The Pfc. LaVena Johnson petition is now closed.

On July 19, 2005, a nineteen-year-old soldier named Pfc. LaVena Johnson died in Iraq - the first woman soldier from Missouri to die while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Army ruled LaVena's death a suicide, despite evidence to the contrary and strong protests from those who knew her best. On February 28, 2007, I launched a petition addressed to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, asking those bodies to compel the Army to reopen the investigation of LaVena's death.

The name-gathering phase of the petition ended on May 24, 2008. The next phase consists of preparing the document for delivery to the two Armed Services Committees.

Information on the status of the petition effort and related news will continue to be posted on the LaVena Johnson website.

I'd like to thank everyone who took a moment to lend their names to the petition, or who devoted time and effort to spreading word of LaVena's story. I deeply appreciate your support.

Very best,
Philip Barron
St. Louis