333rd may be at Abu Ghraib (Freeport-based MP Co. of Illinois Guard)

Although there has been no official confirmation from the military, an Illinois National Guard spokesperson said she has heard from family members that the 333rd Military Police Unit is at the Abu Ghraib prison, the site of the Iraqi prisoner-abuse scandal.

On Wednesday, military sources at the federal level said they couldn't confirm the location of the Freeport-based 333rd, because they didn't have that information. They said the missions of troops already on the battlefield is in the hands of the commander on the ground and they don't usually receive regular updates.

State military officials also said they had no confirmation but have good reason to believe the 333rd is playing a role in operations at Abu Ghraib.

Lt. Col. Alicia Tate-Nadeau, spokesperson at the Illinois National Guard's headquarters in Springfield, said she had heard the unit was at the prison from soldiers and family members, but not officially from the military.

"We haven't had official notification that the 333rd has taken that mission, but family members are calling and telling us they are there," Tate-Nadeau said. "We don't know how many people from that unit it involves but it looks like they've been assigned to that mission."

Jeff Holst, 19, of McNabb, said his father, Sgt. Patrick Holst, 49, had arrived at the prison about three weeks ago.

Holst said his father recently wrote home asking for a new pair of tennis shoes because his had been stolen at the prison. He seems "pretty upbeat," his son said, but hasn't addressed in

"I couldn't believe it when I heard about the abuse at the prison a couple weeks ago, and then probably a week later I realized my dad had sent me an e-mail telling me he was at that exact prison," said Holst. "It's ironic. So weird."

Instead, Patrick Holst reassures his family that his duties at the prison are safer than the unit's previous assignment - guarding convoy missions on Iraqi highways, where roadside bombs and gunmen are constant dangers.

State Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica, said he had heard members of the 333rd were on guard duty at Abu Ghraib but had not heard it from anyone in an official military capacity.

On Wednesday, Congress continued to look at new photos and video clips of torture and sexual abuse of Iraqis at the hands of U.S. soldiers at the prison. The alleged abuses happened under the watch of the 800th Military Police Brigade, although Army investigators claim tactical control of the prison had been turned over to a military intelligence unit at that time.

As of May, the 16th Military Police Brigade and 504th Military Intelligence Brigade took over management of the prison from the 800th MP Brigade - well after the alleged abuses at the facility.

Abu Ghraib, located 20 miles west of Baghdad, has a history of notoriety. A huge fortress, with five compounds built on 280 acres, it had been run by Saddam Kamal, head of Saddam Hussein's Special Security Organization. Thousands of political prisoners were tortured and killed there during Saddam's reign. As many as 50,000 prisoners of the government were held in its small cells at one time. Prisoners were also reportedly victims of biological and chemical warfare experiments after they were officially outlawed by the government.

Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn said it was unfortunate the 333rd would be given responsibilities at Abu Ghraib when the unit's members should already be home by now. In April, the unit's tour in Iraq was extended 90 days. The extension came as the unit was in Kuwait, ready to head home after having served since the spring of 2003.

"I can't imagine a more strenuous, stressful assignment for folks that have already been in Iraq for more than a year," he said.

An Illinois police officer was just fired by his city because he is a reservist.

Published: May 13, 2004

Local News: Roscoe, Rockton & South Beloit
State leaders side with fired Rockton officer

The policeman was dismissed 11 days after being called to military duty.

By CHRIS GREEN, Rockford Register Star

ROCKTON -- State leaders are seeking to bolster employment rights of reservists called to active duty after a Rockton police officer and reservist was fired last year.

Village leaders maintain that officer Jeremiah Johnson's firing stemmed from poor job performance during his probationary period, not because he was called for active duty.

Wednesday, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn joined Johnson, 27, of Shannon in his lawsuit against the village for wrongful job termination. The state officials also introduced legislation during the conference at the Thompson Center in Chicago to strengthen the 1941 Service Men's Employment Tenure Act.

The act states that if an employee is activated, an employer must restore that employee to the same position if the employee was honorably discharged, completed service and is physically fit to return to work within 90 days of leaving the service.

Under House Bill 4660, the employer would be subject to fines between $5,000 and $10,000, and must pay the plaintiff's court costs.

"This law is too important to be taken lightly or ignored," Madigan said in a statement. "The men and women who are serving overseas are risking their lives. They should not risk the jobs by which they support their families."

Johnson is a member of the Freeport-based Illinois National Guard 333rd Military Police Company. He was fired from his job as a Rockton police officer on Feb. 9, 2003, 11 days after being activated and two days before heading to Fort McCoy, Wis., for training.

Johnson contacted Quinn's office in January to take up his cause.

Quinn sent village officials letters as well as a representative from his office requesting the village rehire Johnson or face a "costly black eye" from a lawsuit.

"I'm just frankly befuddled why the village of Rockton won't adhere to (the law)," Quinn said. "Whatever they have personally against officer Johnson, it should be put aside."

Rockton President Dale Adams said this week the village has no plans to rehire Johnson.

"We've been advised by our municipal attorney that we were right in our dismissal," he said. "Until that changes, that's what we'll stick with."

A representative from Nicolosi & Associates law firm, which represents the village, said the firm has yet to receive any correspondence regarding Madigan's and Quinn's announcement, and declined to comment.

However, in March, lawyer Paul Nicolosi said if a court were to order the village to rehire Johnson, it would set a dangerous precedent by giving employees called to active duty "immunity against discharge" regardless of their on-the-job conduct.

"We don't believe that is the intent of the law," he said.

Johnson was contacted Tuesday in his home in Shannon. He said he no longer wishes to work in Rockton but still plans to file a civil suit.

"I decided I would rather go someplace else."

Contact: cgreen@registerstartower.com; 815-987-1241

The law

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 prohibits discrimination against members of the U.S. military or those who serve in the military reserves. For more information, visit www.operationhomefront.org.

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