Gulf War Vet and wife's death may have been murder-suicide

UPDATE

AH Shooting Ruled Murder-Suicide; Two Had DP Ties
Posted: Saturday, January 28, 2012 11:54 am
By TOM ROBB Journal and Topics Reporter
Members of Des Plaines veterans organizations remembered two colleagues this week found dead in what the Cook County Medical Examiner Thursday ruled a murder-suicide.

Police said Roger and Angelita James, 48 and 56 respectively, of the 900 block of Shady Way, Arlington Hts., both sustained gunshot wounds Wednesday. A gun was found "in close proximity to the body" at the crime scene, said Arlington Hts. Police Capt. Ken Galinski.

Mr. James was commander of Des Plaines American Legion Post 36 and a member of Des Plaines VFW Post 2992. Mrs. James was a member of the American Legion Women's Auxiliary.

Arlington Hts. police conducting a welfare check with the couple's adult son found the couple dead in their home across from Forest View Educational Center Wednesday morning.
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Arlington Heights couple found shot to death in home

By Matt Arado and Madhu Krishnamurthy
1/25/2012

Arlington Heights police are investigating the deaths of a husband and wife found shot to death in their home Wednesday morning.

Police discovered the bodies of Angelita James, 56, and Roger D. James, 48, about 8:40 a.m. after forcing their way into the residence on East Shady Way when no one responded to the door.

Police Sgt. Richard Kappelman said evidence collected so far was “pointing” to the shootings being a murder-suicide.

Angelita James' son met police at the residence, telling officers his mother had not shown up for work for the past two days and couldn't be reached. The vehicles of both Angelita and Roger James were parked outside the home, police said.

Inside, police found the couple in a bedroom, dead from gunshot wounds. A firearm was found inside the home, but police declined to say whether they believe it was the weapon used in the shootings.

Police said they believe the tragedy was domestic and there is no danger to the community. Autopsies are scheduled for Thursday at the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Roger James was a veteran of the Gulf War and commander of the Des Plaines American Legion Post 36, said his friend and past commander Phil Campbell. He was last seen at the Legion office on Monday.
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Fort Riley Big Red One back from Afghanistan

Fort Riley Cavalry Soldiers Honored After Return From Afghanistan
Jan 25, 2012
"Big Red One" soldiers were honored for their service and bravery at Fort Riley Wednesday after returning from Afghanistan.
Reporter: Lindsey Rogers

FORT RILEY, Kan. (WIBW) -- "Big Red One" soldiers were honored for their service and bravery at Fort Riley Wednesday after returning from Afghanistan.

Commanders say they faced off against the enemy nearly every day for a year during a dangerous and deadly deployment.

Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, held a ceremony to award Soldiers for valorous actions at Fort Riley's Marshall Army Airfield Wednesday afternoon.

The soldiers are just back from Afghanistan and during the ceremony, commanders gave out eight Army Commendation Medals for Valor, 25 Bronze Stars for Service and 48 Purple Hearts.

"Because of individual actions of soldiers in this squadron, 4-4 Cav defeated the Taliban in central Zhari, freed the people in that area from oppression and in the process, made history.

The warriors in this room destroyed thousands of pounds of homemade explosives, military vests and military grade explosives," said Lieutenant Colonel Michael Katona, Squadron Commander.

"There’s 144 total purple hearts earned across the squadron of just a little over 500 soldiers.
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Wounded Marine gets 6,000 followers on Facebook

Wounded Marine gets some fresh air during treatment at Walter Reed
1/25/2012
ANDREA L. CHAFFIN
Staff Writer

Despite being in a hospital bed, Cpl. Josh Sams, Wilmington, is showing he has a lot of strength left.

Sams was moved off the critical care floor Tuesday, where he is a patient at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. Wound wash surgeries went well and the family received a good report from the trauma team, said his mother, Barb Regan. In addition, his wife, Hillsboro High School graduate Lindsey Sams, was able to spend the night with him for the first time.

“We have a long way to go, but it’s a step in the right direction,” Regan said.

The Marine was on routine patrol Jan. 11 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) and was rendered a double amputee. Since, a Facebook page supporting him titled, Support WIA Marine Scout Sniper Josh Sams, has steadily gained popularity and now has more than 6,600 followers.
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Wife of Camp Lejeune Marine shot to death

Woman from Kalamazoo found shot to death at a home in North Carolina Monday
Published: Wednesday, January 25, 2012
By Simon A. Thalmann

KALAMAZOO — A woman from Kalamazoo was found shot to death at a home in North Carolina Monday, according to local media reports there and in Michigan.

ABC affiliate WCTI, which operates from New Bern, N.C., reports that no arrests have been made for the murder of Susan Zemlick, 50, who was found dead at a South Dogwood Lane home shortly before 11 a.m. Monday.

Zemlick was married to Matthew Zemlick, a 29-year-old Marine who has family in Portage and is based at Camp Lejeune, according to WWMT Newschannel 3.
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also

Victim Name, New Info Released In Swansboro Shooting
By WCTI Staff

UPDATED: 6:59 pm EST January 25, 2012

SWANSBORO -- Swansboro Police have a suspect in the shooting death of a woman found Monday.
An arrest has not yet been made.
Police found Susan Zemlick, 50, dead at a South Dogwood Lane home after a 911 call at 10:50 a.m. Monday, police said.
Zemlick lived at the home with John and Helen Giltz, neighbors said.
Zemlick married 29-year-old Matthew Zemlick, a Camp Lejeune Marine, in 2009.
Susan asked for domestic violence protective order against Matthew last year, records show.
Matthew "threatened to kill [me] and himself," Susan alleged last summer.
The couple later agreed to not have contact with each other, records show.
Matthew is not involved in the case, police said.
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'ReEntry' Play teaches Marines about returning home

'ReEntry' - Play teaches Marines about returning home

I Marine Expeditionary Force
Story by Cpl. Jennifer Pirante

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines and family members with I Marine Expeditionary Force gathered to watch a play at the South Mesa Club at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 24.

“ReEntry” is a play written by theater writer Emily Ackerman and KJ Sanchez, CEO of American Records, based on interviews conducted with Marines returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their family members.

“I am a member of a military family,” Ackerman said. “I had no idea of a lot of the things they were going through, a lot of the things that they thought until we started working on this play. I try to be supportive and it was hard to figure out how to do that. It wasn’t until we started talking to a lot of Marines that I got a better idea of things that people actually go through, the way they actually feel and how to be more supportive.”
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