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Outrageous cruelty: Soldier denied PTSD treatment while awaiting day in court [Sgt. Evan Vela]
Defend Our Troops ^ | December 10, 2007 | David Allender

Posted on 12/12/2007 2:55:43 PM PST by RedRover

Sgt. Evan Vela, of the 501st Infantry Regiment, sits tonight in a military prison in Kuwait. Confined since July 1, Vela is one of three Army snipers charged with murder for an incident near Iskandariyah, Iraq.

Two squadmates involved in the incident, Sgt. Hensley and Spc. Sandoval, were exonerated of murder charges in courts martial this past fall.

As a soldier, Sgt. Vela was pushed beyond the limits of human endurance, going days without sleep in pursuit of our enemy in Iraq. While in confinement, Vela was diagnosed with moderate to severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Despite this diagnosis by a military psychiatrist, the government has been unwilling to allow the sergeant the treatment he needs before he stands trial.

Now the government has a chance to make amends.

Dr. Rosemary Carr-Malone has petitioned authorities to transfer Sgt. Vela to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dr Carr-Malone is Assistant Director of the Mental Health Directorate at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. As forensic psychiatrist for the defense, she has coordinated for Sgt. Vela to be received at Walter Reed to be treated for his PTSD and tested and evaluated for possible Traumatic Brain Injury.

Chances seem slim that the government will grant the request. So far, authorities have stacked the deck against Sgt. Vela--as only the government can. His government-appointed military counsel was ineffective, and had the sergeant sign a waiver of his right to a judicial investigation (known as an Article 32 hearing). Additionally, exculpatory witnesses have been blocked from testifying on Sgt Vela’s behalf. The government has also been unwilling to move his trial (which may take place in February) to the States despite the near-impossible financial burden a trial overseas has placed on Sgt. Vela's family.

It’s unclear why the government is going out of its way to see Sgt Vela convicted of a crime he likely never committed. Perhaps there’s pressure to show the Iraqi government that the United States punishes its own.

As a supporter of the troops and their mission in Iraq, I have a suggestion for our government. Give Iraqi leaders a tour of Walter Reed. Take a line from a Spielberg movie and tell them, “Earn this.” And, for God’s sake, allow Sgt Vela to get the treatment he deserves


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: defendourtroops; evanvela; iraq; iskandariyah; oifveterans; ptsd; wot
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To: Lancey Howard

Thanks, Lance. Soldiers or Marines, the same crap is rolling down on them.


21 posted on 12/12/2007 4:42:53 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: gondramB
I'm not familiar with all the treatment methods for PTSF at Water Reed. I do have a pdf of Dr Carr-Malone's affidavit where she summarizes the care Sgt Vela would receive. If you're interested, the pdf is at the LINK.
22 posted on 12/12/2007 5:42:06 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: All

Correction to above. That’s PTSD, not PTSF.


23 posted on 12/12/2007 5:42:58 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: okiejack
This isn't the fault of the VA. It's up to the Convening Authority in the case, Major General Rick Lynch of the 3rd ID.

There's a link to Dr Carr Malone's affidavit above. If you're interested, I also have pdfs of the Request for Treatment and Testing and the Request for Change of Trial Locations that covers the facts.

24 posted on 12/12/2007 5:47:30 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: RedRover

Thanks for the links. According to Dr. Carr-Malone’s affadavit, Sgt. Vela requires more intensive evaluation and treatment than is available at his confinement facility. There is room, and a doctor has accepted him at Walter Reed. She also wants him further evaluated for TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury. So what’s the problem with getting this soldier some help? Why does the convening authority Maj. Gen. Lynch insist on holding him in Iraq vs. getting the medical treatment he needs?


25 posted on 12/12/2007 5:55:34 PM PST by Girlene (Merry Christmas)
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To: All

This is such bullsh*t ..How dare they treat a US soldier like this. He should say he is a terrorist , they would treat him like gold. we need to complain to about this . Anyone have a contact that would make a difference ?


26 posted on 12/12/2007 5:58:45 PM PST by sonic109
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To: RedRover

My first thought was that I can see not taking someone out of the country where he is charged with a crime..but then I noticed they already took him out of Iraq and into Kuwait...hmmm

Thanks for the affidavit link. If my starting position was skeptical toward our troops I would read that as them saying the initial tests didn’t find anything. I’m not sure why him being sleep deprived would have an impact on whether he is brought to the U.S. -that sounds more like a defense for trial than a need for testing.

But since my predisposition is to try to give our soldiers the benefit of the doubt and since it feels like there is a hunt for scapegoats and since removing him from Iraq apparently isn’t the issue - I’m glad to see the profile raised on this. Not just for this boy but for the country - we need out men and women in uniform to know they will get a fair shake if they are accused of something - if for no other reason than we need young men and women to volunteer and why would they if they see they get less fair handling and less medical treatment than convicted common criminals?

BTW, I appreciate your efforts brining these kinds of things to our attention.


27 posted on 12/12/2007 6:01:32 PM PST by gondramB (Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.)
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To: Girlene
The ball is in the major general's court and we can hope he'll do the right thing. I'm not sure when we'll hear his decision.

BTW, I did just get a message from a Blue Star Mom who read the article. She plans to write to MG Lynch and will encourage other Blue Star moms and dads to do likewise.

Also BTW, Rob Pennington, in the Hamdania case, had a similiar diagnosis and that may have played a part in Gen Mattis' (belated) clemency.

28 posted on 12/12/2007 6:06:53 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: gondramB; Girlene

These cases are my obsession and I’m glad to share them. Otherwise, I’d just be muttering about them all day to myself.

BTW, the scuttlebutt is that the prosecutors’ pride is wounded after losing the first two cases in this matter. Word is that they want Vela not because they are seeking justice, but for their own selfish purposes. But that’s just scuttlebutt, of course...


29 posted on 12/12/2007 6:12:46 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: RedRover
Wow. Reading the Change Of Trial Request, is quite interesting. Sgt. Vela was ordered to testify in Sandoval and Hensley's trials. Because of this, the defense claims preventing prejudice to Vela's right to a fair trial requires his trial movement. It is claimed there aren't soldiers in Baghdad who havent' been exposed to his involvement in those trials. (The jurisdiction is just too small.)

Sgt. Vela was then denied testimonial immunity from Sandoval and Hensley at his own article 32, even though he was ordered to testify in their trials. Beyond that, they tried to use the same military panel that had been used in Hensley's trial. Moving this trial and Sgt. Vela back to the US seems like a good first step to a more impartial process.
30 posted on 12/12/2007 6:27:54 PM PST by Girlene (Merry Christmas)
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To: RedRover
Let us prayerfully hope some with sufficient financial resources can make an impact, in behalf of this soldier and his loved ones. But most importantly for the short come, is that he be given the rights any combat soldier should be afforded in todays Army.
The way our Soldiers and Marines continue to be treated in these often bogus trials continues to make me sick, as I am sure it does just about anyone who becomes privy to this info.
31 posted on 12/12/2007 6:29:49 PM PST by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter for POTUS)
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To: Girlene

This is sick. Pathologically sick.


32 posted on 12/12/2007 7:11:33 PM PST by freema
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To: Girlene; All
Yes, the lack of fairness in the process, to put it mildly, is a major concern. I did manage to put my hands on some additional documents that shed more light on this...

Also, you'll be interested to know that the defense has requested the testimony of an expert forensic pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden.

33 posted on 12/12/2007 7:18:24 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: Marine_Uncle

Ditto and amen, Uncle!


34 posted on 12/12/2007 7:19:08 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: verity; RedRover; bigheadfred

This story has been on Free Republic for months. Our own Red Rover is responsible for getting Sgt Vela the lawyers that he now has. Evan’s uncle, Freeper Bigheadfred, has been keeping us informed throughout.

Click on RR’s links above and they’ll take you to the entire chain of stories on this case.


35 posted on 12/12/2007 7:25:25 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain! True Supporters of Our Troops Support the Necessity of their Sacrifice!)
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To: RedRover

Un-freakin-believable... I am shocked at Rick Lynch - he usually has the best interests of his soldiers at heart. He writes op-ed pieces for the Savannah paper about once a month and has been a strong & vocal advocate for supporting the troops. I’ll fire off an email and forward your article to the Savannah paper (if that’s okay).

I LOVE Dr. Baden - he is awesome. It’s a shame the Marines didn’t use him for the Haditha hearings. I would have loved to hear his comments about the NCIS conclusions.


36 posted on 12/12/2007 8:10:30 PM PST by Chickenhawk Warmonger (The Media Lied & Soldiers Died)
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To: Chickenhawk Warmonger

Please do, Chick! The more voices in the chorus, the better.


37 posted on 12/12/2007 8:15:56 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: RedRover
This is Evan’s address, for any who are interested.


38 posted on 12/12/2007 9:18:05 PM PST by bigheadfred (The SERGEANT EVAN VELA DEFENSE FUND,Please help! See DefendOurMarines(Iskandariyah) for more info)
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To: DuncanWaring

Rule .303.


39 posted on 12/12/2007 9:21:19 PM PST by Atchafalaya
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To: RedRover; verity; Chickenhawk Warmonger; sonic109; freema; lilycicero; brityank; Girlene; ...
This is Evan’s address, for any who are interested.


40 posted on 12/12/2007 9:24:43 PM PST by bigheadfred (The SERGEANT EVAN VELA DEFENSE FUND,Please help! See DefendOurMarines(Iskandariyah) for more info)
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