I waould just like to share with the family members that have loved ones in the USDB. I was convicted Dec. 6, 1973 while stationed at Camp Pendelton Ca of 1 count of 1st degree felony murder and 3 counts of armed robbery. I was sentenced to natural life, but my two "crime partners" and myself coped a plea agreement of 36 years and the triggerman 45 years.

I was 18 years old at the time of my sentencing. I turned 19 on Dec. 22, 1973. Was married at the time and had a daugther borned Jan.13, 1974.
We were sent first to Portsmouth N.H to the USNAVDISCOM. it was a prison for Navy, Marines and Coast Guards. Due to the age of the facility it was slated to close in 1974. I was on of the first 40 Marines sent to the USDB at Ft. Leavenworth, Ks. on April 18, 1974. I spent the next 10 years 8 months and 4 days at the USDB. My Inmate # was 55952

The first 4 years were spent mostly in the "Hole" for fightng. In Dec.1978 I got involved in the 7th Step Foundation Inc. A program that was at the DB to help inmate change and become usful members of society.

I was paroled after 2 years at the LPU it was called the LOCAL PAROLEE UNIT at the time.

I have been very active working with offenders and ex-offendes while in the DB and since my release Dec. 10, 1984.

I am currently a Liscened Alcohol & Drug Counselor in the State of Ohio where my main focus is on offenders or ex-offenders with AOD issues.

If i can be of any assistants to anyone who has a loved one confined at the USDB please feel free to contact me.I woould be more then happy to offer my experiences to you in hope that it will help may this time for you go easier if that is at all possible.

I guess the most valuable advice I can give you is to all be an encourager and don't share all the hard times and probles that you are going through on the "Outside", because as a convict, we feel helpless because we can not do anything about it and it makes out time harder to do.

One thing to remeber is that your loved one is in on of the safest prisons in the United States. Most state have prisons that average 1 murder per week.

Peace & Love

Lee

"If the outside world only matched our "Inside dreams", not any ofuse would return to prison.

Lee,
Your post is Very encouraging to me. To know that you received parole after 10 years in DB is extremely good news! My son will be eligible for parole at 10 years (2013) and has been convinced that parole is never granted except in the most unusual of cases. He is sentenced for the same offense, but he was the principal, not an accomplice. I know that will make some difference, but I'm hoping his youth (20 at the time) and prior clean record will help. He has had a few disciplinary write-ups since being sentenced but not anything serious. To hear that you were granted parole notwithstanding your "violent" disciplinary problems gives me great hope that he can, too. I will pass that on to him and hope it gives him some hope, too. I agree that he is in the safest facility, but he says it is not as safe as I think. Do you have any thoughts on that?

You are so right about not sharing our problems on the outside with them. I did that once when I was really down about his situation and life in general. It definitely did nothing to help him. He was always very good about helping out any way he could and now that he cannot, it is extremely frustrating. He has enough anger at himself and disappointment in his own behavior to deal with. He surely doesn't need me adding to the mix. I try to keep our conversations upbeat and about him. I encourage him to share his feelings and to tell me about his daily life.

Thank you so much for joining us. I really want to hear anything you have to say about the DB, offenders, rehabilitation, anything! I think what you are doing with your life now is great. Keep up the good work.

~ Lisa.

Lee, I too, am glad to have you aboard. Unlike DeNada, my son has not been sentenced as of yet. His attorney has tried to prepare us to the fact that he will spend time somewhere though. I try to avoid letting him know just how emotionally shaken I am because I can tell from our conversations how much he regrets his actions and what he knows he is putting us through, even if I don't say it. Putting on a facade of being strong is so difficult. He, too, has a wife and 22 month old son and one of my biggest fears is their future as a family and his ability to provide for them. Your post has given me hope that maybe there will be a future for them, albeit not an easy one, I'm sure. Thank you for a new hope.

Pam

Lee,

Welcome aboard PTO!

Glad to have you here, it is an encouragement to see someone who has made it! No matter the struggles there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and those who have gone before us - successfully - are that light!

Patti

Lisa
I am still trying to figuare out how to get around on this web site so hopefully I am replying to you comment of my posting in the right manner.

My mother struggled with me being confined at the DB, it was very hard on her. She did not have the funds avaible to visit as often as she would of liked. She worked as a waitress and saved her "tip money" to make the trip once a year from Ohio to Kansas. Even tho she was not able to visit often she ans the rest of my family was very supportive with letters and phone calls. She would write to me at least 2x per week. She did that for 11 years.

I too was very angry for the situation I put myself in and how it effected others that I loved. I think that is part of the violence the first four years I was there, as well as survival, not letting people take advantage of me or push me around.

I was very lucky to have received a parole after 11 years. I thought I was going to spent atleast 15 years before I was released.

I do not know how the DB is now, but when I was there it was violent, but not to the extreme of people dying. Blacks & Whites would fight, I am sure that is still the same. When I was there, the guards seen to be more violent. I hav broken ribs and nose to prove that. But I probably deserved it at the time.

Tell your son, the easiest way to do time there is not to worry about the outside, becuse there is nothing he can do about it right now. Get all the education, couseling, vocational training he can while he is in there. That is one thing I wished I would of done different, spent more time in school.

(Edited by Moderator, please PTO Policies and Rules)

Good Luck and hang in there, If I can be of any further help or if you have questions feel free to (Member may be contacted via private message).

Sincerly

Jerry
Lee,
Your post is Very encouraging to me. To know that you received parole after 10 years in DB is extremely good news! My son will be eligible for parole at 10 years (2013) and has been convinced that parole is never granted except in the most unusual of cases. He is sentenced for the same offense, but he was the principal, not an accomplice. I know that will make some difference, but I'm hoping his youth (20 at the time) and prior clean record will help. He has had a few disciplinary write-ups since being sentenced but not anything serious. To hear that you were granted parole notwithstanding your "violent" disciplinary problems gives me great hope that he can, too. I will pass that on to him and hope it gives him some hope, too. I agree that he is in the safest facility, but he says it is not as safe as I think. Do you have any thoughts on that?

You are so right about not sharing our problems on the outside with them. I did that once when I was really down about his situation and life in general. It definitely did nothing to help him. He was always very good about helping out any way he could and now that he cannot, it is extremely frustrating. He has enough anger at himself and disappointment in his own behavior to deal with. He surely doesn't need me adding to the mix. I try to keep our conversations upbeat and about him. I encourage him to share his feelings and to tell me about his daily life.

Thank you so much for joining us. I really want to hear anything you have to say about the DB, offenders, rehabilitation, anything! I think what you are doing with your life now is great. Keep up the good work.

~ Lisa.

Thanks for sharing your story BigLee.
I too was a Marine convicted at Camp Pendleton, CA. I spent 10 months at the brig in Pendleton (95% in special quartersor "block"). I am interested to hear your experience and opinion of the Brig at Pendleton. Was it a a "redline" Brig when you were there? I know I was glad to be in Leavenworth when I got there after being under Marine custody.
I am also interested in hearing about Portsmouth. Thanks again for sharing your story.

My name is Sue and my husband just got to usdb on monday, April 18, 2003. He was sentenced to 8 years but is eligible for parole after 2 1/2. The reason I am writing is because for whatever reason he hasn't been able to call me yet with contact information. I have been searching for the past 2 days online and calling various phone numbers but no one seems to be helping me. If anyone has a phone number I can call to get the information I need, I can't elaberate how much it would be appreciated.
Thank you so so so so so so so much!!!
~Sue

I took my husband two weeks after arrival before he was able to send a letter and a few weeks after that before he was able to call. So it maybe a while. Don't panic though, he will reach you as soon as he is able to and the fact that you know what date he arrived there on, will help in knowing that he is safe and sound.

hi sue, and welcome to PTO. everyone on this site, and especially the military forum, is here to help you, and i've found everyone very kind. i've had some experience with the DB and so have many others here. i go at least once every 2 months (i'm in california) and i've talked to the visitation clerk and have friends who live in leavenworth to be close to their husbands (they even know a ton more than i do, even about legal stuff). ask me anything! check out the thread called 'visitation clerk number' because it has numbers in it that will be useful to you. have you called the commandant of the DB yet? 913-758-3602.

hang in there; you'll hear from him soon! until then, i pray that you find peace in the midst of this temporary chaos. feel free to pm me.

peace and love and God bless,
krista