Father: Army 'Broke' Soldier Accused of Killing 5

news max ^ | Wednesday, May 13, 2009 4:10 AM

[meandog]

SHERMAN, Texas -- The father of a U.S. soldier accused of killing five fellow troops in Iraq said his son "forfeited his life" but the military bears some responsibility for the rampage.

Wilburn Russell said Tuesday that 44-year-old Army Sgt. John M. Russell wasn't typically a violent person, but counselors "broke" him before gunfire erupted in a military stress center Monday in Baghdad.

"John has forfeited his life. Apparently, he said (to his wife), 'My life is over. To hell with it. I'm going to get even with 'em,'" said the elder Russell, 73.

His father said the younger Russell, an electronics technician, was at the stress center to transfer out of active duty. He said his son was undergoing stressful mental tests that he didn't understand were merely tests, "so they broke him."

"I hate what that boy did," said the elder Russell, speaking in front of the two-story house his son was buying with his German wife in a new subdivision. "We're sorry for the families, too. It shouldn't have happened."

Excerpts of his military record, obtained by The Associated Press, show Sgt. Russell previously did two one-year tours of duty in Iraq, one starting in April 2003 and another in November 2005. The stress of repeat and extended tours is considered a main contributor to mental health problems among troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[meandog]

Hmmm...this soldier had been in the Army for 16 years in a very technical MOS (Signal Corps), yet only an E-5. He had been issued a restraining order from ex-wife, had finanical problems, military discipline problems and, yet, his old man still blames the Army for his failures...

[knarf]

Is there a pic yet?

[AppyPappy]

An electronics technician? Not exactly a deadly profession.

[AppyPappy]

There is a pic of the dad on one of the threads.

[rbg81]

Hmmm...this soldier had been in the Army for 16 years in a very technical MOS (Signal Corps), yet only an E-5.

---

Its not usual for enlisted to retire as an E-5 or E-6.

[rbg81]

Oops—I should have said:

Its not UNUSUAL for enlisted to retire as an E-5 or E-6.

[knarf]

I meant of the murderer

[ko_kyi]

An electronics technician? Not exactly a deadly profession.

Well, not directly anyway. We have some pretty nasty toys these days.

[bboop]

‘He comes home a couple times a year.’ I HATE bad English.

[meandog]

Is there a pic yet?

[onedoug]

The enemy has it better, one guesses.

[meandog]

Its not UNUSUAL for enlisted to retire as an E-5 or E-6.

We're not talking 11 Bravos here...It is very unusual for someone in a technical MOS!

[Gay State Conservative]

Blame the Army...yah,that's the ticket,Daddy.Don't blame you son.Don't even blame the 9th Century knuckledraggers that we're fighting in Iraq (which,IMO,might be a reasonable thing to do).Blame the Army.

Sounds to me like Daddy might even be more deserving of a Court Martial than is his son.

[Terabitten]

Hmmm...this soldier had been in the Army for 16 years in a very technical MOS (Signal Corps), yet only an E-5. He had been issued a restraining order from ex-wife, had finanical problems, military discipline problems and, yet, his old man still blames the Army for his failures.

Exactly. What was the worst stress he faced - a cold solder joint?

[McGruff]

...Russell, an electronics technician, was at the stress center to transfer out of active duty. He said his son was undergoing stressful mental tests that he didn't understand were merely tests,...Sgt. Russell previously did two one-year tours of duty in Iraq, one starting in April 2003 and another in November 2005...

I don't know. How many patrols does a electronics technician go on?

[knarf]

Thanks .. I needed that.

I herewith offer my apologies for a racist statement I made the first day this event was published.

I was wrong and my remark was racist.

[Terabitten]

Its not UNUSUAL for enlisted to retire as an E-5 or E-6

I've never heard of anyone outside the NG retiring as less than a E6. Just my personal experience, your mileage may vary.

[hoosierham]

Good Lord,the father correctly observes the military has some fault and that bothers you?

If the 44 year old had all the problems then the Army ought to have kept him away from weapons at least.

The dad isn't whining about spare my boy his life or approving his son's actions.

[Old Grumpy]

Yep, the creep murders five people and the blame is being laid on the military by Dad. We sure wouldn’t want sonny boy to take responsibility for his own actions. I hope he fries.

[river rat]

In war - many of the wounded have suffered wounds with no visible evidence or external bleeding.

All the bleeding is internal - all the damage is to the mind or spirit.

These warriors get no Purple Hearts - all they earn is decades of nightmares reliving the horrors they have known and the losses they have suffered.

This poor bastard could be a worse case example.
Most don’t act out against their brothers, but suffer quietly and pose no danger to others.