AUGUST PROVOST III: AN UPDATE!

It has been reported that outspoken Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (Texas), fresh off an exciting and politically-defining moment as one of the guest speakers at Michael Jackson's memorial, will demand a congressional inquiry into the death of Seaman August Provost III, the Houston TX native killed in cold blood (among his own) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in northern San Diego.   In addition, Rod McCullom (Rod 2.0:Beta) who continues diligently to cover this story, reported that his sources revealed "the Congressional Black Caucus, NAACP, and the Black Leadership Forum are making a joint statement demanding a full investigation by the Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy. Rep. Bob Filner (D) of suburban San Diego, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, says his panel will investigate too".

Funeral arrangements have been set for Povost, and the viewing will be Friday at 10:00AM, at Wright Grove Baptist Church, 9702 Willow St., Houston TX 77088-4637 (281-447-2372).  There will also be a candlelight vigil later that evening (outside Camp Pendleton in CA), between 7:00PM - 9:00PM.  The address is 1300 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054.  Nope!  The vigil will not be held by a group of August Provost's peers, but by the North County LGBT Coalition & the DOD Fed Globe.  They want to remind participants that this is a very somber occasion and all signs need to reflect Provost's memory.  The organizers are arranging a funeral procession that will meet at 5:30PM at the LGBT Center parking lot and will depart as a caravan to the Camp.

Navy Capt. Matt Brown who made the announcement that Seaman Provost's murder was not a "gay related"  military hate crime, recently said that "particular" murder would have happened regardless because "What I can tell you, unequivocally at this point, based on the preliminary information that we have, is that regardless of the person standing watch in that sentry station, this crime would have most likely been carried out in the same way.  In other words, another sailor could have been on that post and would have been the victim of this crime."  After the release of the first "person of interest" that the navy had taken into custody, another was quickly found.  Reportedly, this sailor has given a statement that links him to Provost's death, but no details have been released and no charges have been filed.  Furthermore, this past Monday, an unnamed senior Navy officer in San Diego publically expressed his "frustration" with bloggers and other media reports that Seaman Provost had been brutalized - in addition to being shot.  "He did suffer gunshot wounds, and there was a fire in a pretty clear attempt to destroy evidence, but he was not bound, he was not gagged and he was not mutilated."  And we should all feel better now because ? ? ? 

A commenter on another blog seemed to have a bit of an issue with a comment (in my previous post on Provost) that President Obama could wipe out Don't Ask - Don't Tell (DADT) with the "stroke of a pen".  Yes, I understand that it is (and will be a process) and since being written into law, it will have to be repealed by both houses of Congress.  Reportedly, the Obama Administration recently asked the military how best to lift the ban, and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said that he has told the President to make the change "in a measured way."  Apparently, such measures, in addition to a good dose of public support and the political climate seemed to work for other nation's that have struggled with the same issue, as modifying enforcement was followed by an end to their bans.  But we're supposed to be the progressive ones?  284 military personnel have been cooked up and dished out of their respective service ranks since Obama came into office after promising to end it. 

Personally, I would like to thank all of the commenters and emailers that have touched base with me on this issue, both on this blog and on (MALE) I would also like to thank those brother bloggers like MacDaddy (daddyBstrong) that have linked my posts to their blog, or were inspired to do their own posts to help keep the story alive.  I was particularly moved by a commenter named Rainywalker who had this to say..............

The military tends to protect in a manner their own even when wrong. They try in everyway to make the people believe the military walks on water when it comes to certain kinds of justice. In my 23 years service I had two gay soldiers and one that was discharged.  Back then many knew some of their soldiers were gay. However it really wasn't a big deal. After the "don't tell" soldiers in the military started hating gays in their ranks. It drew a line that was never there before and its a direct result of the president and military policy.  Granted the Marines have a way of taking care of their problems themselves, even when it comes to murder.  The young man I referred to above needed a performance report to be discharged from the military. The military wanted me to give him a bad report because he was gay. The numbers would reflect he was gay but not the written report. I gave the soldier all 9's which is the highest you can get. Not because I liked him, not because he was gay, not to defy the military but because he did an outstanding job and he deserved the 9's.  My commander called me in and ordered me to redo the report and give him bad mumbers. In the military only the person whom you work for can write you report. Nobody and I mean nobody else can do it or sign it. They can disagree with my findings on a futher endorcement but not change mine.  So I told the commander if he wanted a bad performance report to write it himself. He never did and the gay soldier left the military with what he deserved a report that reflected his being, not his sexual orientation.  The truth on this murder will likely never come out unless someone brings this crime out into the open with real evidence[parents, friends, real journalists, etc]. Trust me the military will not be there and will only give you lip service. All questions will have pat answers, made up in advance with phony evidence. This just came out in the open, it happens all the time.  To be quite honest in many cases of murder the military is not concerned with the truth, only results that change policy.

Well!  What's it going to be this time? 

CNN (mainstream media) finally picked the story up too!  I'm not good with posting videos, so here's the link:  http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=ZCM2nC32zi0&feature=player_ embedded 

 

   

Comments

[MacDaddy]

Thanks, Corey.

[Thomas]

It is wonderful that Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee is getting involved as well as the other institutions!

For a soldier to be killed on their base (or any base for that matter) is a HUGE deal. We are supposed to be destroying our enemies our threats to our security, not each other!

[Toddy English]

I didn't know he was from H-Town! I'll have to read more about him.

Thanks Corey!

[THEGAYTKEEPER]

WE NEED ANSWERS...HIS DEATH CAN'T BE IN VAIN...