Dad Recalls "Sad Situation" At Fort Bragg

Disgusting Living Conditions Prompted GI's Father To Post Video, Sparking Army Probe

(CBS/AP)  The father whose video of the outdated and unsanitary living conditions of barracks at Fort Bragg recalled his initial reaction upon stepping into his son's military quarters last month, saying it was "a very sad situation."

Ed Frawley, whose son, Jeff, had just returned from a 15-month tour in Afghanistan, was appalled by the poor condition of the barracks at the North Carolina base. Ed Frawley told CBS' The Early Show he saw mold and peeling lead paint on the ceiling, pipes venting sewer gas into hallways, and an array of broken toilets.

Frawley snapped photos of the barracks and posted them as a video on YouTube. The video has since sparked an Army investigation into the conditions of its barracks worldwide.

By Wednesday, the barracks had new paint and water fountains were fixed, but work crews still labored on the plumbing.

Frawley said he watched with disgust and embarrassment as his son and his fellow soldiers joked about the accommodations at Fort Bragg. "I sat there with them when they made jokes, and I got mad," Frawley said. He said he kept his anger to himself so not to deflate the spirit of the soldiers who were just happy to be back in the United States.

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Watch Ed Frawley's YouTube video

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"I just sat there and I was fuming," he said.

Frawley said he'd been to his son's barracks twice before, including for five days prior to Jeff's departure for Afghanistan. "It was worse than when they came home than it was before," he said, adding, "and it was bad before."

On Wednesday, the secretary of the Army said the poor condition of Korean War-era barracks at Fort Bragg is unacceptable.

Army Secretary Pete Geren said improvements are coming, but some of the problems can't be fixed quickly. He made the remarks after meeting with soldiers and touring Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division barracks.

"Everybody on this installation knows that the conditions were unacceptable. Every soldier deserves a quality of life equal to his service," Geren said.

Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., urged the Defense Department on Wednesday to look into the Bragg conditions. Ed Frawley is one of Feingold's constituents.

Army officials have said they have inspected every barracks building worldwide to see whether plumbing and other problems revealed at Fort Bragg are widespread.

The barracks like the one in the video were built in the 1950s and will still be needed while Fort Bragg constructs new ones, Geren said.

"We have old barracks with needs, but it is nothing that can be fixed overnight," he said. "We're going to make sure all the installations have the requirements they need."

[jpalm1945]

all units that deploy(be it to a war or off site trng) have a rear detachment; when I was on active duty I left instructions for the "rear D" to inspect billets and other bldgs to insure that the garbage that was found at Bragg didn''t happen. when at Bragg a few months ago found alot of new billets being constructed; nonetheless the returning warriors should have had better, mine came back to clean living areas with clean bed linen stacked on beds so they had one less hassle. retired Command Sargeant Major.

[antoniof123]

Hey wing nuts is this how you support the troop. You guys borrow money to pay for bombs but can''t find enough to treat there wounds.

It is going to be a blood bath in November for the neo con party. Live it up now because you have awaken the American spirte and we are just plained pis.sed.

[blackwater66-2009]

It should have never came to this, the Chain of Command broke down for sure, from the squad leader, Platoon Sergeant, 1SG and CSM.

Take care of the troops first and foremost is the responsibility of the Chain of Command, someone needs to be disciplined here, where does the buck stop ????

[pete_in_az]

geez that looks pretty nice compared to 29 palms...

[willymack]

You mean to tell me that in an entier battalion they did not have a single plumber? Most units I knew had carpenters, plumbers, Lawyers, teachers etc.If something needed doing, we got it done. Of course these days, young people who see the toilet is not flushing, will continue to use it until they can not sit on the seat.

[hwy71so]

With 20 years of military life behind me, I know for a fact this is an isolated incident.

Leave it to the media to make a mountain out of a mole hill!

[vet_sk]

Hwy71So, isolated incident? Not even close.
I am not sure when you got out but the military is having huge problems now.

And National Guard units like mine are in the worst shape when they are mobilized for deployments. We get what is left over from the Army.

And people here on this forum saying that soldiers did not want to try to fix it themselves? Ah, okay, we''ll fix the 50 year old sewer system, the industrial flush toilets who gaskets have long ago failed.

So why don''t you just go put that rediculous yellow ribbon on your car and call yourself good. Go to h-ell.

[mf12341]

This is actually common in the ARMY. Fort Polk, LA Now that place is Baaaaaaaaaaad! Very very Baaaaaad! The guy said the General didn''t know about it! That''s ***. I know for a fact that they responded as fast as they did, because they knew they where caught with their pants down. Before I left to Iraq in 2005, they had me in a closet size room with 4 other guys. Oh and you should have seen what they fed us at Ft. Stewart, GA when we got back! Grilled Sliced Ham! I ate better in Iraq.

[godseyesore-2009]

HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa, all the maintenance money was used by bushto pay for his numerous junkets to Crawford.

[martin9p2]

My toilet is clogged too. CBS, please send a reporter to my house.

[missingamerica]

What makes me think that it is likely that barracks maintenance was first handed over to DOD civilians and then further "privatized" via a probably unbid contract?

One of the problems with letting today''s Republicans gain power is that they see our military and even war itself as a golden opportunity for profit rather than as a duty and responsibility.

So they "privatized" whatever they could, with their ever-present clamor of "Business is more efficient than government.". To what result?

Well, that "privatization" - compounded by this Administration''s abysmal leadership - has now forced our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan into second place on America''s list of war bills - second only to World War II!

There is an interesting transcript at http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/0408_transcript_stiglitziraq.pdf.

You know how the Republicans are always trying to get Social Security put into the stock market where they and their constituents can get their hands on it? The above transcript notes that for 1/6th the cost of the Iraq war, we could have stabilized Social Security for 50 to 75 years...so when you hear Republicans screaming about Social Security, understand that they just want to rape you - again.

[webroot1]

This is a deplorable situation at Bragg. Several people are to blame for not keeping on top of situations like this. Glad that someone finally is on top of this....too bad this got so bad before it was brought to the attention of the press.

[pgriffin8]

I cannot believe that our American soldiers have to come back to something like this. After living in the conditions they have had to indure for 15 months that is just a disgrace. My son was with the 82nd Airborne out of Fort Bragg and served 2 tours out of that command and now is on his third tour out of Fort Riley. I hope that he or any of his fellow soldiers never come back to anything like that now or in the future. I will do exactly what Ed Frawley did. A comment was made that the media made a mountain out of a mole hill. They need to. No one should ever have to be put through that! I would like that person to have to live in what our soldiers have to live through daily.

[middleman8]

Come on now; these are big tough soldiers not playboy bunnies..Maybe they could help to repair their living qtrs. If they can''t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

[joed7604]

Go inspect the NAVY barracks at Great Lakes
They are old but spotless.
The NAVY takes care of their mates

[carlylaine]

This is absolutely absurd that the government would have allowed the press to get this without making provisions and fixes all along...what a bunch of monkeys.

[haoli25]

"Nothing is too good for our troops". An ''NOTHING'' is all the soldiers and sailors of the U.S. have ever received from our government.

[eroosevelt08]

Every veteran deserves our thanks and respect. Because of them the rest of us are still here.

[mcvet]

Come on now; these are big tough soldiers not playboy bunnies..Maybe they could help to repair their living qtrs. If they can''''t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.


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Posted by middleman8 at 11:05 AM : May 01, 2008
+ report abuse

If we are going to pay these young men to be Janitors then the risk to them should be FOR Janitors. If we are going to train them to operate the most advanced weapons system''s in the world, they need to be focused on just that... YOU are obviously a nazi bootlicker who can find NO wrong with the "Party" or your fuhrer!! Now sing out so Darth can hear you!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!! Dumb as a box of rocks folks... that''s all that''s left for Bush!

[mcvet]

My toilet is clogged too. CBS, please send a reporter to my house.


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Posted by martin9p2 at 10:42 AM : May 01, 2008
+ report abuse

No wonder you freaks gave us the WORST President in US HISTORY... You have licked so many boots and swallowed so much boot polish you can''t even READ... it wasn''t the "Press" you pathetic loser... it was one of the FATHERS of one of the Troops who was returning from Afganistan... SIEG HEIL!!

[antoniof123]

This is absolutely absurd that the government would have allowed the press to get this without making provisions and fixes all along...what a bunch of monkeys.

Posted by CarlyLaine at 11:08 AM : May 01, 2008

Ugggggg, MaCarthy tried that and the Press need to report abuse I know that boot lickers don''t like anything that makes their regime look bad but you know what I really just don''t care what you neo cons want anymore.

It will be a blood bath this election for you so just enjoy the time you have left.

[antoniof123]

Posted by antoniof123 at 11:28 AM : May 01, 2008

Posted by CarlyLaine at 11:08 AM : May 01, 2008

Sorry I forgot to say I agree with you that this is a government failure not yours.

[jasarack]

It''s no surprise that such conditions are occurring under the watch of our incompetent "commander-in-chief" George W. Bush. Not only has he needlessly put our troops in harms way for the debacle in Iraq, he has also ignored their basic needs, whether it be body armor, proper equipment, or medical or psychiatric assistance when they return. It''s clear that tax breaks for the wealthy and no-bid contracts for Halliburton are the priority. "W" clearly stands for the worst president in U.S. history.

[logicgal1]

Oh Please, Blaming Bush as if the barracks we''ren''t in horrible condition when Clinton the *** was Prez. You people are pathetic crybabies!

[middleman8]

mcvet;

You are barking up the wrong tree.
I generally agree with your statements, but not the last hurled at me. Please sing a different tune and change your record. Hitler was a long time ago as I remember, used to listen to his broadcast. Spent 4 yrs. US service during Korean war. I was in Baghdad when you were in dadsbag.

[parrot123-2009]

mcvet;

You are barking up the wrong tree.
I generally agree with your statements, but not the last hurled at me. Please sing a different tune and change your record. Hitler was a long time ago as I remember, used to listen to his broadcast. Spent 4 yrs. US service during Korean war. I was in Baghdad when you were in dadsbag.
Posted by middleman8 at 12:04 PM : May 01, 2008

You may have missed the new Nazis here in America being of the Repug party .... IMO, i think it''s just his way of labelling Repugs. Some of us use NeoCOn and others like me really prefer REPUG. Cheers!

[pat1967-2009]

Go inspect the NAVY barracks at Great Lakes
They are old but spotless.
The NAVY takes care of their mates


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Posted by Joed7604 at 11:06 AM : May 01, 2008

Snipes Castle is now gone (sad sigh). You are correct in that we always kept it clean. However, I''m not so sure that ''we'' would have been able to fix a failing sewer system without having to tear down half the building.

ex-MM2(SS)

[middleman8]

parrot;

Whats the difference the way you vote? THEY will put the party THEY want in anyway. If THEY don''t get the popular vote they will use SUPERVOTERS.
By the way I am a God fearing, peace loving DEMO.

[cbutler69]

No, this isnt Bushes fault, the fault falls on the US Army for not taking care of things. You can bet their offices and officers quarters were in better condition then the barracks were. They dont need new barrakcs they need to take care of what they have. Thats is something else wrong with this country. Spend billions on new buildings instead of taking care of what they have. Maybe they need new people incharge of these places, the ones in charge now dot seem to be doing their jobs.

[will_101st]

The Democratic party should go the way of the Whigs

[chatmandu002]

I bet this father embarrassed his son to make a political point.

[armydog2]

pgriffin8
My son is doing a second 15 month tour out of Fort Carson. If my son came to to live in filth like this I would do exactly the same as this father did. Treating our Soldiers like this is an insult to their Service to our Country.

[mexinvasion]

Too bad it took a whistle blower and public humiliation to get Pete Geren to do the job he is getting paid to do. But I''m sure he''ll designate a scapegoat.

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II is upset that living conditions in the military have "gone to Hades"!

It was bad enough when it was "discovered" that injured vets weren''t getting the care they should at Walter Reed and other VA hospitals across the country, but now it turns out even the healthy find living under a viaduct better than living in an Army barracks!

Now it should be understood that the Great Emperor is not upset with the military about the barrack''s living conditions; in fact, he is happy that the military is "saving money" on not repairing anything so he can have money to continue to fight his wars in the Middle East and elsewhere.

What upsets the Great Emperor is that the Army allowed a CIVILIAN on base and that he took pictures of what he found.

So, in order to prevent such stories from "leaking out" again, the Great Emperor has ordered that NO civilians are to be allowed on military bases unless they are employed by KBR or Halliburton. Any enlisted personnel are forbidden to take photos on base because of the "sensitiveness" of the area and for "security reasons", and anyone caught doing so will be sent to Iraq FOR LIFE!

In this way, the Great Emperor will continue to SUPPORT THE TROOPS!!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, more of the same, McCain!!!!

[beckajw]

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, more of the same, McCain!!!!


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Posted by walt1944

Thanks for your political point of view.

You shouldn''t say sieg heil unless you know what it means.

If you''ve done any research at all, you would know that the only thing similar about Bush and McCain is the support for the war.

[gordon102-2009]

As a retired military person, I have followed this story with great sadness. #1 what is wrong with our current leadership? It was always a policy to take care of the basic needs in order to be front line ready. #2 where are the high paid civilian employees that are the maintenance crews on these active duty facilities. One would think it would be appropriate to realize that when the population of a facility is increasing that inactive barracks would need to be opened and evaluated for compliance for human habitation. #3 maybe the BG that held the news conference apologizing for the oversight conditions at Bragg should spend a little more time in the field. Apparently there is no one below him that can do the job. #4 it always comes down to a lack of money. Maybe if there weren%u2019t so many levels of management there would be plenty of money!

[csmith1948]

Seems the current admin crying "support our troops" only meant with warfare hardware. I always thought it meant during and after their service. It appears to me that once they return home, screw ''em then send them back.

[ajmarine11]

Posted by gordon102 at 02:11 PM : May 01, 2008


When I was in the service, we held "field days" on the barracks every week and were inspected to see that the job was done right and the barracks were in order and good shape............doesn''t the Army do this? No one holds inspections?

[trillion1]

Did they ever clean up Walter Reed or just wait for it to fade out of the news?

[mljohns00]

Get used to it. Our Govenment is turning our country into a third-world nation.

[mikeabc2]

Let''s see 250 billion in farm subsidies to rich factory farms, 10 billion to Pakistan, 2 billion to Egypt; on and on and on...
I think even ONE of those billion would surely help the barracks situation.

[keithle1]

Enlisted personnel & officers lead totally different lives. A lot better to be an officer. A lot of enlisted people with kids are barely getting by. And they work their butts off. The miltary is not a 9-5, Mon-Fri, job. A lot easier ways to make a living.

The troops deserve better. You expect people to work 18 hour days with no overtime pay. Government doesn''t mind spending billions & billions & billions on the "war on terror" but then they nickle & dime on stuff that is very important to the troops: on-base housing, medical care/hospitals, etc.

Without the media, who knows if we would ever find out about it. If they the men & women of the armed forces don''t deserve the best then who does?

[gce65]

This is the next Walter Reed scandal in waiting...until it gets enough press coverage. Then Bush will play corporate manager and fire the head of the base and replace him with some kowtowing crony. Hey, maybe L Paul Bremer could help! He did wonders in Iraq! Not!

[bobnjersey]

looks like some promotions are likely here ... maybe give everyone another star.

[toolmangler-2009]

Get used to it. Our Govenment is turning our country into a third-world nation.

Posted by mljohns00 at 04:06 PM : May 01, 2008



With all due respect, I have been telling you guys that for years, its the only way to get a ''globalized economy'' in GW''s lifetime, (no matter who gets hurt)

[incog-nito]

Maybe so, but if you''re a mercenary, um, "security contractor", then you get a six-figure income, the best armor and protection available, great living quarters, full medical care, etc.

See? Bush does care about his people.

[clownof1]

It sure doesn''t seem the Government does not care about our troops. We faced the same problem after every combat situation. This time it exposed Walter Reed Hospital and now Fort Bragg. In my opinion, Veterans should be number one, because without their commitment to duty who know what kind of language we would be speaking. The Government should be ashamed of themselves for trying to take better care of others in the world versus taking care of the ones that are taking care of our way of life.
Fellow Combat Marine!!
Support our Troops!!!

[scorpio59er]

Always remember this: The U.S. Government is run by and for the rich. Everyone else is expendable. You don''t see any of Bush or Cheney''s relatives dying in their filthy wars, do you? But they and their right wing chickenhawk media gasbags will happily sacrifice YOUR kids. Hundreds of billions of $ to Halliburton to "rebuild" Iraq, while our soldiers live in this $&^# and Americans go without proper healthcare. Jesus wept.

[pensacola88]

A lot of Army Dads and Marine Dads have seen their son''s barracks in this condition. I have seen my son''s barracks and found it beneath my standards, but my son asked me not to do anything about it, because his chain of command retaliates with harder and more frequent field day inspections to serve each week, because they heard their troops were living in filthy conditions. That clearly was not the answer I wanted or the results I wanted to see. Some of those base commanders don''t seem to succeed in getting more Pentagon money for capital investments to improve their facilities.

I think if we made the Pentagon Generals sleep in these barracks and walk a mile in the shoes of their own marines and soldiers, the money would begin to flow. Slumlord beaurocrats in the Pentagon are clearly out of touch. Its too bad that Pentagon Staff members can''t earn promotions for taking care of their enlisted people as easily as conducting wartime operations. The culture just doesn''t promote an officer to General for keeping every latrine in the Army functional.

[myshay]

I am very glad that this issue was addressed. It should be done for every unit but it isn''t. I also believe that the statement that the dad made in regards to the location of the soldiers overseas should be omitted from the story because it puts our soldiers at risk that return to that location.