Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Pfc. Robert Hull Marko confessed to murder after returning to Colorado
Since returning home from the war in Iraq, numerous soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Carson, Colorado, have been accused of a laundry list of crimes, including multiple counts of murder. An investigation by the Colorado Springs Gazette found that 10 infantrymen had been accused of murder, attempted murder or manslaughter, while others have been involved in fights, beatings, rapes, DUIs, drug deals, domestic violence, shootings, stabbings, kidnapping and suicides.
The newspaper expose included interviews with soldiers that provided insight into how the dangers of combat life may have led to the lawlessness back home. “Toward the end, we were so mad and tired and frustrated,” said Daniel Freeman. “You came too close, we lit you up. You didn’t stop, we ran your car over with the Bradley,” an armored fighting vehicle.
Some Army personnel blamed lengthy deployments and being sent back to fight after recovering from serious wounds for the psychological breakdown experienced by some soldiers. Others told about being belittled or punished for seeking therapy, or turning to drugs and alcohol to cope with their post-traumatic stress.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
GIs in Slayings Tell of Iraq Horrors (Associated Press)
Casualties of War, Part I: The Hell of War Comes Home (by Dave Philipps, Colorado Springs Gazette)
Casualties of War, Part II: Warning Signs (by Dave Philipps, Colorado Springs Gazette)
Investigation of Homicides at Fort Carson, Colorado November 2008 – May 2009 (U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine) (PDF)
Returning from the War Zone: A guide for Families of Military Members (National Center for PTSD) (PDF)
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