Replies

bad company,
The story of Rob is typical of many young servicemen.
I can't tell you how many similar stories I've heard from other guys confined at the DB for murder. Many were only 18, 19, 20 years old at the time of their offense. Alcohol/drugs were invariably a factor. Nothing excuses what they did but it's such a shame that they wasted the lives of their victims and forfeited their own as well in a momentary fit of drunken rage. To arrive at the DB at the age of 19 or 20, with a life sentence to serve is grim indeed. I wonder if Rob was even old enough to drink when he committed his crime? Imagine if your son was sentenced to life in Leavenworth. It must have been terrible on his family too. He ruined many lives that day.

FMC,
thanks for the other photos. You had some good aerial ones but they were apparently too old to show the hammer and sickle design incorporated into the flagpole out front. The walkway to the flagpole and flagpole itself were the same when I was there but the other walkway was different and looped around into the "sickle" shape that completed the logo. I guess it would have to be a photo from the early to mid-90's to show what I am talking about.

I remember inmates working at the commissary while I was there. It was a coveted job and I think it may have even been a paying job. I think it was stopped because inmates were fraternizing with women (or the other way around) and it was a source of contraband into the prison.

I also heard a rumor of a guard who supposedly committed suicide in one of the watchtowers. It didn't happen while I was there but was supposed to have happened many years before.

Inmates were treated for certain things at Munson Army Hospital. Your security classification dictated the type of security needed to transport you. Minimum custody inmates could be escorted with no restraints while max custody inmate would have full restraints and several escorts. The story you speak of I have no heard but it is possible that it happened. If you find out more please post. I seem to recall another thread where someone posted that his grandfather was killed by an inmate at the DB while a guard there? Perhaps there is a connection.

As for the gurneys you described used to escort the inmate afterwards, it reminds me of a practice once used at the DB called the cocoon. They would place you on an old army MASH stretcher and then place another stretcher over top of you and tape the handles and canvas together with duct tape (100 mile per hour tape). You would be in full restraints also (handcuffs, leg irons and belly chain). They would leave you like that as long as they felt like it, sometimes for 2 or 3 days. They would intermittently beat you through the stretchers and you had to lie in your own urine and feces. They would also throw the cocoon while you were in it. It was difficult to breathe and very hot. They called it behavior modification.
I don't think it necessarily modifies behavior for the good though.

You mentioned that you could have interviewed an old timer. I don't think so. The military prohibits inmates from being interviewed. I had several reporters who tried unsuccessfully to interview me over the years. A friend of mine and fellow inmate, Clayton LoneTree had tons of reporters including "60 Minutes" that wanted to interview him. They were all denied access. Having said that, I don't think there are too many pics of the inside of the DB out there. The press corps has never stepped foot inside the castle and now never will because it's been razed. I've seen a couple at www.militaryinjustice.org but that's about it. Very rare pics that you have FMC.

As always I would like to thank StarCMC for hosting the following photo's. I think having exDBinmate shedding light on the institution. They are black and white, some are quite old, and hard to see but it gives you a flavor of the institution years ago.

Panoramic view of the United States Disciplinary Barracks.

Prison Farm

United States Disciplinary Barracks

United States Disciplinary Barracks, view from the west.

United States Military Prison. 1911

USDB - United States Disciplinary Barracks

I recall that those working at the commissary made the same as the young kids now make, 25 cents a bag, or more if you are inclined to be generous. Kid of liking working at a restaurant. But, I wonder, the rate of pay is different for those in the prison system is it not?

I learned the story of a man who was there first hand when he much younger, I mean much younger and was in the military. I am fairly confident he was truthful, but, will do a leg work to see what I can uncover.

One day, having just broken my ankle for the 3rd time, I was waiting and they brought an inmate to the x-ray clinic, I guess, the prison has had difficulty with theirs. He was shackled and in a different color uniform. From what they said, each uniform color signifies the type of inmate he was. Were you identified in that way as well?

Yikes, that is some type of punishment. I had only heard of the gurney's as a result of the event aforementioned. That it was used to transport not to be a punishment method. I would hope that method was reserved for the worst of the worst, but the times they have changed.

I am sorry, I did not mean I had interviewed an old timer, I had thought perhaps I COULD interview an old timer. I had not pursued that, so thank you for the heads up on that issue. I do recall, jeff McDonald, the guy from Bragg, who was convicted of murder. Early on he was interviewed, to what end I do not know. His crime was horrific, that is if he committed the crime, I have some questions about the forensics. Evidently he had remarried and was able to transfer to a prison closer to his new bride. I find that odd, but, would not argue against that unless I learn otherwise.

I am flattered and appreciative of your reflections regarding my photo's. I had taken a journey and it is not finished. I think I will see if I can access the grounds tomorrow, to enter one of the remaining watch towers. You had asked about them and several are still standing.

Oddly enough, there are some buildings where they have posted the names of those who worked there, at the medical clinic, and they still remain.

I really will kick myself for not asking prior to the raising of the building if I could enter it, I probably would be denied but who knows. One would have to think a former guard might have at some point taken photo's but I do not know and it is a task to find such people.

You have offered a keen eye into historic building, your courage to talk openly of your experience I hope rev's up folks desire to delve into history, no matter the subject.

FMC