New revelations about Sgt. Robert Bales' past

(CBS News) JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. - It's been more than a week since 16 unarmed civilians were massacred in Afghanistan, and a clearer picture of the American soldier accused of the killings is beginning to take shape.

CBS News has learned that Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is set to be charged in those killings this week.

But those who know him are expressing their disbelief that this man could have done anything so horrific.

Bales, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, now sits in solitary confinement in a military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, alleged to have committed unspeakable horrors.

• Charges expected this week in Afghan killings
  
• Bales' family "stunned" over Afghan shootings

But his friends and neighbors remember Bales as a man of honor.

"The thing I really remember," says neighbor Edith Bouvette, in Lakewood, Wash., "is him in his uniform with his pants tucked inside his boots. He was crisp, clean, military."

Family friend Steve Berling says Bales, "felt that he needed something bigger in his heart and his mind and in his soul, (and) that's why he went in the military."

Bales joined the Army shortly after Sept. 11, 2001. He was already 27 years old at the time.

Capt. Chris Alexander served with Bales and has known him for years.

"Bales is an extremely professional NCO," Alexander told CBS News. "No job too menial or too dangerous, and he would always get it done, and get it done very well."

Bales has secured the services of attorney John Henry Browne, who left Seattle Sunday and talked to reporters when he arrived in Kansas City to meet his client face-to-face for the first time.

"Everybody (who) has had three or four deployments to the Middle East is probably going to have some form of PTSD," Browne said, adding that his client, "had a concussive head injury that can be as serious, if not more serious than PTSD."

Bales' wife, Karilyn, who kept a running blog, wrote about the stresses repeated deployments were putting on her husband, their two children, and herself. There were financial stresses. A house Karilyn bought before their marriage reportedly was in foreclosure. Their family home was put on the market just this month for $50,000 less than they paid.

"You know," Browne said, "nobody goes and kills women and children because they had financial stresses."

But there were other signs of stress. Bales was charged with assaulting a girlfriend in 2002 but, after he underwent anger management, the charges were dropped. A police report describes a 2008 hit-and-run accident. Bales admits he rolled his car after colliding with a signpost, but says he fell asleep. Witnesses saw a man running away, bloody and smelling of alcohol. Charges were dismissed after Bales paid a fine.

Now, he's seeking support for his legal fees stemming from his alleged crimes in Afghanistan.

"Something terribly terrible has happened to him," neighbor Stuart Ness says. "And I think anybody in the military who's been in combat certainly understands the kind of stress these guys have been going through."

Observers expect a long legal process ahead. After charges are filed, a court-martial is likely, after all the opposing viewpoints of Bales' past - and present - are debated.

To see Bill Whitaker's report, click on the video in the player above.

[AlecWest]

I'm beginning to wonder if the U.S. media isn't asleep at the switch. There's been so much coverage of this since Bales was returned to the U.S. - and ALL of that coverage focuses blame on Bales as the sole gunman. But, while the U.S. has been investigating this incident, so has the Afghan government. And what their investigation uncovered is completely different than what the U.S. alleges happened.

According to Pajhwok Afghan News, an Afghan parliamentary probe concluded that between 15-20 U.S. soldiers, divided into two teams, were involved in the massacre -

( http://*******.com/7ehkx3l )

- So, it could be that Bales was "singled out" to become the "fall guy" - to take the blame for an operation that involved many soldiers (possibly even superiors). Perhaps U.S. journalists should spend less time interviewing U.S. military people and more time interviewing Afghans closest to the massacre site - this is assuming the U.S media is really interested in the truth.

[Wickedwax]

I stand with and behind Staff Sgt. Bales and his family. This man was let down by our Flipping Gov't. THEY don't give a rats a@@ about our soldiers. They are just numbers and look good on paper, that's all that matters to these mindless pricks. Every politician, including Obama should be held accountable. I say let Staff Sgt. Bales go, please show support so he, and his family knows that we as TRUE Americans stand with him!!!! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/I-support-Staff-Sgt-Robert-Bales/265729463509169

[Robert_In_Texas]

I logged in at 7:09AM CST, wrote a comment asking the hard questions and CBS isn't posting the comment. This soldier is getting railroaded and reasonable and prudent people have too many questions that the media refuses to answer. Nice going CBS, responsible journalism sacrificed for political expediency.

[Robert_In_Texas]

That's right CBS, just keep shoveling dirt and kicking man when he's down. That repsonsible journalism, right? Why not reveal who disobeyed order and released the soldiers name before charges were filed and the investigation completed? Why not ask why Bales is in Leavenworth on pretrial confinement when the last three military "mass murderers" were confined until sentencing at their home base? Why not reveal the Afghan's report of the incident where they concluded more than one man had to do the amount of damage or explain why witnesses saw at least two soldiers? Maybe it's political expediency but it's more than the Army covering up for the poor treatment of the soldiers at JBLM's Madigan Hospital, then explain why the Fort Hood shooter is in a private room in a civilian hospital at $500,000 a year for the past two years instead of one of the twenty US Army hospitals in the US. Stop calling yourself a news organization. You're a liberal mouthpiece chaired by Moonves and his saving the party campaign. Now prove me wrong.

[Wickedwax]

Robert, You hit the nail on the head on this one. Hey it's sensational, so who cares if were kicking a man while he's down, right? Never mind all of the perfect years this man has served, kids he has helped. The Gov't officials are the responsible ones, the blood is on their hands. Get Sgt. Bales some mental help and let him loose. I would not be afraid one bit to have this man walking among us.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/I-support-Staff-Sgt-Robert-Bales/265729463509169

[SquezeBox]

After 4 tours I am impressed it does not happen more often, oh wait they just drown their problems in alcohol and depression. Never mind.