital has increased the dered the new programs. “If number of behavioral health a soldier is showing all the care workers from 37 to 71. risk factors, what can you Many are assigned to mobile do? You can’t lock them up. teams within brigades, so They haven’t done anything. soldiers don’t have to go to But what we can do is pro- the hospital to seek help. vide them every opportunity Fort Carson also has added to get the care they need and 16 “military family life con- try to break down the stigma BRYAN OLLER, THE GAZETTE sultants,” whom soldiers against seeking help.” Returning from combat can be very stressful for soldiers. Fort Carson has increased the number of behavioral health and their families can visit Like Barco, Jomar Falu- care workers and has assigned family life consultants to help soldiers readjust. anonymously for help with Vives started hitting his everything from relation- wife. ship problems to financial Soldiers say the lifelong concerns. Army brat seemed to handle Fort Carson started refer- Baghdad OK. Back home, ring soldiers to private coun- Falu-Vives would go out selors in Colorado Springs in to sing karaoke with other 2006. The number seeking soldiers and go shooting at private counseling surged the firing range off Rampart from 11 in 2006 to 2,171 in Range Road, according to 2008, according to Evans fellow soldiers. Jomar Thomas Bruce John Army Community Hospital. But his ex-wife, Jolhea Falu-Vives Woolly Bastien Needham “We see that as a sign of Vives, said he had turned strength, not weakness,” said mean. Roger Meyer, Evans spokes- He always liked to party man. “It shows we are hav- and had a short temper, she ing success in our efforts to said. But when he got back educate soldiers on the signs from Iraq, it was worse. Soon of stress.” after, they filed for divorce. In Colorado Springs, law- Falu-Vives’ lawyer did not KIRK SPEER, THE GAZETTE yers and law enforcement respond to a request for an Fort Carson’s most recent commander Maj. Gen. Mark agencies have created an interview. Jose Barco Rodolfo Tor- Kenneth Louis Graham ordered changes in the way soldiers are treated experimental veteran’s court His ex-wife said he had ep- Jr. res-Gandarilla Eastridge Bressler after they return from war. to catch returning soldiers isodes where he “went into who get in trouble with the combat mode.” At one point, law and steer them toward she said, he stuck a loaded stationed just a few miles were making him better or pital, but, his father said, it Resiliency help instead of jail. .45 in her mouth. away. worse. wasn’t enough. This spring, Lethal War- Soldiers charged with felo- She said she called his ser- Reached at Fort Hood, For a month, Needham His son had frightening riors sprawled on the floor nies will be sentenced to geant, saying that he was Texas, she said the Army stayed at the hospital. On flashbacks. Late one night, of a Fort Carson conference counseling and substance violent and was going to kill has many programs to help Nov. 9, 2007, according to or- he rummaged through the room, learning to take deep abuse treatment. The court somebody, but the Army did troops, but soldiers often ders provided by his father, bathroom naked, smearing breaths. is expected to take its first nothing. avoid the counseling and Needham’s battalion com- his face and body with cos- They lazed on their backs cases in August. An Army spokesman said, medication offered, and mander had him transferred metics as if they were cam- in full camouflage. In. Out. The Army has created War- “There is no specific Army leaders sometimes don’t to Fort Carson so he could ouflage paint. He sharpened And relax. rior Transition Units to man- policy that provides guid- give GIs time or permission be sent back to Iraq. one end of a broom handle “The media says war will age the care of soldiers, like ance on these types of situa- to visit. “It’s just bizarre, we to make a weapon. His father (expletive) you up, but that Needham, who are too men- tions. It is up to the soldier’s “There is still a stigma be- couldn’t figure out why they said he found him crouching stress can also make you tally or physically disabled chain of command.” hind getting help,” she said. were doing this to him,” his silently behind the couch. stronger. You just have to to stay with their units. The soldier’s commanders “That is the hardest part. father said. His father said his son al- learn to mentally metabolize Colorado’s senators urged declined to be interviewed. It is still seen as a sign of Needham’s father and An- ways took off his clothes the experience,” Dan Taslitz, the Army last week to in- On May 26, 2007, Falu- weakness.” drew Pogany, a veterans’ when he had a flashback. a former Marine, told a clude Fort Carson in a pilot Vives was riding in the back She said she has talked to advocate and former Fort “He needed to be commit- group of sprawling soldiers. alcohol abuse program. seat of his friend and fellow the battalion commander of Carson sergeant, persuaded ted,” his father said. “He Taslitz was there as part of Graham said the Army is soldier Rodolfo Torres-Gan- the Lethal Warriors and the commanders to keep Need- needed serious psychiatric a new “resiliency training” also trying to change the darilla’s Chrysler sedan on commander of Fort Carson ham from going back to Iraq help. I tried to put him in called “Warrior Optimiza- culture. the way back from a bar, ac- to tell them that many ef- so he could continue psychi- the hospital, but the VA said tion Systems,” or WAROPS, All low-level leaders, he cording to his arrest affida- forts to treat troops’ mental atric treatment. they could only treat him as that the 4th Brigade was said, are now taught to treat vit. Near South Circle Drive, problems are not trickling But, his father said, his son an outpatient. . . . I could see testing to try to counter mental illness like any bat- he allegedly saw two men down to privates like her didn’t get it. the train wreck coming.” mental illness, violence and tlefield injury. standing in front of a house son. Laws prevent the Army On the night of Sept. 1, suicide in the ranks. “If a soldier is shot or in- on the corner of Flintshire Falu-Vives was arrested from discussing medical 2008, Needham was at If the Army likes the re- jured, other soldiers know Street and Monterey Road, July 30, 2008. treatment of soldiers. Need- home hanging out with a sults, it may take the pro- how to give him care,” Gra- lifted an AK-47 and started Torres-Gandarilla pleaded ham’s father said his son was girlfriend in his bedroom on gram Army-wide, command- ham said. “We need to get shooting. One of the men guilty to accessory to mur- kept on the drugs but never the ground floor. His father ers said. soldiers to understand the in front of the house, Army der in April and is expected received counseling. was two floors above, taking In the four-hour class, sol- signs of combat stress so Capt. Zachary Szody, col- to testify against Falu-Vives Instead, he said, his son a shower. diers learn how the brain they can do the same thing lapsed with a bullet in his in August. was berated by sergeants. A 19-year-old woman and body react to combat — get their buddy the care knee and another in his hip. Falu-Vives’ mother said she “They would write things named Jacqwelyn Villago- stress, and talk about healthy he needs.” Ten days later, Falu-Vives never saw evidence of her on the chalkboard in his bar- mez, whom the soldier had ways to respond, such as re- Staff Sgt. James Combs, was cruising in his black son having problems. racks like ‘John Needham is recently broken up with, laxation breathing, exercise with the Lethal Warriors, Chevy Tahoe with Torres- “He isn’t a criminal,” she a shit bag cry baby PTSD came in. The women fought, and visualizing a positive said in June that the com- Gandarilla and two other said. “He never killed a fly — boohoo,’” his father said. his father said. Needham’s outcome to a mission. bat stress education is more Army buddies, according to except when it was his job.” It was so bad that when girlfriend called the police. Sometimes, instructors comprehensive than when the affidavit. Before Falu-Vives could be Needham went home for They arrived a few minutes said, controlling emotions is he was a private in the late Near midnight, he pulled charged with first-degree Thanksgiving in 2007, his later, and Needham an- as simple as stepping back, 1990s. up to an intersection five murder, another Lethal father refused to let him re- swered the door naked and identifying the feeling and Now, he said, sergeants blocks from the first shoot- Warrior was arrested for the turn to the Army. bleeding, his father said. saying it out loud. They call teach soldiers that “You may ing. Amairany Cervantes, same thing. “We basically kidnapped Villagomez’s body lay in his the process “name it and be able to pull the trigger 18, and her boyfriend, Cesar him,” his father said. He bedroom, he said. tame it.” on our M4 or M16, but you Ramirez-Ibanez, 21, were Pushed until they broke took his son to Balboa Naval His father said he heard The brigade plans to hold have to understand what it setting up signs for a yard John Needham struggled Hospital in San Diego, and a ruckus, went downstairs refresher courses in Afghan- is doing to you mentally, and sale the next morning, the to find normalcy after trying argued with Fort Carson un- and watched the police istan and again when sol- you need to be prepared for affidavit said. to kill himself in Iraq in Sep- til the soldier was reassigned tackle his son. The soldier diers return home. that.” “Give me the gun,” police tember 2007. to Balboa. fought back as they put him Fort Carson also created “We don’t just throw them said he told a friend sitting The tall California surfer Needham was honorably in cuffs. Michael Needham a task force late in 2008 to to the wolves like we used in the back seat. He shot had been hit by six roadside discharged from the Army said he stared, weeping, as hunt for “common threads” to,” he said. the woman in the back five bombs before getting drunk on July 18, 2008, with chron- his naked son lay bleeding in the killings committed by It is not clear how effective times, police said, her boy- one night in Baghdad and ic PTSD and moved back to and struggling, incoherent Fort Carson soldiers. the changes will be. friend, four times. Both died putting a gun to his head, his father’s house in San Cle- on the driveway as the po- The investigation, conduct- The current commanders almost instantly. Falu-Vives his father, Michael Need- mente, Calif. But, his father lice tasered him again and ed by a team of 27 behavioral of the Lethal Warriors, who sped back to his apartment, ham, said. said, he was not better. again. health and Army profession- would implement many of where he stood on the bal- The soldier was diagnosed “He was severely different,” John Needham is awaiting als, concluded with a report the changes, declined re- cony watching the red and with PTSD, flown to Walter his father said. trial on suspicion of mur- released July 15. The find- peated requests for inter- blue lights converge on the Reed Army Medical Center John Needham was groggy der. In May, family members ings echo what guys in the views. spot. in Washington, D.C. and put and vacant from the pills. He mortgaged their houses to ranks said: Their tour was And Fort Carson’s new pro- He listened to sirens wail- on antipsychotics, an anti- had lost much of his hearing bail him out. He is now get- bloodier than most; violence grams have not prevented ing in the night and, accord- depressant, an antiseizure from bomb blasts. He often ting inpatient treatment at a in Iraq messed them up; more occurrences of de- ing to what witnesses told drug used to calm PTSD drank himself to oblivion. VA hospital, Michael Need- they started abusing drugs structive behavior. police, held up his hands and soldiers and a potent blood- He was paranoid and afraid ham said. and alcohol; treatment for On May 10, Thomas Wool- said, “I love that sound.” pressure drug used to silence of crowds. “I know the Army would substance abuse and mental ly, the soldier Needham Falu-Vives’ mother, Lt. Col. nightmares. Side effects He begged his father to buy like to say it is not respon- health at Fort Carson was replaced in a blown-out Marta Vives, is an Army of the cocktail can include him an assault rifle like the sible for this, that it didn’t inadequate; stigma kept sol- Humvee turret in Baghdad nurse in a Combat Stress hangover-like symptoms, one he carried in Iraq. Even- train them to do this. But diers from getting help; and in 2007, was drinking with Team. She helps soldiers in short-term memory loss, tually, they compromised that is bullshit,” Michael when those so-called “risk friends after midnight at an war zones who are starting irritability, aggression, hal- on a pistol that shot rubber Needham said. factors” came together, guys apartment just a few blocks to lose it. It is one of a num- lucinations, sleepwalking, BBs. Needham carried it al- “They trained them to kill, got in serious trouble. from Fort Carson. ber of programs the Army paranoia and panic attacks. most everywhere, his father then when they didn’t have The report did not address Woolly had done two tours has created since the war So many of the side effects said. enough men for the surge, other issues, such as soldiers with the Lethal Warriors began. were like the symptoms of The former soldier was go- they pushed these guys until carrying guns once they re- and was in the new War- When her son was pa- his PTSD that his father said ing to regular counseling at they broke, then threw them turn from deployments, al- — trolling Baghdad, she was it was hard to know if they a local Veterans Affairs hos- away.” leged war crimes by the unit, see soldiers • Page 10 A10 ❘ the gazette ❘ Monday, July 27, 2009 casualties of war soldiers: Counseling can do only so much, experts say

from page 9 — online > in depth rior Transition Unit, about Part I of the series, previous stories about this unit, soldier to be medically discharged ● John Needham’s letter alleging war crimes, audio of Ken- because, his grandmother, neth Eastridge’s prison interview and more at gazette.com Gladys Woolly said, “He was blowed up so many times until it damaged his brain.” Police say Woolly cocked fore Falu-Vives was arrested Woolly, 24, had a drink in the gun’s hammer. After the in the yard sale sign shoot- one hand and a loaded .45 husband left and Woolly ings. He has done three Long Colt revolver in the went to uncock the gun, the tours in Iraq and two in Kos- other, according to his arrest hammer slipped. The bullet ovo. He said he has had close affidavit, when a friend’s hus- killed 19-year-old Lisa Bau- scrapes with 35 IEDs, scores U.S. ARmy phoTo By SpC. olANRewAJU AkINwUNmI band, who had been arguing mann, who was standing on of rocket-propelled grenades Army 1st Sgt. James Naughton with his squad leaders in Baghdad in 2007. The soldiers with the group, banged on the other side of the room. and one 500-pound bomb. are from 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. the door. Woolly was charged with He has taken shrapnel twice. manslaughter. He is out on He describes himself as an bail and is scheduled for ar- “old-school career soldier.” raignment in August. He did He is 29. not respond to interview re- With every arrest of a fel- quests. low soldier, he was shocked, Two weeks later, Roy Ma- he said, but he does not son, 28, another Lethal War- think it is just coincidence rior who had served two that so many guys in the tours and landed in the War- unit are now in jail. rior Transition Unit, went “These are all younger AWOL, drove to California, guys. They are just kids, parked at the beach, called straight out of high school, 911 from his car, asked them from mom’s house to basic to clean up the mess quickly training to Iraq. You throw “before kids see,” then shot them in a tour like this, and himself in the head, media there is going to be an after- reports said. math,” he said. “Time was, Civilian mental health pro- before I really understood it, fessionals caution that the my reaction would have been Army programs treat the ‘fry ’em.’ But now I can em- symptoms but do not ad- pathize. . . . If they did what dress the underlying cause. they did, fine, they have to “There are some good answer to the justice system, things going on,” said Da- but these guys like Eastridge vida Hoffman, the director who tried so hard and loved of First Choice Counseling, the Army . . . they are a ca- a private clinic that treats sualty of war. Their psyches about 250 Carson soldiers. are casualties of war.” But counseling can do only He agreed that the deploy- so much, she said. The quality ment to Afghanistan will of treatment is not the cause be different from the ones of the problem. Combat is. that he said screwed up his The more combat soldiers friends. see, she said, the more prob- “There is much more at- lems they will have. The tention to the mental side,” more problems soldiers he said. “I’ve been trained have, the more problems to do stress debriefings and Colorado Springs has. suicide prevention. I remem- “Soldiers simply cannot ber a time in the Army when handle repeated deploy- mental health was taboo. It ments,” she said. “If these was career over. That’s not guys keep seeing deploy- the case anymore.” ments like the stuff they saw But, he said, the stigma in Iraq, we could have a very is alive and well, especially dangerous situation.” among infantrymen. Graham agreed that repeat- “There’s still a feeling that ed deployments are tough if you got to go see the doc, on soldiers. But the Army you’re a punk. There are a has a job to do, he said, and lot of people who still feel the rate of deployment is not that way. I’m not going to lie expected to slow for at least to you, I do,” he said. 12 to 18 months. Real soldiers, he said, “just On the same day Mason suck it up.” put a gun to his head at the “That’s what I do. I think I beach, his old brigade was was given a God-given talent deploying to Afghanistan. to suck it up. Horrible things Most of the guys from the happen, I suck it up. I don’t first deployment had left the let it bother me.” Army, transferred to a dif- In March, Cardenaz was ferent unit, been kicked out, arrested in a felony assault. wounded or killed. But for He was walking with his every one gone there is a new wife past The Thirsty Par- recruit. And while some atti- rot on Tejon Street, in full tudes in the Army are chang- dress uniform after the Le- ing, the day-to-day reality of thal Warriors’ annual ball, the foot soldier is not. Since when some civilians hang- June, insurgent attacks have ing out in front of the bar killed three in the brigade. said something. Or maybe No one may have a bet- Cardenaz said something ter view of the Army’s chal- to them. Witnesses say the lenges than Sgt. Michael sergeant dropped one with Cardenaz. In many ways, he a single punch. When an- is the battle-worn face of to- other guy came after him to day’s soldier. ask why he did it, police say, The solid, bald-headed Le- Cardenaz broke his jaw. thal Warriors staff sergeant The sergeant posted bail and father of two was in the and did not show up for his same platoon as Eastridge, court hearing July 15. Barco and Bastien in Bagh- His lawyer told the judge dad. Cardenaz often played that Cardenaz had deployed Texas Hold ’em with Bressler to Afghanistan. at the base. He went bowling — with Falu-Vives just days be- Call the writer at 636-0223.

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