Exclusive: Gangs Spreading In The Military

CBS News Talks To The Family Of A U.S. Soldier Killed In Gang Initiation

(CBS)  U.S. Army Sgt. Juwan Johnson got a hero's welcome while home on leave in June of 2004.

"Not only did I love my son - but my god - I liked the man he was becoming," his mother, Stephanie Cockrell, remembers.

But that trip home was the last time his family saw him alive.

When Johnson died, he wasn't in a war zone, he was in Germany.

"He had finished his term in Iraq," his mother said. "I talked to him the day before his death. He said, 'Mom, I'm in the process of discharging out. I'll be out in two weeks'."

On July 3, 2005, Sgt. Johnson went to a park not far from his base in Germany to be initiated into the 'Gangster Disciples,' a notorious Chicago-based street gang. He was beaten by eight other soldiers in a "jump-in" - an initiation rite common to many gangs.

"My son never spoke of joining a gang," Cockrell told CBS News correspondent Thalia Assuras.

Johnson died that night from his injuries. His son, Juwan Jr., was born five months later.

"I feel like I didn't prepare him enough to deal with this and I should have," his mother said. "But how would I have known there were gangs in the military? I could have had that talk with him."

Evidence of gang culture and gang activity in the military is increasing so much an FBI report calls it "a threat to law enforcement and national security." The signs are chilling: Marines in gang attire on Parris Island; paratroopers flashing gang hand signs at a nightclub near Ft. Bragg; infantrymen showing-off gang tattoos at Ft. Hood.

"It's obvious that many of these people do not give up their gang affiliations," said Hunter Glass, a retired police detective in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the home of Ft. Bragg and the 82nd Airborne. He monitors gang activity at the base and across the military.

"If we weren't in the middle of fighting a war, yes, I think the military would have a lot more control over this issue," Glass said. "But with a war going on, I think it's very difficult to do."

Gang activity clues are appearing in Iraq and Afghanistan, too. Gang graffiti is sprayed on blast walls – even on Humvees. Kilroy – the doodle made famous by U.S. soldiers in World War II – is here, but so is the star emblem of the Gangster Disciples.

The soldier who took photos if the graffiti told CBS News that he's been warned he's as good as dead if he ever returns to Iraq.

"We represent America – our demographics are the same – so the same problems that America contends with we often times contend with," said Colonel Gene Smith of the Army's Office of the Provost Marshal.

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command reported 61 gang investigations and incidents last year, compared to just 9 in 2004. But army officials point out less than 1 percent of all its criminal investigations are gang related.

"We must remember that there are a million people in the army community," Smith said, "And these small numbers are not reflective of a tremendous, pervasive, rampant problem."

The rise in gang activity coincides with the increase in recruits with records. Since 2003, 125,000 recruits with criminal histories have been granted what are known as "moral waivers" for felonies including robbery and assault.

A hidden-camera investigation by CBS Denver station KCNC found one military recruiter was quick to offer the waiver option even when asked, "Does it matter that i was in a gang or anything?" That is well within military regulations.

"You may have had some gang activity in your past and everything ... OK ... but that in itself does not disqualify...," the recruiter said.

Military regulations disqualify members of hate groups from enlisting, but there is no specific ban on members of street gangs. Sgt. Juwan Johnson's family says such a prohibition is long overdue.

"Just maybe we can save someone else's child ... somebody else's husband ... somebody else's father," his mother said. "I would have loved to have seen him with his child, I really would have -- that part is hard, that part is hard."

This month a military court sentenced two of Juwan Johnson's attackers to prison.

---

Part two of this CBS News investigation looks at police warnings that gangs in the military are branching out to the streets of America.

[so9nineteen]

A lot of the post that I am reading seem to be coming from people who are truly ignorant to gang affiliation and gang tactics/life. I my self have been serving my country for 2 years now, currently in Iraq. I my self am also a member the Blacc Gangsta Disciples all belonging to the same Folk Nation of GD's as the unfortunate mothers son was trying to be apart of. As a young man from the streets, who has lived the life, for a lot of us, the only way to get away is through the military. It is unfortunate what happened to SGT Johnson. I have no respect for the men who were apart of the initiation process. A BOS is never supposed to inflict pain or death to a member of his family. Every G knows this. Yes I am proud to be serving my country and yes I regret some of the things i have done in my past, but i appreciate all that i have been through and all that i have learned. The true principles instilled in me growing up in a house full of FOLKS and a neighborhood that followed the NATION, and the discipline and values learned in the military made me into the man, father, and husband that i am today and wouldnt change it for the world. Before you denounce members of a street gang, or those who were/are actively affiliated with a street gang, take the time to actually evaluate their situation as a whole, not your situation but theirs. Before you denounce what that street gang is all about learn the history and background of it first, because believe it or not, (learned from my father a CHI-Town Native, a true G) the growth and development of my family, neighborhood, and community are the reason that i am a BOS. And the last resort is violence. I to this day still proudly where my flag (both US and bandana) for my friends, family, loved ones, and fellow soldiers who have fought and fallen in the struggle of society, freedom, and justice. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, you have mine. Gangs will always be a problem, as long as the people involved dont know the true history/start of their organization. "Let those without sin cast the first Stone" Banning a known gang member/someone affiliated with a gang from enlisting in the military will hurt a lot of people in my opinion more than help. The military has made a big difference. I love it!!! Honor and Courage!!! Hooah!!

[tmk0106]

Gangs seem to be increasing in presence even in a little high moral state like Utah. It is no wonder that when they take youth from impoverished areas of the U.S.A. that they introduce gang members into the millitary. I know of first hand how many are entering via North Las Vegas, Nevada as I observed the gang attire in applicants during processing. We can only hope that the millitary will encourage them thru training not to return to the business of gangs. If not we will end up with very well trained threat groups domestically. Let us hope that history does not repeat itself.

[dirtydog55]

If illegal drugs were eliminated we would have to lay off thousands of police and the police unions would not stand for that!!
Posted by dirtydog55 at 01:48 PM : Jul 30, 2007
---
These people that are no longer locking perps up might be retrained in medicine or research or 'what is there a need for'...
Posted by ToolMangler at 10:14 PM : Jul 30, 2007


There seems to be more incentive to keep fighting the war on drugs than there is to win it. How long has this 'war on drugs' been going on now?

Since 1971 when Nixon first used the term?

How about 1880 when the U.S. and China agreed to stop opium shipments to the U.S.?

The 'war on gangbangers' will be no different. We will still be fighting street gangs 100 years from now. The only difference is that they will be even more violent.

[toolmangler-2009]

If illegal drugs were eliminated we would have to lay off thousands of police and the police unions would not stand for that!!


Posted by dirtydog55 at 01:48 PM : Jul 30, 2007


These people that are no longer locking perps up might be retrained in medicine or research or 'what is there a need for'...

[formersfc]

****SEE BELOW POST*****
THIS IS #2. PART 1 IS BELOW THIS ONE.

A talk from the CID Agent that there wasn't anything they could do unless they committed a crime. The next day I got a call at home from my 1SG telling me that the Battalion commander, LTC M wanted to see me, my commander, and my 1SG 1st thing in the morning. Ok I thought. I almost thought that the LTC wanted to say what a fine thing I did by weeding out this gang banger in his barracks. Instead I got an *** chewing for going outside the chain of command and bringing unneeded attention to the unit. Ultimately, the incident was handled by a brand new MPI who had the gang banger open his computer up to see what was in it. And yes, there were 2 folders on it. 1 containing adult movies, and the other with pictures of his gang banging ***. When the MPI asked him about all the stuff in the room, his reply was "Its not mine, my friends just sent it to me". MPI said, "OK". In summary.....the guy went on in training and is now in a US Army Special Operations unit on Fort Bragg (Civil Affairs to be exact). Im out now, and I look back and say........What ever%u2026%u2026.I did what I could and the system just beat me down

[formersfc]

I recently left over 11 years of active military service. I was stationed at Fort Bragg NC and witnessed first hand not only the total incompetence of the US Army CID, but also of many commanders both company level who are frightened of the battalion cdrs and BN cdrs who want to get promoted brush things quietly under the table rather then recognize the actual problems at hand with gangs in my Army. If you think thats out of line, here is one such case I will base my statement on. I was a platoon sergeant and responsible to inspect among other things the living conditions of the soldiers under my charge. As I was conducting an unannounced barracks inspection, I went into one room and saw gang paraphernalia all over the place. How do I know it was gang paraphernalia? 2 ways. 1, I was a trained EO representative which includes gangs in the military awareness but the main way was by asking a long time, dear, close friend of mine by the name of Hunter Glass who is mentioned in the above story. I also showed the pictures I took with my phone cam to another close friend of mine who was a current (MPI) ---MP Detective. Both he and Hunter said the guy was a Vice Lord (with the Bloods). I contacted CID immediately, sent them the pictures that were validated by 2 separate gang experts and what did I get in return?????---*****see next post*****

[greybeardvet]

Let's not start racial profiling the situation before we know what is happening. We know that Bush's military machine is actively recruiting felons but we don't know what percentage of them become criminals in the service. We need to know what happens with the 125,000 "moral waiver" troops. If they comprise a substantial percent of the gang problem then the recruitment process is at fault. But what the hay, mercenaries have never been gentle souls.

[scare-n-me]

First I read that blacks are not enlisting in the Marines/Army as much as last decade. Now I read that the impression is being given that the blacks in the Armed Services, are involved in gangs. Maybe they are not cut out for that....
what do you think?

[glaswolf]

I was told by a black, a captain in ,that Crips were started by tuffs but taking over by academics. Falwell style politicised judeo christians organized Black_Blonde mixers on universities African military officers at universities met rehabilitated black street members. This genie plowed thru cities crushing and assimilating competition...kind of like microsoft. It seems African officers have their influence in US domestic affairs. Whence, pristine behavior blackboys making big bucks on drugs...like pharmaceutical investors.
Police have local spying...neighborhood watch groups...wasn't BTK a judeo christian policer?

[dirtydog55]

The problem is gangs are a big business. Posted by sblizzy at 10:08 AM : Jul 30, 2007


Exactly... The gang that is the subject of this story is nation-wide and made over $100 million in one year selling drugs, and the gang FORBIDS members from using drugs.

So they are not selling to themselves. If that isn't a business I don't know what is.

Illegal drugs keep a lot of "honest" people employed. Think about it. If the war on illegal drugs was won, there wouldn't be the need for so many DEA and other law enforcement agents who are dedicated to stopping illegal drugs.

If illegal drugs were eliminated we would have to lay off thousands of police and the police unions would not stand for that!!

[gator1105]

Boy you bandwagon people are late this as been going on for years. It dates back to the Korean War. Read your history. The standards for joining the army are same. The human race has change. Bad parents make bad kids and bad kids make bad adults. And you're right the army is not getting the brightess or the smartess, but the are providing jobs and picking up where bad parents left off. Anyone that thinks they need to be in a gang is lacking something in there family life. Once you become a parent ( no matter how old 16 are what ever) you need to set the tone of your childs life. It's not enough to feed and clothed them. You have to mold them. The army is not a daycare center for adults, nor does it teach you to be a man or women. You parents do that.

[aldewitt-2009]

Gangs exist in units where small unit discipline is poorest. These are non-line units (motor pools, transportation sections, supply,e tc.)

Gangs exist to provide those who do not have rank with power. They exist as a subculture of the command and control scheme. TO that end they are detrimental to military operations and should be identified and interdicted.

[sblizzy]

The problem is gangs are a big business. If we ever crack down on the Government bringing in illegal drugs into the US, there wouldnt be a drug problem. Gangs control the drugs once the "whiteman" gives it to them. Its big money. Its covering territories. People arent in gangs just to be part of their peers. They are in gangs to be part of the business that this corrupt Government allows. In truth, as sick as this sounds, the head of all streetgangs is....President Bush.

[dirtydog55]

This from a Canadian writer, Klaus Rohrich, disupting two Berkley professors who concluded that Canada, whose UN delegates had 0 unpaid parking tickets, was the least corrupt.

"It isn%u2019t that Canadians are inherently more honest and decent, it%u2019s that we are subjected to a culture of %u201Csoft%u201D corruption...Yes, corruption in Canada is hard to find, but that%u2019s more a function of the sophistication of those in power than it is a reflection of their innate honesty."

[michellem99-2009]

I will say this and this true. Every where there is gang tag and years ago there was none years ago here in America. Why did this nation not stop it. It is not their place to tag. Too busy..Nope lazy parents. They toss their trash, and who cleans it up. Nobody. I am 52, and taught not to. It is sad that gangs have beem allowed to grow and kids at that. SO WHO CAN THEY GET TO JOIN. Vets maybe the armed forces best not allow it, that you best not tag. Yer DI will surely have a message, clean it up..not here.

[dirtydog55]

radiob, thanks for the info on the cross burning on the USS America.

[toolmangler-2009]

We do not have MAJOR corruption like you do.
Posted by erasmus6 at 10:48 PM : Jul 29, 2007


Google this
Corruption in canada

or go here
http://www.google.com/search?q=Corruption+in canada&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

[erasmus6]

radiob

Do you have a problem, radiob? I have said several times that I did not say we didn't have problems. I also did not say that you could not critique my country but please make sense when you do. I am talking about specific things here and you are just grabbing at ANYTHING just to try and get back at me.

We do not have MAJOR corruption like you do.

[radiob-2009]

Posted by CBSBlogger

And what about all of the hate groups that have been in the military for longer than I can remember.Neither are a true reflection of America, only the worst of America, not the best of America or our military.

[cbsblogger]

If we don't nip this gangster thing in the bud in our military, it will spread as a cancer and as it has throughout our urban areas.