By The Stars and Stripes has published a report on the Sergeant involved in the Yongsan First Sergeant adultery case that was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head:
Court-martial security procedures are being reviewed after a soldier was found fatally shot outside U.S. Forces Korea headquarters at Yongsan Garrison last month, Army officials said. He had just been sentenced in connection with an improper relationship he had with a superior.
The body of Cuauhtemoc "Temo" Gonzalez Jr. was found May 22 with a gunshot wound in a grassy area on the east side of the USFK building. He was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital.
CID officials declined to comment on reports that Gonzalez shot himself. They said only that his death remains under investigation, according to 8th Army Lt. Col. Jeff Buczkowski.
Gonzalez, of the 19th Adjutant General Company, said in court in April that he planned to plead guilty in a summary court-martial related to a prohibited relationship he had with a higher-ranking soldier last year. [Stars & Stripes ]
Read the rest for more details about his court martial, but considering everything that has happened he really didn’t get to hammered with only the loss of one rank, pay, and restriction. The S&S article however made no mention of his conviction in ROK criminal court where he was fined 7,000,000 won. It makes me wonder if severe financial hardship combined with his personal problems is what drove him over the edge?
6:40 pm on June 5th, 2009 1
"He had just been sentenced in connection with an improper relationship he had with a superior."
That's another thing that bothers me about this. Maybe I'm wrong, but my recollection about how these things go down is when there is an affair between a senior person and a junior, the whole sh!tpile unloads on the senior person. The junior person usually escapes as an innocent victim. At least, that's what usually happens when the senior person is male and the junior person is female.
When a male senior sgt. has affairs with his junior soldiers, do the junior soldiers get prosecuted also? Why did they decide to prosecute Sgt. Gonzalez for having an affair with his senior first sgt?
6:44 pm on June 5th, 2009 2
BTW, I guess the question to answer first is, 'How does a guy who is up for court martial find a way to get issued a gun?'
7:41 pm on June 5th, 2009 3
BTW again, sorry. From the Stars and Stripes article,
"According to his death notice in the Modesto (Calif.) Bee, Gonzalez was born in Patterson, Calif., the third of four children. He is survived by his parents, siblings and a daughter."
No mention of a wife and the other children we heard about here. I guess maybe his own family didn't know.
7:47 pm on June 5th, 2009 4
Rumor I heard was that he went to the White House and told a young soldier there that he needed to inspect his weapon and ammunition. Because he was a SGT, the young soldier on duty obliged.
8:55 pm on June 5th, 2009 5
"When a male senior sgt. has affairs with his junior soldiers, do the junior soldiers get prosecuted also? Why did they decide to prosecute Sgt. Gonzalez for having an affair with his senior first sgt?"
Because the Men who run the system had to make him pay for that piece of ass he was getting. Because a man can't be viewed as a "victim" since it is difficult to put the words "submission" and "hard-on" in the same sentence.
6:16 am on June 6th, 2009 6
Because the Men who run the system had to make him pay for that piece of ass he was getting. Because a man can’t be viewed as a “victim” since it is difficult to put the words “submission” and “hard-on” in the same sentence.
Cloying Odor,
I have seen many cases where the subordinate female actively persued the leadership position male. However, the result was the same; the male got slammed.
Seems like a double standard to me.
4:12 pm on June 6th, 2009 7
I applaud SGT Gonzalez's courage in making such a difficult decision. Understanding that a decision to off yourself is difficult enough, following through with shooting yourself is very, very brave. I won't say anything disparaging about the poor decisions that precipitated this event. If more people had the courage SGT Gonzalez had, the world would be a better place.
4:42 pm on June 6th, 2009 8
I can think of several individuals with whom I currently serve, that if I had to counsel them, I would likely have to say "For most people, I would say GET COUNSELING. You, though, you're different. You are one of those unique cases in which killing yourself is not just an option, but should be required. Now, you are so f^&ked up, you will probably fail in this, too, which puts us all in quite a predicament…Why don't you just go AWOL and not come back?"
8:53 am on June 7th, 2009 9
I suppose you are an active duty service member. You serve at a time when there are commercials on AFN telling people to "never shake your baby" and "don't use foul language in public". You serve with common criminals who have joined the service to avoid prosecution. You serve with America's poor and destitute who bring their worthless morals, values, and etiquette into the ranks and instead of shedding those ways, continue to embrace them in micro societies within the ranks where they are fully accepted. The service use to give you a chance by placing all enlistees on an even playing field with shedding of civilian clothes and a skin-tight hair cut. I can assure you those days are long gone. Of course this applies to a minority and not the masses, but the minorities impact on the masses is something to behold.
God save the ranks.
4:10 pm on June 10th, 2009 10
–"SGT Cuauhtemoc N. Gonzales, UNC Honor Guard Company"
Temo had no middle name and was not in the UNC Honor Guard. Could this still be the same SGT Gonzalez who died of a gunshot wound to the head?
4:12 pm on June 10th, 2009 11
Did anyone witness the death of SGT Gonzalez? Was no one around at 1200?
7:38 pm on June 10th, 2009 12
…,
You could see how Stars & Stripes could get confused with all the Cuauhtemocs running around.
2:53 am on June 11th, 2009 13
Guffaw!
11:51 am on June 17th, 2009 14
SGT Gonzalez was in the UNC Honor Guard. He was originally in the 19th AG but was transferred when his relationship with the 1SG was discovered. Lemmy, I can only assume you're being sarcastic when you say he was brave by shooting himself. I'm all for sarcasm so if that's how your comment was intended, I'm with you. But if you actually think he was brave for shooting himself then may I suggest you seek counseling. Committing suicide is the most selfish and pathetic thing anyone can do. To not have enough courage to take responsibility for the mistakes you made and to take your own life, it's inconceivable to me. To think of all his children. The worst part is, had someone been with him at the time, this probably never would've happened. I imagine he felt overwhelmed and alone. If he had just had a few hours to calm down and get perspective, he probably would've realized it wasn't that bad.
3:41 pm on June 17th, 2009 15
What kind of counseling do I need? I speak the plain truth, I don't try to make someone "feel good" and I don't appreciate those who do not say what they mean. The decision to kill yourself is the most difficult decision anyone will ever make. He sufferd through emotional torture that someone only contemplating suicide could. Killing yourself doesn't mean you are selfisf. He could have killed himself to relieve his family of suffering shame. Don't say that what Gonzo did was bad, because it wasn't. If you think killing yourself is so easy, your lucky because obviously you have never contimplated suicide.
5:08 pm on June 17th, 2009 16
so this is temos cousin and i would appreciate it if all the people spreading things that start with "i heard…" thats how rumors get started. support for the family is needed and reading thigs like this doesnt help.
9:51 pm on June 17th, 2009 17
Come on now- you're not EMBRACING DIVERSITY! I might have to call the EO Rep to get you properly propagandized- err- I mean- trained. Think about the rich cultural heritage the wanna be thugs, gangstas, pimps, entitlement chasers and other participants in the Great Welfare Experiment bring to our ranks! We need a Dud History Month to celebrate their mark on our history. Think about it- where would we be without them? Think about the rich additions to our lexicon (no mind that if you actually SPEAK English, most of it is unintelligible), the great impact these ambassadors have had on our host nations around the world. It's truly inspiring!
12:27 pm on June 18th, 2009 18
also im pretty sure if your family was going through a loss like this you wouldnt want people speaking about it like this. yea he made some mistakes, everyone does its inevitable…but really, im sure there are better things you can be doing then sitting here arguing over my cousins death and what happened and what didnt happen. it really is hurtful to come on this and see what has been written. i understand he was in the wrong..but what can we do about it now?
8:20 pm on June 21st, 2009 19
shocked & stunned
I am so sorry for your loss
My FRIEND had SGT Gonzalez’s son
I knew Sgt Gonzalez pretty well he was always very nice.
4:49 am on June 22nd, 2009 20
Lenny if you are saying what Gonzalez did was brave, well that is your choice and I respect that. I however feel the opposite. I have actually attempted it in the past because I thought it was my only option and it would bring rest to my family for everything that I had done. I was wrong. I was only thinking of myself. At a funeral you don't hear his family and friends saying, "Thanks Temo for what you did. It was very brave of you." No, you hear the opposite of people crying out, "Why did you do this? Nothing is ever worth taking your life." What Gonzalez did was a cop out. He only thought about himself and not thinking about how his action would affect his family. Suicide is not an easy thing to go through with, I will give you that. But facing your problems and having to deal with them is even harder. It is that reason why those of us who choose suicide take that path. We are too afraid of dealing with the reality of things. And if you think I am wrong you obviously have not tried to go through this yourself. You have not spent 2 week locked up in a hospital for attempting suicide. You have not spent 6 months in a hospital with others just like you who all felt the same thing. One cannot speak about an act if they have not tried it themselves.
5:07 am on June 22nd, 2009 21
Just try and help the kids he left behind. With so many of them being so young I am sure there still needs to be genetic testing so that his kids are taken care of financially. Maybe his family would be willing to help out with this matter?
6:28 am on June 22nd, 2009 22
What's all the hating for?
Everything that happened here is clearly explained in Biology 101.
Cuauhtemoc is a textbook example of what life is all about and he is a more successful member of our species than most of us will ever be.
He reproduced prolifically and moved on.
Anybody here who has done better can speak. Everybody else can STFUAGBTW.
6:45 am on June 22nd, 2009 23
Why wern't all of his children acknowledged?
Does anyone know for sure how many he has?
And is the family trying to help out with the kids paternity?
Would the family want to be in the other childrens lives?
6:55 am on June 22nd, 2009 24
I agree. Is the family trying to help acknowledge the kids? It would be a shame if they didn't. Everyone makes mistakes, so why not help the kids. They had nothing to do with his death.
10:34 am on June 22nd, 2009 25
all i want to say is i have known temo since kindergarten. we grew up together and aside of anything that he did, or didnt do, he was a great friend…no one deserves to loose their life so young…
r.i.p temo, u will always be in my heart?
1:23 pm on June 22nd, 2009 26
like i said..i dont know why those of you arguing over whether he was brave, a coward or whatever, are doing this…its done and over with really. no one even knows exactly what happend. its really not worth arguing over. our family is taking this hard enough…negative comments dont help. but thank you for the posotive ones. he is greatly missed by our family and by everyone. and like i said EVERYONE makes mistakes so stop dwelling on his please.
3:58 pm on June 22nd, 2009 27
Timo give me to babys – one is girl one be boy. I don't know what to now. Who will give me money for his babies. I know he had life ensurence i need money for two babies. Who will help me?
Send donations to Bank of America Account # 23556 258863 171068
8:38 pm on June 22nd, 2009 28
i cant speak for aunt and uncle…they too are taking all this info at once…i know them though, and they wouldnt make it unfair for his other childern that none of us knew about. its a shock to all of us…but what needs to be done will be done. im going to try my hardest not to read any of these comments anymore..most of them are negative…but thank you for the very few posotive ones and the support its GREATLY needed…and those of you who are arguing over what happed and if he was right or wrong can move on with your lives and worry about your own thanks. please keep temo and his parents in your prayers.
8:53 pm on June 22nd, 2009 29
I'll play along with your silly charade.
Go ahead an pump out 10 or 12 more kids and maybe you too can get your own reality TV show.
9:46 pm on June 22nd, 2009 30
Paging Maury Povich. Maury Povich please dial 20.
12:13 am on June 23rd, 2009 31
I'll even set you up with "Hooked on Phonics" to help you learn how to write standard English at a 4th grade level so people won't need to decode your messages. You might need to take a break from producing children which we will have to support, though. Do you think you'll have the time?
3:25 am on June 23rd, 2009 32
i dont think they will acknowledge the other children. frankly if they decide not too i dont blame them. sgt gonzalez only ever talked of his one daughter so to his family thats all they know. to come on here and ask for money is ridiculous. and as for the question, "why werent all his children acknowledged?" from what i know sgt gonzalez only claimed his one little girl.
3:47 am on June 23rd, 2009 33
Wow.
If you were in Korea with Temo. Like I was he was claiming to have a son on the way. And then later i found out he had a daughter on the way. I was a close friend and i knew of his daughter Evelyn too. But as far as i know he has 3 children that i have heard him claim. I will have the 2 mothers that i know of to try to get in contact with someone on here The mothers names are Clarissa Retamoza and Djhonia Selph. They have pictures of the kids on their face book.
7:50 am on June 23rd, 2009 34
i Sure miss Temo, he sent me $100 two or 3 times down at the WesternUnion.
12:29 pm on June 23rd, 2009 35
OK, this sock puppet stuff is getting tiresome.
1:21 pm on June 23rd, 2009 36
Agreed, Mark…
…it's like bringing a dirty magazine to an orgy of teen coeds.
2:07 pm on June 23rd, 2009 37
…it’s like bringing sand to the beach.
7:16 pm on June 23rd, 2009 38
Hi im Djhonia Selph.
I have a son by Cuauhtemoc.
I would like if a family member could contact me.
My email is djhoniaselph@gmail.com
7:52 pm on June 23rd, 2009 39
To Temos cousin. Can you please contact me at riss_027@yahoo.com I want my daughter to know her family. I was at the funeral, the most important thing to me is for my daughter to be able to know her family if they are willing to want to be a part of her life. Thank you and god bless.
1:04 am on June 24th, 2009 40
I agree, but still.
Ya know, I mean come on!
Like, seriously.
2:10 am on June 24th, 2009 41
I was fortunate to have served with SGT Gonzalez during his first tour in Iraq. SGT Gonzalez was a good person with a good heart. He always made everyone laugh and smile. He was proud of serving his country.
To his family, I will keep you in my prayers. Its hard to lose a loved one, no matter the circumstances surrounding their death. May God bless you in this time of grief and give you peace.
7:43 am on July 1st, 2009 42
Hi,
Can you please contact me djhoniaselph@gmail.com
I would like to talk to you if possible.
12:12 pm on July 6th, 2009 43
I hope every one of you that are posting your stupidity on this blog enjoy every minute you spend typing. I hope you spend your nights sleeping well knowing you are casting your insults upon my dead brother in law. If you knew Temo in life, I'm sure you would remember for yourself that you would never disrespect him to his face without having it re-arranged. And for those of you with the comments of our nations poor and destitute coming into the ranks, he did not fit that bill either. Temo came from a great family. He made his own decisions in life that came with dire consequences. I myself married his sister which I met when we were both serving on active duty in Bosnia. His other brother and sister also served in the Army as did my wife and I. We are not the stereotype you wish to portray in your ignorant comments. I served ten years in the Army, and realize the amount of idiots that compile it's ranks. Stop placing yourself in line with those guys and have some respect for the dead.
12:45 pm on July 6th, 2009 44
There's a guy I could follow in combat- someone who would beat me up if I criticized his actions.
3:18 pm on July 6th, 2009 45
With the family situation(s) he left, whose brother-in-law? It's very confusing.
8:37 am on March 25th, 2010 46
have some sympathy he was also being played by his wife, vanessa gonzales who he found out was seeing another man back home, she got all the money and wont give the family any of his possessions. when he found out i know thats what led to his death
9:38 am on March 25th, 2010 47
Hi this I'd DJhonia Selph.
I am the mother of Cuauhtemoc's son. I have been trying to be put in contact with any of his family members. I do think that my son should atleast know his fathers side of the family. If someone could help me out that would be greatly appreciated. I don't want money, I would just like to speak with someone.
My email address is djhoniaselph@gmail.and my phone number is 6789235959.
1:57 pm on March 25th, 2010 48
[DELETED BY ADMIN]
1:59 pm on March 25th, 2010 49
[DELETED BY ADMIN - The guy is dead no need to make jokes about him]
4:54 pm on March 25th, 2010 50
Awww, 2Dogs…
If his mother's reasons are pure… and she gives him a good foundation to understand what is good and bad, right and wrong, acceptable and not… it is not a bad thing for a son to have some understanding of, and supervised contact with, his father's family… no matter how screwed up they may be.
As long as the mother supplies a loving childhood filled with correct guidance, the son can make good future decisions about his relationship with his father's family.
Her actions and intentions seem to be the correct thing to do… but, as she has been trying for a while without answer, I am starting to think it's a bad idea… as, regardless of the rantings of The Brother-in-Law, the family is just not worth it.
Come on, guys. Grow a heart. She claims she doesn't want money… and probably can't even get money from any of you if she wanted it. All she seems to be asking is a little of your time and consideration so her baby, and your blood relative, isn't funked in the head his whole life.
4:56 pm on March 25th, 2010 51
Before we hook her up with "the fathers" family, shouldn't someone attempt to figure out who or whom the father(s) is/are?
8:57 pm on March 25th, 2010 52
[DELETED BY ADMIN]
10:09 am on April 2nd, 2010 53
all his money went to his wife of 3 months, she got a house a car and all schooling and medical is paid for, all his kids if they are his should recieve help. heres her number, vanessa gonzalez 284-7791. trust me she has plenty of money to go around.
10:14 am on April 2nd, 2010 54
your friend should get help for her children, his wife before he died got everything and they dont even have a kid together, she has a son that gets all schooling, medical, college housing. all taken care of, and shes spending all that money on things that could go to a better cause like helping his kids. vanessa gonzalez 284-7791
5:52 am on April 8th, 2010 55
I have been trying to establish paternity since 08/08. I talked to Vanessa via email, and she seemed very helpful then, in saying that she would help me get the paternity test done. But after Temo passed she started to ignore me. I had pre-paid for the test and sent Vanessa copies of all the documents she needed to sign to give consent and i also sent an addressed and stamped envelope so that she could mail them off. I was ignored. The only thing i would like is to have a paternity test done. My son deserves to know who his father is and to have the proper documentation to back it up. If the family does not wish to participate in his life that is fine. I would like my son to have his fathers flag and the peace at night when he sleeps to know who he is.
12:03 am on May 23rd, 2010 56
Hey, here are some updated pictures of Elias, Cuauhtemo's son. I was just checking to see if you could put me into contact with any family member. I would like to get the paternity test done still and I would like to try for them to meet him, and if they want a further relationship then that would be fine. I'm sorry that everything had to happen under the circumstances that are at hand. But my intention was never to hurt anyone or be a problem. It's just that i have my son now and i want him to know his other side of the family. Because of course he bi-racial and should know his heritage. But okay thank you. Please contact me back with any info if you could. I don't want any money from any of you. None what so ever. Just trying to do the best thing for Elias.
12:12 am on May 23rd, 2010 57
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50443422@N03/
6:31 am on June 2nd, 2010 58
It's unfortunate Vanessa will not help you out anymore. But what do you expect? Her husband is dead and she is rolling in dough, do you think she will be bothered by Temo's ex girlfriends when her son is set for life? She played her cards well…
I was at Temo's funeral and I can assure you his parents will not acknowledge any women who come forward and claim to have Temo's children. Sorry for what you are going through.
2:30 am on June 3rd, 2010 59
It is fine. We are good. My son is loved and well taken care of. It's their loss.
2:59 pm on July 26th, 2010 60
I served with Temo in New Mexico when he was a SPC. I haven't spoken to him in years and received the link for this article this morning when I arrived to work. I'm saddened by what I've read. Despite what people think they know about him or what his actions might show, he was a good person. He wanted more for himself and his family. He didn't always make the right decisions but I don't think that changes the fact that he served and will be missed by those that knew him well and loved him. My heart goes out to his family, his children, and his friends in their time of loss.
5:03 pm on February 16th, 2011 61
Temo was a good friend of mine. I called him "condorito"
I found out last year of his passing and I am very saddened. He had his faults like any other human being but he really had a good heart. I just wish someone was there to talk or listen to him during that time of desperation but may his soul rest in peace now. He will be greatly missed.
5:30 am on October 10th, 2011 62
If you could help me in any way. My son Elias is 3 years old now. Starting to ask about his dad & I have no clue what or how to tell him about his father. Or why he won’t ever know his dad or his family.
He is doing well from his surgery of the cancer lump he had on the back of his head in 2009. No spreading. But I would like some family health history. I just can’t help but feel helpless for my son. And I pray to God for his grace & blessings everyday. So any information would defiantly help.
Thank You So much for your time.
Djhonia Selph
404 771 2057
678 852 0273
Djhoniaselph@gmail.com
Djhonia.Selph@us.army.mil
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
6:15 am on October 10th, 2011 63
It’s okay. You can watch him grow from a far. Click the link & maybe just oneday you guys will have a change of heart. It’s been 3 years now too long to keep ignoring this. He’s your Blood. Living & breathing. How can you ignore that? You have family that you won’t acknowledge. It’s really sad!
12:52 am on December 18th, 2011 64
I went to JR high and HS with him, you could look up his family in Gustine Ca