American-Statesman Sunday, February 26, 1989 Fort Hood segregates HIV-infected troops Policy drove soldier to try suicide, he says By Laurie Garrett Los Angeles Times Service FORT HOOD While friends looked on, afraid to say anything, Pvt. John Brisbois packed his bags in October and fled his barracks with no intention of ever going back. Brisbois said he left the Army, the only career he had ever wanted, after he had been demoted and had fought three months of harassment because he had tested positive for the AIDS virus. "The Army did everything possible to make me want to leave," said Brisbois, who surrendered after three months, tried to kill himself and was discharged two weeks ago. "I feel I don't have a future anymore.
I don't want to die, but I get so depressed." The 24-year-old soldier left a special wing of a barracks known throughout the base as the "HIV hotel" and "the leper colony," where he and at least 50 others were transferred. It is the armed forces' first consolidated unit of HIV-infected soldiers. That move represents an escalation in the military's battle against acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The war is being waged with weapons that already include mandatory HIV testing, forced pledges to practice only safe sex, and courts-martial of hom*osexuals they become too sick to work, and are allowed to continue their chosen military professions if they are able, said Susan Hansen of the Department of Defense's Public Affairs Office in Washington, D.C. The official policy is that individuals "shall not be separated (discharged) on the basis of their HIV status," Hansen said.
At Fort Hood, home of 3rd Corps and the biggest tank and artillery post in the world, then-commanding officer Lt. Gen. Crosbie Saint exercised his prerogative and ordered HIV-positive soldiers to be separated from their units. Saint, who now commands all U.S. troops in Europe, argued that the need for readiness for deployment in case of war was more important than Department of Defense prohibitions against such segregation, Army officials at Fort Hood said.
On April 15, about 50 soldiers who had tested HIV positive were transferred to the administrative center for the fort that houses a non-combat unit. Most of the men transferred that day also were lodged on the third floor of Building 21006. remember that day clearly. John G. Lara Deaths and funerals Austin said.
Two days later, Army police arrived at the Air Force base, put Brisbois in handcuffs and leg irons, and drove him to the Fort Hood stockade. There, he was handed a full bottle of debusing shampoo, which bore the label "Poison" in bold print. Brisbois walked back to the showers and drank it. Guards had Brisbois' stomach pumped and returned him to the stockade. Shortly after the incident, Brisbois was involuntarily given a General Discharge from the Army.
He is now fighting for medical and other veterans' benefits. While there are no studies on how many HIV-positive soldiers become suicidal, Brisbois' situation is not unique, civilian advocates said. Just outside San Antonio, at Fort Sam Houston, another soldier related his emotional disintegration after being told that he had tested positive. He proudly showed a 1986 Letter of Commendation and his 1987 Army Achievement Medal "for exceptionally meritorious service." "It's not dealing with the HIV that's stressful, it's everything else," he said, outlining how he was shuttled from job to job on base and was unable to get psychological counseling, despite repeated requests. "Every day I ask, why do I put up with this?" daughter, Adeline Flynn of Austin; three sisters; two brothers; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Those wishing may make memorial luuu iuuuuiis iu uic miiciiv.au vauici Society. Arrangements by Cook-Walden Funeral Home, Lamar location. Marjorie Lacker Vivian Marjorie Lacker Vivian, age 81, of Austin, died Saturday morning, February 25, 1989. She was a native of Manor, Texas and was a member of the First Baptist Church. Survivors include three sisters, Mary Kathryn Peters, Dorothy White and M.
Wesley Swartz all of Austin; brother-in-law, A.W. Pete Peters of Austin; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday at the Hyltin-Manor Funeral Chapel with the Reverend Don Searles officiating. Interment will be in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery. Deaths ALLMAN, James (Stinky), Sr, 61, of Austin died Saturday.
(Cook-Walden, Lamar location) BENFORD, Charlie Ross, 88, of Bastrop died Thursday. Services 2 p.m. Monday at Shlloh Primitive Baptist Church in Shiloh Community. Burial Shlloh Cemetery. (King-Tears) BRAVENEC, Mrs.
Fannie Rosle, 92, of Yokum died Friday. Services 2 p.m. today at New Tabor Brethren Church. Burial New Tabor Church Cemetery. (Phillips Luckey, Caldwell) EVANS, Elizabeth Lee, 22, of Austin died Saturday.
Wake 7:30 p.m. Monday at Weed-Corley Funeral Home. Funeral Mass 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Austin's Catholic Church.
Burial Assumption Cemetery. HORTER, Milton, Jr 68, of Austin died Friday. Private memorial service today at Camp Mabry Chapel. (Cook-Walden, Lamar location) B5 Plastic paves way out of Harris jail HOUSTON (AP)-Prisoners in the Harris County Jail this week discovered a new kind of plastic that can cut through the heavy metal doors that keep them locked up credit cards. The jail has started accepting Visa and Mastercard for posting bail.
About 30 people have taken advantage of the new service since it started last week, but there is one catch. There is a $3,000 limit on how much can be charged. That means people charged with misdemeanors are about the only ones who can spring themselves from jail by whipping out their credit card. Cpl. Glen Gibbs said the new payment method is just another way to get out of jail, noting that with the jail's crowding problem, anything will help.
Using a credit card at the Sheriffs Department is somewhat different than at a retail outlet. After deputies call to make sure a card is valid, they then have a check similar to a cashier's check made out to Harris County and deposited. The credit card company also charges a fee to the card owner. Arrangements under the direction of Hyltin-Manor Funeral Chapel, 3000 N. IH35 at 30th Street, 476-5387.
Fayrene Wilson Fayrene Wilson, age 62, of Lock-hart, died Saturday, February 25, 1989. Survivors include her husband, Forrest M. (Jack) Wilson of Lockhart; mother, Anna Stone Kelley, of Seminole; son and daughter-in-law, Stephen F. and Sharon Wilson of San Marcos; daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Mark Riggln of Lockhart; granddaughter, Lana Ann Wilson of San Marcos. Memorial service will be at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, February 28, 1989 at First Presbyterian Church in Lockhart with Reverend Conway Wharton officiating.
Private Interment in Lockhart City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, Lockhart, Texas. Arrangements by McCurdy Funeral Home, 105 E. Pecan, Lockhart, Texas. (512)398-3441.
KINGSBURY, Elaine Estelle, 71, of Tuttle, Oklahoma died Friday. Services 2 p.m. Monday at Mahomet Christian Church. Burial Mahomet Cemetery. (Edgar, Burnet) LUEDECKE, Mrs.
OttlUe, 92, of Fredericksburg died Friday. Services 2 p.m. Monday at St Mary's Catholic Church In Fredericksburg. Burial St Mary's Cemetery. (Schaetters, Fredericksburg) PESCHEL, Hertha 77, of New Ulm died Friday.
Services 2:30 p.m. today at St. John's Lutheran Church In New Ulm. Burial Pilgrims Rest Cemetery in Industry. (Koenig-Peel, La Grange) PETERS, Clarence 70, of La Grange died Friday.
Services 2:30 p.m. today at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church In La Grange. Burial La Grange City Cemetery. (Koenig-Peel, La Grange) ALLEY, Edwin Bain, Jr, 60, of Taylor died Thursday.
Services 2 p.m. Monday at Condra Funeral Home In Taylor. Burial Taylor City Cemetery. Marian S. Byars Marian S.
Byars, 84, of 2708 Del Curto Austin, Texas, passed away Friday. Mrs. Byars was a member of the Kinney Avenue Baptist Church. She and her husband owned and operated Flossie's Restaurant on South Lamar. Preceded in death by her husband, Albert Floyd (Flossie) Byars.
Survivors include sons, George D. Davis, Flint, Michigan, Douglas D. Byars, San Antonio; daughter, Nancy Baumgardner, Tulsa, Oklahoma; sister, Alice Velma James, Austin; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and and a host of friends she loved very much. Funeral service 1:30 PM, Sunday at Wilke-Amey-Clay Funeral Home. Reverend Gordon Bergstorm, officiating.
Burial, Blanco Cemetery, Blanco, Texas at 3:30 PM, Sunday. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to: Kinney Avenue Baptist Church or a favorite charity of choice. Services under the direction of Wilke-Amey-Clay Funeral Home. weapons that generally have been ruled illegal in civilian society. "I think gradually we are seeing a pattern of more restrictions on what people (infected with the AIDS virus) can do," said Kathy Gilbert of San Diego, head of the Military Law Task Force of the National Lawyers Guild.
The military defends its policies and argues that such severity is needed to control the epidemic, "The reason we have done what we have done," said Maj. Robert Red-field, of Rockville, chief scientist for the Army's AIDS research effort, "is that we think it's good medicine. And it's medicine that might work in the civilian sector as well." At Redfield's urging, the Department of Defense began the world's largest mandatory HIV screening program in October 1985. Since then, every recruit has been screened, and those who test positive are barred from the military About 5 million soldiers and recruits have been tested, and 6,000 on active duty have shown up positive. Those already in any military branch are allowed to remain until Margaret Amstead Connally Margaret Amstead Connally, age 83, of Austin, died Thursday, February 23, 1989.
She and her husband helped organize the Cub Scouts Pack 3. On September 8, 1936, she was registered as the first Den Mother In the Capitol Area Council. She was Past President of the Medical Assistants Association. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday in the Colonial Chapel at Cook-Walden Funeral Home with Dr. Harold Edwards officiating.
Interment will be In Capital Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Connally Is survived by her sons, Laurence F. Amstead of Pfluger-vllle and Clinton Ray Amstead, Sr. of Elgin; sister, Mrs.
Dexter Dabbs of Bryan; seven grandchildren; six greatgrandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded In death by her husband, William R. Connally and one grandson, Terry D. Amstead, Sr. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Clinton Ray Amstead, Larry Amstead, Robert Amstead, Kevin Amstead, Mike Amstead and Wtlburn Ray Amstead.
Those wishing may make memorial contributions to Koenlg Lane Christian Church or charity of ones choice. Arrangments by Cook-Walden Funeral Home, Lamar location. Betty Goodenough Crawford Betty Goodenough Grawford's funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM, Wednesday, March 1, 1989 in the Weed-Corley Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.
She was born September 24, 1900, In St. Louis, Missouri. In 1924, she married Charles M. Crawford In San Antonio. They lived in Austin, where their two sons were born, until 1929.
The family lived In Childress and Dallas until Colonel Crawford's 36th National Guard Division was called to active duty in 1940. Betty Crawford joined her husband In Japan In 1952 for his last two years of Military service, and they settled In Austin after his retirement In 1954. Betty Crawford is survived by George M. and Aurea Crawford of Orlando, Florida and Charles E. and Pat Crawford of Austin; four grandsons; one granddaughter; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. David's Health Care Foundation, P.O. Box 4039, Austin, Texas 78765. Arrangements by Weed-Corley Funeral Honme, 3125 N. Lamar, 452-8811.
Richard Cruz Richard Cruz, age 43, of Austin, died Friday February 24, 1989. A rosary will be recited Sunday at 7:30 PM at the Mission Funeral Home Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, 10:00 AM, St. Julias Catholic Church, with Mon-signer Lonnle Reyes officiating. Interment will follow In Assumption Cemetery.
Survivors, wife, Frances Cuevas; three brothers, Jacob Perez, Raymond Carlin both of Austin, Danny Perez of California; one aunt, Elodla Cruz of Austin; nephews, Raymond Carlin Vincent Carlin, Felix Carlin and Gregory Carlin, all of Austin; one niece, Christine Wllkerson of Austin; and various other family members. Richard Cruz was owner of El Ca-mlno Auto Sales on 6th Street at the time of his death and was a veteran of the Vietnam War having served a tour of duty from 1969 to 1970. Military honors will be presented by the VFW post of Austin. Richard, we will always hold dear to our hearts the love and strength that you gave us. Arrangements entrusted to Mission Funeral Home, 1615 E.
First. 476-4355. How could I forget it?" said a recently discharged HIV-positive soldier who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Everybody knew that we were the HIVs, you know. There was no confidentiality.
None at all. It was like somebody put signs around our necks saying 'here comes the AIDS All of the soldiers say that morale on the base drastically worsened after the transfers were ordered. At least two HIV-positive soldiers said they considered suicide. One was Brisbois. When he went absent without leave, Brisbois fled 250 miles south to Robert Edwards known to all as "Papa Bear" director of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation.
Brisbois told stories of what he called a "quarantine unit" for soldiers infected with the AIDS virus. Edwards and an attorney, Louis Font of Boston, who specializes in military law, advised Brisbois to surrender at nearby Lackland Air Force Base, where treatment of HIV soldiers is considered relatively humane. "We advised the Army and the Air Force that he was in a delicate frame of mind," Edwards Robert T. Martinez, Jr. Robert Townes Martinez, age 26, of Austin, a senior patrol officer with the Austin Police Department, died Saturday, February 25, 1989, while in the line of duty.
A native of Austin, born on June 18, 1962, Officer Martinez was the son of Robert Martinez, who is also an officer with APD, and his mother, Mary Ann Townes Martinez. Officer Martinez was a cadet in the 68th Austin Police Academy and was commissioned on August 17, 1984. He was a graduate of Southwest Texas State University with a degree In Criminal Justice. Survivors include his wife, Adela Ellzondo Martinez of Austin; his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Martinez, Sr. of Austin; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Townes of Austin; one sister, Roxanne Martinez of Austin; six uncles, Jesse Martinez, Sam Martinez, Nash Martinez, Michael Martinez, Ben Slfuentes and Frank Sifuentes; aunts, Carmen She-pard, Mary Ruiz, Janle Cardenaz, Patsy Lujan and Lupe Rosales, aunt Elaine Garrett and uncle Jack Garrett, aunt Stella Townes and uncle Bob Townes, all of Austin; and numerous nieces and nephews. Rosary will be recited at 5:00 PM, Sunday at the Hyltln-Manor Funeral Chapel.
Mass will be celebrated at 1:30 PM, Monday by Father Harold Zlnk at the St. Ignatius Catholic Church, including a eulogy by fellow officer Billy Slfuentes. Interment will be in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery with honors provided by the Austin Police Department. Pallbearers will be Roger Napier, Paul Ruiz, Frank Costello, Mike Martinez, David Domtnguez, Daniel Dlvila, Doyne Bailey and Herbert Martinez. Arrangements under the direction of Hyltln-Manor Funeral Chapel, 3000 No.
IH-35 at 30th Street, 476-5387. Eileen Peeler Mrs. George B. (Eileen) Peeler, age 97, of Taylor, died Saturday, February 25, 1989 in a Bartlett nursing home. Funeral services will be Monday February 27, 1989, 10:00 AM, at St.
Mary's Catholic Church of Taylor with the Reverend Lonnle Urban officiating. Entombment will be at the Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum In San Antonio at 2:00 PM. She was the former owner and publisher of the Taylor Dally Press. She was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church of Taylor and the Senior Women's Study Club.
Survivors: one cousin, Eileen Clark of Longvlew and a host of friends. Memorials may be made to charity of ones choice. Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Condra Funeral Home, Taylor. Adele Kunz Richter Adele Kunz Richter, age 85, a 40 year resident of Austin died Thursday, February 23, 1989. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday in the Colonial Chapel at Cook-Walden Funeral Home with Reverend Lynn Wlllhlte officiating.
Interment will be In Capital Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Richter is survived by her son, Oscar W. Richter of Klngsland, Texas; iX i John G. Lara, age 72, a lifetime resident of Austin, died Saturday, February 25, 1989.
He was employed by Falstaff Distributors for 35 years. Rosary will be said at 7:30 PM, Monday In the Colonial Chapel at Cook-Walden Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Tuesday at St. Louis Catholic Church with Reverend Don Moss officiating. Interment will be In Assumption Cemetery.
Mr. Lara Is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Raymond Castillo; sons, Jessie Lara and Ben Lara; brother, Raymond Lara; granddaughters, Joanna Castillo, and Jan-elle Castillo; grandson, John Jason Lara, Jessie Lara, Jonathon Lara and Joseph Lara, all of Austin. Arrangements by Cook-Walden Funeral Home, Lamar location. Lora A. Larson Lora A.
Larson, age 75, of Salem, Arkansas, died Friday. Survivors include her daughter, Tennle Larson, Austin; sons, Wayne Larson, Salem, Arkansas, and Ronald Larson, Austin; sisters, Buleah Butler, Ft. Worth, Flonnie Sansom and Lila Carlile, both of Austin; brothers, Clinton Sansom, Round Rock, Roy Sansom and Travis Sansom, both of Austin; six grandchildren. Services 10:00 AM, Monday, Weed-Corley Funeral Home with Lyle Schober officiating. Burial, Capital Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Weed-Corley Funeral Homne, 3125 N. Lamar 452-8811. Joseph Marks, Sr. Joe Marks, age 89, of Austin, passed away Tuesday, February 21, 1989. Mr.
Marks was born August 6, 1899, in Norwalk, Connecticut. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton University in 1920, with a degree In civil engineering. He began working with the Texas Game and Fish Commission in July of 1929, and designed many of the state's fish hatcheries, and the only successful saltwater hatchery in the United States. At the age of 70, he retired from the Game Fish Commission and began working for the State Building Commission at the request of Admiral Niemann, who asked him to help build a dam on the Alabama Coushatta Indian Reservation. He retired at the age of 75 from this commission.
Mr. Marks helped organize the Association of Conservation Engineers, served as Its president and on the board of directors. In 1967, he received the coveted Baker Memorial Award for Excellence from that group. Mr. Marks married Mary Martha Mutschler, March 3, 1926, and they had five children.
Survivors Include his wife, Mary; a daughter, Mary Wakefield; sons, Joe all of Austin, William J. and wife, Marlene of Manchaca, Richard and wife, Linda of Victoria, Phillip and wife, Janle of San Marcos; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. Private services were held Thursday, February 23. Memorial contributions may be made to the Eye Bank, 1201 W. 38th Street.
Austin, Texas 78705. I SOUTHWEST MONUMENT CO. IROWBKONSKII I I 4Ml4 I Martha Morgan Carmean Martha Morgan Carmean, age 49, of Austin, died Friday. She served as Executive Director for 13 years for the Texas Association of Assessing Officers, CAE with TSAE, member of Leadership Austin, Legislative Wives Club, and American Business Womens Association Woman of the Year. She was a member of Grace Covenant Church, where she was a member of the choir.
She also belonged to the Womens Bible Study Fellowship of Austin. She is survived by her husband, Billy Carmean; son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Cindy Barnes of Austin; daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Lane Mathts of Austin; step-daughter, Candice Carmean of Austin; sister, Patricia and Glenn Newton of Hurst; grandchildren, Ashley Morgan Mathls, Ben Frank Barnes II, Kelly Nicholas Barnes, and Katherlne Elizabeth Mathls, all of Austin. Services will be 3:00 PM, Monday at Grace Covenant Church, 9500 Research with Reverend Mark Davidson officiating. Burial, Austin Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Lane Mathls, Brent Newton, Scott Newton, Glenn Newton, Gary Jessee and BUI Trevarrow.
Memorials may be made In her name to the Seton Fund, "Restricted for use with the Cancer 1201 W. 38th, Austin, Texas 78705. Arrangements by Weed-Corley Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar 452-8811. A BEAUTIFUL LASTING TRIBUTE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES.
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