SSG
Pogany Medically Retired!
Read the case history, keep up to date on Lariam issues,
find out the latest on military health issues, and learn
about Operation Just One with Colorado Springs military
lawyers, Anderson & Travis, PC
Here's
the Latest . . .
NEW!
NPR:
Former Soldier Helps Others Fight Army for Help |
July 7, 2007
NY
Times:
Panel on Walter Reed Woes Issues Strong Rebuke | April
12, 2007
Military
Times: Army lawyer slams disability retirement system
| April 7, 2007
PBS
Frontline:
"The Soldiers Heart" - Update | March 12,
2007 (For original story, click
here)
ABC
News:
In an Instant: The IED Explosion | February 27, 2007
- An insurgent's roadside bomb nearly kills ABC News'
Bob Woodruff and Doug Vogt.
The
Independent: One For All | October 6-12, 2005
KRCC:
Operation Just One Soldier | October 4, 2005
The
Gazette: Fort
Carson, mayor won’t back counseling program
| September 30, 2005
UPI:
Analysis: Iraq Causalities and Causality | May 31,
2005
Salon.com:
Ripped
From My Headlines | May 25, 2005
Law & Order SVU pulls from Mark Benjamin's (UPI) reporting.
Boulder
Weekly: Chemical
casualties | February 17, 2005
Download PDF
BMG.com:
Australian Army faces legal action over mefloquine
| November 6, 2004
Dayton
Daily News: For some battle goes on long after shooting
stops | October 13, 2004
CNN:
Malaria drug raising concerns | September 7, 2004
Medical
News Today: Malaria drug blocks brain conduits, a
boon for neuroscience research | August 7, 2004
Army
Times:
All charges dropped: Soldier was accused of cowardice
in Iraq | August 2, 2004 (Download
PDF)
Rocky
Mountain News:
Fort Carson soldiers may use Larium defense in courts-martial
| July 28, 2004
NPR
Radio Interview:
Illness Troubles Troops Back from Iraq | July 24,
2004
San
Francisco Chronicle: Soldier won't face charge of
cowardice Anti-malarial drug may have played role in his
actions | July 17, 2004
New
York Times: Soldier Cleared | July 17, 2004
CNN:
SSG Pogany & Richard Travis on CNN's Anderson Cooper
360 | July 16, 2004 Scroll down transcript for interview.
Reuters:
U.S. Drops Case Against Soldier Accused of Cowardice
| July 16, 2004
Army
Times: Case
closed against soldier accused of cowardice
| July 16, 2004 (Download
PDF)
Stripe
on dcmilitary.com: The Road Less Traveled | July
16, 2004
CNN:
Case dropped against U.S. soldier initially accused of
cowardice | July 15, 2004
UPI:
Exclusive: Army surrenders to 'coward' GI | July 15,
2004
Lariam
Action USA:
Press Release on Senate Briefing | July 9, 2004
CNN:
Combat Stress: The War Within | July 1, 2004
CNN:
Andrew Pogany on CNN's Paula Zahn | June 30, 2004
Scroll down on transcipt for Pogany interview.
UPI:
VA alerts doctors to malaria-drug concerns | June
24, 2004
Department
of Veteran's Affairs: UNDER SECRETARY FOR
HEALTH'S INFORMATION LETTER: POSSIBLE LONG-TERM HEALTH
EFFECTS FROM THE MALARIAL PROPHYLAXIS MEFLOQUINE (LARIAM)
| June 23, 2004
CNN:
Richard Travis & SSG Pogany on CNN's Aaron Brown
| June 21, 2004. Scroll down transcipt for interview.
(
Video
Clip)
Richard
Travis and SSG Pogany speak with Brain Lehrer of WNYC
93.9 FM/AM 820, an NPR affiliate in New York, NY
| June 15, 2004 (This takes a minute or two to load)
The
Army Times: Diagnosis
follows dropped cowardice charge | June 14, 2004
The
Army Times: Mefloquine is common factor for 10 of
11 troops with disorder | June 14, 2004
Senator
Feinstein Urges CDC To Review Its Recommendations on Anti-Malarial
Drug |
June 14, 2004 by Senator Dianne Feinstein
The
Denver Post: Soldiers Blame Ills on Drug | June
11, 2004
Salon.com:
Branded | June 9, 2004
GQ:
The Coward | July, 2004 (Early
Release)
Lariam
Action USA: Information and articles on Lariam.
The
Gazette: Lariam
tied to soldier’s poor health | Saturday, June
5, 2004.
UPI:
Malaria
drug diagnosis for 'coward' GI |
June 4, 2004
SSG
Pogany’s ordeal has cost him emotionally and
financially. While Anderson & Travis, PC does
not charge SSG Pogany for all of their time, SSG Pogany’s
legal bills are mounting. Any funds you can contribute
to his legal defense would be greatly appreciated
by SSG Pogany.
If
you decide to contribute, please send a check, money
order, or credit card number to Anderson & Travis,
P.C., 602 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
Please make any checks payable to “SSG Pogany
Legal Defense Fund, C/O Anderson & Travis, P.C.”
All monies received from contributors like yourself
will be deposited into a trust account for SSG Pogany’s
benefit.
Close Box
Associated
Press:
Concerns Grow About Lariam's Side Effects |
June 2, 2004
Senator
Feinstein Urges Pentagon to Step Up Efforts to
Track Medical Damage Caused by Anti-Malarial Drug
| June 2, 2004 by Senator Diane Feinstein
Senator
Feinstein Urges HHS To Evaluate Safety of Lariam Use by
Americans Overseas | May 24, 2004 by Senator Dianne
Feinstein
CNN:
Military's
use of malaria drug in question: Pentagon studies Lariam's
side effects after soldiers' suicides | Thursday,
May 20, 2004
UPI:
Lariam Investigation|
Ongoing stories by Mark Benjamin and Dan Olmsted on the
severe mental problems associated with Lariam
DOD
Deployment Health Clinical Center: Mefloquine
(Lariam): Information for Unit Leaders | April 13,
2003.
DOD
Deployment Health Clinical Center: Mefloquine
(Lariam): Information for Military Service Members and
Their Families | April 13, 2003.
Toronto
Star: Troops
in Iraq on Suicide Watch | April 11, 2004
The
Gazette: Defense
analyzes soldier’s suicide | March 19, 2004
The
Gazette: Returning
soldiers not getting help, critics say | March 18,
2004
United
Press International: Seventh
Iraq war veteran kills himself | March 16, 2004
CBS
News Online: High
Suicide Rate For Iraq War GIs | January 29, 2004
United
Press International: Army won't review medication
in suicides
| January 29, 2004
Guardian
Unlimited (UK): Stress
Epidemic Strikes American Forces in Iraq | January
25, 2004
Newsweek:
Stressed Out
at the Front | January 12, 2004
Also check out associated Newsweek On Air Audio: Combat
Stress
The
Denver Post:
'Coward' gradually is vindicated | January 18, 2004
The
Army Times: Officers ignored advice. Letter from
mental-health specialist who spoke to Staff Sgt. Georg-Andreas
Pogany in Tikrit when he came in for help | Issue Date
January 19, 2004
The
Army Times: Reluctant soldier’s case required
compassion | Issue Date January 19, 2004
Issue
Date: January 19, 2004
Reluctant soldier’s case required compassion
Ralf W. Zimmermann
The somewhat irrational handling of the legal case
involving Staff Sgt. Georg-Andreas Pogany surprised
me. He was charged with cowardice in November, but the
Army suddenly downgraded the case to dereliction of
duty. Now it seems the case might be dropped —
possibly the best solution to end this soap opera.
Knowing quite a few Special Forces troops, I’ve
always been impressed by their common sense and exemplary
professionalism. They are the tip of our spear and can’t
afford to have slackers among them.
So what went wrong with Pogany? Why was this noncommissioned
officer branded a coward, a charge worthy of the death
penalty during wartime? Is someone who admits to being
in a state of shock and confusion a coward?
It appears the problem doesn’t reside merely with
a highly overburdened SF chain or a suspect malaria
drug. The arrows point more likely to a crappy assignment
and stabilization system.
Look at the facts.
Pogany was a former Navy reservist who joined the Army
five years ago. A military intelligence NCO with a criminology
degree, he hardly could be described as a full-blooded
and qualified special operator or hardened warfighter.
Nor is he someone predisposed to cowardice.
Pogany states that in September, he got a call to join
a Special Forces company in Iraq. He reported for duty.
In country, he immediately experienced trauma during
a five-hour horror trip to reach his base camp. Shortly
after arriving at camp, he witnessed troopers returning
with the shredded remains of an Iraqi who encountered
the danger fans of a Bradley fighting vehicle’s
onboard arsenal. At the sight of blood and guts, Pogany
broke down and requested psychological help the day
after.
His immediate superiors reacted with disgust. “Get
over it, or go home,” he was told. The next day,
Pogany was moved to a larger post for counseling —
the right thing to do — for the sergeant and for
his unit. Sadly, the SF commander lost his patience
a bit early and decided to ship Pogany back to the United
States to stand trial.
The Pogany incident made me reflect on my old man’s
World War II experience. An 18-year-old tank gunner,
he and his crew were involved in an intense firefight.
The Russians attacked in waves, my father and his crew
firing into the masses with every available weapon.
It wasn’t pretty. Having brought the attack to
a standstill, the Panzers counterattacked, rolling through
piles of dead bodies, he told me. During the first maintenance
halt after stabilizing the situation, the crew had to
free the drive sprocket of wire, rocks and body parts.
My father admitted to his company commander and tank
commander that he threw up and got shaky knees.
The commander patted every crewman on the back and
even helped get the job finished. The commander then
passed a bottle of brandy and his last cigarettes to
his men. The result: The Panther tank soon was battle
ready and the crew fought on. My father completed more
than 100 engagements, was wounded several times and
survived the war as a decorated tank commander and platoon
leader — the result of compassionate, upfront and
personal leadership.
Looking at the whole picture, it appears Pogany wasn’t
suited for front-line deployment, especially with an
elite unit. Instead of a court-martial, the chain of
command should have arranged for treatment and then
transfer to another outfit. Another option could have
been to grow him into his new outfit by giving him another
chance during a less-critical mission.
Sadly, he was immediately and outright rejected.
In the end, I believe the Army will make the right
call in the Pogany case. Dropping the cowardice and
dereliction of duty charges was on target. Even an Article
15 seems too much, although the chain of command will
need to save face after the negative publicity.
What could be done?
Stop the bureaucratic drill on all sides and complete
Pogany’s treatment and counseling. Put the NCO
back on orders to Iraq, Afghanistan or even better —Bosnia.
Let him prove himself in an assignment that best utilizes
his talents. After all, he is fluent in Hungarian and
German — not Arabic!
The son of a German World War II Panzer commander,
the writer is an expert on the U.S. and German militaries.
A former tank battalion commander and decorated Desert
Storm veteran, he writes on numerous military topics.
His new novel, “Brotherhood of Iron,” deals
with the German soldier of World War II. He can be reached
at r6zimm@earthlink .net.
Officers
ignored advice
I’m the mental-health specialist who spoke to Staff
Sgt. Georg-Andreas Pogany in Tikrit when he came in for
help [“I’m no coward; Iraq vet, facing charges,
fights the Army to save his good name,” Nov. 24].
His case was no different from the dozens of other cases
I had seen.
The process is simple: They come in, we figure out
what’s going on, then we make our recommendations.
Whether it’s rest, suicide watch or medications,
it depends on what the soldier needs to get back on
track and functioning at a level sufficient to accomplish
his unit’s mission.
It was routine up to a point. Capt. Mark Houck and
I had a long talk with his commander and his command
sergeant major, going over the best measures to take
with a combat-stress reaction. I was floored when I
found out, a couple of days later, that they ignored
the recommendations of my team’s licensed psychologist,
Capt. Houck.
And now, to see how far things have gotten off track
is disheartening. The rest of the Army doesn’t
have problems doing what they are told when it is in
the best interest of soldiers.
It’s high time Special Forces got with the program
when it comes to the mental welfare of the soldiers
for whom it is responsible.
Spc. Cheyenne Forsythe
Fort Hood, Texas
The
New Zealand Herald:
Iraq war's accidental coward | January 13, 2004
The
Independent (UK):
US sergeant branded a coward mounts furious fightback
| January 12, 2004
Newsweek
Web Exclusive:
Drugging the Troops Many U.S. soldiers are being treated
with a malaria drug that can cause psychotic episodes.
Is this a good idea? | January 9, 2004
DOD
Deployment Health Clinical Center: Mefloquine
(Lariam): Information for Clinicians | December 9,
2003.
New
York Times Archive:
Army Drops Charges Against Sergeant
NATIONAL DESK | December 30, 2003, Tuesday
Rocky
Mountain News: Army drops soldier's dereliction charge
New accusations are still a possibility | December
31, 2003
Denver
Post:
Army drops charge facing Colorado GI Court-martial still
possible for soldier's reaction in Iraq | Article
Published: Tuesday, December 30, 2003
The
Gazette: Soldier called coward may be cleared
| December 30, 2003
On
the Wires: Army drops cowardice charge against soldier
But future military career still uncertain |The Associated
Press
Updated: 12:54 p.m. ET Dec. 30, 2003
SSG
Georg-Andreas Pogany with his Colorado Springs military
lawyer,
Richard Travis | Steve Peterson/New York Times
Denver
Post:
Army turns against one of its own | Article Published:
Sunday, November 23, 2003
Denver
Post: GI faces shame of cowardice accusation
Even reduced charge doesn't remove sting | Article
Published: Sunday, November 23, 2003
The
Gazette: Accused Soldier Says Drug May Have Affected
Behavior | November 21, 2003
CNN:
Interview with Staff Sergeant Georg Pogany |
Aired November 10, 2003 - 07:33 ET (
Video Clip)
On
the Wires: Soldier feels he is being pressured to
quit
Expert says someone should have seen Pogany needed help
| Associated Press, November 8, 2003
CNN:
Army Dismissing Charge of Cowardice Against Soldier
| Aired November 7, 2003 - 08:05 ET (
Video
Clip)
Washington
Times: Army sergeant faces trial on Iraq cowardice
charge | November 7, 2003
New
York Times Archive: Reduced Charges for Soldier Accused
of Cowardice in Iraq NATIONAL DESK | November 7, 2003,
Friday
On
the Wires: UPDATE:
'They have branded me a coward' Sergeant speaks out against
charge | The Associated Press, Article Published:
Friday, November 07, 2003
WebMD
Medical News: Panic Attack Isn't Cowardice Trauma,
Stress, and Fear Trigger Hard-Wired Responses | Thursday,
November 06, 2003
New
York Times Archive: Soldier Accused as Coward Says
He Is Guilty Only of Panic Attack NATIONAL DESK |
November 6, 2003, Thursday
The
Gazette: U.S. soldier faces rare charge of cowardice
| Fri, Oct. 31, 2003
