UT UT - Spc. Joseph Michael Bushling, 26, Dugway, 8 May 2011

[laytonian]

An update from Bushling's hometown newspaper (The Russellville Courier) has some interesting details. Click here to read the entire article. These are snippets. BBM

"A blurry photo showed a vehicle that looked like the one Joseph had borrowed from a friend leaving the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground, where Joseph was stationed, shortly after 3:30 a.m. May 8. He was scheduled to fly to Fort Carson, Colo., later that day."

It was originally reported that he'd gone for a drive in the desert, on Saturday, May 7th (source: Tooele Transcript Bulletin).

My opinion: IF it truly was him leaving the base at 3:30am, just hours before his departure in a car that wasn't his, this changes everything. It would no longer be just another casual drive; it'd be a purposeful departure.

It's always seemed odd that the car owner filed the insurance claim so soon after Bushling's disappearance. I wonder if there was some kind of plan to hide the car by driving it offbase so far ... and things went awry.​

Also from the story: "Kevin [Bushling] said the search for Joseph had so far turned up the remains of three other people — one who was missing more than 20 years and one who was missing five. [Tooele County Sheriff Frank] Park said no bodies were found during the search for Joseph, but remains of a body were found in another part of the county since Joseph went missing."

OK, now it's getting really weird. Yes, one body was found out by Stockton but it had nothing to do with the Bushling search. WHY is Bushling's father spreading false rumors about other bodies? There's been nothing in the news about other bodies found and the Tooele County Sheriff confirms no other bodies were found.

Logically, if any body had been found during any of the Bushling searches, it'd have hit the news immediately until an ID was made.

I'm afraid poor Mr Bushling has given different quotes to different media. I'm not sure why. He told Utah media that his son had no mental issues, and then was quoted in his local Arkansas media as saying his son had been on medication for depression, since high school. (I included the sources for the mental/medication statements in this post.)
​

 

[PaulR]

An update from Bushling's hometown newspaper (The Russellville Courier) has some interesting details. Click here to read the entire article. These are snippets. BBM

"A blurry photo showed a vehicle that looked like the one Joseph had borrowed from a friend leaving the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground, where Joseph was stationed, shortly after 3:30 a.m. May 8. He was scheduled to fly to Fort Carson, Colo., later that day."

It was originally reported that he'd gone for a drive in the desert, on Saturday, May 7th (source: Tooele Transcript Bulletin).

My opinion: IF it truly was him leaving the base at 3:30am, just hours before his departure in a car that wasn't his, this changes everything. It would no longer be just another casual drive; it'd be a purposeful departure.

It's always seemed odd that the car owner filed the insurance claim so soon after Bushling's disappearance. I wonder if there was some kind of plan to hide the car by driving it offbase so far ... and things went awry.​

Also from the story: "Kevin [Bushling] said the search for Joseph had so far turned up the remains of three other people — one who was missing more than 20 years and one who was missing five. [Tooele County Sheriff Frank] Park said no bodies were found during the search for Joseph, but remains of a body were found in another part of the county since Joseph went missing."

OK, now it's getting really weird. Yes, one body was found out by Stockton but it had nothing to do with the Bushling search. WHY is Bushling's father spreading false rumors about other bodies? There's been nothing in the news about other bodies found and the Tooele County Sheriff confirms no other bodies were found.

Logically, if any body had been found during any of the Bushling searches, it'd have hit the news immediately until an ID was made.

I'm afraid poor Mr Bushling has given different quotes to different media. I'm not sure why. He told Utah media that his son had no mental issues, and then was quoted in his local Arkansas media as saying his son had been on medication for depression, since high school. (I included the sources for the mental/medication statements in this post.)​

Reading this makes me think the Army has good reason to think Bushling went AWOL and his friends/family know where he is. The immediate claim on the car, his dad spreading inconsistent and misleading information... sorry, I don't see them being entirely innocent here.

 

[Kat]

IMHO all that can be established by media reports of statements given by Joe's father is that at this time his statements can't be taken into account as factual.

There may be a reason that we are unaware of the inconsistancies which may have nothing to do with helping to cover up for a son that went AWOL. Too many to list but off the top of my head: perhaps he himself is taking meds that effect his cognition, perhaps he is trying to relate info at different times that was shared with him and that info changed as the investigation progressed or he misunderstood part of the info shared with him, perhaps he is so emotional at this time that it is effecting his ability to share things in a consistant manner, any number of things really.

But this tells me that IMHO his statements at this particular time can't be taken as factual is all.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[laytonian]

IMHO all that can be established by media reports of statements given by Joe's father is that at this time his statements can't be taken into account as factual.

There may be a reason that we are unaware of the inconsistancies which may have nothing to do with helping to cover up for a son that went AWOL. Too many to list but off the top of my head: perhaps he himself is taking meds that effect his cognition, perhaps he is trying to relate info at different times that was shared with him and that info changed as the investigation progressed or he misunderstood part of the info shared with him, perhaps he is so emotional at this time that it is effecting his ability to share things in a consistant manner, any number of things really.

But this tells me that IMHO his statements at this particular time can't be taken as factual is all.

Just my humble opinion.

Yes, it's all very sad.

The father was reported as suffering from PTSD from the Gulf War (1991 era), so may be on medication.

At the least, the family needs a good spokesperson to help them work through things.

 

[cocomod]

Thinking about this case! I originally believed that this man had likely gone AWOL. However, I have since revised my opinion. It seems strange given the remote location of the car that this would still be the case. Also, his history gives clues that lead in another possibly sad direction. Prayers for this family.

 

[laytonian]

Thinking about this case! I originally believed that this man had likely gone AWOL. However, I have since revised my opinion. It seems strange given the remote location of the car that this would still be the case. Also, his history gives clues that lead in another possibly sad direction. Prayers for this family.

I'm moving away from suicide, after reading about the message(s) he left for his friend, after his shoes were lost/broken.

There's one thing we haven't heard: when the car was located, was it really out of gas?

 

[cocomod]

I'm moving away from suicide, after reading about the message(s) he left for his friend, after his shoes were lost/broken.

There's one thing we haven't heard: when the car was located, was it really out of gas?

I have to agree. I am really wondering if this was just plain an accident. I wonder if he just lost his way and perished in the desert. I do not believe at this time that he is alive; but I could be wrong. I just wish that they would find him or more clues as to his disappearance. The news that we have received has been confusing and contradictory. :banghead:

 

[Kat]

Come home soon Joseph. I'm thinking of your family tonight.

 

[laytonian]

The Deseret News (CLICK HERE) is reporting the following:

A volunteer search will be held on Sunday, June 26th, in the area of Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge.

The following may be controversial, but if Bushling IS out there somewhere, it will help find him: The Army has advised the Bushling family that Joseph is now listed as a deserter. That's the official status placed on any soldier who is not located after 30 days of "away without leave" (AWOL).​

The car location at Fish Springs seems to be new information.

 

[dreamweaver]

The Deseret News (CLICK HERE) is reporting the following:

A volunteer search will be held on Sunday, June 26th, in the area of Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge.

The following may be controversial, but if Bushling IS out there somewhere, it will help find him: The Army has advised the Bushling family that Joseph is now listed as a deserter. That's the official status placed on any soldier who is not located after 30 days of "away without leave" (AWOL).​

The car location at Fish Springs seems to be new information.

Glad they are searching for him again.
Is there a map already of the Fish Springs area?

The most logical explanation is that he started out walking from his car and then either injured himself in a fall perhaps or succumbed to the weather.
If so, he should have been found, which is what this missing person case so perplexing.

http://www.facebook.com/JosephBushlingMissingU.S.SoldiersinceMay.8.2011
Joseph's FB missing page.

 

[dreamweaver]

FB missing person page also says that
the car was found 'off post'. And that every inch of the on post area was searched by the army.

 

[laytonian]

FB missing person page also says that
the car was found 'off post'. And that every inch of the on post area was searched by the army.

True. Early on, before the car was found, the Army searched with helicopters and vehicles. Every inch? I doubt that. But they were looking for a vehicle at that time, in the area where Bushling reported he was.

The car was found 64 miles from the main Dugway gate, which is the same gate a security camera saw a similar car leave @ 3:30am on Sunday, May 8.

The area being searched tomorrow, is east of where Bushling said he was...but apparently near where the car was found.

So much info that doesn't make sense.

 

[liz b.]

I was watching an old episode of AMW last night... one of the stories was about a guy who was stationed in California,I believe..Army. He vanished one day, and after several searches he was declared AWOL, and a deserter. This took place in the 50's,during the Cold War. The missing man's family never stopped looking for him,and never believed he had deserted. This was a very patriotic military family, and they came to believe he had been recruited for some special mission. A while after he vanished,his car was found abandoned out in the desert,in the middle of nowhere....

The show mentioned that the man's disappearance was finally reclassified,from naming him as a deserter, to having him listed as being killed in the line of duty somewhere. So, after all those years,his family was finally vindicated.It's important to note that 1) A big search was mounted for him by the army and 2) His family never knew what had actually happened to him, until very recently...

Makes you wonder...MOO

 

[laytonian]

I was watching an old episode of AMW last night... one of the stories was about a guy who was stationed in California,I believe..Army. He vanished one day, and after several searches he was declared AWOL, and a deserter. This took place in the 50's,during the Cold War. The missing man's family never stopped looking for him,and never believed he had deserted. This was a very patriotic military family, and they came to believe he had been recruited for some special mission. A while after he vanished,his car was found abandoned out in the desert,in the middle of nowhere....

The show mentioned that the man's disappearance was finally reclassified,from naming him as a deserter, to having him listed as being killed in the line of duty somewhere. So, after all those years,his family was finally vindicated.It's important to note that 1) A big search was mounted for him by the army and 2) His family never knew what had actually happened to him, until very recently...

Makes you wonder...MOO

What DID happen to him?
In the 1950s, there was a lot of stupid stuff going on, without oversight.
I've searched all over the America's Most Wanted website, as well as Googled, and can't find anything matching.

I know Bushling's family believes that there's a vast conspiracy hiding his death, but if Bushling had been recruited for some kind of top secret job, wouldn't he just have gone to Fort Carson that day ... as scheduled? Top secret doesn't mean you disappear off the face of the earth. A few years ago, our neighbor went to work as a "black ops" contractor in Iraq. We knew he was going, and where -- just not what he'd be doing.

Bushling was an ambulance driver, in the Medical Corps chain of command.

Joseph, where are you?

 

[Kat]

I'm glad to see that Bushling's CO is communicating with the family.

Wonder how the area that they are searching on Sunday came about being selected for searching?

 

[laytonian]

I'm glad to see that Bushling's CO is communicating with the family.

Wonder how the area that they are searching on Sunday came about being selected for searching?

From the Deseret News:

"The searcher was on an outing with his father when he found the car in a ravine near Fish Springs, 64 miles south of Dugway's main gate. No other physical evidence has been found since."​

I am so confused. CLICK HERE to see a map.

A = Dugway Main Gate (similar car seen leaving here at 3:30am, May 8)
B = Fish Springs Area
C = Point approximately 64 miles SW of Dugway's main gate = car found @here
D = Granite Mountain (Bushling said he was WEST of here)

 

[liz b.]

What DID happen to him?
In the 1950s, there was a lot of stupid stuff going on, without oversight.
I've searched all over the America's Most Wanted website, as well as Googled, and can't find anything matching.

I know Bushling's family believes that there's a vast conspiracy hiding his death, but if Bushling had been recruited for some kind of top secret job, wouldn't he just have gone to Fort Carson that day ... as scheduled? Top secret doesn't mean you disappear off the face of the earth. A few years ago, our neighbor went to work as a "black ops" contractor in Iraq. We knew he was going, and where -- just not what he'd be doing.

Bushling was an ambulance driver, in the Medical Corps chain of command.

Joseph, where are you?

IT was actually Unsolved Mysteries, hosted by Dennis Farina ( I'm not a TV person)...

The Army said that he was killed in the line of duty, at an undisclosed location...
His family also believed that his disappearance was part of a conspiracy, in the sense that he was recruited for a mission which was secret, and remained secret for many years...

I found it really interesting that his car was found in the desert, in the middle of nowhere, and that the Army conducted several searches for him..

Perhaps the armed forces keep some secrets that very few people are actually privy to ? Maybe Joseph was something more than what he appeared to be .. We just don't know what really happened to him...MOO

JMO

 

[laytonian]

IT was actually Unsolved Mysteries, hosted by Dennis Farina ( I'm not a TV person)...

The Army said that he was killed in the line of duty, at an undisclosed location...
His family also believed that his disappearance was part of a conspiracy, in the sense that he was recruited for a mission which was secret, and remained secret for many years...

I found it really interesting that his car was found in the desert, in the middle of nowhere, and that the Army conducted several searches for him..

Perhaps the armed forces keep some secrets that very few people are actually privy to ? Maybe Joseph was something more than what he appeared to be .. We just don't know what really happened to him...MOO

JMO

(OT, but discussed for a link here.)

I don't think so, really. I worked for DoD for 27 years, and had a top secret clearance myself. For part of that time, I worked with a squadron that tested out on the Hill Range, right next to Dugway.

I found the case you're talking about: Paul Whipkey.

Did they mention that all documentation regarding his case, including testimony in front of the Senate Select committee, is now in the National Archives and is available for reading by the public? Archives.Gov description:

47. CASE FILE RELATING TO PAUL B. WHIPKEY. 1957-92. 1.2 ft.
• Arranged in binders as described below.
• Paul B. Whipkey disappeared while in the Army in 1957 and it was believed that he had left his car, wandered into the desert and died, and that the shifting sands covered his body. His brother Carl Whipkey collected a file on the disappearance, asked to be deposed by the committee, and turned over a copy of his file. Among the materials provided to the select committee by Carl Whipkey: 1) a binder of exhibits identified in two parts as # A through # D5 and #1 through 53 (both parts are prefaced by a documents list); 2) a binder containing FBI file 42-141960-26 on the Paul Whipkey disappearance; 3) a binder labeled "Lt. Paul B. Whipkey: 1983 to 1992 problems with GI insurance, Death Gratuities, Senator Heinz, Spector, Kerry POW/MIA Committee & Synopsis"; 4) testimony before a 1982 Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of Paul Whipkey; and 5) a folder of newspaper stories about Whipkey.

​

Doesn't sound very secret to me.

 

[liz b.]

(OT, but discussed for a link here.)

I don't think so, really. I worked for DoD for 27 years, and had a top secret clearance myself. For part of that time, I worked with a squadron that tested out on the Hill Range, right next to Dugway.

I found the case you're talking about: Paul Whipkey.

Did they mention that all documentation regarding his case, including testimony in front of the Senate Select committee, is now in the National Archives and is available for reading by the public? Archives.Gov description:

47. CASE FILE RELATING TO PAUL B. WHIPKEY. 1957-92. 1.2 ft.
• Arranged in binders as described below.
• Paul B. Whipkey disappeared while in the Army in 1957 and it was believed that he had left his car, wandered into the desert and died, and that the shifting sands covered his body. His brother Carl Whipkey collected a file on the disappearance, asked to be deposed by the committee, and turned over a copy of his file. Among the materials provided to the select committee by Carl Whipkey: 1) a binder of exhibits identified in two parts as # A through # D5 and #1 through 53 (both parts are prefaced by a documents list); 2) a binder containing FBI file 42-141960-26 on the Paul Whipkey disappearance; 3) a binder labeled "Lt. Paul B. Whipkey: 1983 to 1992 problems with GI insurance, Death Gratuities, Senator Heinz, Spector, Kerry POW/MIA Committee & Synopsis"; 4) testimony before a 1982 Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of Paul Whipkey; and 5) a folder of newspaper stories about Whipkey.

​

Doesn't sound very secret to me.

Not a secret NOW, but was one for many years.... Interestingly his brother is retired military, and he never believed that story...

This case may be a little OT, but IMO, the similarites of the car being found in the desert, and the theory that he wandered off in the desert somehow, are startling.

The fact that,according to the UM show, his cause of death was changed to died in the line of duty in an undisclosed location seems telling...MOO

JMO

 

[dreamweaver]

From the Deseret News:

"The searcher was on an outing with his father when he found the car in a ravine near Fish Springs, 64 miles south of Dugway's main gate. No other physical evidence has been found since."​

I am so confused. CLICK HERE to see a map.

A = Dugway Main Gate (similar car seen leaving here at 3:30am, May 8)
B = Fish Springs Area
C = Point approximately 64 miles SW of Dugway's main gate = car found @here
D = Granite Mountain (Bushling said he was WEST of here)

Okay, now it gets even stranger, if that is possible.

I wish we knew that what we think we know is in fact what is known.

>Just the facts, ma'am.<