Tag: USFK

Here are the November 2014 court martial results that were posted on the USFK website.

Results of Courts-Martial for November 2014

On 7 November 2014, at a General Court-Martial, SSG Randal C. Rucker, 65^th Medical Brigade, was convicted of one specification of maltreatment of a subordinate (UCMJ, Article 93), four specifications of abusive sexual contact (Article 120), and one specification of assault consummated by a battery (Article 128).  He was sentenced to be reduced to E-1, to be confined for 12 months, and to be discharged with a Dishonorable Discharge.

On 11 November 2014, at a Special Court-Martial PFC Brandon L. Hall, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, was found guilty of one specification of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon (UCMJ Article 128) and one specification of assault consummated by battery (Article 128).  He was sentenced to reduction to E-1, six months confinement, and to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge.

On 13 November 2014, at a General Court-Martial, SFC Gregory McClain, 210th Field Artillery Brigade was found guilty of one specification of failure to obey a general regulation (UCMJ, Article 92).  He was sentenced to reduction to the grade of Sergeant (E-5) and three months confinement.

On 19 November 2014, at a General Court-Martial, SGT Duane R. James, 65th Medical Brigade, was convicted of one specification of adultery (UCMJ, Article 134).  He was sentenced to a Bad-Conduct Discharge.

On 20 November 2014, at a General Court-Martial, CPT John G. Birdsong, 65th Medical Brigade, was found guilty of one specification of sexual assault (UCMJ, Article 120) and one specification of failing to obey a lawful general regulation (UCMJ, Article 92).  He was sentenced to confinement for 24 months and to be dismissed from the service.

On 24 November 2014, at a Summary Court-Martial, SFC Christopher L. Martinez, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, was found guilty of one specification of abusive sexual contact (UCMJ, Article 120) and one specification of failure to obey a lawful general order (Article 92).  He was sentenced to reduction to E-6 and forfeiture of two-thirds pay for one month.

Results of ROK Criminal Prosecutions for November 2014

In Seoul Central District Court on 7 November 2014, Airman Willie S. Ford, Jr., 51st CPTS, Osan Air Base, was convicted of Obstruction of Performance of Official Duties and Infliction of Bodily Injury.  His adjudged sentence was imprisonment for 6 months, suspended for 2 years.

In Suwon District Court on 20 November 2014, MSgt Reginald G. Burks, 51st AMXS, Osan Air Base, was convicted of DUI.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,000,000 Won fine.

In Suwon District Court on 20 November 2014, MSgt David R. Sands, 607th SPTS/CSS, Osan Air Base, was convicted of DUI.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,500,000 Won fine.

In Suwon District Court on 20 November 2014, SSgt David J. Torrey, 303d IS/DOA, Osan Air Base, was convicted of DUI.  His adjudged sentence was a 2,000,000 Won fine.

In Seoul Central District Court on 21 November 2014, SSG Alan D. McNicholas, HHC, 2/9th Infantry, USAG Casey, was convicted of Assault.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,000,000 Won fine.

In Seoul Central District Court on 21 November 2014, SGT Crisoforo T. Trujillo, HHC,  2-2 Assault, USAG Yongsan, was convicted of Larceny and DUI.  His adjudged sentence was imprisonment for 6 months, suspended for 2 years.

In Suwon District Court on 26 November 2014, PFC Nico A. Pierce, 4-58th AOB, USAG Humphreys, was convicted of DUI.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,500,000 Won fine.

In Suwon District Court on 26 November 2014, SFC Nathaniel J. Goza, A Co, 719th MI BN, USAG Humphreys, was convicted of DUI.  His adjudged sentence was a 4,000,000 Won fine.

In Seoul Central District Court on 4 February 2014, SGT Walter L. Thomas, B Btry, 1/15th FA, USAG Casey, was convicted of Infliction of Bodily Injury, Assault and Destruction of Property.  His adjudged sentence was a 2,000,000 Won fine.  The Soldier demanded a formal trial but withdrew the request on 24 November 2014.

Here are the court martial results for October 2014 that were posted on the USFK website.

Results of Army Courts-Martial in Eighth US Army for October 2014

On 24 September 2014, at a Summary Court-Martial, MSG Phillip T. Whatley, 501^st Military Intelligence Brigade, was convicted of two specifications of violating a lawful general regulation/order (UCMJ Article 92), and one specification of engaging in drunk and disorderly conduct (Article 134).  He was sentenced to sixteen days of restriction and forfeiture of $3,178.47 in pay.

On 1 October 2014, at a Summary Court-Martial, Private (E-1) Jaleel Mcleod, 498th Combat Sustainment Battalion, 501st Sustainment Brigade, was convicted of one specification of Insubordinate Conduct toward an NCO (UCMJ Article 91), and one specification of Willful Damage of Military Property (Article 108).  He was sentenced to forfeiture of $500.00 pay for one month and to be confined for thirty days.

On 1 October 2014, at a Summary Court-Martial, Private First Class Kenneth S. Smith, 498th Combat Sustainment Battalion, 501st Sustainment Brigade, was convicted of one specification of Failure to go to Appointed Place of Duty, (UCMJ Article 86); one specification of Disrespect towards a Superior Commissioned Officer, (Article 89); two specifications of Insubordinate Conduct toward an NCO; and one specification of Failure to Obey a Lawful Order (Article 92).  He was sentenced to reduction to Private (E-1); Forfeiture of $1,021.00 for one month; and to be confined for thirty days.

On 6 October2014, at a General Courts-Martial, PV2 Luis A. Ruizperez, HSC, HHB, Eighth Army, was found guilty on one specification of Sexual Assault (UCMJ Article 120) and one specification of Adultery (Article 134).  He was sentenced to be reduced to E-1, to be confined for 3 years, and to receive a Bad Conduct Discharge.

On 6 October 2014, at a Summary Court-Martial, Sergeant (E-5) Olarewaju O. Taiwo, 194th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 501st Sustainment Brigade, was convicted of two specifications of Failure to Obey a Lawful Order, (UCMJ Article 92); two specifications of False Official Statement (Article 107); four specifications of Abusive Sexual Contact (Article 120); and one specification of Adultery (Article 134).  He was sentenced to reduction to Specialist, to forfeiture of $1,923.00 pay for one month; and to restriction to the limits of Camp Stanley for one month.

On 20 October 2014, at a General Court-Martial, PFC David M. Tompkins, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, was found guilty of four specifications of aggravated assault (UCMJ Article 128), four specifications of assault consummated by battery (Article 128), and willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer (Article 90).  He was sentenced to reduction to E-1, a Bad Conduct Discharge, and to be confined for 22 months.

On 23 October 2014, at a General Court-Martial, SGT Alan A. Galeana, 121 Combat Support Hospital, 65^th Medical Brigade, was found guilty on one specification of Violation of a Lawful Order (Fraternization, UCMJ Article 92) and two specifications of Assault Consummated by a Battery (Article 128).  He was sentenced to reduction to E-1, to be confined for 3 months, and to receive a Bad Conduct Discharge.

On 29 October, at a General Court-Martial, SPC Travis W. Cloke, 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion, 2d Combat Aviation Brigade, 2d Infantry Division was found guilty of two specifications of Attempted Sexual Abuse of a Child, (UCMJ Article 80) Distributing Child Pornography (Article 134), and Possessing Child Pornography (Article 134).  He was sentenced to reduction to E-1, a Dishonorable Discharge, and to be confined for three years.

Results of ROK Criminal Prosecutions for October 2014

In Seoul Central District Court on 14 October 2014, MSG Mary A. Mitchell, HHC, 501st MI Brigade, USAG Yongsan, was convicted of DUI.  Her adjudged sentence was a 3,000,000 Won fine.

In Seoul Central District Court on 14 October 2014, SPC Anjaya J. Peters, F TAB, 3/33d TAB, 1/38th FA, USAG Casey, was convicted of traffic law violations.  His adjudged sentence was a 2,000,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 16 October 2014, SSG James W. Wright, Jr., E Btry, 6/52d ADA, USAG Casey, was convicted of Indecent Assault.  His adjudged sentence was a 2,000,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 16 October 2014, PFC Jesse J. Espinoza, B Btry, 1/15th FA, USAG Casey, was convicted of Assault upon a Driver in Motion.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,500,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 22 October 2014, SFC Zachary L. Chappell, A Co, HHBN, 2d Infantry Division, was convicted of Infliction of Bodily Injury.  His adjudged sentence was a 3,000,000 Won fine.

In Daegu District Court on 22 October 2014, SSG William C. Bradburry, a member of 19th SFG, Fort Carson (in Korea for UFG), was convicted of Infliction of Bodily Injury.  His adjudged sentence was a 5,000,000 Won fine.

In Seoul Central District Court on 29 October 2014, CW3 Juan B. Sablan, D Co, 2-2 Assault, 2d Infantry Division, was convicted of traffic law violations.  His adjudged sentence was a 200,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 29 October 2014, MSG Scott R. Fuller, HSC, HHBN, 2d Infantry Division, was convicted of Forgery of Private Document, Uttering the Forged Private Document and Obstruction of Performance of Official Duties by Fraudulent Means.  His adjudged sentence was imprisonment for 8 months, not suspended.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 30 October 2014, PFC Richard R. Davis, HHD, 23d CBRNE Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, was convicted of Assault.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,000,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 30 October 2014, MAJ John S. Kasper, B Co, HHBN, 2d Infantry Division, was convicted of DUI.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,000,000 Won fine.

Unsurprisingly the Korean bar owners are unhappy with USFK’s decision to bar troops from buying drinks inside of bars for juicy girls:

A month-old U.S. Forces Korea policy banning servicemembers from buying drinks for “juicy bar” workers in exchange for companionship has angered some bar owners, who say it unfairly labels them as “pimps” and is hurting other establishments that cater to troops.

“It’s nonsensical to treat us as if we are whorehouses,” said Yi Hun-hui, owner of the Cadillac Club near Camp Humphreys. Now, he said, some local bar owners are talking about going into a different line of work because they’re angry at the military. “These were people who liked USFK. They were people who supported USFK, and now they’re embarrassed.”  (………..)

The organization’s Pyeongtaek branch already has asked for support from the city mayor and National Assembly members. It is collecting signatures on a petition from businesses, local citizens and civic groups throughout the city, he said. That petition will be sent to U.S. military officials on the peninsula later this month.

Yi, who employs seven Filipina women, said he ordered his female workers to wear jeans and T-shirts instead of skirts and low-cut tops after the Oct. 15 policy letter was issued.

“I did this so USFK would stop its narrow-minded view that our female employees are hookers,” he said.

It was unclear how or whether the new policy was affecting business for other bar owners. Five claimed the policy change was driving down sales for others, though all of those interviewed denied that their own bars had been hurt by the ban.

Lee Deok Bum, said business hasn’t dropped in recent weeks at Sportsman, his 15-year-old bar in Dongducheon, which employees five Filipina women, but he said he and other bar owners in the city are angry about the new USFK rule. He accused the U.S. military of judging South Korean bars by American cultural standards, not by what is acceptable in Korea.

Some bar owners have complained the new policy is unclear and appears to ban servicemembers from buying drinks for anyone, even friends. The policy letter, however, bans only buying drinks and other items for an “employee’s company or companionship, inside or outside a bar or establishment.”

An official at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said the ministry has received no complaints about the new policy from bar owners. The ministry began inspecting businesses that hire foreign entertainers, including some outside U.S. military bases, earlier this year in an effort to reduce human trafficking.

Seo In Ho, owner of Xanadu bar outside Osan Air Base, said most bar owners have interpreted the new policy to mean their USFK clientele can’t buy drinks — even water — for anyone else. One of his friends, a male servicemember, now tells Seo that he can’t even buy the bar owner a drink, and Seo said the ban on buying drinks for companionship is discouraging troops from going to bars at all.

He said all bar owners are being treated as if they are running brothels, and some women who work at bars are quitting because they feel like they’re being treated as prostitutes.

“Our self-respect has been hurt,” he said. [Stars & Stripes]

You can read more at the link, for the bar owner complaining about USFK using American cultural standards to judge the bars, he is absolutely right.  However, USFK has to worry about what is going on back in the US and what Koreans find acceptable is irrelevant when the US military is being routinely criticized by special interest groups.  That is what likely drove the change in policy for USFK since the special interests were gearing up to go after them over the juicy girl issue.

Also I find it hard to feel sorry for these shady juicy bar owners who have been ripping off GIs for years with the juicy girl business model and over priced drinks. With that said I still think USFK should have at least given these bar owners a carrot by making the new policy stipulate that bars that employ third country nationals would be put off limits due to human trafficking concerns.  This would leave the bar owners with the option of employing Korean women which would be much more difficult for USFK to be accused of supporting human trafficking with.  I am surprised though that these bar owners have not come up with workarounds to this policy yet instead of complaining to the Stars & Stripes.

More of the same:

SEOUL, South Korea — The 2nd Infantry Division is asking bar owners for help in reducing troop misbehavior after several incidents sparked negative publicity and calls from local officials for the U.S. military to rein in soldier conduct.

Maj. Gen. Thomas Vandal, 2ID commander, said Army officials met with about 20 owners of bars in the “Ville” outside Camps Casey and Hovey several weeks ago. Citing excessive alcohol usage as the main contributor to misconduct, the division wants bartenders to call military police when they believe a soldier’s drinking is getting out of hand.

“We asked them to help us with this campaign for responsible drinking that really gets at causing our soldiers to stop, pause and reflect before they have that extra drink, before we see it affects their judgment,” Vandal told Stars and Stripes. “They understand the intent. They were very positive, quite frankly,” he said, adding that soldiers getting in trouble is bad for a bar’s business and can lead to being put off-limits to troops. (Stars and Stripes)

You can read more at the link, but does anyone think this will make a difference.

Via a reader tip comes news that the Korean left is trying to re-stoke this old issue to bash USFK with:

The city estimated that polluted water near the Yongsan Garrison and Camp Kim came to 1,870 tons and 100 tons, respectively.

City officials noted that benzene, toluene and xylene among other chemicals were found in the underground water system.

Despite the capital pumping nearly 2,000 tons of contaminated water since 2001, pollutants were found to have remained in drainage water from the bases.

The discovery of pollutants is increasing concerns about waste disposal at U.S. bases, already heightened by concerns of possible Agent Orange contamination at camps in Korea.

Officials reiterated the urgency of preventing pollutants from entering the Hangang River. (Korea Herald)

You can read more at the link but the so called environmentalists are also bashing camps that are no longer even being turned over like Camp Casey and Camp Hovey. First of all there is going to be pollution on camps that are decades old and housed military equipment. This is not news. Secondly these studies in the past have been sensationalized by including lead contamination from rifle ranges and oil from new asphalt as pollution. They even claimed that people had to wear decontamination suits to go on Camp Kyle which I proved was false.

A lot of this issue comes down money.
When the base handover agreements were completed by the Roh Moo-Hyun government, they agreed to take the land including all buildings and infrastructure at no cost. Further cleanup efforts beyond what the United States already has done is supposed to be handled by the ROK. So on this issue the left gets to bash USFK again while the government can use this issue to get more money from the U.S. To pay for base clean up.

The leading conservative daily in Korea, the Chosun Ilbo is not happy with the announced changes to the Yongsan Garrison relocation plan:

Korea and the U.S. have agreed to keep the Combined Forces Command in Seoul even after the U.S. Forces Korea headquarters moves to Pyeongtaek in 2016. The CFC compound accounts for between eight to nine percent of the total area of the U.S. garrison right in the middle of Seoul.

If the housing compound for American Embassy staff is included, the total area of the base that the U.S. will continue to use rises to 17 percent. A Defense Ministry official claimed relocating the CFC further south would make it “difficult” to establish a smooth command system in conjunction with South Korean top brass in an emergency.

The official claimed that it would cost an additional W400 billion (US$1=W1,058) to relocate the CFC to Pyeongtaek. These are all valid reasons.

But Korea and the U.S. are in the process of building a new military base in Pyeongtaek at a cost of almost W9 trillion. Supporters say the move would help the U.S. military’s capabilities. The CFC was to be among the facilities being relocated, and the budget had taken that into account. Now the military is saying that the CFC should stay in Seoul. That is an absurd reversal.

The government hopes to build a 2.64 million sq.m park at the Yongsan site that rivals New York’s Central Park. The relocation of the U.S. garrison is also a highly symbolic event that signifies the return of land back to the Korean people after being used by foreign armies for around a century.

When Seoul and Washington agreed in 2004 to relocate the Yongsan base to Pyeongtaek, then U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said it was absurd to have a foreign military base sitting in the middle of a nation’s capital. Seoul agreed to shoulder the entire cost of the relocation because the Korean public agreed with Rumsfeld’s view.

But now, the symbolic significance of the relocation is about to lose its luster although trillions of won in taxpayer’s money have been spent. (Chosun Ilbo)

You can read more at the link, but the Chosun thinks the land should be developed into a park with some land sold to make apartments to offset the cost.

Below are the USFK Court Martial and ROK Criminal Prosecution Results for September 2014 that were posted on the USFK website.  Of interest in September was that a Captain refused to take the breathalyzer test and was convicted of this crime.  He received a 5,000,000 won fine which is steeper than the usual 3,000,000 won fine DUI convictions usually receive.  However, he doesn’t get a DUI conviction on his record.  Is that worth 2,000,000 won?  Probably if refusing the breathalyzer doesn’t get him kicked out of the Army. Then 1-38 FA had three soldiers get convicted of obstruction to include one soldier for also performing an indecent act and had to register as a sex offender.  I wonder what that soldier did to the KNPs to get that punishment?

Apparently a number of on-post housing for US servicemembers in Korea are not up to standard:

An Inspector General’s report has cited hundreds of potentially dangerous housing code violations, ranging from missing sprinkler systems to exposed copper wiring, in U.S. military housing in South Korea, although only 11 were considered serious.

Most of the violations were related to inadequate upkeep of housing facilities, according to the Oct. 28 report, which found that “housing visits and inspections were not being conducted in accordance with established instructions and procedures.”

Twelve percent of the occupied buildings at 13 U.S. Forces Korea military installations — ranging from family housing to barracks and dormitories for unaccompanied servicemembers — were reviewed during the IG’s March 10 to April 24 inspections. The checks found 646 deficiencies in 277 units, mechanical rooms and common areas.

The 11 “critical” deficiencies included an out-of-service fire alarm system at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, which left the occupants of one building with no means of fire detection. Furnaces in two other buildings at the Seoul base were leaking heating oil onto an electric blower motor, posing a fire hazard.  [Stars & Stripes]

You can read more at the link, but I have lived in quonset huts and crackhouses in Korea before so what servicemembers have to day is much better than just a decade ago.  With that said the real concern I have is how come the fire departments are not doing regular inspections of these facilities to ensure they are safe?  If they are then why did they not catch these issues beforehand?  Why did it take an IG inspection to find these deficiencies?

Below are the USFK court martial and ROK criminal prosection results for August 2014 that were posted on the USFK website.  The court martial results have a number of sex offender cases with a couple of people actually found not guilty of the crimes.  Then in the ROK criminal prosecution there is a major that was convicted of an indecent at and has to take sex offender classes and register as a sex offender.  He looks like a candidate now for officer cuts, but I wonder if the sex offender label in Korea follows him to the US as well?  That would be worse punishment than being discharged from the Army in my opinion.

Via the USFK website I was able to get a copy of the actual policy letter signed by USFK commander General Scaparrotti.  Here is the text of the policy letter: