Army officer convicted at court martial after arrest in case involving his girlfriend
What began with a 911 call from behind a locked bathroom door would eventually place a Fort Stewart intelligence officer before a military court, exposing a domestic-violence case documented across Chatham County and Army records. First Lt. Benjamin S. Wasco was a Norwich University graduate, former college athlete and competitive endurance runner serving with the…
Congressman behind ‘BRRRRT Act’ met Kurdish power brokers before and after signing of $110 billion energy deals with U.S. companies
Kurdish officials promoted the projects as carrying $110 billion in potential value. What they did not publicly disclose was how much would become corporate profit, how much would reach regional or federal governments, and how much would ultimately benefit the Iraqi people who legally own the resources. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Iraq’s oil and gas belong…
Special Forces soldier convicted in prison escape attempt after broadcasting video of estranged wife in bed with another soldier
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — Mason Wollersheim’s fall from Special Forces staff sergeant to military prisoner was already dramatic. Then he tried to climb his way out. A photograph published on social media in May 2025 appeared to show Wollersheim folded over the top of a chain-link fence at Fort Leavenworth, his body caught among coils…
Air Force demonstration team member groomed 15-year-old volunteer after airshow
Newly obtained military court records provide the first detailed public account of the crimes that led to the court-martial and imprisonment of former U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Allen G. VanEtten, a former member of the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team. The records, obtained by The Salty Soldier, reveal that VanEtten met a 15-year-old…
Army spouse uses Army uniform to promote paid content near Fort Belvoir
A self-described Army spouse has built part of her online adult brand around Army uniform pieces, apparent sergeant insignia, promotion terminology and references to military communities in the National Capital Region. The material reviewed by The Salty Soldier includes sexualized use of an Army-style service uniform shirt displaying apparent NCO rank, camouflage uniform items and…
Police confirm investigation into lewd Dollar Tree incident after woman identifies alleged Fort Bragg Soldier
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Fayetteville Police Department has confirmed it is actively investigating allegations that a man publicly identified by the alleged victim as a Fort Bragg Soldier followed her through a Dollar Tree while engaging in lewd sexual conduct. The confirmation comes more than two weeks after The Salty Soldier first sought comment from…
US Army recruiter faces court-martial on seven charges
A Colorado-based Army recruiter is facing a general court-martial at Fort Knox on seven alleged violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice’s domestic-violence article. SSG Satvik Jarugula’s trial is scheduled to run from July 21 through July 24, according to the Army’s public court docket. Jarugula pleaded not guilty and elected to have the…
Army identifies third soldier believed killed in Iranian attack on Jordan base
Angel Rampersad was previously listed as missing after the strike that killed 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales. A fourth Soldier, Sgt. Michael Swinton, was killed days later in Iraq. The Department of War has identified Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York, as the Soldier believed to have been…
Fort Benning drill sergeant announces he’s leaving Army after court-martial guilty plea
A Fort Benning drill sergeant assigned to help train the Army’s newest infantry Soldiers repeatedly violated a military protective order after an alleged domestic violence incident, according to court-martial records obtained by The Salty Soldier. Staff Sgt. Bradley A. Dorton, assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, 197th Infantry Brigade, pleaded guilty on…
Inside the Fort Benning starvation case: A dead child, a dog in the trash and two defendants released before murder charges
Court records reviewed by The Salty Soldier show the case began with animal-cruelty and false-statement charges. A month later, federal prosecutors accused the Fort Benning couple of starving their son to death. By the time Army Criminal Investigation Division agents searched the Fort Benning home shared by Ladarrion McCray and Emma Bradshaw on Jan. 28,…
