Soldier gets 18 months, discharge in assault

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Soldier gets 18 months, discharge in assault
By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday, February 1, 2008

BAUMHOLDER, Germany — A Baumholder private has been sentenced to 18 months confinement and will be kicked out of the Army following his guilty plea this week to assaulting a soldier with the butt of his rifle.

Pvt. Gaius D. Dowell, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment at the time of the Nov. 7 assault, used his weapon to jab his fellow 1-35 soldier in the head and face, according to U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army Public Affairs.

The victim, also a private, required surgery to fix bone fractures to his face, according to the Army. The victim also testified to suffering from nerve damage around his left eye that could be permanent.

The victim, however, has since returned to duty and is set to deploy to Iraq this spring with the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

The incident started as a verbal altercation, which turned physical, according to the Army.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52104