Two of a Kind

Volume 78, No. 102B ©SS 2019 CONTINGENCY EDITION SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019 stripes.com Free to Deployed Areas SEAL Team 7 leaders fired Navy crackdown on ethical, cultural crisis within ranks claims top 3 commanders BY COREY DICKSTEIN Stars and Stripes WASHINGTON — The Navy’s top SEAL on Friday fired SEAL Team 7’s top three leaders from their duties as the service cracks down on a cultural and ethical crisis within the ranks of its elite commandos, according to Navy officials. Rear Adm. Collin Green, the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, dismissed Cmdr. Edward Mason, the team’s commander, Lt. Cmdr. Luke Im, its executive officer, and Command Mas- ter Chief Hugh Span- gler, the unit’s senior enlisted leader, over problems with leadership in the team’s ranks, according to a Navy statement. The move comes after Two of a kind at least one of the Green California-based SEAL Team 7 pla- toons was sent home early from Iraq in July amid allegations of serious misconduct, including alcohol abuse downrange Sisters attain general’s rank in an Army first and accusations of a sexual assault occur- ring during an unofficial Independence BY TOM VANDEN BROOK Day celebration within the unit. USA Today ‘ Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and Brig. Gen. Paula Green fired the SEAL leaders “due to a loss of confidence that resulted from lead- WASHINGTON Lodi represent the best America has to offer. ership failures that caused a breakdown of heir brother, Rus Lodi, calls Ryan McCarthy’ good order and discipline within two sub- them “leadership junkies.” acting Army secretary ordinate units while deployed to combat If you’re a soldier, you’d zones,” a Navy statement reads. better just call them ma’am A Navy spokesperson declined to pro- and salute. vide additional details about Green’s deci- TMaj. Gen. Maria Barrett and younger “Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and Brig. This is a proud moment for their fami- sion but said the SEALs were not expected sister Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi are each ac- Gen. Paula Lodi represent the best lies and for the Army.” to face additional disciplinary action and complished in their own fields. But to- America has to offer,” said Acting Army Fathers and sons have risen to gen- would remain in the Navy. The spokes- gether, they have become the first two Secretary Ryan McCarthy. “Howev- eral, including Gen. George Casey, who person declined to say where the SEALs sisters, the Army believes, to attain the er, this comes as no surprise to those retired as chief of staff of the Army; would be reassigned or to provide their general’s rank in the service’s 244-year who have known them and loved them service records. history. throughout this extraordinary journey. SEE FIRST ON PAGE 3 The admiral’s decision comes after he ordered major cultural changes for the Na- vy’s special operations community late last Above: Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett, left, and her sister, Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi, stand together after month following a short probe into possible then-Col. Lodi’s outgoing Change of Command for the 44th Medical Brigade at Fort Bragg, N.C. in July 2018. causes of misconduct among SEALs that have captured headlines in recent years. Courtesy of the US Army SEE FIRED ON PAGE 4 MILITARY MIDEAST MUSIC Soldier killed in Iran uses advanced Behind the Mullet: Afghanistan recalled centrifuges, threatens Country singer Wallen as ‘honest, caring’ higher enrichment has hot haircut, career Page 4 Page 5 Page 16 Cowboys QB Prescott unbothered by contract » NFL, Back page PAGE 2 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, September 8, 2019 PACIFIC Typhoon slams South Korea; Yongsan Garrison loses power BY KIM GAMEL Stars and Stripes SEOUL, South Korea — Strong winds knocked out power on Yongsan Garrison on Saturday, forcing the Army post to lock down for the night as Typhoon Lingling tore through South Korea. The powerful storm left heavy damage in its wake as it skirted the peninsula’s western coast with winds of more than 80 mph before making landfall in North Korea. Yongsan, which sits in the heart of Seoul, already had urged people to stock up on essentials and to stay inside. By Saturday afternoon, the garrison made that mandatory and closed all gates except for emergency traffic. “Due to dangerous weather conditions, including fallen trees and blowing debris, all gates are closed and no walking outside is permitted until the all clear no- tice is given,” Yongsan said in an Yongsan Garrison emergency alert. Toppled trees knocked out Above and left: Typhoon Lingling knocks down trees and power lines power lines, leaving the largest DONALD ROBERTSON/U.S. Army as it swept through Yongsan Garrison, South Korea, on Saturday. populated section of the garrison known as South Post without would remain closed in the the garrison said. “Please ex- phreys, south of Seoul. three people dead, according to power. meantime. “South Post will be ercise patience during this res- Humphreys and other bases The Associated Press. The Brian D. Allgood Army out of power for approximately toration timeframe. Typhoon also remained in Tropical Cy- Traffic to Incheon Interna- Community Hospital and Drag- 24 hours,” according to an up- Lingling has hit Korea hard,” it clone Condition of Readiness 1. tional Airport also was disrupted on Hill Lodge were operating date issued Saturday evening. said. Most nonessential services, in- due to the closure of its gateway with emergency generators, of- “The Shelter in Place is still in Yongsan has sharply reduced cluding stores, taxis and buses, bridge and a power failure on a ficials said. effect until the morning due to its population to just over 5,600 were unavailable. The garrison initially said limited visibility and downed in recent months as it prepares Elsewhere in South Korea, the commuter rail network, the news crews were working to restore power lines.” to close after the U.S. military storm grounded planes, knocked agency reported. power but later said the outage The situation will be reas- moved its main headquarters to out electricity to more than [email protected] would last all night and gates sessed at first light on Sunday, the newly expanded Camp Hum- 57,000 homes and left at least Twitter: @kimgamel T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ............ 14 Books .............................. 18 Business .......................... 22 Gadgets ............................ 20 Music .......................... 16-17 Opinion ............................ 21 Sports .........................24-32 Weather ........................... 22 Sunday, September 8, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 3 MILITARY Naval Academy probes First: Sisters a report of a noose ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The U.S. described as Naval Academy is investigating a report that a noose was hung on academy property on the 56th ‘exceptional’ anniversary of the March on Washington. Naval Academy Superinten- Army leaders dent Vice Adm. Sean Buck said in a statement Friday that the noose was found in a construction zone FROM FRONT PAGE off-limits to staff. his father, Maj. Gen. George Buck said while it’s possible Casey Sr., was killed in action in the noose was part of a hoisting Vietnam. Then there’s the Brooks system to complete ductwork, the family. Leo Brooks retired as a academy will investigate it be- brigadier general, and his sons, cause it “takes all allegations of Leo Jr. and Vincent, went on to race hate very seriously.” become a one- and a four-star general, respectively. There is Navy seeking to test even a wife-and-husband team private wells near base of three-stars: Laura and James Richardson. GROTON, Conn. — The U.S. The military didn’t officially Navy is seeking to test private accept women into its ranks until ERICK THRONSON/U.S. Army drinking wells near the Connecti- the Army Nursing Corps was cut submarine base for potentially Then-U.S. Army Col. Paula Lodi, left, and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kristopher Rick, 44th Medical dangerous industrial compounds established in 1901. Women, of Brigade commander and command sergeant major, address members of Task Force Medical Role 3 course, served unofficially be- known as “forever chemicals.” during a visit to the 28th Combat Support Hospital near Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 8, 2017. Navy officials said they’re try- fore that, some in disguise since ing to determine whether certain the Revolutionary War, accord- vilian. Ten years and out of the chemicals used at the Groton sub- ing to the U.S. Army Women’s service. That was the plan. marine base migrated through Museum. “I don’t know at what point, groundwater to private drinking The Pentagon and Congress probably four, maybe five years levels at unsafe levels. had limited the role of women in in, it just occurred to me, I abso- Officials will be testing for per- combat until opening all fields lutely loved what I was doing in and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in 2015. Since then, more than the medical service corps,” Lodi known collectively as PFAS. Au- a dozen women have graduated said. thorities say the most common from the Army’s Ranger School, Navy use of the chemicals has its proving ground for elite infan- Climbing the ranks been in a firefighting foam. try soldiers. Command of combat The chemicals have been linked units is key to ascending to the Up the ranks she climbed, like to various health risks, including highest ranks in the military. her sister, but in a separate field, developmental issues in children Overall, women make up more the medical service corps. She and decreased liver, thyroid and than 16% of the military’s active- has risen to become deputy chief immune system function.

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