[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1796]]



STATEMENT TO SUBCOMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL, SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 1996

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for the last 2 
months, I have assisted my constituents, Charles and Annette Casto, in 
attempting to locate information regarding the death of their son, L. 
Cpl. Anthony A. Casto, U.S. Marine Corps. After a hurried 
investigation, the Marine Corps concluded that Anthony Casto died as a 
result of suicide. The few material possessions given to the family, 
brief and uninformative talks with senior military personnel and the 
investigative branches involved in the process, yielded more questions 
and uncertainties than answers to Anthony's death.
  The families which appeared before the subcommittee were in 
concurrence that the military's death investigation process is 
fractured. Currently, separate entities come to conclusions on a single 
death and withhold information underlying their conclusions. This is 
the antithesis to freedom of information and contrary to families' 
legitimate expectations that services will be forthcoming and truthful 
about the cause of a loved one's death.
  All governmental entities and departments are accountable to the 
citizenry. I am not overzealous when I say that, just as we expect our 
government to be effective, it should be standard that it is also 
compassionate when dealing with the families of those who sacrifice 
their lives for our country. Unfortunately, the personal experiences of 
families of deceased military personnel illustrate a different picture. 
Though the people and places were different, there was a common theme 
that the investigative process treated families as outsiders, not 
obligated to knowing how their sons and daughters died while serving 
our country.
  I know that the members of the subcommittee listened to the stories 
on September 12 with sincere interest, professionalism, and sympathy. 
However, I ask that the subcommittee lead this Congress in a first, but 
major step, in reforming the military death investigation process to 
transform it into one that is efficient, responsive, accountable and 
most importantly, one that is respectful and compassionate to our 
deceased servicemen and women's families.

                          ____________________