Posted on Apr 3, 2014
SPC Lopez's military accomplishments a little skewed?
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<p>I was reading various articles about the shooting and SPC Lopez, one in particular the reporter (M. Alex Johnson) provided a report/article for NBC News that give much repetitive info from similar reports, one of the things that stuck out to me was the end of the article where he gives SPC Lopez achievements during his 4 year active service.</p><p><br></p><p>"In his almost exactly four years in the Army, Lopez received two Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, two National Defense Service Medals and the Iraq Campaign Medal (with campaign star), among other commendations. None of them were related to combat, <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/fort-hood-shooting/fort-hood-gunman-did-not-see-combat-iraq-tour-officials-n70691"><u><font color="#0066cc">which he didn't see in Iraq</font></u></a>."</p><p><br></p><p>http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/fort-hood-shooting/fort-hood-gunman-recently-reassigned-infantry-duties-n71286</p><p><br></p><p>I want everyone to look at the paragraph and even read the article and tell me what is wrong with what is written/shown for this Soldiers military service based on what is known/factual/published and such, and then post it here and see how many can find it correctly and figure it out.</p><p><br></p><p>This has nothing to do with the shooting but more about what the media is doing in relation to its reporting of incidents and reality of facts.</p><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/i/newscms/2014_14/300481/140403-ivan-lopez-pr-nat-guard-jms-1626_12ee0d4bed531839876c05d3bb55a420.jpg"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/fort-hood-shooting/fort-hood-gunman-recently-reassigned-infantry-duties-n71286" target="_blank">Fort Hood Gunman Recently Reassigned From Infantry Duties - NBC News</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">Spc. Ivan Antonio Lopez, the soldier who killed three service members before committing suicide at Fort Hood, Texas, was an experienced infantryman who arriv...</div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/i/newscms/2014_14/299006/140403-fort-hood-gate-jsw-1002a_1e9ae67f6c4ed3ab578cceadb1ffee59.jpg"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/fort-hood-shooting/fort-hood-gunman-did-not-see-combat-iraq-tour-officials-n70691" target="_blank">Fort Hood Gunman Did Not See Combat in Iraq Tour, Officials Say - NBC News</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">The soldier who shot three people to death at Fort Hood apparently did not see combat during a tour in Iraq three years ago but was clearly troubled, under t...</div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>
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Fort Cavazos
Shooting (Sport)
Fort Cavazos Shooting (Sport)
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 7
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I read an article too that stated he joined the PR National Guard in 1999 so I'm guess he was only on AD for 4 years. I join everyone else saying that there was a typo or a reporting mistake about Lopez having 2 NDSMs.
I feel they are also misleading people in they way they word his dates of service. The National Guard is still the Army. The name tape those service members wear is the same as those of us that serve or have served on Active Duty. To me, that is dismissing his time in the PR National Guard. It also brings up the question of if he was in the PR National Guard since 1999 why was he only promoted to SPC in 2011? I know the promotion system within the National Guard is different than that used for Active Duty members but was there a large break in his service that resulted in him losing rank? So many questions are yet to be answered and sadly, I don't think we will ever have the answers.
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SFC James Baber
So your saying he spent 11 years in the guard and didn't make it past E4, I thought their promotion system was faster than that, find a spot, be in it for a certain time and you get promoted, at least that is what I remember from the early 90s when I worked with a mess of AGR guys/gals or has it changed that much over the years.
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MSG Donald R. Lee, M.B.A.
Believe it or not SFC Baber, the "11-yr E-4" isn't as unusual in the Guard as you might think. Retention requirements, especially when strength numbers are an issue, can be changed or "waived" with the stroke of a State AG's hand. I know a guy who "retired" from the Guard (qualified for NG retirement after 20 good years) as an E-4. His reason? Never wanted the hassle or responsibility of leadership. And he was actually a pretty good E-4. Also, when guys get in and out of the service - as some do - it becomes harder for them to make rank. Changing MOSs in the Guard, which is a lot easier than in the Active Army, also impacts promotions.
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SFC James Baber
I remember them as well, one of the units I was assigned to in the late 80s in DC Guard, I met and saw a few 20 year E4s, many were Vietnam vets that didn't want the hassle or headaches of being in a leadership position as you mentioned.
I just think it is funny he earned all those awards in only 4 years active, but didn't progress so far in the guard in 11 years if he was so stract while on active duty, it doesn't really make sense, a slug in the guard for 11 years, and a stud in 4 years of active, it does make you wonder about the accomplishments, not downing them, I give him props if he was that tight, but it doesn't add up when you look at the whole record, at least as is being reported.
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MSG Donald R. Lee, M.B.A.
I hear ya. Not likely he was a "slug in the Guard for 11 years, and a stud in 4 years of active..." Not that people can't change, if "motivated" properly, but most don't.
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Yes, it is possible to have TWO (2) National Defense Medals, I have meet Military people who were in before 1974 and was awarded a NDSM but stayed in the National Guard and was deployed to Iraq and was awarded a second NDSM.
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MSG Stephen Thomas
I agree 100% i was jsut saying it was possible to have two NDSM...I know not him there is nto way with the years and time lines he could have two
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SFC James Baber
Thomas, Yes it is separate and he wasn't in DS and also was outside the timeframe that it was given and authorized.
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