General defends mold response
General defends mold response at Fort Sill

By Ron Jackson

Published: August 19, 2008

FORT SILL — An animated and agitated Maj. Gen. Peter Vangjel held a news conference Monday to dispute complaints that mold in the barracks of wounded soldiers went "unheeded for months.”

The allegations were levied by Sgt. Willard Barnett, Spc. James Dodson, Staff Sgt. Michael Riley and 17 others in two USA TODAY articles. Soldiers told the newspaper they first noticed layers of mold in flexible air ducts above the ceiling when ventilation covers were removed for cleaning.

Soldiers further claimed when complaints were made, they were not only ignored but ordered "not to speak about the conditions at Fort Sill.”

"The thing that bothers me the most is the insinuation that there was a complaint and that complaint went unheeded for months,” Vangjel said. "That is simply not true.”

Col. Robert Bridgford, garrison commander, presented a timeline of when mold was first reported (April 25), a work order submitted (April 28), mold tested (May 2), and the results returned as "common mold” (May 9). In an April 28 service order, Staff Sgt. Micah Ross reported on Room 153 in Building 3705, "Please check for water level in the building ... They did not see water, but there is a large spot on the ceiling.”

Ross contends the service order contradicts the allegations made in the news articles.

"My first reaction after reading the articles was disbelief and anger — not at the soldiers, but at the fact it's just not true,” Ross said. "I know. I called in the work order. I'm the one who had to let the workers into the room.”

Inspectors found "common mold” in four of the 48 rooms at the Warrior Transition Units (WTU), which were created in January for soldiers after poor conditions forced their removal from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. Seventy-four soldiers currently live in the two, six-year-old transition units.

Dodson told the USA Today, "When I wake up in the morning, I have crud in my eyes, and I have like this slimy phlegm in the back of my throat.” Frustrated, Vangjel said Dodson neither reported his condition nor visited a doctor.

A $335,000 renovation of walls and the entire air duct system is under way.

"The inspections that were conducted were from my command, not from soldier complaints,” said Vangjel.

Vangjel admitted one mistake was made.

A captain on the post inspector general's staff ordered soldiers who overheard discussions about the mold to remain silent. Vangjel maintains the captain has been "counseled,” and disciplinary actions are being considered.

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