gastly!!! ....i'm so sorry for your loss

saddened about a possible coverup by the military/ I am a retired Army Officer and distintcly remember following the Calley trial on My Lai and although HE was found guilty I still believe today Cpt. Medina gave the ORDER.

I don't really like bashing the military for I am retired Navy. But for years there have been hush hush stuff in the Navy and other military forces. I'm not going to be specific but look at Military.com and research how many Navy commanding officers have been fired for 2011 alone, over 23 the most recent I read about was Cmdr Karl Pugh for misbehaving, gay slurs being drunk on duty assualting an enlisted man etc. Just look up his name at that website. Even though were some officers that misbehaved a little when I was in and I retired disabled 100% 1992 but they were mostly minor things. I'm hetrosexual, but had many gay friends on active duty, I treated it as their business as I do today. Its not me to judge people, only judge them by their character.
Now I think with this open gay policy which I think is a good thing but on the other hand your gonna have to weed out the problem people like this commander. More pre military screening and stern warnings for sexual harrasment needed. There should be no reason for discrimination for anything, race, sexual pref. gender/age anything no exception, one warning next time your out. Sorry I was a hard ass petty officer when I was in. I did not tolerate this crap from enlisted people. The Navy should stop covering stuff up like this young man that was murdered. Nuff said for now.

What a tragic loss for your family. I pray that you uncover all the lies and get to the truth. The military does cover up things all the time, my husband has to deal with a "general discharge " everyday because he reported his CO for trying to use him as a drug mule in the 80's and the one he reported it to was in on it as well. Thankfylly he was d/c and not killed for what he knew.

The family needs to use one of the, aggressive online petition sites to start a petition demanding action & the truth from the Navy. From what I've heard, Change.org seems to get things done. I'm sure if they got several thousand signatures of people who are standing behind them, the Navy would "magically" have answers for the family.

I am very saddened by the plight of this family. It's hard enough to grieve the loss of their son without having the added stress of trying to find out what really happened to him. I find it ironic that he was involuntarily drawn into this mess by an intoxicated girl looking for a good time, and now he is dead, and she's ready to move on with her life and doesn't want to talk about it anymore. Perhaps she knows more about his death than she's telling? I just wonder why he decided to have sex with her after the "rape" if the whole reason this all happened is because he was trying to avoid having sex with her? And if she was so traumatized by the "rape", then why did she have sex with another guy immediately after? And what really did happen to the missing neck bone which could have helped solve this whole case? Many, many unanswered questions. Perhaps the family should contact the TV show 48 Hours Mystery. They're really good about investigating a story and usually leave no rock unturned when trying to get to the bottom of a case.

This leaves me with a very uneasy feeling as my son today is at a hotel preparing to leave for the Navy soon and it is the same place Kyle was stationed when this happened. I hope that when our boys are giving themsleves to protect our coutry that all the professionals would be on the upmost honesty of protecting our boys. This gives me a very sour taste knowing that these poor parents have had to endure such heartbreak of there sons death bc our Navy is covering up something. Honesty is the best policy we teach our children growing up and hope it follows them through life. Look what Kyle had endured for being truthful and was not protected. I feel for him and for his parents~my heart is breaking! It scarces me to death now to know I taught my son to be honest and he will be entering this branch. I want to call him up at the hotel now and say dont sign a damm thing the Navy is not the place for a honest kid like you. God Bless Kyle and his parents for being so strong and getting to the bottom of this. Shame on you all who are so dishonest and hiding
the facts of Kyles death. Please pray for my son he does not ever have to face any
of this when he leaves to go there soon. My heart as a mom is feeling really shaky
about all of this now. Thank you to Kyles parents for sharing all of this an making us aware of what really can go on in the service. god bless you all. and thank you Kyle
for joining and giving your life but in the wrong way having it taken from you.

@tami - please contact us for a follow up story if you're from Long Island and interested. Best of luck to your son. jaime[at]patch.com.
Jaime Sumersille
Regional Editor, Nassau County

Coverups happen all the time,so let me say this,God knows exactly what happened and if you are a Christian you can save yourselves alot of time and money by praying and waiting on God to lead you. Vengence is the Lords,He will take vengence on your enemies when you leave them with HIm. I am so sorry to hear this. I know of a simular case where a man was found the same way. Being a Seal will make it harder to get someone to confess,since they are trained to be the best killiers. I have a brother who died over 20 yrs.ago and we still dont have all the answers to this day. MY peace comes from the Lord,I spent much money and time trying to find out what happened. I have learned to wait on the Lord and know that He is the one that takes vengence. Three people who knew what really happened with my brother have died young since they found him dead. All I know is,God has given me a peace that passes all understanding. I have forgiven anyone that may have killed him and I know that God has good reasons when He dont let us know everything. However there is coming a day when everything will be exposed. May you find peace and joy in the Lord Jesus Christ,no matter what what happens next. I will agree in prayer right now that God will do something to reveal all truth. However remember what may have happened to your son,could also happen to anyone who come forward,so pray for anyone who does. God bless you!

a few not so good men.

to Bob: what in the world brings you to such a conclusion. There is NO evidence of auto erotica or even of homosexual activity. unless your responding to another case (not kyle) then you are making ridiculous assumptions which can only bring pain to his parents.

VERY soon now, " Every Tear Shall Be Wiped Away" ( by God ) and the whole TRUTH be known, as God's people are resettled into the "New Heaven & New Earth".

You are living in fantasyland if you don't believe our government is capable of commiting the same kinds of human-rights abuses as any dictator-run country. The US government just knows how to hide it and get away with it, while other countries flaunt it as a means to keep the people in check.

The Navy, like other Military Services, Like to hide the truth from the civilians on a regular basis!!!!!

As an NCIS retiree, I am reluctant to admit they will massage a situation to fit their needs, not necessarily exposing the truth. Countless times, NCIS has deliberately changed testimony, evidence, and case facts to more easily develop a story fitting their desired conclusion. This is not the NCIS we see on TV, but a tool used to smooth over anything that might make the Navy look bad. More importantly, they will do anything toi protect themselves, so beware of their statements.

Sorry for your loss. Like you I also lost a son in the armed forces, in 1991 my son was found dead on the side of the road in Hope Mills, NC. He was serving in the army stationed at Fort Brag. We went to NC to try to find out what happened to our son.We had been givin 5 differant reports all saying something differant. It's been twenty years, and we still don't know what happened to him. The military covers there own asses, that's for sure.. As for the freedom of information act, 90 pages 75 of them were blacked out, saying I had know need to know.

@Bob-You are strangely "gifted" with super sensitive "gaydar" if you can look at the picture of the man accompanying this article and conclude that he is gay. What gave him away: the "thumbs up," the Nike insignia on his shorts, the Special Olympics t-shirt, his short hair, his smile, the roll of duct tape on the table?

My son was discharged from the Navy under a general (honorable) for underage drinking in the middle east. He enlisted right out of high school. He is not able to get unemployment benefits or any benefits because of what they put on his discharge papers...(they did not even acknowledge his 6 month deployment on those same papers)...when I e-mailed to question this, they ignored me... there is a double standard in the Navy...depends on how many stripes you have with what you get away with...My prayers and thoughts are with these parents who lost their son

Hi my son also was murdered this past May he was also 22yrs old and had a few months left before he completed his 4 year. He was in the marines and the amount of conflicting stories that the military has sent me, has left me sick. They said he went swimming however when he was found he was in his pajamas. My trust in God has kept me sane in these trying time.

The military wanted to get rid of anyone just like some police,no witnesses;if you dont measure up instead of a discharge you have an accident or electric schocked when in the shower;my guess is that someone was discharged do to the rape ,his tesamony made the conviction ,he deserves full honors,, the navy showing those obsecene movies then giving gays a rough time (bad);look DADT works for me act your age not your shoe size because if you can do the job and cause no trouble leave recruits alone. Parris Island, USMC Two Rad" Camandos class of 1983"ELS

Those who feel as if our armed forces need protection from homosexuals, might consider looking at some actual data on the subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_assault_in_the_United_States_military Sen. Susan Collins of the Armed Services Committee said “What does it say about us as a people, as a nation, as the foremost military in the world when our women soldiers sometimes have more to fear from their fellow soldiers than from the enemy?"

Bob McEwen's comment
Got to tell you buddy when i read your post my mouth dropped open. you just graduated to being the MOST ignorant person on the face of this earth! All I will tell you is what goes around comes around and I can only hope that you do not have any children in your very small world, and if you do I hope "very soon" they catch on to you and the HATE that oozes from you pathetic soul and run for the hills...
You discuss me !

He stood for justice. His spirit deserves Justice. Don't ever give up.

WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS TO PRESIDENT OBAMMA FOR BEING #1,equal rights for all HES HAD THE GUTS TO STAND UP TO THE OTHER PARTIES----AND OPPOSITION AND INSTILL HIS PLANS;THANKS A MILLLION;EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL RECRUITS.PARRIS ISLAND TWO RAD CAMMANDOS CLASS OF 1983 MCR TRAINING DEPOT -ELS--HES HAS OUR VOTE'THANKS MR PRESIDENT

What about the supposedly allege rape victim?.... any UCMJ action against her for the bogus accusations

The military is NOTORIOUS for covering up murders or deaths that might be an embaressment to them. This doesn't surprise me at all. It's a shame they don't have the NCIS team we see on TV. This family needs Gibbs' team on the job.

I am so sorry for the loss of this young man. What a pity. I am a Navy retiree with most of my time being spent in the JAG community. I continued my connection with the law after retiring. I went to law school and practiced as a criminal defense lawyer for a number of years. I was left somewhat unsettled or disquieted by this story. Something seems amiss. The "marines" mentioned in the series are quite amorphous. Who are they? How many alleged co-conspirators are we talking about. Someone asked a valid question, what about investigating the accuser? Far be it from me to suggest, but why would somebody kill over such a thing? Why no information on this person with the "knife?" Who was he? What was his connection to the alleged victim? I know from years of first hand experience, mistakes -- willful or neglectful, are made all the time in investigations, so I can accept that somebody might be covering somebody's behind. Anyway, I just have a weird feeling about this case, like I'm only glimpsing a small part of the picture. Alas, we may never know what the whole picture looks like.

The issue is NOT about Calley, Fired Navy Commanders or even Tillman. This is an issue about the possible Murder of the Naval Recruit at Great Lakes. THE ONLY ISSUE IS THAT JUSTICE BE SERVED. Truth be found. PERIOD

My son, an attorney, wanted to join the CIA twenty years ago. He wasn't hired, and I am so thankful as our National Security Agencies rid themselves of anyone who poses a threat of transparency. I am a major supporter of our enlisted men who put their lives on the line everyday. We should demand justice for the fallen patriots of these two wars whether they are military fighters, journalist, or football players

I commented on this story this morning on the top of page 5 and I am so concerned and full of fear as my son did get sworn in this morning and will be going to this same place. I just checked back on this story and read all your comments and of others who have lost sons and you all have me scarced shi....less. I hope my son
has made his right choice and nothing never happens to him when he is gone for the next 8 years, I now know i will never get a good nights sleep for the next 8 yrs worrying about my kid and this is what he wanted to do. I wish I would have told him
about this after reading it this morning before he was sworn in. I will pray for all our boys in the service as I always do but not just from our enemines but from whoever is in there unit and suppose to be on there team. Holy~ I am a nervous reck!

@ Danelle Joseph~Thank you so much for your supporting words and prayers. I so appreciate it and hope to find a support group for myself when he leaves. I was really proud of him and fine with it all until I read all these blogs.
@Jamie Sumersille~ yes I would so want to a follow upon this story, so is these a Long Island paper you can tell me that I should contiue to google to follow. Thanks so much to all of you for your support.

First the sailor was not charged with rape, he was charged with having sex with someone that was substantially incapacitated. The female marine was not drunk, her BAC was .134 after the incident and she had been drinking again before the BAC was taken. She was also a raging alcoholic. She was intimate friends with the sailor she accused of having sex with her while she was passed out. However the piece of evidence that blew the case out of the water at appeals, was a sworn document from a corpsman that proved she was not substantially incapacitated. She lied and threatened Kyle to never bring his name up because she knew the corpsman would tell the truth about her being as oriented as any normal person. A corpsman is a military medic. This medic was shipped to Afghanistan during the process and was never questioned about the incident. Despite the prosecution the defense and NCIS knowing he was a material witness. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his actions while in Afghanistan and was found at 29 Palms marine base in DEC 2010 by attorney James Culp, who he provided a sworn statement to.

You cannot Imagine what it is like being the only person on Earth that has the answers to all these questions. Its not a mystery, it's just a perfect storm of misinformation.

There are too many mysterious deaths of young military recruits--it is time for a full congressional investigation