:mad: I suppose this is more of a rant than an informative posting, but if it helps someone get something done, then it serves both purposes. My son was stationed in Germany, committed a crime, was detained for 9 months awaiting courts-martial, then transferred to USDB at Ft. Leavenworth to serve his sentence. At the time of his initial detention (Nov 02), his barracks room was sealed and his personal property and belongings inventoried and taken into custody by the US Army. It took his unit a while to get his Class "A" uniforms, boots, etc. to the detention facility, but they finally managed. However, only when my son accidentally saw his duffel bag shoved into a corner at the facility's Property Room did he actually get them. His courts-martial was in July 02 and he was immediately transferred--with only the clothes he was wearing. Numerous requests from my son and his TDC to have the property at the detention facility, as well as the remainder of his belongings, shipped were ignored. I wrote letters to his unit, to the Staff Judge Advocate's office, his new TDC (original one shipped to the States soon after trial), and even e-mailed anyone I thought could be helpful. No reply from ANYONE!! We had a Soldier's Inventory that showed 4 boxes with the contents itemized. To make a long story short, it took me writing a letter to the Commander of V Corps with copies to the Staff Judge Advocate and my congressman, Sen. Lott. Those were written in March 04 and the property was received (w/o prior notice of shipment) in mid-April 04. Interestingly, the 4 Very Large boxes contained not only my son's property, but also the property of the co-defendant. Even more interesting, there were 5 boots (none of which were my son's), 38 Empty cd cases (value of the cds: $484.00), no Mucci pool cue w/leather case, 62 (?) pair of socks, no dvd's, no PS-1 games, and one black skirt (?). The most disturbing item missing is my son's birth certificate. The Army first shipped the boxes to the USDB (where the entirety of my son's personal belongings must fit into a 9 x 11 envelope!), then to me. The co-defendant's parents received their son's property at about the same time, and lo and behold, they have some of my son's property. I've been told the boxes were water-damaged.
In the grand scheme of things, none of this truly matters, but it's the principle. I think if a command is capable of moving personnel and materiel halfway around the world at a moment's notice without any one or thing getting lost, then surely they can send 4 boxes to a US postal address via the US mail system. If a civilian law enforcement agency had conducted this operation, they would be responsible for the loss of property. But not so the military. I know my son won't be needing these items for many, many years, and I know the Army has more on its mind than these 4 boxes, but if an organization takes control and custody, they should step up and perform their duties with accountability. My son has urged me not to pursue a claim on his behalf, but I'm more than angry about this. Maybe just venting here will help.
Moral of the story: For those with detained or incarcerated family in the military, act quickly and decisively in securing their property. Contact the highest person in the chain of command you can and insist on an inventory and earliest date shipment. If that doesn't work, call or write your congressperson or representative.

Thanks for the forum to safely vent! :o