Soldiers' morale is low at some bases across the country

Morale Is in Trouble at Some Army Bases. Here’s What the Service Plans to Do About It

Military.com
By Matthew Cox
February 5, 2020

The general in charge of Army installations laid out a plan that moves beyond fixing the service's housing crisis to drastically improving the quality of life at some of its most undesirable posts.

Soldiers secure equipment to their Stryker before moving out to "the box" at National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Ca on Aug 30, 2019. (U.S. Army/Sgt. Nicole Branch)

"I am working two big pilots. First, I call it the big three, enhancing quality of life at Fort Wainwright in Alaska, at Fort Irwin in California and Fort Polk in Louisiana," Gen. Gustave "Gus" Perna, commander of Army Materiel Command, told reporters Tuesday at a Defense Writers Group breakfast.

Wainwright is a strategic base on the Alaskan frontier; the other two are equally Spartan and are home to two of the Army's combat training centers: the National Training Center at Irwin and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Polk.

"We send our best leaders, at all levels, to go train our [brigade combat teams], and then they are in these installations in the desert and in places where they don't have a lot of quality-of-life stuff," Perna said.
read it here

Death of Fort Polk Soldier under investigation

Fort Polk soldier fatally shot
American Press
Pamela Sleezer
April 17, 2018

18 year-old Pvt. Jacob S. Malcolm of Hedgesville, W. Va. Malcolm enlisted with the Army in February of 2017 and at the time of his death was stationed at Fort Polk

Fort Polk officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a soldier who was fatally shot on Thursday.

According to spokesperson Kim Reischling, the soldier suffered a fatal gunshot wound at a residence at the Vernon Parish installation and was pronounced dead by the Vernon Parish deputy coroner at 7:04 p.m.

She said the gunshot wound was not self-inflicted.
read more here

Vietnam Veteran's prayer answered by Fort Polk after 53 years

Ft. Polk hospital helps Vietnam Vet correct military record
KALB News
By Lydia Magallanes
Mar 23, 2018

“All of the people that I’ve met in the week that I’ve been here have made me just feel wonderful,” he said. “It’s the answer to a 53-year prayer.”

Dr. Gregory Grant, chief of medical boards and Marisol Lopez, a physical evaluation board liaison officer are part of the team who helped answer that prayer. Both are inspired by Pillette's story of patience and faith.

FORT POLK, La. (KALB) - In 1965, Sgt. Kibbie Pillette, a combat medic with 5th Special Forces group was on a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam when he was shot in the back and mouth. He lost a third of his tongue and wasn't expected to be able to speak again. The only member of his platoon to survive, the Abbeville native would fight another battle once he got home: living with undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I'd have nightmares, I’d have flashbacks I went through it all,” Pillette said. “Then getting over the morphine addiction was probably my toughest battle. Had my mother not been as strong as he was and the help I received from the VA, I don't know where I’d be now.”
read more here

Soldier Died, Another Wounded During Fork Polk Training

Fort Polk soldier killed in training incident
NOLA Times Picayune
Paul Purpura
September 12, 2014

An Army medic tries to shield a 'wounded' soldier during a combat training exercise at Fort Polk in 2003. Thousands of troops have undergone combat training at the Army post in west-central Louisiana, before deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. (Ted Jackson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

A soldier who returned home from Afghanistan eight months ago was killed and another one was injured while training at Fort Polk in west-central Louisiana, the Army post said Friday. Spc. Silas S. Jones, 22, of Marionville, Mo., died Wednesday in "a tactical vehicle incident," the post said.

The injured soldier's name was not released. He was flown to a regional hospital, according to the statement. The Army would not release more information "to protect the integrity of the investigation." The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and Fort Polk's Directorate of Emergency Services are investigating.
read more here

Fort Polk Soldier Died After Being Tasered

Fort Polk soldier dies in custody during criminal investigation
The Times-Picayune
By Paul Purpura
NOLA.com
September 10, 2014

Authorities are investigating the death of a Fort Polk soldier while in police custody at the U.S. Army post in west-central Louisiana. The Army has withheld the soldier's name.

Military and civilian police were summoned Friday night by a report that someone was trying to get into a military housing unit, Fort Polk said in a statement. The first military policeman to arrive spotted the soldier who matched the suspect's description.

The soldier ran off and, when caught, began resisting the military and civilian policemen employed by the Army, the statement said. They used a Taser gun and pepper spray to subdue him.
read more here

Fort Campbell Soldier from Florida Killed in Training Accident at Fort Polk

Fort Campbell soldier dies in training accident
The Leaf-Chronicle
July 27, 2014

FORT POLK, La. – A 101st Airborne soldier died during training on Thursday during what was termed "a routine vehicle movement to a training area" at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, Louisiana..

According to a spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Sgt. Tyler A. Zody, 20, died as a result of an accident involving one vehicle that also injured three soldiers.

The incident is under investigation.

Zody was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Rakkasans" at Fort Campbell as a senior sniper.

"Tyler was a dedicated and talented young NCO," said Lt. Col. Marc Cloutier, Commander of the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. "The Leader Battalion family will miss him dearly."

A native of Flemming Island, Florida, Zody was born Aug. 21, 1993. After he enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 2011, Zody completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, as an infantryman. After graduating from training, he was assigned as a grenadier in Company A, 1st Bn, 187th Inf. Rgt in December of the same year.
read more here

Hunting for Heroes at Fort Polk

Hunting for heroes
Recovering veterans appreciate outing
News Star.com
Written by
Margaret Croft
February 8, 2014

There was only one rabbit taken in a Saturday morning hunt for 13 recovering Army veterans from the warrior transition units at Fort Polk in Louisiana and Fort Sam Houston in Texas, but everyone involved in the event at Chemin-A-Haut State Park near Bastrop thought it was a rousing success.

“Going on these hunts and participating in this stuff really does help us break up the monotony of going to appointments and the everyday life,” said Iraq veteran Jeff Leger of the Fort Polk unit. “It means a lot to me that these guys put in their time, and they volunteer to bring us out here and get us away from the everyday life of injuries and doctor’s appointments and all the things we have to go through back at Fort Polk.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Louisiana Office of State Parks and the Louisiana Hunters for Heroes combined to sponsor the weekend rabbit hunt at Chemin-A-Haut in “appreciation for their service.” The hunt took place at Ben Lilly Conservation Area adjacent to the park.
read more here

Fort Polk soldier's death in Afghanistan under investigation

DOD Identifies Army Casualty
No. 676-13
September 21, 2013

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. William D. Brown III, 44, of Franklin, N.C., died Sept. 19, in Laghman Province, Afghanistan, from a non-combat incident. The soldier's death is under investigation.

Brown was assigned to the 94th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Polk, La.

Training pays off for stranded Fort Polk Soldier

Training pays off for stranded Fort Polk Soldier
Mar 23, 2012
Posted By Kristian Claus

The following is a news release from the Fort Polk Public Affairs Office:

FORT POLK, La. — Fort Polk Directorate of Emergency Services, military police and the United States Army Air Ambulance Detachment (Cajun Dust Off), 5th Aviation Battalion put their medical evacuation training to the test, conducting a live hoist medevac mission early in the morning March 21.

More than 10 inches of heavy rain struck Fort Polk March 20-21 causing severe flooding in some areas. A Soldier was attempting to cross a flooded road in an HMWVV on his way to the Joint Readiness Training Center training area when his vehicle was caught in the water. The Fort Polk firefighters were dispatched to the site to find the vehicle more than two-thirds covered, with water over the hood and bed of the vehicle, said Chief Michael Kuk, Fort Polk DES.

"We were out there on scene right after we got the call and immediately identified how he needed to be rescued. We lit up both sides of the crossing and coordinated with Dust Off to get a hoist," Kuk said. "Water was pushing the vehicle with a current of about five miles per hour and was chest-high."

Fort Polk DES had their water rescue teams on standby in case the medevac couldn't launch due to the weather.
read more here

Jacksonville soldier killed in Afghanistan

Jacksonville soldier killed in Afghanistan
Posted: August 6, 2011 - 12:05am


By Jeff Brumley
Morris News Service
A 21-year-old Jacksonville man is among two soldiers killed Wednesday in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Department of Defense said Friday that Army Pfc. Gil I. Morales Del Valle and Pfc. Cody G. Baker, 19, of Holton, Kan., died in an enemy attack on their vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

They were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Wardak province, Afghanistan. The men were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.
read more here
Jacksonville soldier killed in Afghanistan

Carson GI cited for preventing suicide in Iraq

Carson GI cited for preventing suicide in Iraq

The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday May 18, 2010 14:00:51 EDT

FORT CARSON, Colo. — A Fort Carson soldier has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for preventing a buddy’s suicide in Iraq.

The Army says Spc. Albert Godding removed the firing pin from his buddy’s rifle after noting he was feeling down because his wife was leaving him and he had several months left in his deployment.

The Army says the other soldier tried to kill himself with his rifle later that day, but it wouldn’t fire without the pin.

Godding was presented the award at Fort Polk, La., where he was training with Fort Carson’s 4th Brigade Combat Team to deploy to Afghanistan.

The Army says the buddy got counseling, and has been promoted to corporal and now is engaged.

Godding and the other soldier were based at Fort Drum, N.Y., at the time.
Carson GI cited for preventing suicide in Iraq

Two soldiers overcome being hit by Union Pacific train

2 soldiers hurt when train strikes Army vehicle

The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Feb 28, 2010 9:52:39 EST

SALT LAKE CITY — A train hit an Army vehicle in Tooele County on Saturday, and two soldiers were hurt.

The tactical vehicle, about the size of a pickup, was traveling to Camp Williams from Dugway Proving Grounds when it was hit by a northbound Union Pacific train.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/02/ap_army_utah_train_crash_022810/

DOD:Non-comat death in Iraq

07/14/09 DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Chief Warrant Officer Rodney A. Jarvis, 34, of Akron, Ohio, died July 13 in Baghdad of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 46th Engineer Battalion, 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Polk, La.

http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx

Area soldier stricken by heart attack
By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer

POSTED: 07:34 p.m. EDT, Jul 15, 2009

A heart attack Monday claimed the life of Akron native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rodney A. Jarvis who was on his third tour in Iraq, his family said.

''He is a casualty of war,'' his sister, Robin Bacola of Munroe Falls said Wednesday. ''He gave his life just as if he were hit by a bullet.''

Jarvis was scheduled to come home to his wife and two daughters in Louisiana in September.
read more here
http://www.ohio.com/news/50897502.html

Pvt. Janelle F. King, was health care specialist

Merced soldier, 23, dies in Baghdad
By SCOTT JASON
MERCED SUN-STAR

last updated: August 20, 2008 05:13:49 AM

The county recorded its fifth death from the war in Iraq as the Army reported that Pvt. Janelle F. King, 23, of Merced, died Aug. 14 in Baghdad "from a noncombat-related cause."

King was a health care specialist with the 115th Combat Support Hospital from Fort Polk, La. In previous Iraq deployments, the military hospital helped treat Iraqi detainees as well as U.S. troops.

In a news release, the Army said that "circumstances surrounding the soldier's death are under investigation." Since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, 4,143 U.S. troops have died there.

Jamecia Jackson, 45, King's mother, declined to comment on her daughter's death beyond saying, "We're really close-knit as a family and we haven't decided what to do yet."
go here for more
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/399467.html

Pvt. Janelle F. King, non-combat death in Iraq

DoD Identifies Army Casualty


The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Janelle F. King, 23, of Merced, Calif., died Aug. 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 115th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Polk, La.

The incident is under investigation.

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12150

lilnked from ICasualties.org

Staff Sgt. Enoch B. Adams dies at Fort Polk

Soldier found dead at Polk

The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jun 5, 2008 8:29:01 EDT

FORT POLK, La. — A soldier has been found dead near one of the gates to Fort Polk.

The body of Staff Sgt. Enoch B. Adams, a physician’s assistant student at Fort Polk’s Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, was found in woods next to Highway 467 South on Monday, said Samantha Evans, a spokeswoman for Fort Polk.

Adams’ body was found after an ambulance crew checked on an empty vehicle parked on the side of the road, Evans said Wednesday. Adams was found in a nearby line of trees, she said.

Preliminary indications are there was no foul play involved in Adams’ death, Evans said.

The cause of death and other specific details of this case are currently under investigation, she said.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_polk_soldier_060408/

Spc. William Charles Koelsch III died in accident at Fort Polk

Maine soldier killed in accident at Fort Polk
The Associated PressPosted : Friday Apr 11, 2008 19:18:25 EDT

FORT POLK, La. — Officials say a 23-year-old soldier from Maine has died in a training accident at Fort Polk, La.
Maine Gov. John Baldacci says the victim is identified as Spc. William Charles Koelsch III, who has family in Maine. He says the victim’s mother, Brenda Lee Koelsch, lives in Fort Fairfield and his sister, Lisa Koelsch, lives in Waterboro.
The accident happened Wednesday, but details weren’t immediately available. Flags will be flown at half-staff on the day of his funeral.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/ap_mainesoldierkilled_041108/

Another non-combat death

Soldier laid to rest in Helena
KPAX-TV - Missoula,MT,USA

Posted: Dec 16, 2007 02:37 AM EST

Updated: Dec 22, 2007 08:38 PM EST


A Montana soldier was laid to rest in his hometown on Saturday after dying last week in Baghdad.

Private Daren A. Smith, 19, was Helena High School graduate who died in Iraq as a result of non-combat related injures. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation.

Smith, who grew up in Butte, entered the U.S. Army in March and was stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana prior to his November deployment.

While Smith's funeral was held Saturday morning in Butte, the burial took place at the State Veteran's Cemetery at Fort Harrison in Helena and community members came out in force to remember the young soldier.