Sgt. Robert Bales: Details emerge on soldier charged with killing Afghan villagers
| Washington
The US Army has at last released the name of the soldier who went on a shooting spree nearly one week ago, killing 16 Afghan civilians including 9 children.
But there remain a number of questions surrounding precisely what led 38 year-old Staff Sergeant Robert Bales to embark on a murderous rampage.
The Pentagon released details late Friday night that begin to paint a picture of Sgt. Bales, who enlisted in the military just two months after the September 11th terrorist attacks.
His first deployment to Iraq came in November, 2004, where he served for a year. He returned in June of 2006 for an extended 15-month tour, which the Army began instituting at the height of violence in Iraq.聽
Bales returned to the country again in August, 2009, where he served until June of the following year.
How much do you know about Afghanistan? Take the quiz.
During that time, in an interview with a local newspaper, he extolled the virtues of careful soldiering to protect the local population.聽
鈥淚鈥檝e never been more proud to be a part of this unit 鈥� for the simple fact that we discriminated between the bad guys and the noncombatants,鈥� he told the Fort Lewis Northwest Guardian after a battle in Iraq in 2007. 鈥淎fterward we ended up helping the people that three or four hours before were trying to kill us.鈥�
John Henry Browne, Bales鈥� Seattle-based lawyer, told reporters that his client had not demonstrated any animosity towards the Afghan people. 鈥淗e鈥檚 never said anything antagonistic about Muslims,鈥� Mr. Browne said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 in general very mild-mannered.鈥�
Prior to deploying to Afghanistan in December, Bales received traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment at Fort Lewis and 鈥渨as deemed to be fine,鈥� according to ABC News.
Even so, Bales was surprised when he learned he would have to return to war last year, according to his lawyer.
Once he arrived in Afghanistan, he was assigned to be part of a protection unit for Special Operations Forces working with local militias.聽
The Pentagon release notes multiple awards and decorations for Bales, including three Army 鈥済ood conduct鈥� medals, two meritorious unit commendations, and the Army superior unit award.聽
But while Browne told reporters that Bales was 鈥渉ighly decorated鈥� and had been injured twice in Iraq, there is no mention in Bales鈥� Pentagon-released service record of any Purple Hearts, and a recommendation for a Bronze Star for Bales was turned down.
Now he is being held in pre-trial confinement at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in a 鈥渟tate-of-the-art, medium/minimum custody facility,鈥� according to the Pentagon release.
Bates is 鈥渋n special housing in his own cell and not in a four-person bay. He will be afforded time outside the cell for hygiene and recreational purposes,鈥� the release adds.
In his hometown, neighbors say they are stunned Bales stands accused of mass murder. 鈥淚鈥檓 shocked. I鈥檓 completely shocked,鈥� Kassie Holland told CBS News. 鈥淗e was always happy. Happy guy, full of life 鈥� I really wouldn鈥檛 expect it.鈥�
The charges run contrary to Bales鈥� own words in the 2007 interview with his local newspaper as well, when he expressed disdain for any insurgent would could put 鈥渉is family in harm鈥檚 way like that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 the real difference between being an American as opposed to being a bad guy.鈥�
