Fort Bragg Barracks: Shades of Walter Reed?

by: Brandon Friedman

Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 17:26:00 PM EDT


A Fort Bragg soldier's father uploaded a YouTube video of photos he took of his son's barracks earlier this month.  The video shows the deplorable living conditions to which his son and the other soldiers of his unit in the 82nd Airborne Division returned after a 15-month-long deployment to Afghanistan.  

The most shocking photo, in my opinion, is the one of the soldier standing in the latrine sink, trying to unstop a drain, while human excrement and urine fills the floor below him.  This is the video:

The Fayetteville (NC) Observer reported on this today.  

The video was made by Edward Frawley, the father of a sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division who returned from Afghanistan on April 13 and is among the soldiers now living in the barracks.

"This is unbelievable," Frawley says in the video. "It's disgusting. It makes me mad as hell. If these buildings were in any city in America and were called apartments, dormitories, they would be condemned."

Tom Earnhardt, a spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division, declined to comment publicly this morning, but he said the Army would respond later today.

The Army arranged a news conference at 2:30 p.m. today to respond to the video.

I have no information on what was relayed at the news conference this afternoon.

This is disgusting.  These guys just spent 15 months fighting Taliban in the mountains of Afghanistan and this is what they come home to.  America has three-quarters of a billion dollars to spend on the embassy in Baghdad, but our troops have to live like this.  It's a disgrace.

(H/T to jimstaro.)
Brandon Friedman :: Fort Bragg Barracks: Shades of Walter Reed?
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Fort Bragg Barracks: Shades of Walter Reed? | 24 comments
Im not sure what sickens me more. (4.00 / 4)

Those pictures and the way we treat our service members or the fact that this kind of stuff doesnt even surprise me any more.

My thoughts exactly. (4.00 / 3)
Which is worse? The fact that soldiers are living like this, or the fact that nothing will be done about it?  The administration will claim they didn't know anything about it, then flip on that when someone proves they were there recently.  McCain will say that their barracks are much better than what they had back in the day, and Redstate will claim they are phony soldiers for complaining.

But in the end, the sergeant will still be living in the same conditions.  How far does this extend?  Fort Benning?  Fort Hood?  Leanordwood?

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama

[ Parent ]
I always thought... (4.00 / 2)

that one of the responsibilities of rear detachment is to take care of the facilities while the unit was deployed.

Looks like that is not happening here, is this a sign of how far the Army is stretched that they cant even take care of the buildings when the soldiers are at frickin war.  

Isn't the Fort Bragg post commander (4.00 / 2)
responsible for this matter?

I'm beyond being pissed.  I just don't understand how this sort of thing is allowed to occur on a domestic (or non-domestic) U.S.  Army Fort.

"Back in the day" (1960's-early 1970s) this sort of thing just did not happen.

What a sign of the times.

Sort of. (4.00 / 2)

I think that since the actual post commander more than likely deployed with the unit there was a rear-detachment post commander. And that commander should be held responsible for this.
[ Parent ]
Fort Bragg has a... (4.00 / 1)
..."Garrison commander," an O-6 slot, who acts as mayor/city manager of the facilities. At least that's how it worked when I was there in the 90s.

 I spent a few weeks in the old 82d barracks just before deploying in 2004, and the conditions were about the same as described above. What's really compounded it is the fact that those old bldgs are basically itinerant housing now, and we all know how well that stuff is treated.

 All the same, Bragg's Garrison CDR should be made aware of this and try to deal with it accordingly...if there is money for such repairs, that is.  

[ Parent ]
82nd has a strange culture.. (0.00 / 0)
were they wont accept help from anyone for whatever reason. even if garrison command or 18th ABC offered help, 82nds response would most likely be "thanks, we got it".

I'm on twitter.
[ Parent ]
Roger that, but... (0.00 / 0)
XVIII ABC and the Bragg Garrison CDR have day-to-day authority over the facilities, buildings, etc.

Yeah, the rear-D CO is at fault, but the Bragg chain of command is also faulty for not anticipating the problems brought about by the constant rotation of soldiers (Active, Reserve and Guard) coming through.

When I was there in 2004 and again in 2005, it seemed like at least one company-sized element was coming or going on a daily basis.

We all know that folks are worried more about deploying or redeploying during their short stay at Bragg (Stewart, Camp Shelby, etc.), so it's no shocker that bldg maintenance goes by the wayside.

And when I was at Bragg on active duty from 1995-1998, the "grand plan" was to have all the old WWII bldgs demolished and replaced by now. Many of those WWII bldgs would not pass a civilian inspection.

[ Parent ]
It always amazes me... (4.00 / 1)
...how innovative soldiers are when times are rough.  However, in this case, they shouldn't have to be.  At a fire base, maybe but not here!  My husband's deployment to Afghanistan in 2006 was conditions exactly like the ones described in the video.  The thing is, the barracks our single guys came home to are pretty much brand new so they were lucky.  

$145 a month extra is not nearly enough.  I agree that the buildings should be condemned and torn down.  If these individuals are seriously being asked to live in those conditions, while serving as their own super intendants and maintenance personnel,  they should at the very least be paid equal to BAH until such conditions become those fit for human beings.  And yet, it's family and citizens who have to step in to try to get this done because most of the soldiers just do what they have to do to live day to day...no complaints.  It's not like they can just up and quit their jobs.

Black mold is a terrible health hazard.  Never mind the peeling lead based paint (it isn't just bad for kids), sewage gas, and raw sewage spewing up from drains.

DISGRACE!!!!  I hate being so small and limited someone with more power needs to stand up for this and say it is WRONG!

Tell me again why there's a retention problem... (4.00 / 4)
This is from an article on the WRAL.com website regarding the barracks.

***

"There are no life, health or safety issues. We addressed those as quickly as possible," said Col. Dave Fox, the garrison commander.

The barracks, which were built in the 1950s, were being repaired, but troops returned from Afghanistan three weeks early before repairs could be finished, Fox said.

"By today's standards, they are inadequate," he said of the barracks, which will be replaced over the next five years.
***

First, I would love to know how those barracks were going to be repaired in only three weeks--they must know one hell of a contractor. Second, if COL Fox thinks that three inches of sewage on the latrine floor isn't a "life, health, or safety issue", he should move his family in to the barracks and let the soldiers crash at his place.  In any case, I'd like to see him and the Rear Detachment CSM put on some tall boots and start cleaning the shit out of those soldiers' quarters. Good soldiers leave the army because the army treats them like this.  

Three Weeks??????????? (0.00 / 0)
After a fifteen month tour!

I work Construction and the Deployable Conditions these buildings are in, there ain't No Way, but one Good Contractor could put up a Brand New Building in Under 15months!!!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson

[ Parent ]
Reading that report (0.00 / 0)
Leaves one wondering What Happened to Military Preventive Maintenance!!

15months and NoBody was taking care of the building, NoBody!!

Reminds me on the  South Vietnamesse Navy, we were turning over Totally Maintained River Boats, within a few months most weren't running or had items stripped from them, etc. etc. etc., some had to taken back just so we could fix them and give them back to them!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson

[ Parent ]
I would hazard a guess (0.00 / 0)
that what they mean is in three weeks they'll get other accommodations...more of a "shit, you're here now?!?! ...um...well, here, stay in this place for awhile."

The Powers That Be don't ever let anyone know, much less the unit, MUCH LESS the rear d, when the hell anyone gets to go home...hide the fracking ball...

"For those people who would rather thump their chests and say that [vets who speak out] don't know anything or that these people are cowards or anything along those lines, they can go to hell" - Luis Montalvan

[ Parent ]
Un.Fucking.Conscionable. (4.00 / 1)
Email now, call Monday.  
Looks like my barracks in Fort Lewis... (4.00 / 1)
...difference is, our rear detachment took care of our barracks. Seriously, I'l bet the barracks share the same blue prints, probably even built at the same time. But when I came back from my 15 month deployment we had new doors/locks, new ceiling tiles, fresh paint on every wall, and newly rennovated bathrooms.

And I disagree with everyone here, this was not the post commanders fault. This was C companies rear detachment commanders fault. I know damn well he was aware of how bad the barracks are, but failed to do anything about it. Blaming the post commander for this is rediculous, because the only way he would know would be if the C co rear D sent everything up the chain properly, which clearly didn't happen.

No, the problem lies squarely with C co rear d commander. Boys, next time those sinks of your's overflow, pump it into that pricks car.

They also look like Ft. Campbell's barracks. (4.00 / 1)

Same style, same color, same offices jutting out from the end. And rear-d did a pretty good job at Ft. Campbell about keeping barracks squared away.

And yes it is the C Co. commander's responsibility to make sure the barracks are squared away. Its The Bn. Cmmndr's job to make sure C. Co Cmndr is doing everything correct. So on and so forth.

[ Parent ]
on the ground barracks truth Bragg (0.00 / 0)
guys, I'm down at Bragg right now, I need to say...WAIT  theres more!!

You want to talk about substandard???

go over to Deglopper and Butner and see the ww2 stick buildings that our deploying reservists have been residing in for the past 6 f'n Years..

(which means if they can do it to us "part timers," they defintelly ain't gonna cut eighty deuce any slack..)

They still have reservists going thru those buildings for about 2 weeks of processing, then for those that are deploying??
the solution to cover their 6 weeks of training? is to stay out at the training FOBS, they created, courtesy of First Army so folks can practice living like fobbits...
Train as you fight, live as you will in theatre while here in the states..

The FOBs were much cleaner tha Buntner, deglopper, and old division.  BTW  I believe the brick buildings are from 1960s,
Buntner and deglopper? definitely WW2


Email me if you can. (0.00 / 0)

And give me some more info about the conditions at Bragg.

Email is in my bio.

[ Parent ]
brian, call paddy (0.00 / 0)
our kids play baseball...(am i I vetted??? grin)

yeah..I'm cagey...

be aware there as been significant construction going on at bragg too.  the new 4th BDe has some pretty bldgs,  504th had the nice new digs since about 2004.

So in some ways it is like WRAMC in respect to the fact that if they are Building new Billets, somebody no doubt is asking "why make investments in the old ones..."

That being said,  somebody back here dropped the ball,  no legitimate excuse for the barracks to be in that condition, for this unit, unless they are saying to the returning soldiers they get to fix it themselves using government funds and material..

"America's Guard of Honor" paratroopers etc... yada yada yada.. suck it up airborne drive on!

(many the time we  all did that...nothing new  move in and  always improve your position, but Damn   how far can all the way and then some take you?)


[ Parent ]
Wilco. (0.00 / 0)

I think I know who you are although we never met.

We'll talk.

[ Parent ]
2/508 (0.00 / 0)
the unit in the video is a battalion in 4th BCT.

I'm on twitter.
[ Parent ]
Yeah, been there. (0.00 / 0)
De-mobed there in early 2005. Glad to know it's still the same lovely place it was then. The WWII barracks had all the charm of a refugee camp.

And if anything was made crystal-clear to us at Bragg (and at Stewart during intial mobilization), it was this: "You part-timers ain't welcome here."

[ Parent ]
At bragg too, (0.00 / 0)
I've never been in the reservist barracks over there but in PLDC we stayed in the same buildings just down the street, and they were fairly nice. they were old, but in good condition and sanitary.

I'm on twitter.
[ Parent ]
Its not about the age of the buildings, (0.00 / 0)

as much as it is the conditions. Those barracks in the video are unsanitary and unsat.

Mount Vernon is old, but sanitary. I would put GI's there any day even if it is over 100 years old.

[ Parent ]
Fort Bragg Barracks: Shades of Walter Reed? | 24 comments
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