TALK TO THE DADDY

Hello. Come on in. The daddy writes about current events, literature, music and, once in a while, drops something on you from back in the day to make you pause and ponder, stop and stare, and begin to wonder. Who knows? You may start to pace the floor, shake your head from side to side, then fall down on bended knees in a praying position and cry, "Lawd, have mercy! What is this world coming to?" Check yourself! But this blog is NOT about the daddy. It's about you: your boos, your fam, your hood, your country...our hopes and dreams of a better tomorrow. So let's make a pact: the daddy will put it on the track if you'll chase it down and hit him back. Together, we can definitely take it to another level. Shall we?"

Friday, July 4, 2008

The Case of Pfc. LaVena Johnson

I'm feeling this post by New Black Woman:

I've stumbled across this blog titled The Pfc. LaVena Johnson Petition. The blog is designed to bring attention to Army's refusal to re-open the case surrounding the death of Pfc. Johnson.

Here's a quick synopsis of what happened, according to an original blog entry on the petition's website:

An Army representative initially told LaVena's father, Dr. John Johnson, that his daughter died of "died of self-inflicted, non-combat injuries," but initially added that it was not a suicide. The subsequent Army investigation reversed this finding and declared LaVena's death a suicide, a finding refuted by the soldier's family. In an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dr. Johnson pointed to indications that his daughter had endured a physical struggle before she died - two loose front teeth, a "busted lip" that had to be reconstructed by the funeral home - suggesting that "someone might have punched her in the mouth."

I must admit that I have not heard a peep about this tragic case. It sickens me that the Army would rule this young woman's death a suicide. It reminds me of the Army's attempts to cover up the death of former NFL player Pat Tillman. You remember, right (how can anyone not remember--it was on the news every night)? Well, it was later discovered that Tillman was killed by friendly fire.

We can not let this incident go unreported in the media. We bloggers must make sure that Pfc. Johnson's case stays alive and we must pressure our representatives to compel the Army to re-open the case. I urge you all to link this blog to yours and to spread the word about this injustice.
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Thanks, New Black Woman.

6 comments:

SagaciousHillbilly said...

The military has such a low level of accountability. It's impossible to know what kind of horrendous stuff goes on regularly.
Our gov't has become terribly evil using beautiful young people as fodder to enhance the interests of the corporate royalty.

Anonymous said...

I hate to think of what they did to this young lady. Can we get another president, please?

rainywalker said...

McDaddy,
I have added a section to my blog called Military Watch. There have been so many questionable cases in years past. I have personal first hand knowledge of the way the military operates. So does anyone who was in the military, if they were paying attention. I'm not proud of many things I say but I spokeout at the time and it likely cost me promotion. But McDaddy I kept my honor and I can look myself in the mirror anytime. If and when you see these questional events in the future I would like to include them on my blog. They deserved more and not less.

LISA VAZQUEZ said...

Hello MacDaddy....

I am not surprised by reading about this...but I am beyond enraged by it all...

Thank you for blowing the trumpet!

Peace, blessings and DUNAMIS!
Lisa

Mac Daddy Tribute Blog said...

rainywalker: Feel free to use any post from my blog with attribution.
I see a lot of this as outcomes of civilian leadership of the military and military leadership at the four-star general level not developing and maintaining a strong accountability system, especially with respect to women. Bu it's not just them. Where is the investigative reporting from a free, objective press? And what about us bloggers? Where are these feminist organizations? Why aren't they screaming about the rapes and the deaths of women soldiers and the abuse that many wives face when their husband soldier comes home?

And what about us bloggers? Can't we do more to get the word out?
Lisa: Thanks. I'm coming to see you at blackwomenblowthetrumpet.

sagacious: "Our gov't has become terribly evil using beautiful young people as fodder to enhance the interests of the corporate royalty." So true. Besides serving her country, who knows what wonderful things Pfc. LaVena Johnson could have done for her community?

Anonymous said...

Hi, Glad to see you're calling attention this case. I'm working with college students associated with the army, and am hearing some inside stories. One comes from a young woman whose husband was diagnosed with PTSD -- and THEN he volunteered for a HIGH risk mission / training, upon which the Army said "OK." NOW, think about the ethics of this: You're depressed, anxious from serving in Iraq. You've been diagnosed with PTSD. You're maybe suicidal. So you volunteer for an even higher risk mission in Iraq. And the Army says "Sure." The Army needs to have a strict protocol prohibiting soliders with depression / anxiety / PTSD from volunteering for high-risk missions. The public needs to know more of what's happening to our soldiers!!
Verna