Lt. Whiteside was valedictorian of her high school class and then enlisted in the Army Reserve while also attending the University of Virginia. She supervised 150 soldiers at Walter Reed during the most insidious of times, received exemplary reviews and urged for promotion.
"This superior officer is in the top 10 percent of Officers I have worked with in my 16 years of military service," wrote her rater, Capt. Joel Grant. She "must be promoted immediately, ahead of all peers."
The plight of the patients inspired her to volunteer for service in Iraq and she was deployed in 2006.
Whiteside was assigned as a platoon leader in the 329th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) at the Camp Cropper detainee prison near Baghdad International Airport.
She was considered a natural leader and appears to have been beloved by her crew. They dubbed her Trauma Mama. Saddam Hussein was captured during this period and a riot broke out in the prison.
Whiteside took charge in the chaos, according to written statements by troops in her unit. She dispatched a pair of medics to each compound to begin triage, handed out gas masks and organized her unit to smuggle the prison's doctors out in an ambulance.
Unfortunately, Whiteside and other female soldiers had a serious conflict with one of the male officers. That, coupled with lack of sleep, increasing anxiety and a horrendous workload, drove Lt. Whiteside to the brink.
The day after the riot, Whiteside had an argument with the male officer. Following that incident, she broke down completely, locked herself in a room with a mental health officer, threatened nurses and finally shot herself. Despite the serious injury, she improved at Walter Reed -- physically, that is. She was placed in a psychiatric unit
where she was diagnosed with a severe major depressive disorder and a personality disorder. According to a statement by an Army psychiatrist, she was suffering from a disassociation with reality.
Still mentally fragile, the army in its "wisdom" decided to charge her criminally for injury to herself and threatening others. One officer determined that this seven year veteran, with an exemplary record was just using her mental state as an "excuse" and should receive other than honorable discharge. Major General Eric B. Schoomaker, then the facilty's commander, and now the Army's surgeon general determined that
"This officer has a demonstrably severe depression which manifested itself . . . as a psychotic, self-destructive episode. . . . Resignation in lieu of court-martial eliminates all of the benefits of medical support this officer deserves after 7 years of credible and honorable service."
Lt. Whiteside had offered to resign but she would receive a "general under honorable conditions" discharge which has the potential of depriving her of most of her benefits. The investigation in Iraq "concluded that there was 'insufficient evidence for any criminal action to be taken against' her." Additionally, the male officer who made her life hell was reprimanded "for gender bias in assignments and use of intimidation, manipulation and hostility towards soldiers."
With this news, she revoked her offer to resign and decided to take her chances.
A harginger of the tone and attitude of the military's prosecutor can be summed up concisely in his own words.
In an e-mail exchange, the prosecutor, Wolfe, told MacLean [Whiteside's pro bono attorney]that even if Whiteside won in court she would probably end up stigmatized and in a mental institution, just like John Hinckley, the man who shot President Ronald Reagan.
Whiteside is now waiting a decision as to whether she will be tried and court marshalled. In the interim, she is using her leadership skills to assist other soldiers suffering from PTSD. In the midst of all of this unjustified persecution, Whiteside received a phone call from the husband of one of her friends from the psychiatric unit. Sammantha Owen-Ewing, whose release from Walter Reed consisted of being dropped off at a hotel with an airline ticket, hung herself.
I just don't know what to say after having read this story twice. Shock, fury, borderline hatred . . . I can't name it. Please pray for 1st Lt. Whiteside, and if you don't pray, think positive thoughts. Congress is back in session tomorrow -- get on the phone and let your representatives know what you think about the never ending disrespect for and persecution of our soldiers by their own officers.
Update: h/t to Phil S 33 for advice on editing the title for an Action Alert.
h/t to deMemedeMedia for alerting us to support Senate Bill 1817 Title: A bill to ensure proper administration of the discharge of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Senator Obama with 11 cosponors.
Blue Tape has a recent diary on the same topic. Please stop by and give some mojo for keeping the story alive.
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