Thanks Morganne for sharing this story. Must read. This happens more often than one will admit. Ask about Gabriel Union, and many will readily give details about the actress recent engagement to Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade. Ask about Beyoncé and get the skivvy on her 2013 CD of the same name. Ask about Olivia Pope and get the most insightful predictions of upcoming Scandal episodes. Ask, however, about deceased Private First Class [Pfc.] LaVena Johnson and all too many will reply, Who? If you have asked the who question, know that you are not alone. And if it is some consolation, also know that a number of factors contribute to your lack of knowledge. Being unaware is not completely your fault. Mainstream media is unlikely to touch the story of LaVena Johnson due to the powerful interests that might that it go quietly into the night. Black media is consumed with the goings-on of celebrities. Cultural blogs make these rather simple reports that require little serious journalism and research their focus and top priority. As a result, the broader community masters the scoop on the rich and famous as if this demonstrates being in the know on key issues of our times. And [black] politicians are likely to risk their political fortunes on the tragedy involving some 19-year old black girl. And as if the death of Pfc. Johnson is not sad enough, after answering the who question, one is left with another equally disturbing question. How? Thanks to a film documentary The Silent Truth, reports on alternative media such as Democracy Now, and a recent article that appeared on The MadMan Chronicles, the story of this young lady is regaining much needed attention. LaVenaJohnson-M16 SO WHO WAS U.S. ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS LAVENA JOHNSON? Pfc. Johnson, a daughter of Missouri Dr. John Johnson and Mrs. Linda Johnson, was stationed in Balad, Iraq on July 19, 2005 - the date on which her life ended. The Armys official ruling stated that Johnson died from a self-inflicted, non-combat intraoral gunshot wound. According to investigators, Johnson was depressed at the time of her death and had made overtures to fellow soldiers that she was contemplating killing herself. Johnsons lifeless body was found in storage tent owned by contractor Kellogg, Brown & Root [KBR]. Parents of Pfc. Johnson indicate that their daughter was very patriotic and desired to serve her country. At the time of her death, Pfc. Johnson was looking forward to a brief return home before completing her tour. Long-term plans included attending college upon re-entering civilian life. SUICIDE OR COVER-UP? In April 2007, the Johnsons had the casket containing his daughters remains exhumed at Jefferson Barracks Cemetary, followed by a new autopsy. This came nearly two years after unsuccessful attempts to obtain further details from the Army. Dr. Johnson, with a 25-year record of serving enlisted personnel, maintains that his daughter was brutally raped, tortured, and murdered. And further, that her body sustained additional trauma to conceal the attack she suffered as well as to complicate identifying who committed these crimes. Dr. Johnson raised a number of issues that are not easily explained by the Armys account. Namely: LaVenaJohnson-Autopsy How does a young lady take an M-16 automatic rifle to shoot herself in the mouth? Why no suicide note at the scene to corroborate stories of LaVenas depression? Why did investigators fail to recover a bullet? Why were no traces of gun powder found on LaVenas hands? A trail of blood leading from LaVenas body and the tent. Forensic evidence that someone tried to set the tent on fire, leaving Pfc. Johnsons fully clothed body inside the burning tent. What of trauma to LaVenas body, including: multiple abrasions, a broken nose, loose teeth, and burns? A corrosive chemical on LaVenas genitals.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 00:26:58 +0000
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