troung

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...?oneclick=true

Mud-wrestling scandal rocks US troops
February 7, 2005 - 9:14AM


A female member of a US National Guard military police unit was demoted for indecent exposure after a mud-wrestling party at the Army-run Camp Bucca detention centre in Iraq, a military spokesman said.

The party occurred on October 30th, as the 160th Military Police Battalion, an Army Reserve Unit from Tallahassee, Florida, prepared to turn over its duties to the Asheville-based 105th Military Police Battalion, said Lieutenant Colonel Barry Johnson, spokesman for detainee operations at Camp Bucca.

In the course of the transfer of duties, "some individuals in their exuberance decided to put together a mud-wrestling thing," Johnson said by telephone.

"There were females involved, and some members of the 105th also became involved, one female soldier in particular."

Following an inquiry, that soldier was demoted and placed on restriction for participating in the event, specifically for indecent exposure, he said.

Four or five other members of the 105th who were spectators received counselling, Johnson said.

Johnson did not release the name of the demoted soldier.

However, she was identified by the Daily News as Deanna Allen, 19, and the New York newspaper's identification was confirmed by her mother, Ladyna Waldrop of Black Mountain.

Allen was demoted from specialist to private first class. She is still a guard at the camp, the newspaper reported.

The Daily News said it was given 30 of the party photos, and it printed several in Sunday's editions.

Waldrop said her daughter is devastated by the events.

"It was just a thing where she was coerced by a bunch of people, and with all the excitement, she lost her sanity for a moment and that's all it took," she said.

"It seems like they're just singling her out.

"She's the one getting all the publicity and punishment, and that's not right."

The 105th took over Camp Bucca on November 1st, and photos of the party were found after the 160th had left Iraq, Johnson said, adding that he understood a soldier had turned over the photos to commanders.

Results of the inquiry were sent to the commander of the 160th, he said.

"It appears from the commander's inquiry that this was primarily put on by troops of the 160th, who are no longer under our command," Johnson said.

It wasn't immediately clear if any members of the 160th had been disciplined.

The party was isolated, Johnson said.

"Detainees were nowhere in the vicinity," he said.

"They had no possible way of seeing what occurred."

A scandal involving the separate Abu Ghraib prison erupted last spring when photographs were made public showing soldiers taunting naked Iraqi prisoners.

Waldrop said she communicates with her daughter almost every day via internet instant messaging, and they also see each other by means of a web camera.

"She's very tearful, very upset," Waldrop said.

Waldrop said she was proud of her daughter for joining the National Guard.

"But I hate that this happened, and so does she," she said.

The party "just got way out of hand, and before you know it, pictures were taken, and she didn't have time to react.

"My mom and I have both had talks with her that she's supposed to be an example for her country."

© 2005 AP

Julie

Pfft....there's got to be a party pooper in every bunch. The one that turned over those pictures....trying for brownie points? Geez.

Anon

Or actually trying for good military discipline...

This is just the latest example of why co-ed units are so STUPID.

Julie

Trying to wake those sleeping dogs Snipe?

Veni Vidi Vici

Ya... the ol' dead horse hasn't been thumped in a while, snipe's just getting out the club for some more.

__________________
"Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter we are known at home, by the former to the world. Our great title is AMERICANS…" -- Thomas Paine

dalem

But doesn't he have a valid point?

-dale

lemontree

Exactly what I wanted to say, but did'nt want to flog the dead horse all over again.
If co-ed units are acceptable then so should such parties, after all these are not full time soldiers, but young 20 somethings letting their hair down.

__________________

Cheers!...on the rocks!!

Anon

"Exactly what I wanted to say, but did'nt want to flog the dead horse all over again.
If co-ed units are acceptable then so should such parties, after all these are not full time soldiers, but young 20 somethings letting their hair down."

Exactly.

What i'm trying to say is that this sort of behavior is totally non-conducive to good military discipline, but that it also cannot be avoided if one insists on mingling the Tab A's with the Slot B's.

Julie

I'll give him the point valid to a certain extent. Business and pleasure just doesn't mix well under certain circumstances, especially in the middle of a war. BUT, the soldiers were going home, they were celebrating, and having a good time. I wouldn't call that STUPID.

Officer of Engineers

I would. They were still in theatre and they were expected to act accordingly.

__________________
Chimo

Julie

"act" is the key word there. I read so much about soldiers and their required duties. Their psycological training is so extensive to enable them to cope with the responsibilities of war. Soldiers practically have to be in a state of schizophrenia, while in war, to be able to reach any normal mental capacity after returning home. I could not fathom the height of tension in these soldiers 24/7 that they endure, without a vent outlet at some point. Some vent by committing atrocities on their enemies for which they are prosecuted for....some wait until they return home and commit suicide. But some.....well....let their hair down and party.

I can not relate your expertise OoE...but psychologically....expertise has no boundaries. How a soldier "acts" and "reacts" are two totally different aspects of the mental minds, and gender is not a deciding factor.

Stand in the corner at attention for 24 hours and see if you get a cramp.

Officer of Engineers

All sodliers have an alloted time to destress themselves. We are not unaware of a human being's need to unwind, to resettle back home. This can happenned either as part of leave or councilling back home. However, none of this takes place in theatre. You're still in a hostile zone and you're expected to act accordingly.

I really don't care if you wrestle with a pig back home for fun but I want you focus on your job 24/7 every second you're in theatre.

An old Chinese proverb, a master lumberjack was watching his student climbing a tree to cut the tallest limbs. It was only when the student was climbing down on his last ten metres did the master lumberjack yelled out, "be careful."

It is when you think you've done the job without actually finishing it that you begin to get sloppy. I know. I've done it.

Julie

Yeah...we call it "counting your chickens before they hatch." Point taken.

barrowaj

Who cares? Let them have fun I say. For God's sake they're fighting a war and putting their lives on the line for us. The can at least enjoy a little debauchery. It doesn't seem like this situation is going to stop anyone from doing their job.

I bet if it wasn't for the Abu Gharib scandal, nobody would have been demoted.

Officer of Engineers

Yes, it did. Through sheer stupidity, one person has been demoted.

Wrong. Both cases are violations of the UCMJ.