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A message from League of United Latin American Citizens

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Navy Rejects Sailor’s Diagnosed PTSD And Harassment Claim Placing Him In Harm's
Way
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Nation’s Leading Latino Civil Rights Organization Warns of Imminent Suicide Risk
to Sailor if Navy Fails to Take Action before He is Deployed to Sea

Washington, DC - Roman Palomares, National Chairman, Military and Veterans
Affairs Committee of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), today
announced the League is taking steps to protect a black sailor after being
notified by his mother there is a high risk of suicide in the face of anticipated
deployment to sea. The mother said her son expressed suicidal thoughts which were
confirmed during a subsequent diagnosis by a physician outside the military.

“We must stand with our service members and veterans in securing protections
authorized in service to our nation,” says Palomares. “The actions of the USS
Dwight D. Eisenhower Command and its failure to acknowledge Seaman Michael
Gregg’s risk of suicide aboard the ship are unacceptable. This is the latest
example of leadership lapses by Commanders charged with the care of our sons and
daughters entrusted to the U.S. military,” he added.

Seaman Michael Gregg’s mother, Ms. Farrah Gregg, made exhaustive attempts to work
with Navy officials at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia to avoid what she says
is a preventable and tragic loss of life. She reached out to LULAC for assistance
after her own efforts failed to get attention from the Navy in Norfolk, Virginia
and the chain of command. Seaman Gregg was disciplined for Unauthorized Absence
during a period of psychological distress and his eventual diagnosis. The
recommended treatment included assigning shore duty to Seaman Gregg and keeping
him off the ship. Instead, he was subjected to harsh discipline and his command
allegedly told Ms. Gregg that the Navy was going to “get him.” He has served
honorably in the Navy for nearly three years earning the rank of Petty Officer
Third Class. He was demoted to Seaman in the action by the Navy.

“While we look forward to learning all of the facts associated with the actions
of the Naval Command on the USS Eisenhower, we are engaged out of an abundance of
caution to secure this Sailor’s rights and protections,” said Palomares. LULAC’s
Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee is working with Congressional staff and
made efforts to contact the Secretary of the Navy’s offices to stop Seaman
Gregg’s deployment pending a medical review board assessment. LULAC has been
active in efforts with the Army on PFC Guillen, SPC Morales, and SPC
Roman-Martinez, all who have been murdered in military care. “We must do
everything we can to support our military institutions and military personnel
while at the same time making sure that suicide prevention is at the top of the
list of priorities in our programs,” Palomares concluded.

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and
oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans
and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000
councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and
advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of
today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org [ [link removed] ] .







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