On October 27, 1995, Sgt. William J. Kreutzer Jr. opened fire on a brigade formation during morning PT at Fort Bragg. He killed Major Stephen Mark Badger and wounded 18 fellow soldiers. This episode unpacks the events before, during, and after the shooting — from Kreutzer’s mindset to the struggle to subdue him, the trial, and the long legacy of that day.
In this episode you’ll hear about:
Kreutzer’s history, mental health struggles, and motives
The sequence of the shooting — hidden in the trees, sniper fire, the assault from staff and Special Forces, and how the gun was wrested from him
The victims, including Maj. Badger, and the injured soldiers who survived
Court-martial, sentence reduction, and how this incident influenced military mental health discussions
Resources & References (non-Wikipedia):
Army News Service, “Judge Sets Sentence for Bragg Shooting Spree” — details of trial and sentence U.S. Army
U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals, U.S. v. Kreutzer (opinion, 2005) — legal findings and appeal background United States Courts - Arm for
Fayetteville Observer, “20 Years Ago, Chaos at Fort Bragg’s Towle Stadium” — contemporaneous report of the shooting and aftermath Fayetteville Observer
WRAL / Soldier Pleads Guilty to Bragg Shooting Rampage — plea, motivations, case summary WRAL.com
Los Angeles Times, “Soldier Gets Life in ’95 Ft. Bragg Attack” — sentencing coverage and victim impact Los Angeles Times
This episode contains graphic descriptions of gun violence, military trauma, mental health struggles, and suicide themes.
It is intended for mature listeners.
If you are a veteran, active service member, or sensitive to these topics — please listen with care or skip if you need to.
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