Walter Reed rebuked in death of Carson GI Army arrogance, bad equipment cited at hearing

Article about a Fort Carson, CO soldier who died at Walter Reed.

Failed equipment, staff negligence and command arrogance plagued a wounded Fort Carson soldier's unsuccessful fight for life at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, a congressman said at a hearing this week.

Here is the DOD news release of his death:

The Department of Defense announced today that Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, 29, of Kingman, Ariz., died of wounds on June 18, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C. Latham was participating in a raid at a suspected arms market in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on May 19 when he was hit with shrapnel. Latham was evacuated back to the United States where he died of his wounds.

Latham was assigned to Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.

US Soldiers Aren't the Only Americans Dying

Thats right. Over 800 US civilians have died and more than 3,300 have been wounded in the Iraq War. They are just as important as the soldiers. They make it possible for us to send troops to train, fight, secure and police. Imagine if we had to send soldiers to cook, clean, guard and analyze intelligence as well. Respect them, love them, honor them too.

The death of PFC LaVena Johnson raises questions

The most high-profile Army cover up of the Iraq War is the death of former NFL player Pat Tillman. Chances are there is another one. If, by chance, things happened as the Army said they did they should have learned by the Tillman case to leave no stone unturned and erase all doubt. But, once again, the Army has to do things the hard way and now a family as doubts about the death of their child. The daughter of a doctor, an honor student and blood donor among a list of achievements, Johnson's death was labeled a suicide ("self-inflicted, noncombat injuries") even though she had two loose front teeth and a "busted lip" that had to be reconstructed at the funeral home.