JBLM

Judge: Soldier premeditated Iraq killings

The Associated Press — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:19:43 +0000

A military judge has found Army Sgt. John Russell guilty of premeditated murder in the 2009 killings of five fellow service members at a combat stress clinic in Iraq.

Russell now faces a sentencing phase to determine whether he will face life in prison with or without the possibility of release.

Women soldiers reflect on new army career options

Tom Banse — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:33:00 +0000

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. - The Pentagon's decision to allow women in combat roles has some female soldiers rethinking their career trajectories.

Army Spc. Heidi Olson received a Purple Heart last year for shrapnel injuries she got during a foot patrol in Afghanistan. She feels she's earned the right to call herself a combat medic.

"Originally as a female, I wasn't allowed to be titled as a combat medic," Olson says.

Army will seek death penalty against Washington soldier

Austin Jenkins — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:32:56 +0000

The top forces commander at Washington’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord has decided to seek the death penalty against Staff Sgt. Robert Bales. He’s the 39-year old soldier accused of murdering 16 Afghan civilians earlier this year.

Bales is accused of conducting two predawn raids on villages in southern Afghanistan. The victims were mostly women and children and the Army says some of the bodies were burned.

Twelve JBLM soldiers killed in Afghanistan since January

Austin Jenkins — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:55:27 +0000

An Army combat engineer has become the 12th Washington-based soldier to die in Afghanistan this year. The pace of deaths has picked up in recent weeks as the summer fighting season begins.

The Army says Sgt. 1st Class Barett McNabb was killed by an improvised explosive device. He was on his fourth deployment, but his first to Afghanistan.

McNabb is just the latest soldier from Washington’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord to die in Afghanistan. May was the deadliest month so far this year with six soldier deaths.

Lt. Col.

JBLM soldiers returning from Iraq

Dave Meyer — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:11:41 +0000

As of Tuesday, nearly all of Joint Base Lewis McChord's soldiers will have left Iraq.

A group of 170 soldiers is returning to JBLM on Tuesday. It includes members of the 17th Fires Brigade and 62nd Medical Brigade. Their charter flight arrives at McChord Field at 4 p.m.

Boise soldier enters guilty plea in war crimes case

Austin Jenkins — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:45:33 +0000

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – A 21-year-old soldier from Boise has pleaded guilty to unpremeditated murder of an unarmed Afghan civilian.

Private First Class Andrew Holmes entered his plea Thursday as part of an agreement with prosecutors. The deal spares him a possible mandatory life sentence.

Anti-war veterans, widow want investigation into JBLM suicides

Austin Jenkins — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:13:19 +0000

NEAR JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Some anti-war veterans – and an Army widow – are demanding a Congressional investigation into an apparent spike in suicides at Joint Base Lewis-McChord . So far this year nine soldiers are believed to have killed themselves, including five in the month of July alone.

JBLM soldier killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:39:01 +0000

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — A soldier from Joint Base Lewis-McChord died Saturday of combat injuries in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department says 27-year-old Staff Sgt. Michael W. Hosey, 27, of Birmingham, Ala., was fatally injured when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.

Hosey was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group.

Stung by criticism, JBLM focuses on returning Guardsmen

Jake Ellison — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:41:21 +0000

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – More than 26-hundred National Guard soldiers from Oregon, Idaho and Montana are returning home from a year long deployment to Iraq . Their first stop is Joint Base Lewis-McChord where last year guard members complained they were treated like second class soldiers.

Heightened security at JBLM, Fairchild for 9-11

The Associated Press — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:53:17 +0000

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — Visitors to Joint Base Lewis-McChord now have to be sponsored by a Defense Department identification card holder to enter the base near Tacoma.

German news agency obtains secret 5th Stryker Brigade report

Austin Jenkins and KPLU News Staff — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:28:15 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-961399.mp3

A German news publication says it’s obtained a copy of a secret Army investigation into leadership problems within the 5th Stryker Brigade. One soldier from this Joint Base Lewis-McChord based unit has pleaded guilty. Four others are charged with war crimes including the murder of innocent Afghan civilians.

Wednesday morning's headlines

KPLU News Staff — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:28:31 +0000

Making headlines around the Northwest this morning:

Push to Preserve Iconic Seattle PI Globe
Warnings of Phone Scams
Plea Deal for JBLM Soldier Likely for Afghan War Crimes

It's About the PI

Some Seattle City Council members are concerned the iconic globe atop the seattlepi.com offices on the city's central waterfront may go away if it's not protected. They're considering landmark status for neon-lighted orb that has been spinning for 63 years. It has survived the company's shift from daily newspaper to a smaller, online-only venture.

Army probe finds no deliberate mistreatment of Oregon Guard troops

Tom Banse and KPLU News Staff — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:00:10 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-956673.mp3

"Very disappointing." That's how Oregon Senator Ron Wyden describes a series of Army investigations into the treatment of injured Oregon National Guard soldiers last year. Those inquires conclude the Oregon troops were not treated as second class soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Obama's budget plan would boost JBLM construction

The Associated Press and KPLU News Staff — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:59:40 +0000

Construction at Joint Base Lewis-McChord would increase further if Congress adopts President Obama's 2012 budget proposal.

The News Tribune reports that the spending plan released Monday would set aside more than $300 million for construction at the base south of Tacoma, up from about $172 million in the 2011 budget proposal Congress has yet to approve.

Northwest soldiers have mixed feelings on 'don’t ask, don’t tell'

Austin Jenkins — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:00:27 +0000

Northwest soldiers are expressing mixed opinions over the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” The U-S Senate voted over the weekend to end the 17-year old policy that allows gays to serve, but not openly. The bill now goes to the President.