Patriot Act gives rise to activists' suspicions

Activist Frey Lived Life Keeping The Peace 
David Frey, Co-administrator, Of The Peace Center In Wilkesbarre, Dies At 58.

Monday, January 26, 2004 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 7A 





CONCERNING THE ONGOING STORY ABOUT THE LOCAL AREA RESERVISTS, NOW TRYING TO
DIVERT ATTENTION FROM THEIR LESS THAN HONORABLE MILITARY DISCHARGES, THEIR
REDUCTION IN RANK, AND THEIR LOSS OF ALL PAY AND BENEFITS IT WOULD SEEM THAT
MUCH OF THE NEWSPAPERS' ``FACT FINDING'' COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE ACCUSED AND
THEIR FAMILIES. ALSO, THE NEWSPAPERS SHOULD NOW REFER TO THESE INDIVIDUALS IN
THEIR CORRECT RANK AT DISCHARGE. FOR EXAMPLE, EX-``PRIVATE'' GIRMAN, WHICH IS
MORE APPROPRIATE. ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS THROUGH ARMY NEWS SOURCES HAVE
REPEATEDLY INDICATED THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS (INCLUDING ONE FEMALE, DISCHARGED
EARLIER) WERE CHARGED WITH BEATING AND BRUTALIZING POWS IN THEIR CARE. THEY
HAD BEEN TURNED IN BY MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN UNIT WHO WITNESSED THE BEATINGS AND
REPORTED IT TO THE UNIT COMMANDER. FORMAL CHARGES WERE SOON BROUGHT AGAINST
THEM, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED FALSIFICATION OF REPORTS, AS THEY TRIED TO COVER UP
THE INCIDENT. AFTER MONTHS OF INVESTIGATION AND MANY INTERVIEWS, THE ARMY'S
JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH EVIDENCE
AGAINST THESE INDIVIDUALS TO PROCEED WITH COURT MARTIAL PROCEEDINGS. THEY
FACED STIFF PRISON SENTENCES FOR THEIR LESS-THAN-STELLAR PERFORMANCE OF THEIR
DUTIES. THE ARMY DID THEM A BIG FAVOR THEY COULD AVOID FURTHER PROCEEDINGS BY
TAKING THE ``DEAL'' AND IMMEDIATE DISCHARGE. THEY CLAIMED INNOCENCE BUT
REFUSED TO MAKE THEIR CLAIM IN OPEN COURT. THEY WERE REDUCED IN RANK AND SENT
HOME. NOW, ``PRIVATE'' GIRMAN, AND THE OTHERS WOULD LIKE THE WORLD TO THINK
THAT THEY WERE MISTREATED BY THE ARMY, A SONG SUNG LOUDLY, BY MOST PEOPLE
ACCUSED OF CRIMES AND FACING PRISON TIME. THEY ARE WRITING, CALLING, VISITING
ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE HOPE THAT THEIR PRESENT SITUATION MAY BE MADE BETTER.
PRIVATE GIRMAN, WHO HAD 15 YEARS OF SERVICE, AND HAS LOST THE MOST RANK AND
POTENTIAL BENEFITS, IS FEARFUL THAT THE STATE POLICE MAY NOT INVITE HER BACK.
I'M HOPING THAT THEIR JOB REQUIREMENT OF ``GOOD CHARACTER'' DOES NOT GO BY
UNNOTICED IN THIS SITUATION. I'M HOPING THAT SANTORUM, SPECTER, KANJORSKI, ET
AL. WILL NOT INSULT THE GOOD MEMORY AND QUALITY SERVICE OF THE MILLIONS OF
MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN, AND VETERANS, WHO PERFORMED THEIR DUTIES ADMIRABLY,
WITHOUT DISGRACING THEMSELVES OR THEIR COUNTRY. Ed Kilanowski &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Freeland &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Actions Of Discharged Reservists Reflect On All Soldiers