Wednesday, June 13, 2007

War and Cover-up: Untold Story of Pfc. LaVena Johnson



LaVena Johnson's story is now posted on Newsinkling.org but more in depth.

Written by Biloxi
Samstag, 09 Juni 2007


Her name was LaVena Johnson. She was a Missouri native, private first class soldier and only nineteen years old. On July 19, 2005, Pfc. LaVena Johnson she died near Balad, Iraq.

She was just eight days shy of her twentieth birthday. She was the first woman soldier from Missouri to die while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Here is her story.

After an investigation into the death of LaVena, the Army declared LaVena's death a suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Army’s findings were refuted by the Johnson family. The Johnsons believe the evidence shows she was murdered. . In an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, LaVena’s father pointed to indications that his daughter had endured a physical struggle before she died. There was evidence of two loose front teeth, a busted lip that had to be reconstructed by the funeral home. This suggested that "someone might have punched her in the mouth." From a televised report on KMOV news station in St. Louis, Missouri, the media disclosed troubling details not previously made public:

1. Indications of physical abuse that went unremarked by the autopsy.
2. The absence of psychological indicators of suicidal thoughts; indeed, testimony that. LaVena was happy and healthy prior to her death.
3. Indications, via residue tests, that LaVena may not even have handled the weapon that killed her.
4. A blood trail outside the tent where Lavena's body was found.
5. Indications that someone attempted to set LaVena's body on fire.

More on LaVena's story.

2 comments:

airJackie said...

I hope the media picks up this case so the Johnson family can have some closure. We will find many cases like LaVena's have happen during the illegal invasion. Our troops are over worked and on drugs. Now the Army is letting criminals and rapist in the military. When you enroll the bottom of the barrel in the Military this is what you get. Remember the soldier who rapped the young girl then set her on fire to cover it up. This is becoming common in our military. We are turning into the people we are fighting. We can no longer talk about the horror of how Saddam treated his people when we are doing the same to ours.

Patriot Girl said...

Well said Jackie.

This one really touched me B-man, and hit close to home. I pray every day our troops will com home.

Also... I enjoyed Jackie's pictures. Thanks for posting them you guys.