Found Alive TX - Fort Cavazos Spc. Craig Chamberlain, 23, Killeen, declared AWOL in March, last seen by wife after argument, 15 May 2023 *wife dies a week later*

[Beth11311]

Is CC/CM FB locked down pretty tight? I think I found both but am not able to see much of anything. Hmmmm.

 

[jellybean96]

Who --- besides his wife --- was the last person to see him? When is the last time someone spoke to him? When was the last time someone not related to him can verify he was alive?

 

[Laughing]

Anyone know where SPC Chamberlain was stationed prior to Cavazos?

 

[jellybean96]

Anyone know where SPC Chamberlain was stationed prior to Cavazos?

I am fairly certain this was his first duty station. He graduated from Borger in May 2018. I cant find when he enlisted, but since he was only a SPC, thats one of their first promotions.

 

[jellybean96]

Has anyone seen any information about what car they have? Trying to verify location I found.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

Is CC/CM FB locked down pretty tight? I think I found both but am not able to see much of anything. Hmmmm.

Yes

 

[PrairieWind]

I'm very confused about him being posted to Korea in December and not going. How does that work in the Army?

That is strange to me as well. If he has really received PCS orders to Korea, and didn't report, what exactly was his status? Was he pending disciplinary action?

 

[sleuth_truths]

As the mom of an Army soldier, I have a hard time believing he was completely AWOL for MONTHS without someone from his unit asking questions or showing up on his doorstep. They lived on base (from what I gathered....I dont know if that is 10000% correct) so him just deciding not to go to work for 2-3 months without someone jerking his chain about it is just not happening, IMHO. My son had covid and missed a workout. He had 3 people calling him until he answered the phone and his sergeant showed up on his doorstep within 12 hours of missing PT.

Also, let's say his wife is being truthful -- he was AWOL since Feb -- was she not worried about her husband just laying around the house for a few months, and not going to work? Did she reach out to his battle buddies? His commanding officer?

So many questions and very few answers.

Absolutely agree as a member of a HUGE military family. That just wouldn't happen.

 

[sleuth_truths]

JMO the spouse's story, as detailed in the article you linked, doesn't even make sense. He had exited Fort Cavazos and was no longer on their roster. His status was "on orders" en route to Korea. When he never showed up in Korea, he was listed AWOL then AUN. So he slipped into a hole so to speak - it was not up to Fort Cavazos to look for him because he was no longer stationed there; and a unit in Korea cannot do much from overseas.

In the article, it's almost like the spouse thinks he could drive to "Korea" to work every day (as spouse is claiming he went to work every day until May).

BBM

Right. Officials on one side or the other knew he wasn't where he was supposed to be, otherwise he wouldn't have been listed as AWOL and then AUN well before his wife reported him missing.

 

[sleuth_truths]

"Update"

UPDATE 8:20 p.m.

An Army official released more information on the missing soldier from Fort Cavazos:

“Based on information discovered over the last several days, we now assess that Spc. Craig Chamberlain has willfully absented himself from the Army. Nevertheless, we continue to work with his unit, his family and friends in an extensive effort to locate him and ensure his safe return. Anyone with information about Chamberlain’s whereabouts is urged to contact Fort Cavazos CID at 254-287-2722 or your local law enforcement agency.”

BBM

I still don't understand how this can be stated.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

"Update"

UPDATE 8:20 p.m.

An Army official released more information on the missing soldier from Fort Cavazos:


BBM

I still don't understand how this can be stated.

You and I both.

 

[adot0902]

"Update"

UPDATE 8:20 p.m.

An Army official released more information on the missing soldier from Fort Cavazos:


BBM

I still don't understand how this can be stated.

It sure does sound like if you decide at any point you don't want to be in the Army anymore you can just decide you are done like McDonald's..... No paperwork.. No discharging.
That's certainly new.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

is she just covering for him while he is hiding out?

what is going on here really?

 

[aggiekel2005]

is she just covering for him while he is hiding out?

what is going on here really?

Why cover for him? Why not just run away and hide with him if that's the case?

 

[Teche]

Has Craig visited with his parents and/or sibling? Sometimes siblings confide with each other and parents are the last to know child’s struggles.

 

[sunflowermomma]

"has willfully absented himself" - is this different than AWOL?

I'd be so curious to hear the opinion of someone that's in the military or in a military family, specifically regarding the timeline and what it looks like when you're relocated overseas in the military. My family hasn't done this since the 60s so I imagine the process might be different now

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 24, 2023

The parents of missing Fort Cavazos soldier ask the community for help with finding their son

Missing Specialist Craig Chamberlain's parents are in Killeen, on the ground, looking for any leads regarding their son's disappearance.

www.kwtx.com

[...]

While Fort Cavazos and Army CID conduct their investigation, Chamberlain’s parents are on the ground searching for themselves.

They’re looking for bodies of water, fields and abandoned buildings in particular.

[...]

“The Army has officially declared him as a deserter,” said Gorden and his wife, Virginia Chamberlain. At first, we were angry about it but we understand they have to go off the evidence they have.”

[...]

 

[Gut_feeling]

This timeline is super confusing.

December 2022 - Permanent transfer order issued to Korea. Alleged move into friend's house to prepare for Korea move. Allegedly depressed and starting to use drugs.

No date specified - Officially cleared his Fort Cavazos unit between Korea order and AWOL

March 2023 - Went AWOL from Army

May 15 2023 - Last seen in Killeen, TX

May 18 2023 - Wife learns he hasn't been to work since March (Quote from 5/19 article: "He told me he was going to work the whole time, so I didn’t think anything of it, but in reality, he wasn’t really going to work; he was just saying he was going to work,” Mann said. “He was supposed to be reporting to Korea and never did and told his former coworkers that he was in Korea, but he was clearly with me, so that’s when he went AWOL.” What?)

Hi guys, I'm unable to see the FB stuff, but after catching up on all that is posted here, my "hinky meter" really flashes when I read this part: [wife states] "he told his former coworkers he was in Korea, but he was clearly with me, so that's when he went AWOL." To me, I immediately thought "HOW did he "tell" those former co-workers he was in Korea?" Because if it was via text, or via any form of messaging, I am very suspicious that "someone else" sent those messages to former co-workers to explain his absence. Someone who did not want him reported missing.
The comments his wife has made so far give me major "Letitia Stauch" vibes, iykwim. All seem very "let me tell you some stuff that will A: set up a scenario unrelated to his disappearance.
And B: leads suspicion away from her.

All my opinion

 

[jellybean96]

Hi guys, I'm unable to see the FB stuff, but after catching up on all that is posted here, my "hinky meter" really flashes when I read this part: [wife states] "he told his former coworkers he was in Korea, but he was clearly with me, so that's when he went AWOL." To me, I immediately thought "HOW did he "tell" those former co-workers he was in Korea?" Because if it was via text, or via any form of messaging, I am very suspicious that "someone else" sent those messages to former co-workers to explain his absence. Someone who did not want him reported missing.
The comments his wife has made so far give me major "Letitia Stauch" vibes, iykwim. All seem very "let me tell you some stuff that will A: set up a scenario unrelated to his disappearance.
And B: leads suspicion away from her.

All my opinion

Same.

Add in 'her'' commenting three weeks ago on a 4 year old photo on FB....just seems....weird.

Am I missing any plea from her begging him to come home?

 

[Tealgrove]

None of this makes sense.