Sgt. Alan Two Crow

From NDN AIM list - 25 Sept 2002

By Carter Camp

Sgt. Alan Two Crow has been found. For over two months his body had lain exposed and forgotten beside a path at the West Point Military Academy where he was stationed. But he was not found by his Army comrades as he should have been, he was found because a circle of people had compassion for a Sioux family who had sent their son to serve his country, a circle of people who refused to believe the Army story that his loss was so simple, each of them necessary to the circle that found him. This is the truth of how he was found. But the why of his death is yet to be told. It is my hope that these words help make finding out why important.

The Two Crow family lives on the Cheyenne River Indian reservation in South Dakota, home of the Minniconjou Lakota Nation now known as the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. They are a large family, Mr. Two Crow, Alan's father, has eight children ranging in age from 13-27 Alan is the oldest son in this large, close Native American family. The Cheyenne River rez is a beautiful place to grow up, its' lands border the Missouri River not far from the sacred Black Hills. Alan was raised within the caring circle of his Tribe, he went to school at Cheyenne - Eagle Butte Schools and graduated from high school there. Unfortunately for Alan and devastating to his Tribe, there are very few jobs on the reservation and during Alan's life reservation economics had gone from bad to worse, upon graduation he faced an situation where unemployment is over 60% of adults and much higher for beginning workers. For many Tribal youth the only option is to become "economic refugees" and leave their homelands for the city. A more attractive option that is open to Indian youth are the U.S. armed services, they offer travel, good pay, job training and steady employment with a pension at the end, to young people without the option of college. Even more important to many young Indian men and women is the high esteem with which soldiers are held within the Indian community. They have grown up attending the "honor dances" given by the families of returning soldiers and watching the entire community gathering to honor soldiers returning from war. They have seen many veterans elected to lead the Nation and called on to speak for the people. It is no surprise then that Alan Two Crow chose to enlist in the Army or that he decided to stay. He re-upped for six more years recently.

By all accounts Alan turned into an excellent soldier for America, he graduated basic training and was trained as a Military Policeman. Over the years of his work in the military Alan was stationed in many places and served his country well, in 2001 Alan was stationed at West Point as part of the MP battalion which is assigned to guard the security of the Military Academy and the Corp of young officers being trained there. While assigned to this important duty by all accounts he served with distinction and was honored by his commanding officer as "Soldier of the Month" in June 2002. On July 14, 2002 between the hours of 12:30 and 1:00 A.M. Sgt. Alan Two Crow, child of Don and Mrs. Denise Two Crow, proud warrior of the Lakota Sioux people and soldier guardian of America... disappeared. Disappeared without a trace, missed his morning appointments and called no one. In the military way base authorities were notified and a fruitless search was begun. Out in South Dakota, on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation a family began the long torture of helplessness, the ordeal of parents of a lost child, the search far away and impersonal.

The Army says they made a complete and through search but there are many reasons to believe that statement is untrue. The close proximity to the path where they found him is a glaring rebuttal to any claim of "thoroughness"... this is from their website---" Sgt. Two Crow was last seen on July 14 at a set of personal quarters in the Stony One Housing Area, West Point, N.Y. From July 17-25 the Criminal Investigative Division, in conjunction with multiple local, state and federal agencies searched several probable areas of West Point. These searches were conducted with the full assistance of the New York State Police and included an aerial search by helicopter as well as vehicle, foot and dog searches. Additionally, a public appeal for information was made. Local and state media were asked to distribute information that might have helped locate Two Crow. Multiple leads were followed and searches conducted as a result of information provided by the public. His remains were found in a decomposed state in a remote wooded area around 6 p.m. by-three-individuals-conducting-their-own-search. The investigation by CID and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology continues." Their results speak for themselves. And so do ours.

On August 24 an article about the missing West Point soldier was printed in the Oklahoma Indian Times and reprinted in an online discussion group I belong to called ndn-aim. At first it seemed only of interest because the guy was from a rez around here but a friend of mine from New York, Maureen La Burt, was very surprised to learn of the disappearance from an Oklahoma paper while nothing was being printed about the missing Sgt. Two Crow in the NY area press. She wondered to me if the Army was truly doing anything to find him and I then encouraged her to ask around to find out what steps were being taken, she checked with some local police friends and found out they knew nothing about the missing soldier and the press knew nothing either. It seemed to us that very little was being done to find him locally but we thought perhaps they had information causing them to search elsewhere. With some trepidation about butting in on their private family business, I asked Maureen to contact the family to see if they could shed some light on the matter, what she found was profoundly disturbing. The little contact they had from the West Point investigators was hostile and accusatory, as if the family had conspired to cover up Alan's whereabouts. Hinting that he was awol and being hidden on the reservation. The investigator, Special Agent Lorrie Dinsmore, communicated by then only with Alan's ex-wife, stating that the rest of the family had been "hostile". Most of Lorrie's communications with Alan's ex-wife, Toni Gurule, were puzzling. She had asked if the investigators would be "able to get onto the reservation" to look for leads, clues or perhaps Alan himself. She indicated she thought it would be safer if the agents met the family in a nearby town, instead of going to their home on the reservation like they would do for all other Americans. As time went on it became clear that Agent Dinsmore and perhaps the entire Army at West Point had a completely wrong and stereotypical idea about American Indian people and our homelands, it was as if we were untrustworthy foreigners bent on harming Alan's comrades-in-arms! When she asked what Toni knew about someone called "Sitting Bull", (perhaps unknown to her but to us he was a murdered Lakota Chief who was also branded "hostile") the entire matter of the missing soldier began to look sinister to the small circle of people involved.

The family had been told that every effort, above and beyond what any other agency would do, had been done in their investigation and that all local police had been notified. When asked by Toni Gurule, Alan's ex-wife, if hospitals had been notified or flyers passed out locally, she was told that they did not discuss their investigation while it was on-going, and if the family and politicians did not stop interfering and calling them, they would be unable to pursue the investigation faster and better. In light of that request, we made no contact with people from the West Point area we had intended to contact, in hopes their investigation would prove that they were making the necessary effort. Maureen contacted local police departments again, including the New York State Park police on September 5th since West Point is surrounded by thousands of acres of park land (Bear Mountain, Harriman, Palisades and Sterling Forest state parks are all within the area). The Park Police sergeant on duty advised that he had heard nothing about it and was only able to locate the missing persons report on Sgt. Two Crow when she gave him the name and he checked the National missing person's computer system. She then asked if she could send him information and a flyer; he indicated that they could not actively pursue a search unless it came to them via official channels per proper protocol, in this case from West Point! But, he would take it as a civilian request and post it in barracks in order to make their staff and cops aware to be on the lookout. She faxed it to him immediately on 9/5. Sgt. Dinsmore, in the same correspondence to the ex-wife where she indicated that efforts above and beyond were being taken, then went on to say that all they could do was put him into the general missing persons system. How is that above and beyond anything? In checking the internet repeatedly and regularly for anything on Sgt. Two Crow's disappearance, we found that West Point had released in their own newsletter that Sgt. Two Crow was missing. This was dated 8/23. Toni Gurule contacted S.A. Dinsmore to ask why it had taken approximately 6 weeks for West Point to issue a missing persons notice, she was advised it had to go through proper channels and be approved prior to release. Six weeks for paper to be shuffled while a fellow soldier is missing "in wartime" seems like they do not feel the matter is in any way urgent.

On 9/6 in conversation with West Point media representatives, Wayne Hall a reporter for the "Times Herald Record" a local paper, was asked why he hadn't covered the story and if he would. Up to this point Wayne had known nothing of Sgt. Two Crow's disappearance. Unfortunately the Army still did not seem to be looking for anyone except an Indian stereotype. All the information shared with the reporters focused solely on the possibility that Two Crow had voluntarily gone AWOL and what the consequences might be for such a crime, including the possibility of even the death penalty. They mention the death penalty because it is "war time" and they were assuming, against all evidence and records, that the decorated Sgt had deserted. At this point we decided to share what we knew with the reporter and let him know what we had found out from the family and local cops. Fortunately, Wayne was intrigued by how the West Point media person had steered his article solely toward the angle of Two Crow having gone AWOL and, within 3 days had contacted the family and had another article to the mysterious disappearance of Two Crow. This story was then picked up and reprinted by a number of other NY papers. While awaiting more information on the case, Wayne assured me he would try to keep the story alive in hopes of giving the family some peace of mind and to show that despite West Point's apparent lack of effort and disregard for their concern, there were people here with compassion who would do what theys could to help. This hope came to the family when it seemed to them that all hope was lost and they only met with stone walls in their attempts to find any information about Alan. The investigators had by now indicated to them that there was no need to be in contact with them any longer since there was nothing new. The family had now been cut adrift by the Army with no one to contract or to tell how positive they were that Alan had not deserted, no one to ask how the stalled investigation was proceeding and no one to acknowledge their loss. For the family and everyone at Cheyenne River it was a time of pain and bewilderment, could this really be the Army so many of their youth turn to in their need? The recruiter had said the "Army looks after its' own" but now they must wonder if Indians can ever be "one of their own" to the Army. The Two Crow family are very proud to be descendants of Sitting Bull and more directly Elk Head, but does the Army still hold old grudges? Some still remember that the veterans of the battle of Little Bighorn never talked about it even in their old age for fear of retaliation by the Army, Alan was only a few generations removed from that battle, Chief Sitting Bull and his people.

While the Army search went nowhere a few people worked to force them to continue the search. Tom Van Norman, a Lakota from Cheyenne River and a South Dakota State Congressman became informed on the matter and took it upon himself to coordinate written requests from various politicians for information and to help keep the family informed. He soon became instrumental in the effort to keep the case alive. The family and ex-wife continued to be frustrated in their attempts to obtain any information and were treated without compassion or respect for their feelings and concerns. They sought help elsewhere also. Letters were written pleading for assistance to West Point and New York politicians from the CRST Tribal Council, Rep. Thomas J. Van Norman, Governor William Janklow, Sen.Tom Daschle and Congerssman Thune, and all were advised that their letters were to be directed to West Point's CID investigators, the very agency that had been non-responsive and hostile toward the family. Nothing happened and hopes dimmed further. But his family knew he did not leave his post, even while they hoped the Army's assumption that he had was correct.

About this time Rep Van Norman called to put Maureen in touch with Eric Milland, an Indian man who lives in the Bronx. Eric had contacted Tom Van Norman after reading the news articles asking if there was any way he could assist. He called Maureen this past Monday asked if they could meet to discuss the situation and said he had already gone to West Point last weekend. They met on Wednesday afternoon and she gave him copies of flyers she had prepared and taken to local pow-wows to distribute. Eric made copies and returned to the towns surrounding the West Point area to make inquiries and distribute flyers while inspecting the area terrain for any clue where Two Crow could be, since the FBI and CID had completely ruled out the possibility his being on-base after their "thorough" search. Eric asked if she would go up to the area with him this weekend. Maureen agreed to go but thought it best to contact an old friend she knew who had worked at West Point, to her great surprise the man, Charlie Hetman, still works there and better yet he was acquainted with the area and he had even known Alan and the others in his outfit! He would be the final, crutial addition to the circle. He said the so-called search had been quite cursory, personally Charlie believed he was likely dead and also probably still in the area. But then why... just too many 'whys' to be left unanswered. Those questions, those "WHYs" still must be answered by the Commandant of West Point. Or he remains derilict in his duty.

To me, the coming together of Eric, Charlie, Maureen and even the reporter was understandable, maybe even expected, but in an way the Army could never utilize...think of our traditional ways, of an unburied warrior and the songs sung for him, and the tears from his family. Think of the gathering circle around the family, Van Norman, Carter, even the politicians. Think of the Pipe at Greengrass and this land. It is that way sometimes the old men say.

The following is Maureens description of the search in an email to Carter Camp:

"S.A. Lorrie Dinsmore was TDY, bringing any hope that the investigation might have any chance of being handled in any professional manner to a complete halt. Based on your advice, when Eric called me yesterday morning to set a time to meet, I called Charlie who was out crabbing on a boat. I urged him to come in and meet up with us. Eric arrived with his girlfriend Laurie and 15-year pet dog and we headed up to meet Charlie. I thought it best that I stay back rather than hold them up and getting lost myself and to be a point of contact with our cell phones should they find anything or run into any trouble. If they were lost and needed to locate one another, located any signs or the body or were detained or harrassed by West Point officials, Charlie's wife and I were available to call for legal assistance or to get the word out. An hour into their search, they did lose contact with one another. 2-1/2 hours into their search, my cell phone rang with a call from Charlie's wife Trish to tell me they had found a body. Familiar with the area, the events of that night and the rumors, Charlie felt it most likely that Two Crow would have met his fate at a most direct route between the barracks where they had been and his own. On a steep deer path as Eric was attempting to backtrack back up the hill, he saw something to his side that caught his eye. At first he thought it was a trash bag. Upon further inspection, he saw that what he was looking at was a pair of white Reebok sneakers. He approached closer and saw the body. He ran like a greyhound to get Charlie.

Charlie attempted to call the Military Police but was unable to get through. He found someone who's West Point personnel and asked that he contact the MP's; he too was unable to get through. Charlie then called 9-1-1 and reached the New York State Police who in turn contacted West Point. They were on West Point property. The body was located on a steep path between the 2 barracks stated and was a short distance from a playground.

The NY State Police were the first to respond. This was between 6:30 and 7:00 pm. Then West Point officials began to pour in, all making calls to others, they secured the location and sent the 3 as well as the geriatric dog back to the MP station where they were requested to remain until they had given their statements.

Tom Van Norman called me at about 12:30 a.m. and I told him the sketchy information I knew at that time and he requested I call him at his home at 4:00 am EST when he would be there since he was on the road and wanted to have the details from the others as well. It was approximately 2:40 a.m. when Charlie, Eric, Laurie and the dog returned to Charlie's home. I went home by 3:15 am and arrived at 3:45 am. At 4:00 am I called but got no answer-he was on the phone already with Charlie.

At 8:00 am this morning I was awakened by a phone call from Toni Gurule, crying hysterically and vomitting as she had just received a call from Captain Locke at West Point who stated he had tried to notify the family but was unable to reach them to let them know a body had been found. Toni was alone at home in Colorado and unable to awaken any of her friends in the area but was desperate for any information. I told her I did believe it was Alan since there were no other missing persons reported and he was found in an area consistent with where he might most likely have travelled that night. I did not share with her any gross details of the stage of decomposition being consistent with the time period over which he had been missing. Tom Van Norman had indicated last night that he didn't feel it appropriate until the complete forensic investigation had confirmed it, as a public official following procedure and protocol, he would not be discussing this with the family until such time. Because Capt. Locke was notifying the family before this confirmation, I immediately called Van Norman so that he could personally get word to the family rather than their hearing such news over the phone immediately after being awakened. I then called Charlie who called West Point officials who indicated there was quite a bit of trouble that would be coming down for the failed efforts in any investigation when US intelligence agencies failed to find in 2-1/2 months what it took a small group of outsiders to find in 2-1/2 hours based on the 'encouragement' from you to answer the pleas of a desperate family in South Dakota. I completely agree there has to be an outside investigation of these events and the policy since they certainly can't be entrusted to investigate themselves or to disclose the facts of this that will certainly not make them look so good or even borderline competent.

Charlie called…he got word (rumor has it…) that ID was on Two Crow. Forensics pretty much a formality at this point. Damned formal for incompetents. As you indicated, ruling out foul play right now would just show more of their inability to properly investigate, especially in light of the circumstances and well-known rumors."

End of Maureens email to Carter

Sgt Alan Two Crow, Lakota Soldier, had been found. Once our people buried our dead above ground so they might nourish this land, like the Sergeant was now, but not this way. This is not Lakota, lying cold on unblessed ground. A warriors death should be different than what the Military Police were now surrounding with yellow tape and bright lights. Where is the respect, the cedar, sage and tobacco, the tears of women softening the earth for him and the songs of warriors saying goodbye? Not in that MP tent they put up to keep the investigators warm and not in the heart of Agent Dinsmore. But now his own People can do those things for him, those things his Army comrades who left the search, left the respect and left their honor, forgot. The earth can welcome him back to his homelands soon. Veterans will circle again for him. We can make sure his journey continues alongside those other relatives they do not honor... Sitting Bull will be glad to see him.

These Are My Words, Carter Camp