1st Lt. Louis E. Allen
Posted on 06/17/2005 8:42:30 PM PDT by neverdem
Towns in New York and Pennsylvania struggled yesterday with an episode in Iraq so confounding that it stood apart from other troubling events from the war: an American soldier faced charges of killing fellow Americans, in this case two superiors.
Military prosecutors say that on June 7, Staff Sgt. Alberto B. Martinez, 37, killed two of his commanding officers in the 42nd Infantry Division, Capt. Phillip T. Esposito, 30, and First Lt. Louis E. Allen, 34, at a base in Tikrit, Iraq. The military said little yesterday to advance the public understanding of the case, again describing how investigators first believed that mortar fire had killed the two officers but then revised that opinion when they found that the blast pattern was inconsistent with such an attack.
Sergeant Martinez's family members remained secluded at home in Schaghticoke near Albany yesterday, in a blue house that sits on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River, though at one point they received a visitor from the Army. They asked about family services that the military might provide, according to the visitor, Col. Russell A. Catalano, who commands the unit's rear detachment from Fort Drum.
Sergeant Martinez is being held at a military confinement facility in Kuwait, the military said.
Military records show he joined the New York Army National Guard in December 1990. His job title is supply specialist. Captain Esposito was his company commander, and Lieutenant Allen was a company operations officer. The military said that Lieutenant Allen enlisted in 1988 and that Captain Esposito was commissioned in 1997 upon graduation from West Point.
Killing a superior officer, in military slang, is referred to as fragging, and often involves the use of a grenade. Sergeant Martinez is the second American soldier to be charged with killing his comrades. In April, a military...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Put this traitor Martinez with his shoulders against the wall and shoot him.
1st Lt. Louis E. Allen
odd combination of keywords......is this an indication of the background to this murder?
Thanks for the picture.
I didn't add fragging. Some sick folks hate New York which has done a good job attracting gays from all over the country and world.
Formerly of Chester, N.Y.
1st Lieutenant Louis E. Allen, a science teacher at George Baker High School in Tuxedo, N.Y., died in service to his country on Wednesday June 8, 2005 in Iraq. He was 34.
The son of Robert and Vivian Santangelo Allen, he was born July 20, 1970 in Goshen, N.Y.
1st Lieutenant Allen served the United States in the 101 Cavalry New York National Guard, 42nd Infantry Division.
A family statement reads: "Everybody loved Lou for his "Lou-ness"... LOU RULES!"
This is an extremely odd case. I wonder what evidence is going to come out soon -- maybe there's something we can learn from this.
Thanks for the obituary and link.
Captain Phillip T. Esposito, 30, of Suffern, N.Y., was killed June 8, 2005 in Tikrit, Iraq serving dutifully the country he loved.
He was born in Bronxville, N.Y. on June 24, 1974 to Joan and Thomas Esposito.
Phillip was a graduate of St. Anthony's School of Nanuet, N.Y. He was an Eagle Scout. Phillip graduated from Albertus Magnus High School, where he ran track and was co-captain of the Cross Country team. Phillip was his senior class Vice-President.
He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he served as a Cadet First Sergeant and Company Commander, reflecting his personal commitment and leadership abilities. He graduated from West Point in May 1997, entering active Army service as a 2nd Lieutenant in Armor Branch.
Upon graduation, Phillip attended training at Fort Knox, Ky., followed by assignment to his first tank battalion at Fort Hood, Texas. He served with distinction in several leadership positions in the 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor before leaving active duty in 2000.
Phillip was employed as Project Manager of Solomon Smith Barney prior to 9/11. He was called up to active duty to support the National Guard efforts in New York City. Following this activation, he was transferred to the storied 42nd Infantry Division (Rainbow Division) at Fort Drum, N.Y., where he served as a company commander in the 101st Cavalry, N.Y. National Guard. In November 2004, Phillip deployed as the Rainbow Division Headquarters Company Commander, stationed at Forward Operating Base Danger in Tikrit, Iraq.
Phillip is survived by his wife, Siobhan Esposito (nee McMahon); and 19-month old daughter, Madeline Rose Esposito, the pride and joy of his world.
"Phillip was a devoted husband, father, son and brother, who will be severely missed and remembered as a true American Hero, who loved his country, family and friends immensely."
Wondered if it was any particulat superior officer that we knew when I heard this...
Lou is survived by his wife, Barbara Obremski Allen, and their sons: Trevor, Colin, Sean and Jeremy.
You're welcome.
Don't try to frag any body when wittnesses can see that your the only person within range of throwing a frag, and there isn't any evidence of a frag being booby trapped.
"The military said little yesterday to advance the public understanding of the case, again describing how investigators first believed that mortar fire had killed the two officers but then revised that opinion when they found that the blast pattern was inconsistent with such an attack."
The artillery unit supporting this unit will send soldiers to analyze the craters from any kind of ground bursts of any sort of artillery round, i.e. mortar, rocket, 155mm cannon, etc. which will show a directional effect. If the blast pattern is a perfect circle, they don't have to plan counter battery fire. Then they need to call intelligence and the MPs.
"CBS affiliate WRGB in Albany reported that Liberty Mutual Insurance is fighting the insurance claim for the fire. Less than two months earlier, Martinez increased his insurance coverage from $100,000 to $226,000, the television station reported. Tamara Martinez told the station in January, "Liberty Mutual has first complained that the policy was so high, and then tried to say that my husband and/or myself had set the fire."
"Neighbor Jeremy Goyette said Martinez, who had lived there for about 10 years, moved out about two weeks before the fire."
1st Lieutenant Louis E. Allen ... He was 34 ... born July 20, 1970
So he enlisted at 17 or 18, served for 17 years, and is a first lieutenant. He must have served most of that time as an enlisted man.
Gagondeez isn't likely to be activated to Iraq , and if he was his unique leadership skills would get everyone around him killed and leave him alive afterwards.
But the first thing that popped to mind was, indeed, him.
Condolences out the families of Capt Esposito and 1Lt Allen.
The account I read yesterday said that Martinez was facing some kind of discipinary action by one or both of these officers. I wonder why that angle has not been included in today's accounts.
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