Arlington Cemetery Officials Punished for Poor Management

American Forces Press Service ^ | Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, USA

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2010 – The top two officials in charge of Arlington National Cemetery here were disciplined after an Army investigation found the cemetery’s management to be “dysfunctional,” Army Secretary John M. McHugh announced today at the Pentagon.

Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh announces at a June 10, 2010, Pentagon press conference that in light of findings of inappropriate practices and mismanagement at Arlington National Cemetery, he is relieving the cemetery’s current superintendent and deputy superintendent of their duties and placing Kathryn Condon (right) in the newly created role of Executive Director of the Army National Cemeteries Program. DoD photo by R. D. Ward  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The Army inspector general completed a months-long report on June 8 that identified 76 separate deficiencies as well as 101 recommendations to improve operations at Arlington National Cemetery. Most significantly, the report found poor recordkeeping allowed occupied gravesites to be improperly marked or often not marked at all.

The Army stripped Superintendent John Metzler of all authority, but he will remain on staff until his retirement July 2. His deputy, Thurman Higgenbotham, was placed on administrative leave pending additional personnel actions. Both are career federal civil servants.

“A majority of these findings are deeply troubling and unacceptable,” McHugh told reporters today at a Pentagon news conference. “The [inspector general] found Arlington’s mission hampered by dysfunctional management, by a lack of established policies and procedures and an overall unhealthy organizational environment.

The report determined the improper internment of remains, including the loss of accountability for remains, names and graves listed as empty, he said. McHugh also cited improper maintenance and cleaning of graves.

“That all ends today,” he said firmly, later adding that “there’s simply no excuse” for the negative findings in the report.

McHugh established a new position to oversee the Army National Cemeteries Program. Katherine Condon was appointed executive director of the cemeteries program and she “has total supervisory powers pertaining to all business and operational activities associated with Army cemeteries,” the secretary said.

Condon served as the senior civilian for the Army Material Command before accepting the position.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki also agreed to lend his department’s expertise in cemetery operations. Patrick K. Hallinan, director of the Office of Field Programs for the VA, will be temporarily reassigned as Arlington’s superintendent. Hallinan currently oversees 130 national cemeteries.

Also, McHugh established an Army National Cemetery Advisory Commission. Former Sens. Bob Dole and Max Cleland are charged with leading the group. Both former legislators have the experience for the job. Dole co-chaired a commission that investigated deficiencies at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2007, and Cleland is a former VA secretary.

McHugh said he’s “deeply grateful” for the help he’s enlisted. But more noticeably, the former New York congressman said he was battered with guilt and expressed his apologies to the families of the fallen buried in Arlington.

“On behalf of the United States Army and on behalf of myself, I deeply apologize to the families of the honored fallen resting in that hallowed ground who may now question the care afforded to their loved ones,” he said.

The Army and Arlington National Cemetery will bounce back, McHugh said.

“The Army owes better,” he said. “I’m unable to explain the past, but I can promise this about the future. The United States Army will take every step necessary to fully ensure that every challenge, every need at Arlington is clearly understood and effectively addressed.

“We owe no less to our departed heroes, no less to the loved ones of this nation who, when the call was sounded, stepped forward to serve,” McHugh continued. “The better tomorrows for Arlington National Cemetery begin today.”

Biographies:
John M. McHugh

Related Sites:
Arlington National Cemetery

Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh (right) holds a Pentagon press conference, June 10, 2010, to address problems brought to light by a recent investigation of inappropriate practices and mismanagement at Arlington National Cemetery. The investigation was conducted by Lt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb (left), the Army inspector general, and his staff. Allegations included such varied issues as a hostile work environment, inappropriate hiring practices and improper internment and trans-internment of remains. McHugh announced immediate changes in leadership at the cemetery and disciplinary actions against the current superintendent and deputy superintendent. DoD photo by R. D. Ward   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh (center) holds a press conference at the Pentagon, June 10, 2010, to announce changes in the leadership of Arlington National Cemetery resulting from an internal investigation into allegations of improprieties and mismanagement at the hallowed burial ground. McHugh told reporters that he had relieved the current superintendent and deputy superintendent of their duties and placed Kathryn Condon (right) in the position of Executive Director of the Army National Cemeteries Program. The investigation was conducted by Lt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb (left), the Army inspector general. DoD photo by R. D. Ward   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[PROCON]

Totally unacceptable incompetence at our most revered National Treasure....thanks 0bozo!

[Nitehawk0325]

Does anyone know anything about the new czar for Arlington Cemetery, Katherine Condon? Is she going to follow directions from the Obama regime and move the heroes buried there and buried terrorists? As crazy as this sounds, I wouldn't put anything past “O”.
Any comments?

[RightFighter]

I notice the article doesn’t say when the mismanagement occurred. Should I assume that means it was in the last 18 months and therefore occurred under Obozo’s watch?

[SandRat]

She’s an Unknown.

[tflabo]

Just make sure the dearly departed get to vote in the elections. Oh wait—they’re military-—probably vote conservative too-—never mind.

[RightFighter]

I’m not putting down Arlington, because it’s a beautiful place and I think it’s a fitting way to honor our fallen heroes. However, I do find it ironic that the cemetery was actually started there as a thumb in the eye to General Lee. Dead Union soldiers were buried there largely as payback for his disloyalty in resigning his commission from the Union army and joining the Confederacy. At around the same time they were deciding to bury Union soldiers there, the Union was swindling the Lee family out of the land through an illegal scheme (later overturned by the Supreme Court) wherein they refused to accept payment of taxes from an agent of the Lee family and demanded that they pay the taxes in person, which they knew the Lees would be unable to do.

I just found that fascinating when I toured Arlington last year. I had never heard it before.

[GreyFriar]

This IG investigation has been brewing for months. The main honcho had announced his retirement about a month ago. I have vague memories of Katherine Condon from when I was on active duty Or back as a DA civilian(I retired in 93). She is a career Department of Army civilian. And was a competent person. I believe that she will do our deceased brothers in arms the appropriate honors.

[zot]

Thanks. I hope Katherine Condon does a good job with the cemetery.
I had not heard it was being mismanaged.

[scrabblehack]

As army assignments go, that’s got to be a fairly easy one.

[ExNewsExSpook]

According to Fox News Radio, the problems at Arlington began 13 years ago; more than 200 graves/sets of remains may have been interred in the wrong spot, lost or were improperly accounted for since 1997.

Secretary McHugh shouldn’t stop the wave of firings with the two former senior civilians at Arlington. Culpability extends up and down the chain.

[Domangart]

Paper records and card files. In this day and age, a mistake waiting to happen. Who was the IG that passed them the last time?

[Nitehawk0325]

“was swindling the Lee family out of the land through an illegal scheme”
This proves the government has always and will always screw over people.