Sean Baker (soldier)

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For the film director, see Sean Baker (filmmaker). For the American football player, see Sean Baker (American football).

Sean Baker United States Army
BornLawrenceburg, Kentucky
AllegianceUS
Service/branch United States Air Force
United States Army
Years of service1990?-?? (USAF)
2001-2004 (U.S. Army)
RankSpecialist (Army)
Unit438th Military Police
Battles/warsGulf War

Sean Baker is a United States Air Force veteran who was injured in a training drill at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in 2003, and subsequently discharged.

Background

Baker was a member of the Kentucky Army National Guard. He served during the first Gulf War. In 2003 he was a member of the 438th Military Police at Guantanamo Bay.[citation needed]

Incident

In January 2003, Baker was ordered by an officer at

riot squad
thought that he was a genuine detainee who had assaulted a sergeant.

During an interview with

battle dress uniform
and government-issue boots underneath, did the beating stop.

Baker was transported to a

Fort Dix, New Jersey, and received a medical discharge
in April 2004.

After retirement

After Baker revealed his story to a Kentucky reporter, a spokeswoman for United States Southern Command questioned the validity of his injuries, and denied that his medical discharge was related to the training drill. However, the Physical Evaluation Board stated in a document on 29 September 2003, that "the TBI was due to soldier playing role of detainee who was non-cooperative and was being extracted from detention cell in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during a training exercise."[1]

The Army has since recanted its denial of the relationship between Baker's injury and the training drill, although the spokeswoman continues to claim that the injury was only partly caused by the incident. A military investigation concluded that there was no misconduct that led to Baker's injury. A videotape that should have been made of the incident for training purposes has yet to be found.

A June 2005

Kentucky Congressman Ben Chandler "urged the military to turn over Mr Baker's medical records."[2] The same month, the LA Times quoted an unnamed official: "While it is unfortunate that Spc. Baker was injured, the standards of professionalism we expect of our soldiers mandate that our training be as realistic as possible".[3]

As of June 2005 Baker receives $2,350 a month in military disability benefits, plus $1,000 a month in

social security, which he was willing to give up if the Army finds a way to reinstate a position for him.[3]

Lawsuit

Baker filed a lawsuit in May 2005, against

constitutional rights. In his suit Baker is asking for $15 million in compensation and damages, and for re-instatement in the Army. However, due to the 1950 Supreme Court decision in Feres v. United States, Baker is unable to sue.[4]

Baker still "wants to serve his country, in the Army", and has stated that the Army "can find him a job that accommodates his disability".[1]

References

  1. ISBN 0896087530
    .
  2. ^ "US probes trainee soldier beating". BBC News. 16 June 2004. Retrieved 5 August 2013. In a letter to the army, Congressman Ben Chandler of Kentucky urged the military to turn over Mr Baker's medical records and said his claims were "deeply troubling".
  3. ^ a b Zucchino, David (18 June 2005). "Soldier Sues Over Guantanamo Beating". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 August 2013. Simpson said Baker received $2,350 a month in military disability benefits, plus $1,000 a month in Social Security, but that he would give it up to have a military job.
  4. ^ Leung, Rebecca (11 February 2009). "G.I. Attacked During Training". CBS News. Retrieved 13 March 2013.

External links

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