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Go. Drop here.
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[narrator]
Kris Johnson always knew
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00:00:05,867 --> 00:00:08,266
she wanted to serve
her country,
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00:00:08,266 --> 00:00:11,467
and meet the right partner
to serve beside.
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00:00:11,467 --> 00:00:12,967
[Kris] You know,
he was the epitome of duty,
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00:00:12,967 --> 00:00:14,400
honor, country,
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00:00:14,467 --> 00:00:17,100
somebody you can trust.
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00:00:17,166 --> 00:00:18,266
Kris and Jim were gonna have
an absolutely
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00:00:18,266 --> 00:00:19,500
wonderful life together.
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[narrator] What if the person
you believed in most
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00:00:22,567 --> 00:00:23,700
{\an8}betrayed you?
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{\an8}You know, my gut kept saying
something was off.
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[narrator] What if
they'd betrayed everybody?
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[Kris] He could do whatever
the hell he wanted.
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[Kris] He could do whatever
the hell he wanted.
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[Paul] We knew that, you know,
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he's possibly facing
the court-martial.
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[narrator] Taking a stand
could cost everything.
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[Frank] She was put in a real
terrible situation
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and had to make
some hard choices.
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[Kris]
I just feared everything.
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I couldn't believe that
Col. Johnson would do this.
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[Kris] Because I'm the one
that blew the whistle.
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[Frank] That's when everything
started to blow up, actually.
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[Kris] I fled.
I didn't know at that point
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what he was capable of.
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[dramatic music playing]
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[Kris] So the young me, well,
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as a kid, I was a tomboy.
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I was always
a competitive athlete.
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{\an8}In my teen years,
I was in beauty pageants,
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{\an8}and I was
Miss New York Teenager.
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The Army always attracted me.
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And then in college,
I decided to join Army ROTC.
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[narrator]
Kris is thriving in college.
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There's only one drawback.
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[Kris] Mount Saint Mary
was almost...
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At that time,
almost all women.
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[narrator] Just nine miles
south on the banks
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of the Hudson River
is another college.
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This one, almost all men.
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[David] West Point United
States Military Academy
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{\an8}is the place where
serious cadets go
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{\an8}is the place where
serious cadets go
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{\an8}to become career
or professional officers.
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[narrator]
On Halloween night in 1985,
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prisoner girlfriends
make an impromptu visit.
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[Kris] We went,
we're trick or treating
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in the barracks
at West Point.
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You know, we weren't
supposed to be there.
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But here we were. And Jim was
the cadet company commander.
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And I had dressed up
as a baby.
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And so I had a baby bottle
and a blanket.
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Jim was sitting at his desk
studying,
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trying to ignore
what was going on around him.
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trying to ignore
what was going on around him.
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You could tell
he was so uncomfortable
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having this group
of giggling girls
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and they're all dressed
up in goofy costumes.
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I remember going over
and just talking to him.
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I was like,
"Wow, this is really...
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This guy, you know,
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this guy really has
his stuff together."
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And I made
chocolate chip cookies.
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And Jim made a point
of returning the tin to me
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and he said, "You know,
they were the best
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chocolate chip cookies
I ever had."
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And they say, you know,
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the way to a man's heart
is through his stomach,
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I guess that might have been
true a little bit, so.
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I guess that might have been
true a little bit, so.
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We met the beginning
of my junior year,
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beginning his senior year,
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and by the end of the year,
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you know, we just both knew
that this is somebody
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we wanna spend the rest
of our lives with.
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You know, he was the epitome
of duty, honor, country.
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That's something
you wanna be around.
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I mean, that's the kind
of person you wanna trust
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and build a life with,
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somebody you can trust.
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His father was a general
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and he was stationed
in the Pentagon,
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Lt. Gen.
James Houston Johnson.
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They were known sort of as
Fort Bragg Airborne royalty.
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[narrator] After graduation,
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Jim continues Officers
training,
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while Kris goes to
ROTC Airborne School.
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[Kris] At that time,
not a lot of women
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went through Airborne School,
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and I was the only woman
in my chalk.
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At the final graduation jump,
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he pinned my wings on,
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he pinned my wings on,
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and the wings he gave me
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were the ones his father
pinned on to him
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when he graduated
from Airborne School.
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You know, I just thought
that that was really special.
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The day after that,
it was a weekend.
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And I remember him saying,
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"I'm gonna fix us
a nice breakfast."
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The table was set
for breakfast
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and there was a bouquet
of a dozen roses.
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And he got down on one knee
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and put the ring on me and
asked me to marry him.
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So it was very romantic
and very sweet.
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We got married
on May 17th, 1987.
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I remember a friend saying,
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"I've never seen someone walk
down the aisle so confident.
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Just felt so right."
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{\an8}When they come out
of the church,
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{\an8}they have the saber bearers
to form an arch.
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[Kris] Two people in the front
put the sabers down in cross
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and say, you know, "You can
only pass with a kiss."
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So, of course, the bride
and groom have to kiss
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in front of everybody.
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[dramatic music playing]
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[dramatic music playing]
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[Cathy]
Right from the beginning,
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Kris understood that,
you know,
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Jim would be in command,
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but Kris would be
the commander's wife.
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Kris embraced that.
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[narrator] Kris puts her own
military career on hold,
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and she and Jim
raised two children,
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while moving
from base to base.
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[Kris] I got involved
in the community,
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you know, learned the skill
of being an Army wife
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and, um, supported the career.
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[Frank] Army team couples,
as what we would call them,
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{\an8}when they work well together,
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{\an8}there's a halo effect.
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[Kris] We were a really
awesome team,
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and they were building him
to take on more
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advanced senior
leadership roles.
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[man] Truly a great day
to be here at Fort Benning,
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the Home of the Infantry.
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[Kris] Yeah. We had a happy
marriage and a happy family.
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We had a great life.
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[narrator]
Jim's career is on the rise
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[narrator]
Jim's career is on the rise
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at a time
when the U.S. Military
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needs more good leaders.
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On my orders,
the United States Military
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has begun strikes
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against al-Qaeda terrorist
training camps,
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00:06:12,867 --> 00:06:15,467
and military installations
of the Taliban regime
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in Afghanistan.
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He deployed to Afghanistan
with the 82nd.
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They were a rapid
deployment force.
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Jim got promoted
to Lieutenant Colonel
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during that time.
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He came home the following
year in 2003.
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He came home the following
year in 2003.
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He was home for about
three months,
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but he'd been selected
to command a battalion,
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the 101st first Airborne
Division in Iraq.
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This will be a campaign
unlike any other in history.
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{\an8}A campaign characterized
by shock, by surprise,
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and by the implication
of overwhelming force.
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[Kris] The children and I
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moved to Fort Campbell,
Kentucky by ourselves
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because he's already left
to go to Iraq.
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And in September 2005,
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And in September 2005,
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00:07:02,100 --> 00:07:05,100
he deployed again
as a Battalion Commander.
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And I had concerns
that he would be burnt out.
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[narrator] After being apart
for almost four years,
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Jim finally returns home.
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It should be a happy reunion,
but something's not right.
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He's cold and distant,
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even with his own children.
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[Kris] Jim changed
during that deployment,
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walking back
from the soccer fields
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for one of our
children's games,
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you know. He would just,
like, divert off,
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you know. He would just,
like, divert off,
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and come back, and show up
30 minutes later.
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Nothing I did
was pleasing him.
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Nothing I did
was good enough.
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All of a sudden, he's not
initiating sex at all.
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This is when the suspicion
starts coming up.
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Something's not right,
you know.
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He's withdrawing from me,
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you know,
intimacy is on a decline.
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You know, what is up?
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[narrator]
But then, they received
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the best possible news.
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[Frank]
Jim was selected to command
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00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,000
[Frank]
Jim was selected to command
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00:08:01,767 --> 00:08:06,000
the 173rd Airborne Brigade
in Italy,
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probably the most sought-after
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infantry brigade command
in the United States Army.
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[Kris]
We were very excited about it
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because we were all moving
to Europe as a family.
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[narrator]
In the summer of 2008,
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the family relocates to an
idyllic residence in Vicenza.
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We're finally all together
in Europe,
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and it just didn't feel right.
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He started getting angry,
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He started getting angry,
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00:08:31,166 --> 00:08:33,800
and I started feeling like
I was walking on eggshells
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00:08:33,867 --> 00:08:36,300
around him.
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I'll never forget one day,
too, during that time,
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00:08:38,266 --> 00:08:39,667
he just looked at me and said,
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00:08:39,667 --> 00:08:41,667
"Is this all there is?"
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Here, we've worked so hard
as a team to get to this,
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and it was hurtful.
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[narrator]
By the end of the year,
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00:08:49,467 --> 00:08:52,667
the relationship
is even more strained.
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00:08:52,667 --> 00:08:55,967
Jim was always engaged
with our family.
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00:08:55,967 --> 00:08:58,266
We would do silly things
like watch American Idol,
213
00:08:58,266 --> 00:08:59,900
and all vote together,
214
00:08:59,967 --> 00:09:00,000
and he just didn't wanna do
those things.
215
00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,000
and he just didn't wanna do
those things.
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00:09:01,867 --> 00:09:05,000
December 2008
was one of the most
217
00:09:05,066 --> 00:09:07,900
miserable Christmases
I've ever had. Yeah.
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00:09:07,967 --> 00:09:10,300
So many things
weren't making sense.
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00:09:10,367 --> 00:09:12,200
He was insistent
that we were going to do
220
00:09:12,266 --> 00:09:14,400
a New Year's Eve party.
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00:09:14,467 --> 00:09:17,700
I was worn out, and thought,
222
00:09:17,767 --> 00:09:19,467
"Let's just enjoy
the Holiday as a family.
223
00:09:19,467 --> 00:09:21,600
We know you're gonna deploy
again next year."
224
00:09:22,867 --> 00:09:25,400
He, um, said,
"Oh, by the way, you know,
225
00:09:25,467 --> 00:09:28,567
we're gonna have this
Iraqi family join us
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00:09:28,567 --> 00:09:30,000
for this New Year's Eve
weekend.
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00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,000
for this New Year's Eve
weekend.
228
00:09:32,166 --> 00:09:34,567
And they were going to stay
in the house with us."
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00:09:34,567 --> 00:09:36,567
[narrator] Jim explains
that he became acquainted
230
00:09:36,567 --> 00:09:41,100
with the Al-Atar family
during his two tours in Iraq.
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00:09:41,100 --> 00:09:42,400
[Kris] And then he said,
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00:09:42,467 --> 00:09:45,266
"There are interpreters.
You understand that, right?"
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00:09:45,266 --> 00:09:48,300
There's multiple interpreters
at every level
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00:09:48,367 --> 00:09:51,166
inside of a brigade
operation.
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They are a part of that
same close net-network
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00:09:54,867 --> 00:09:57,367
for whom you would do
almost anything.
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00:09:59,100 --> 00:10:00,000
[Kris] I found out he's gonna
drive to the Netherlands
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00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,000
[Kris] I found out he's gonna
drive to the Netherlands
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00:10:01,667 --> 00:10:05,767
and pick up this family,
six hours up, six hours back.
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00:10:05,767 --> 00:10:10,400
And he doesn't have a vehicle
big enough to fit them.
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00:10:10,467 --> 00:10:13,266
So, he is gonna take
a vehicle, a van,
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00:10:13,266 --> 00:10:15,900
out of the motor pool,
the brigade motor pool,
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00:10:15,967 --> 00:10:17,867
a government-owned vehicle.
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00:10:17,867 --> 00:10:20,567
And he's going to use it
for personal reasons.
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00:10:20,567 --> 00:10:22,700
That is a huge no-no.
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00:10:22,767 --> 00:10:24,066
You don't do that.
247
00:10:25,367 --> 00:10:27,800
He'll never be the kind of
guy that would do that.
248
00:10:27,867 --> 00:10:30,000
You know, he didn't lie,
cheat, or steal.
249
00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:30,900
You know, he didn't lie,
cheat, or steal.
250
00:10:30,967 --> 00:10:31,000
You know, my gut kept saying
something was off,
251
00:10:34,700 --> 00:10:37,000
and I couldn't
put my finger on it.
252
00:10:38,367 --> 00:10:39,867
[narrator] Jim arrives home
with his friends
253
00:10:39,867 --> 00:10:42,467
and presents Alladin Al-Atar,
254
00:10:42,467 --> 00:10:44,200
his wife,
255
00:10:44,266 --> 00:10:47,066
and their 24-year-old
daughter, Haveen.
256
00:10:48,367 --> 00:10:52,200
[Kris] I remember the father
had a heavy mustache.
257
00:10:52,266 --> 00:10:55,700
The mother was kind of
your frumpy housewife,
258
00:10:55,767 --> 00:10:59,567
and their daughter,
she had long, dark hair,
259
00:10:59,567 --> 00:11:00,000
wore very dark makeup,
260
00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:01,000
wore very dark makeup,
261
00:11:02,467 --> 00:11:05,266
and she had a young child.
262
00:11:05,266 --> 00:11:07,300
[narrator]
For the first few moments,
263
00:11:07,367 --> 00:11:09,467
it seems like this could be
a happy New Year's weekend
264
00:11:09,467 --> 00:11:11,100
after all.
265
00:11:11,100 --> 00:11:14,166
Until Jim does
something subtle,
266
00:11:14,166 --> 00:11:17,400
something only Kris,
his wife of 20 years,
267
00:11:17,467 --> 00:11:20,767
would find shocking.
268
00:11:20,767 --> 00:11:24,367
He scooped down and picked up
the 14-month-old,
269
00:11:24,367 --> 00:11:27,467
and the child didn't flinch.
270
00:11:27,467 --> 00:11:30,000
Jim wasn't somebody that held
other people's children.
271
00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:30,266
Jim wasn't somebody that held
other people's children.
272
00:11:30,266 --> 00:11:31,000
Never scooped up
a friend's child.
273
00:11:33,266 --> 00:11:35,166
It was woman's intuition.
274
00:11:35,166 --> 00:11:36,600
And right then and there,
275
00:11:36,667 --> 00:11:38,967
I realized that there's
something about this family
276
00:11:38,967 --> 00:11:40,800
that's just not right.
277
00:11:40,867 --> 00:11:43,100
There was something
going on here.
278
00:11:44,867 --> 00:11:48,300
[narrator] Kris is only about
to discover
279
00:11:48,367 --> 00:11:51,100
the reason for her
husband's distance.
280
00:11:51,166 --> 00:11:55,300
In a very, very tiny community
locked inside of Italy,
281
00:11:55,367 --> 00:11:57,767
there is a Peyton Place
of the highest order.
282
00:11:57,767 --> 00:11:58,867
There's no secrets.
283
00:12:00,166 --> 00:12:01,000
[Cathy] Jim had gone
against everything
284
00:12:02,166 --> 00:12:05,667
that the Army and West Point
had taught him.
285
00:12:05,667 --> 00:12:07,266
He's doing way worse.
286
00:12:07,266 --> 00:12:08,700
He's self-destructing.
287
00:12:08,767 --> 00:12:10,266
And little did I know
288
00:12:10,266 --> 00:12:12,066
it was just
the very beginning.
289
00:12:12,066 --> 00:12:13,567
[Frank]
He destroyed his family,
290
00:12:13,567 --> 00:12:15,000
destroyed his name.
291
00:12:15,066 --> 00:12:16,300
He lost everything.
292
00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:23,266
[narrator] Col. Jim Johnson
is acting completely
293
00:12:23,266 --> 00:12:25,967
out of character at the
family's New Year's dinner,
294
00:12:25,967 --> 00:12:28,266
especially
with his interpreter's
295
00:12:28,266 --> 00:12:31,400
24-year-old daughter, Haveen.
296
00:12:31,467 --> 00:12:33,467
{\an8}I remember not being able
to eat.
297
00:12:33,467 --> 00:12:35,066
{\an8}Everything about this is off.
298
00:12:36,667 --> 00:12:37,767
They had their own little
299
00:12:37,767 --> 00:12:40,166
private corner
down in the end of the table.
300
00:12:41,467 --> 00:12:44,000
Haveen had a digital camera
in her hands
301
00:12:44,066 --> 00:12:45,667
and Jim was messing with it,
302
00:12:45,667 --> 00:12:47,967
and it was the same camera
303
00:12:47,967 --> 00:12:49,405
I had been given
for Christmas.
304
00:12:49,405 --> 00:12:49,867
I had been given
for Christmas.
305
00:12:51,467 --> 00:12:54,367
He'd given her one, too,
exact thing.
306
00:12:55,967 --> 00:12:58,467
I really didn't know
how to process it.
307
00:12:58,467 --> 00:13:00,367
You're just ingesting it,
308
00:13:00,367 --> 00:13:03,000
and trying to take
the next breath.
309
00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:04,066
Keep your composure.
310
00:13:04,066 --> 00:13:06,400
Don't fall apart
in front of these people.
311
00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:10,400
That night, you know,
I asked him if, you know,
312
00:13:10,467 --> 00:13:12,667
he was having an affair
with her.
313
00:13:12,667 --> 00:13:14,166
And he said, "No.
314
00:13:14,166 --> 00:13:19,405
Her family would kill her
or disown her. Not...
315
00:13:19,405 --> 00:13:19,667
Her family would kill her
or disown her. Not...
316
00:13:19,667 --> 00:13:20,000
I don't feel that way
about her."
317
00:13:22,266 --> 00:13:24,900
And then I asked him,
"Well, have you kissed her?"
318
00:13:24,967 --> 00:13:28,767
And he said,
"Yes, but not passionately."
319
00:13:28,767 --> 00:13:31,567
What the hell does that mean?
320
00:13:31,567 --> 00:13:33,767
[narrator] That weekend,
Jim tells Kris
321
00:13:33,767 --> 00:13:37,367
he wants to take the Al-Atars
shopping at the Army PX.
322
00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,500
[Kris] One of my children
said, "Oh, yeah,
323
00:13:40,567 --> 00:13:42,567
we had to wait for Haveen
to make her grand entrance
324
00:13:42,567 --> 00:13:44,500
down the stairs
because she...
325
00:13:44,567 --> 00:13:47,367
We were all sitting around
just waiting for her.
326
00:13:47,367 --> 00:13:49,405
And she was upstairs
doing I don't know what.
327
00:13:49,405 --> 00:13:50,000
And she was upstairs
doing I don't know what.
328
00:13:50,567 --> 00:13:53,500
Haveen is gonna get shoes
for the baby.
329
00:13:53,567 --> 00:13:57,100
And at one point, Jim's like,
330
00:13:57,166 --> 00:13:59,100
"Oh, I'm gonna go over here.
331
00:13:59,100 --> 00:14:01,066
You take Haveen
up to the register
332
00:14:01,066 --> 00:14:03,667
and pay for what she wants."
333
00:14:03,667 --> 00:14:05,567
So, she's got these shoes.
334
00:14:05,567 --> 00:14:06,767
And on the way
to the register,
335
00:14:06,767 --> 00:14:09,100
she finds a cute
little sweater for herself.
336
00:14:10,467 --> 00:14:13,467
She picks out shampoo
and other things for herself,
337
00:14:13,467 --> 00:14:16,467
just loading up on whatever
product she's looking for.
338
00:14:16,467 --> 00:14:19,166
And I'm, like, floored.
339
00:14:20,300 --> 00:14:22,100
You know, the mother,
340
00:14:22,100 --> 00:14:24,667
she would go outside
and smoke cigarettes.
341
00:14:24,667 --> 00:14:26,600
During that whole weekend,
she would go out
342
00:14:26,667 --> 00:14:27,900
and smoke a cigarette
343
00:14:27,967 --> 00:14:29,467
and leave the butt
on the ground.
344
00:14:29,467 --> 00:14:31,467
Who does that?
345
00:14:32,500 --> 00:14:34,266
I end up cleaning
12 cigarette butts
346
00:14:34,266 --> 00:14:37,100
off by the ground
when they left.
347
00:14:37,100 --> 00:14:38,967
[narrator] When Jim makes
the overnight trip
348
00:14:38,967 --> 00:14:42,767
to take the Al-Atars back
to the Netherlands,
349
00:14:42,767 --> 00:14:45,667
Kris is left alone
to wonder how much trouble
350
00:14:45,667 --> 00:14:47,600
her relationship is in.
351
00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:49,405
But I didn't wanna believe
that he was having
352
00:14:49,405 --> 00:14:50,000
But I didn't wanna believe
that he was having
353
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,200
sex with her.
354
00:14:51,266 --> 00:14:53,000
I still didn't wanna
believe it.
355
00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,900
I went into his office.
356
00:14:54,967 --> 00:14:58,166
When I opened the top drawer
and I saw a notepad,
357
00:14:58,166 --> 00:14:59,967
he had written three columns,
358
00:14:59,967 --> 00:15:01,967
"Divorce now,
divorce in six months,
359
00:15:01,967 --> 00:15:03,600
divorce a year from now."
360
00:15:03,667 --> 00:15:05,300
And he had plotted out
which would be most
361
00:15:05,367 --> 00:15:07,200
advantageous to him.
362
00:15:07,266 --> 00:15:10,600
I just remember
when I found that note
363
00:15:10,667 --> 00:15:14,000
feeling like the blood
had drained from my face.
364
00:15:15,700 --> 00:15:18,500
You know, that weekend I
not only cooked, but I ran...
365
00:15:18,567 --> 00:15:19,405
I remember running
a little laundry for them.
366
00:15:19,405 --> 00:15:20,000
I remember running
a little laundry for them.
367
00:15:20,667 --> 00:15:22,867
[chuckles] I did.
368
00:15:22,867 --> 00:15:25,767
My husband's
mistress' laundry.
369
00:15:27,667 --> 00:15:29,600
Jim got home and I said,
370
00:15:29,667 --> 00:15:31,867
"I found a note
in your desk today."
371
00:15:31,867 --> 00:15:34,367
And I said,
"Are you divorcing me?"
372
00:15:34,367 --> 00:15:36,367
And he looked at me
shocked and he said,
373
00:15:36,367 --> 00:15:38,700
"Well, I'm sorry
you saw that."
374
00:15:38,767 --> 00:15:41,567
Not no... And then he said,
"Well, is that what you want?"
375
00:15:41,567 --> 00:15:43,667
I said,
"No, I don't want a divorce.
376
00:15:43,667 --> 00:15:45,767
I want us to work things out."
377
00:15:45,767 --> 00:15:49,405
{\an8}When you have an affair
in the military,
378
00:15:49,405 --> 00:15:49,867
{\an8}When you have an affair
in the military,
379
00:15:49,867 --> 00:15:50,000
{\an8}if it's discovered,
380
00:15:51,967 --> 00:15:55,467
{\an8}it normally doesn't turn out
well for you and your career,
381
00:15:55,467 --> 00:15:59,100
which is why
there's always denial,
382
00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:01,367
which is why you double down
on denial.
383
00:16:01,367 --> 00:16:03,900
[narrator]
Jim denies the affair,
384
00:16:03,967 --> 00:16:06,767
but Kris remains dubious.
385
00:16:07,767 --> 00:16:09,900
[Kris] I knew that the child,
386
00:16:09,967 --> 00:16:13,500
Haveen's daughter,
could not have been Jim's.
387
00:16:13,567 --> 00:16:15,367
He had a vasectomy
in June 2000.
388
00:16:15,367 --> 00:16:17,900
I think she was born in,
like, November, 2007.
389
00:16:17,967 --> 00:16:19,266
It's not his child.
390
00:16:20,166 --> 00:16:22,567
I kept looking
and I don't know
391
00:16:22,567 --> 00:16:23,800
if I was still trying to look
for something
392
00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,400
to prove myself wrong
or just prove myself right.
393
00:16:27,467 --> 00:16:29,400
Well, I finally did.
394
00:16:30,367 --> 00:16:32,266
He has a black book
and in the back
395
00:16:32,266 --> 00:16:35,100
he had all these
secret email accounts
396
00:16:35,166 --> 00:16:37,600
and that opened up,
at that point,
397
00:16:37,667 --> 00:16:39,367
three years of emails
398
00:16:39,367 --> 00:16:41,567
that he had been
communicating with Haveen.
399
00:16:41,567 --> 00:16:44,266
And some of them
were so juvenile,
400
00:16:44,266 --> 00:16:45,900
like reading them
were embarrassing.
401
00:16:45,967 --> 00:16:47,400
It was like he was a teenager,
402
00:16:47,467 --> 00:16:49,300
a horny teenager, literally.
403
00:16:50,567 --> 00:16:52,667
One of the emails
she wrote to him
404
00:16:52,667 --> 00:16:55,266
was like,
"I'm your little shayton."
405
00:16:55,266 --> 00:16:58,767
{\an8}That means devil in Arabic
406
00:16:58,767 --> 00:17:00,467
that, you know,
"I'm your little shayton.
407
00:17:00,467 --> 00:17:02,000
I'm gonna be making
trouble all your life.
408
00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:03,700
Kissy, kissy."
409
00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:06,767
As the emails progressed
between them,
410
00:17:06,767 --> 00:17:09,900
I started realizing certain
things he was saying
411
00:17:09,967 --> 00:17:13,600
with her that corresponded
with events in our life,
412
00:17:13,667 --> 00:17:15,767
like him taking money out
413
00:17:15,767 --> 00:17:17,767
of one of our
personal accounts.
414
00:17:17,767 --> 00:17:19,405
He had taken $10,000
415
00:17:19,405 --> 00:17:20,000
He had taken $10,000
416
00:17:21,066 --> 00:17:23,667
and converted it to Euro
and gave it to her.
417
00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:27,000
My legs started shaking.
418
00:17:27,066 --> 00:17:28,867
I couldn't stop it.
419
00:17:28,867 --> 00:17:31,667
And I thought, "Screw this,
I'm calling him."
420
00:17:31,667 --> 00:17:34,767
Woke him up and screamed
in the phone.
421
00:17:34,767 --> 00:17:37,266
"Are you [bleep] her?"
422
00:17:37,266 --> 00:17:39,100
[chuckles]
423
00:17:39,166 --> 00:17:42,567
He can't deny
he's having an affair.
424
00:17:42,567 --> 00:17:45,467
And, of course, he said,
"You're recording this call.
425
00:17:46,567 --> 00:17:48,567
Someone's listening in."
426
00:17:48,567 --> 00:17:49,405
He wouldn't answer
the question.
427
00:17:49,405 --> 00:17:50,000
He wouldn't answer
the question.
428
00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:55,367
It then led to me insisting
that we go to counseling
429
00:17:55,367 --> 00:17:57,900
to see the Family Life
Chaplain in Vicenza
430
00:17:57,967 --> 00:17:59,400
'cause I was not about
to give up.
431
00:17:59,467 --> 00:18:00,867
I was not gonna throw
the towel in.
432
00:18:00,867 --> 00:18:03,367
I thought I'm gonna fight
for my marriage.
433
00:18:03,367 --> 00:18:05,567
Unfortunately, there's a fair
amount of adultery
434
00:18:05,567 --> 00:18:06,800
in the army.
435
00:18:06,867 --> 00:18:12,066
Chaplains are there
to help preserve marriages.
436
00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,767
The chaplain gave us
this book
437
00:18:15,767 --> 00:18:17,667
and the book
was about adultery.
438
00:18:17,667 --> 00:18:19,300
I don't even remember
the name of the book.
439
00:18:19,367 --> 00:18:19,405
I hated it. I just...
It just made me so angry.
440
00:18:19,405 --> 00:18:20,000
I hated it. I just...
It just made me so angry.
441
00:18:23,166 --> 00:18:26,200
One page said,
"The person having an affair,
442
00:18:26,266 --> 00:18:27,700
it's not your fault."
443
00:18:27,767 --> 00:18:29,567
And he just grasped
onto that like,
444
00:18:29,567 --> 00:18:31,200
"Look, it's not all my fault.
445
00:18:31,266 --> 00:18:33,667
It's your fault, too,
that I'm doing this."
446
00:18:33,667 --> 00:18:36,367
You know, it allowed Jim
to give himself permission
447
00:18:36,367 --> 00:18:39,567
to continue to blame me
for his actions,
448
00:18:39,567 --> 00:18:41,066
which is insane.
449
00:18:41,066 --> 00:18:44,867
If you're a psychologist,
this is standard transference.
450
00:18:44,867 --> 00:18:47,367
It's transference of blame
451
00:18:47,367 --> 00:18:49,405
to somebody else so that you
can feel good about yourself
452
00:18:49,405 --> 00:18:50,000
to somebody else so that you
can feel good about yourself
453
00:18:50,567 --> 00:18:54,300
and you build this case, you
actually begin to believe it.
454
00:18:54,367 --> 00:18:55,767
[Kris] Of course now
I look back
455
00:18:55,767 --> 00:18:57,567
and he lied even
to this chaplain
456
00:18:57,567 --> 00:19:00,700
during our counseling.
457
00:19:00,767 --> 00:19:02,900
Not only did he not stop
the affair,
458
00:19:02,967 --> 00:19:07,000
he continued it and got
even more deeply involved.
459
00:19:08,467 --> 00:19:11,467
A credit card receipt
from his work credit card
460
00:19:11,467 --> 00:19:13,667
came to the...
Our mail and I opened it up
461
00:19:13,667 --> 00:19:16,266
and there was charges on
there that didn't make sense.
462
00:19:16,266 --> 00:19:18,166
He was using his government
credit card
463
00:19:18,166 --> 00:19:19,405
for her void account
so they could communicate.
464
00:19:19,405 --> 00:19:20,000
for her void account
so they could communicate.
465
00:19:21,266 --> 00:19:23,600
He did not stop at all.
466
00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,400
So then I'm starting to walk
around with this big deep,
467
00:19:27,467 --> 00:19:29,700
dark secret
'cause if it got...
468
00:19:29,767 --> 00:19:31,266
Word got out
that he was having an affair,
469
00:19:31,266 --> 00:19:32,900
his career is over.
470
00:19:32,967 --> 00:19:35,467
You know, the army
doesn't tolerate adultery.
471
00:19:35,467 --> 00:19:37,867
And so I had this burden now,
472
00:19:37,867 --> 00:19:40,767
I'm like
now what do I do with this?
473
00:19:40,767 --> 00:19:45,467
You know, I had invested
everything in him.
474
00:19:45,467 --> 00:19:47,767
You know, our family
was invested,
475
00:19:47,767 --> 00:19:49,405
our children
had sacrificed for him
476
00:19:49,405 --> 00:19:50,000
our children
had sacrificed for him
477
00:19:50,567 --> 00:19:53,200
to do what his country
called him to do.
478
00:19:53,266 --> 00:19:54,867
I believed in it.
479
00:19:54,867 --> 00:19:57,266
Our children believed in it.
480
00:19:57,266 --> 00:20:01,100
Kris has a very strong
sense of right and wrong,
481
00:20:01,100 --> 00:20:03,100
very strong morals.
482
00:20:04,867 --> 00:20:06,200
[Kris] Jim was about
to go down to combat
483
00:20:06,266 --> 00:20:07,967
with these guys again,
and I thought
484
00:20:07,967 --> 00:20:11,467
the disruption of having
your commander taken out.
485
00:20:11,467 --> 00:20:13,600
I did not wanna cause
a disruption in the brigade.
486
00:20:13,667 --> 00:20:16,667
You know, I knew I had to dig
up whatever strength I had to,
487
00:20:16,667 --> 00:20:19,400
like, handle this
with as much grace as I could
488
00:20:19,467 --> 00:20:20,000
and to protect Jim,
489
00:20:21,467 --> 00:20:23,767
protect him from himself
at this point.
490
00:20:23,767 --> 00:20:25,567
[narrator]
Despite the betrayal,
491
00:20:25,567 --> 00:20:28,467
Kris continues
to put Jim's needs first,
492
00:20:28,467 --> 00:20:30,867
and so does Jim.
493
00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,300
[Kris]
Jim called early November,
494
00:20:35,367 --> 00:20:38,000
you know, "How soon
can you be ready for a trip?"
495
00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,000
I was like, "Well,
where am I going?"
496
00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,867
And he said, "I've gotten
a plane ticket for you
497
00:20:44,867 --> 00:20:47,700
and you're going
to leave Italy.
498
00:20:47,767 --> 00:20:49,405
The only way I can fix
our marriage
499
00:20:49,405 --> 00:20:50,000
The only way I can fix
our marriage
500
00:20:50,166 --> 00:20:53,066
is for you not to be there
when I come home.
501
00:20:53,066 --> 00:20:55,467
I want you gone."
502
00:20:57,500 --> 00:21:00,667
I didn't know at that point
what he was capable of.
503
00:21:00,667 --> 00:21:03,600
[Frank] He knows how to plan.
He knows how to execute.
504
00:21:03,667 --> 00:21:05,667
He knows how to do war gaming
action reaction,
505
00:21:05,667 --> 00:21:06,667
counter reaction.
506
00:21:06,667 --> 00:21:10,166
Revenge becomes very,
very powerful.
507
00:21:15,100 --> 00:21:16,467
{\an8}Know that I'm Col.
Jim Johnson,
508
00:21:16,467 --> 00:21:18,567
{\an8}Commander of the 173rd
Airborne Brigade Combat Team
509
00:21:18,567 --> 00:21:19,567
stationed in...
510
00:21:19,567 --> 00:21:20,667
{\an8}[narrator]
Kris Johnson's husband
511
00:21:20,667 --> 00:21:23,467
{\an8}is wielding his powers
as an army colonel
512
00:21:23,467 --> 00:21:26,467
{\an8}to force her from their home
in Vicenza, Italy.
513
00:21:26,467 --> 00:21:28,000
in a normal
press conference format.
514
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,266
[Kris] He's kicking me out.
515
00:21:30,266 --> 00:21:32,100
Jim had also said
on the phone call,
516
00:21:32,166 --> 00:21:34,000
"I'm revoking
your command sponsorship,"
517
00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:35,500
which means I'm not allowed
to stay in Europe
518
00:21:35,567 --> 00:21:37,000
as a family member.
519
00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:39,767
{\an8}I'm gone. I can't stay.
520
00:21:39,767 --> 00:21:43,100
{\an8}It is very unique to see
the brigade commander's wife
521
00:21:43,166 --> 00:21:43,855
return unless they choose
to go home.
522
00:21:43,855 --> 00:21:44,000
return unless they choose
to go home.
523
00:21:46,767 --> 00:21:49,000
Very, very odd.
524
00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,166
I remember shaking.
525
00:21:51,166 --> 00:21:52,500
There was something
in the tone of Jim's voice
526
00:21:52,567 --> 00:21:53,700
that scared me.
527
00:21:56,700 --> 00:21:59,667
[narrator] Jim is not only
pushing Kris out,
528
00:21:59,667 --> 00:22:03,166
he's demanding she leave
their children behind.
529
00:22:04,367 --> 00:22:08,367
I didn't know at that point
what he was capable of.
530
00:22:08,367 --> 00:22:11,867
He's the only army brigade
commander in all of Italy.
531
00:22:11,867 --> 00:22:13,467
No one questions you.
532
00:22:13,467 --> 00:22:13,855
{\an8}There was no way Kris
would leave her children
533
00:22:13,855 --> 00:22:14,000
{\an8}There was no way Kris
would leave her children
534
00:22:15,867 --> 00:22:17,867
{\an8}in a foreign country
and come back to the states
535
00:22:17,867 --> 00:22:19,100
without them.
536
00:22:19,100 --> 00:22:21,066
{\an8}No way.
537
00:22:21,066 --> 00:22:22,867
[Kris] I decided for my safety
and my children's safety
538
00:22:22,867 --> 00:22:24,300
we were just gonna leave.
539
00:22:24,367 --> 00:22:27,166
So, I ran over to the school
and withdrew the children
540
00:22:27,166 --> 00:22:31,467
and then I got one-way
plane tickets to leave Italy.
541
00:22:32,900 --> 00:22:34,500
I fled.
542
00:22:34,567 --> 00:22:37,100
I felt like I fled Italy.
543
00:22:40,266 --> 00:22:43,066
And I remember landing
in JFK,
544
00:22:43,066 --> 00:22:43,855
meeting my parents,
getting in the car,
545
00:22:43,855 --> 00:22:44,000
meeting my parents,
getting in the car,
546
00:22:46,467 --> 00:22:48,400
and I just remember looking
out the window thinking,
547
00:22:48,467 --> 00:22:49,400
now what?
548
00:22:49,467 --> 00:22:51,266
Now what do I do?
549
00:22:51,266 --> 00:22:52,967
I don't have a job.
550
00:22:52,967 --> 00:22:55,066
I had no money.
I have nothing.
551
00:22:55,066 --> 00:22:56,900
Now what?
552
00:22:56,967 --> 00:22:59,667
[narrator] Five days later,
Jim tracks Kris down
553
00:22:59,667 --> 00:23:02,800
at her parents' home.
554
00:23:02,867 --> 00:23:05,567
[Kris] Kept trying to call.
He was calling my parents,
555
00:23:05,567 --> 00:23:07,367
calling my parents.
And finally I just decided,
556
00:23:07,367 --> 00:23:09,200
okay, I'll answer the phone
and tell him
557
00:23:09,266 --> 00:23:11,400
stop harassing my mom and dad.
558
00:23:11,467 --> 00:23:13,767
I'm here.
Our children are safe.
559
00:23:15,100 --> 00:23:16,900
My children
were very angry with him
560
00:23:16,967 --> 00:23:18,700
'cause they knew
about the affair.
561
00:23:18,767 --> 00:23:20,767
They met her. I mean,
they spent a weekend
562
00:23:20,767 --> 00:23:23,367
with this woman
that they knew
563
00:23:23,367 --> 00:23:25,266
their father
was involved with.
564
00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:28,300
[narrator]
Over the next two months,
565
00:23:28,367 --> 00:23:30,700
the battle over custody
intensifies.
566
00:23:30,767 --> 00:23:34,000
[Kris] He had tried
two emergency injunctions
567
00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,200
out of a court in Florida
to get emergency custody.
568
00:23:37,266 --> 00:23:38,900
And there was...
Were both denied.
569
00:23:38,967 --> 00:23:40,767
There was no cause for it.
570
00:23:42,166 --> 00:23:43,855
[narrator] In response,
Jim initiates an obscure
571
00:23:43,855 --> 00:23:44,000
[narrator] In response,
Jim initiates an obscure
572
00:23:44,967 --> 00:23:48,967
legal maneuver
called the Hague petition.
573
00:23:48,967 --> 00:23:51,500
[Cathy] My understanding
of the Hague petition,
574
00:23:51,567 --> 00:23:55,300
he was claiming Kris
had kidnapped the child
575
00:23:55,367 --> 00:23:57,467
and taken the child back
to the United States
576
00:23:57,467 --> 00:24:01,867
against Jim's wishes,
orders, permission.
577
00:24:01,867 --> 00:24:04,000
Jim is desperate for custody.
578
00:24:04,066 --> 00:24:06,867
[Frank] He knows how to plan.
He knows how to execute.
579
00:24:06,867 --> 00:24:08,967
He knows how to do
war gaming action,
580
00:24:08,967 --> 00:24:11,166
reaction, counter reaction.
581
00:24:11,166 --> 00:24:13,855
Revenge becomes very,
very powerful.
582
00:24:13,855 --> 00:24:14,000
Revenge becomes very,
very powerful.
583
00:24:14,266 --> 00:24:15,967
[phone ringing]
584
00:24:15,967 --> 00:24:18,367
[narrator] Kris is further
stunned when she gets news
585
00:24:18,367 --> 00:24:20,100
from Vicenza.
586
00:24:21,066 --> 00:24:22,567
[Kris] By the end of December,
587
00:24:22,567 --> 00:24:25,667
I got a phone call
from my neighbor
588
00:24:25,667 --> 00:24:27,667
and she said, "Kris,
there's been a woman,
589
00:24:27,667 --> 00:24:30,000
a young woman with a child
seen coming and going
590
00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:32,000
from your quarters
in Vicenza."
591
00:24:32,066 --> 00:24:36,166
He had moved his mistress
into our house with her kid.
592
00:24:36,166 --> 00:24:39,300
Relationships
with foreign nationals
593
00:24:39,367 --> 00:24:41,600
are always scrutinized.
594
00:24:41,667 --> 00:24:43,855
You're not allowed to have
a foreign relationship
595
00:24:43,855 --> 00:24:43,867
You're not allowed to have
a foreign relationship
596
00:24:43,867 --> 00:24:44,000
without reporting that up
597
00:24:45,467 --> 00:24:46,967
through your security
clearance.
598
00:24:46,967 --> 00:24:48,967
It is a security issue.
599
00:24:48,967 --> 00:24:51,567
[Kris] He just let her roll
right in
600
00:24:51,567 --> 00:24:54,367
and sleep on my pillow
and knead off my dishes.
601
00:24:54,367 --> 00:24:55,900
She was just gonna roll in
602
00:24:55,967 --> 00:24:58,266
and take the place
of Kris Johnson.
603
00:24:58,266 --> 00:24:59,667
And it was at that point
604
00:24:59,667 --> 00:25:01,867
I realized
no one's gonna stop him.
605
00:25:01,867 --> 00:25:05,567
He's blatant about the fact
that he's having an affair.
606
00:25:06,767 --> 00:25:10,567
[Cathy] Jim had gone
against everything
607
00:25:10,567 --> 00:25:13,855
that the Army and West Point
had taught him
608
00:25:13,855 --> 00:25:14,000
that the Army and West Point
had taught him
609
00:25:14,867 --> 00:25:16,867
beyond the point of no return.
610
00:25:16,867 --> 00:25:19,867
That's when I realized,
okay, you know,
611
00:25:19,867 --> 00:25:22,567
I need to...
I need to do something.
612
00:25:22,567 --> 00:25:24,200
And I thought, that's it.
613
00:25:24,266 --> 00:25:27,600
I, you know, I've gotta let
the commanding general know.
614
00:25:27,667 --> 00:25:31,600
It was a moral decision
for me to just sit back
615
00:25:31,667 --> 00:25:33,467
and not say anything.
616
00:25:33,467 --> 00:25:35,967
How do you look yourself
in the mirror?
617
00:25:35,967 --> 00:25:38,700
I sat at my parents'
computer.
618
00:25:38,767 --> 00:25:40,667
I typed in, like, five pages
619
00:25:40,667 --> 00:25:42,967
and I disclosed the,
you know,
620
00:25:42,967 --> 00:25:43,855
email accounts that Jim had,
621
00:25:43,855 --> 00:25:44,000
email accounts that Jim had,
622
00:25:45,066 --> 00:25:46,600
the email accounts
that Haveen had
623
00:25:46,667 --> 00:25:48,600
that I knew she used
to communicate with him,
624
00:25:48,667 --> 00:25:50,967
the dates that I knew
he had been with her,
625
00:25:50,967 --> 00:25:54,000
the misuse of government
resources, the cell phone,
626
00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:55,100
the government credit card,
627
00:25:55,166 --> 00:25:57,100
like all the things
I knew about.
628
00:25:57,166 --> 00:25:59,166
[narrator]
After receiving Kris' letter,
629
00:25:59,166 --> 00:26:00,767
the army immediately starts
630
00:26:00,767 --> 00:26:03,266
an administrative
investigation
631
00:26:03,266 --> 00:26:06,000
known as a 15-6.
632
00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:07,667
[Kris] By February,
633
00:26:07,667 --> 00:26:11,600
the 15-6 then rolled into
a criminal investigation.
634
00:26:11,667 --> 00:26:13,767
[narrator]
Meanwhile, the battle over
635
00:26:13,767 --> 00:26:13,855
the Hague petition escalates.
636
00:26:13,855 --> 00:26:14,000
the Hague petition escalates.
637
00:26:16,867 --> 00:26:19,600
Jim's contention was that
I was kicked off post
638
00:26:19,667 --> 00:26:21,467
'cause I was a disruption.
639
00:26:21,467 --> 00:26:24,467
He and his father
both wrote affidavits
640
00:26:24,467 --> 00:26:26,767
saying that I was this
disruption on the army post
641
00:26:26,767 --> 00:26:28,767
and that's why
I was kicked off post
642
00:26:28,767 --> 00:26:31,667
and that I was ordered
to leave our children behind.
643
00:26:31,667 --> 00:26:33,400
But he was just trying
to find anything
644
00:26:33,467 --> 00:26:34,867
to make my life hell.
645
00:26:34,867 --> 00:26:37,000
Jim called once and said,
"I'm gonna send US Marshals
646
00:26:37,066 --> 00:26:39,800
to the house and, you know,
you're gonna get arrested,"
647
00:26:39,867 --> 00:26:41,800
and that lasted
for about two months.
648
00:26:41,867 --> 00:26:43,567
I mean, it was...
it was scary
649
00:26:43,567 --> 00:26:43,855
'cause I didn't...
Who deals with Hague?
650
00:26:43,855 --> 00:26:44,000
'cause I didn't...
Who deals with Hague?
651
00:26:46,367 --> 00:26:49,967
Then being, you know,
accused of kidnapping
652
00:26:49,967 --> 00:26:53,567
our children and across
international borders
653
00:26:53,567 --> 00:26:57,166
and, you know,
it was two months of hell.
654
00:27:00,166 --> 00:27:02,000
It was amazing feeling
655
00:27:02,066 --> 00:27:05,166
when the judge
ruled in my favor.
656
00:27:05,166 --> 00:27:06,667
My attorneys cried.
657
00:27:06,667 --> 00:27:07,867
I cried.
658
00:27:07,867 --> 00:27:09,100
I mean, they were so relieved.
659
00:27:13,367 --> 00:27:13,855
Stress will do terrible
things to your body.
660
00:27:13,855 --> 00:27:14,000
Stress will do terrible
things to your body.
661
00:27:19,867 --> 00:27:21,400
I started getting sick,
662
00:27:21,467 --> 00:27:23,300
like a pain, abdominal pain.
663
00:27:23,367 --> 00:27:27,166
And found out ultimately
that I had a premalignant
664
00:27:27,166 --> 00:27:28,567
tumor the size
of a grapefruit
665
00:27:28,567 --> 00:27:30,367
on the tail of my pancreas.
666
00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:35,667
I had surgery
December of 2011
667
00:27:35,667 --> 00:27:37,100
and it was a much more
complicated surgery
668
00:27:37,100 --> 00:27:38,700
than they had anticipated,
669
00:27:38,767 --> 00:27:40,400
and I ended up
in the hospital for a week.
670
00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:43,855
I got a phone call
from the hospital
671
00:27:43,855 --> 00:27:43,900
I got a phone call
from the hospital
672
00:27:43,967 --> 00:27:44,000
the day after I came home
and they said,
673
00:27:46,066 --> 00:27:48,166
"Well, we've just tried
putting your claim in
674
00:27:48,166 --> 00:27:51,100
to the military
health insurance
675
00:27:51,166 --> 00:27:53,266
and they've denied it.
You're not covered.
676
00:27:53,266 --> 00:27:56,266
You owe us a $100,000."
677
00:27:58,667 --> 00:28:00,467
[Cathy] It was devastating.
678
00:28:00,467 --> 00:28:02,166
It's not like
she had a lot of money.
679
00:28:02,166 --> 00:28:04,300
[narrator]
As a military spouse,
680
00:28:04,367 --> 00:28:07,300
Kris should be fully covered.
681
00:28:08,567 --> 00:28:11,100
I couldn't drive.
I was still on meds.
682
00:28:11,166 --> 00:28:13,855
I was still, you know,
stitches and, you know,
683
00:28:13,855 --> 00:28:13,967
I was still, you know,
stitches and, you know,
684
00:28:13,967 --> 00:28:14,000
still kind of a mess.
685
00:28:15,266 --> 00:28:18,166
And so my sister drove me
to the ID card office of...
686
00:28:18,166 --> 00:28:19,667
On West Point.
687
00:28:19,667 --> 00:28:22,100
And I, you know,
sat down with a woman
688
00:28:22,166 --> 00:28:23,367
and handed my ID card,
689
00:28:23,367 --> 00:28:26,467
and she pulled up the
information in the computer
690
00:28:26,467 --> 00:28:28,066
and said "Oh, well,
you're divorced."
691
00:28:28,066 --> 00:28:29,667
I said, "No, I'm not."
She goes, "Yeah,
692
00:28:29,667 --> 00:28:31,867
on September 23rd
you got divorced."
693
00:28:35,100 --> 00:28:38,000
So, they go ahead
and shred my ID card.
694
00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:39,700
And I just lose it.
I just start crying.
695
00:28:39,767 --> 00:28:41,567
"I'm not divorced."
696
00:28:41,567 --> 00:28:43,855
But they knew immediately
something fishy was up.
697
00:28:43,855 --> 00:28:44,000
But they knew immediately
something fishy was up.
698
00:28:45,767 --> 00:28:47,800
[narrator]
West Point's ID card office
699
00:28:47,867 --> 00:28:51,467
notifies the Army's Criminal
Investigation Division.
700
00:28:54,300 --> 00:28:57,500
[Paul] They've had alerted
army CID because of all that,
701
00:28:57,567 --> 00:28:59,567
that's when the army decided
to do a, uh,
702
00:28:59,567 --> 00:29:02,100
{\an8}preliminary look
to investigate.
703
00:29:02,166 --> 00:29:04,166
[telephone ringing]
704
00:29:04,166 --> 00:29:06,967
[Kris] I get a phone call
from Paul Danley.
705
00:29:06,967 --> 00:29:08,300
And he's... Introduces himself
706
00:29:08,367 --> 00:29:11,800
as the lead CID agent
investigating my husband.
707
00:29:11,867 --> 00:29:13,855
And he says,
"Here's what we found out.
708
00:29:13,855 --> 00:29:14,000
And he says,
"Here's what we found out.
709
00:29:16,467 --> 00:29:19,266
Jim filed divorce
registration.
710
00:29:19,266 --> 00:29:21,567
I'm gonna scan a copy to you.
711
00:29:21,567 --> 00:29:23,600
And I want you to look at it,
your signatures on it.
712
00:29:23,667 --> 00:29:25,967
Can you tell me if you've
ever seen it before?"
713
00:29:25,967 --> 00:29:28,266
[Paul] That's when everything
started to blow up actually.
714
00:29:28,266 --> 00:29:31,100
And it appeared that
the divorce decree,
715
00:29:31,166 --> 00:29:33,200
or whatever it was called, uh,
716
00:29:33,266 --> 00:29:35,266
looked like it was just
a copy of a marriage license
717
00:29:35,266 --> 00:29:37,367
from when he and Kris
got married in New York
718
00:29:37,367 --> 00:29:39,066
with some things changed.
719
00:29:39,066 --> 00:29:41,000
Basically, he created his own
720
00:29:41,066 --> 00:29:43,467
certificate of divorce
registration.
721
00:29:43,467 --> 00:29:43,855
But he forged my signature,
722
00:29:43,855 --> 00:29:44,000
But he forged my signature,
723
00:29:45,166 --> 00:29:47,000
made up a signature
of a clerk in Monroe
724
00:29:47,066 --> 00:29:49,867
and signed that,
signed his name.
725
00:29:49,867 --> 00:29:51,767
He filed that
with the military.
726
00:29:51,767 --> 00:29:53,300
Again, that's a crime.
727
00:29:53,367 --> 00:29:57,567
He said, "Oh, and by the way,
Jim and Haveen got married.
728
00:29:58,700 --> 00:30:01,467
On November 9th,
they got married.
729
00:30:01,467 --> 00:30:03,467
[Paul] I couldn't believe that
Col. Johnson
730
00:30:03,467 --> 00:30:05,500
would do this.
731
00:30:05,567 --> 00:30:07,467
You know,
fake a divorce decree
732
00:30:07,467 --> 00:30:11,800
and then marry Haveen while
still married to Kris Johnson.
733
00:30:11,867 --> 00:30:13,855
My husband
had committed bigamy.
734
00:30:13,855 --> 00:30:14,000
My husband
had committed bigamy.
735
00:30:15,266 --> 00:30:16,400
Bigamy.
736
00:30:19,867 --> 00:30:23,000
Every time I turned around,
I thought, "Now, what?"
737
00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:24,967
[Paul] And then all of
a sudden, we're getting calls
738
00:30:24,967 --> 00:30:27,600
from Vicenza saying,
"Hey, you need to come here."
739
00:30:27,667 --> 00:30:29,867
They found a lot more
information than
740
00:30:29,867 --> 00:30:31,667
what was in Kris Johnson's
letter.
741
00:30:37,166 --> 00:30:38,500
[narrator] Col. Jim Johnson,
742
00:30:38,567 --> 00:30:41,367
who was once committed
to duty, honor, and country,
743
00:30:41,367 --> 00:30:44,900
has broken his oath
in a startling way.
744
00:30:47,100 --> 00:30:50,200
[Kris]
I mean he committed bigamy.
745
00:30:50,266 --> 00:30:52,000
{\an8}I remember just saying,
746
00:30:52,066 --> 00:30:53,567
{\an8}"I can't make this
[bleep] up."
747
00:30:53,567 --> 00:30:55,066
[laughs] I just...
748
00:30:55,066 --> 00:30:59,600
One of my children sent
their dad an email later.
749
00:30:59,667 --> 00:31:02,100
And all it said was,
750
00:31:02,100 --> 00:31:03,266
"How was the wedding?
751
00:31:03,266 --> 00:31:05,100
Was there cake?"
752
00:31:06,900 --> 00:31:07,000
[narrator] It turns out that
Jim has been on the radar
753
00:31:09,467 --> 00:31:13,900
of CID Investigator
Paul Danley for some time.
754
00:31:13,967 --> 00:31:15,033
[Paul] The whole thing started
with a contract
755
00:31:15,066 --> 00:31:17,266
fraud investigation
over in Afghanistan.
756
00:31:17,266 --> 00:31:20,066
{\an8}The contracting office
had alerted army CID
757
00:31:20,066 --> 00:31:21,767
{\an8}because there was a Colonel,
758
00:31:21,767 --> 00:31:25,700
Col. Johnson,
that was raising a ruckus
759
00:31:25,767 --> 00:31:28,400
because his contractor
wasn't getting paid.
760
00:31:28,467 --> 00:31:31,500
They were fairly
low-level contracts.
761
00:31:31,567 --> 00:31:34,000
This is for cultural
support services.
762
00:31:34,066 --> 00:31:36,125
They can't understand
why Col. Johnson
763
00:31:36,125 --> 00:31:36,266
They can't understand
why Col. Johnson
764
00:31:36,266 --> 00:31:37,000
was berating that we're not
paying this contract
765
00:31:38,266 --> 00:31:40,700
when they had other, you know,
bigger issues going on,
766
00:31:40,767 --> 00:31:42,867
water, feeding the troops,
et cetera.
767
00:31:42,867 --> 00:31:45,166
And they said it was so bad
that, you know,
768
00:31:45,166 --> 00:31:47,100
it raised red flags.
769
00:31:47,166 --> 00:31:48,900
We thought the investigation
was done.
770
00:31:48,967 --> 00:31:51,967
And out of the blue,
Kris contacted me.
771
00:31:51,967 --> 00:31:55,266
[narrator] Kris provides the
missing piece of the puzzle.
772
00:31:55,266 --> 00:31:57,600
The fact that the contractor
in question
773
00:31:57,667 --> 00:32:02,600
is Jim's mistress' dad,
Alladin Al-Atar.
774
00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:06,125
Now why are you dating
the contractor's daughter
775
00:32:06,125 --> 00:32:07,000
Now why are you dating
the contractor's daughter
776
00:32:07,166 --> 00:32:09,400
when you're paying
her father?
777
00:32:09,467 --> 00:32:11,367
That's a big red flag.
778
00:32:12,567 --> 00:32:14,800
So you got an Iraqi man
advising on culture
779
00:32:14,867 --> 00:32:16,600
in Afghanistan.
780
00:32:16,667 --> 00:32:18,867
Apples, oranges, you know,
just didn't make sense.
781
00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:23,467
[Paul] Alladin Al-Atar was
actually living in The Hague
782
00:32:23,467 --> 00:32:25,100
in the Netherlands.
783
00:32:25,166 --> 00:32:27,000
Nothing about Afghanistan.
784
00:32:27,066 --> 00:32:29,266
So, it raised
just a lot of questions
785
00:32:29,266 --> 00:32:32,667
about why this contract
was even signed.
786
00:32:32,667 --> 00:32:35,166
[narrator]
Paul asks Kris to provide
787
00:32:35,166 --> 00:32:36,125
anything else she can.
788
00:32:36,125 --> 00:32:36,667
anything else she can.
789
00:32:36,667 --> 00:32:37,000
Emails, credit cards
statements, travel records.
790
00:32:41,166 --> 00:32:43,166
[Kris] They start putting
the pieces together.
791
00:32:43,166 --> 00:32:44,900
So, then when I said,
792
00:32:44,967 --> 00:32:47,700
"By the way, he was also
exchanging bank account
793
00:32:47,767 --> 00:32:49,667
information with Alladin."
794
00:32:49,667 --> 00:32:51,567
They realized that there was
way more to it.
795
00:32:51,567 --> 00:32:55,700
He was having, uh,
inappropriate relationship
796
00:32:55,767 --> 00:32:57,300
among other things, fraud,
797
00:32:57,367 --> 00:32:58,367
misuse of government
resources,
798
00:32:58,367 --> 00:32:59,567
the whole nine yards.
799
00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:02,266
[Paul] Then we discovered
that, uh, Col. Johnson
800
00:33:02,266 --> 00:33:04,567
had given a phone
to the Al-Atars,
801
00:33:04,567 --> 00:33:06,100
a government phone
I should say.
802
00:33:07,367 --> 00:33:08,900
And when the bills came back,
803
00:33:08,967 --> 00:33:12,200
I think it was over $30,000
for a month,
804
00:33:12,266 --> 00:33:15,066
just for one month of,
uh, cell phone usage.
805
00:33:15,066 --> 00:33:17,100
[narrator] But there's more.
806
00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:20,200
Investigators going through
Jim's computer hard drive
807
00:33:20,266 --> 00:33:22,400
uncover questionable
financial deals
808
00:33:22,467 --> 00:33:24,567
worth millions.
809
00:33:26,266 --> 00:33:29,467
They had found, um,
that Col. Johnson
810
00:33:29,467 --> 00:33:32,467
had tried to have a nine...
811
00:33:32,467 --> 00:33:36,125
Almost $10,000,000 contract
let for, uh, windmills.
812
00:33:36,125 --> 00:33:36,367
Almost $10,000,000 contract
let for, uh, windmills.
813
00:33:36,367 --> 00:33:37,000
The whole contract
was spun up as being
814
00:33:39,066 --> 00:33:41,867
a way to get water to troops
in remote posts,
815
00:33:41,867 --> 00:33:44,000
that they billed
the producer on water.
816
00:33:44,066 --> 00:33:47,400
So, I talked to the company
rep for this windmill company.
817
00:33:47,467 --> 00:33:49,467
He explained that
they wouldn't work
818
00:33:49,467 --> 00:33:51,800
in Afghanistan.
819
00:33:51,867 --> 00:33:54,100
Someone was trying to push
through a contract,
820
00:33:54,166 --> 00:33:56,100
you know, almost $10,000,000
821
00:33:56,166 --> 00:33:57,800
for these windmills
that wouldn't work.
822
00:33:57,867 --> 00:33:59,667
You know,
why are we doing this?
823
00:33:59,667 --> 00:34:02,100
[narrator] The money trail
leads back to Jim
824
00:34:02,166 --> 00:34:05,467
and to Haveen's father.
825
00:34:05,467 --> 00:34:06,125
Alladin Al-Atar had
supposedly found these...
826
00:34:06,125 --> 00:34:07,000
Alladin Al-Atar had
supposedly found these...
827
00:34:09,467 --> 00:34:11,467
Or was working for this,
uh, Dutch company
828
00:34:11,467 --> 00:34:13,200
that develop the windmills.
829
00:34:13,266 --> 00:34:15,900
If this contract had been
let... Had been signed,
830
00:34:15,967 --> 00:34:18,467
Alladin would have got
approximately $500,000
831
00:34:18,467 --> 00:34:19,900
as a finder's fee.
832
00:34:19,967 --> 00:34:22,300
So, that's a big flag,
you get the same contractor,
833
00:34:22,367 --> 00:34:24,467
you're dating his daughter.
834
00:34:24,467 --> 00:34:26,467
And, you know,
all of a sudden,
835
00:34:26,467 --> 00:34:28,800
he's gonna get
a half a million dollars.
836
00:34:28,867 --> 00:34:30,767
[narrator] Kris' information
makes it possible
837
00:34:30,767 --> 00:34:32,867
for the army to build
a solid case
838
00:34:32,867 --> 00:34:35,400
on Jim's financial misdeeds.
839
00:34:35,467 --> 00:34:36,125
They also find latent proof
of Jim's adultery.
840
00:34:36,125 --> 00:34:37,000
They also find latent proof
of Jim's adultery.
841
00:34:40,266 --> 00:34:42,700
[Kris] Jim and Haveen
made a sex tape
842
00:34:42,767 --> 00:34:44,767
and he kept it
on his government computer.
843
00:34:44,767 --> 00:34:48,000
They found it on
his hard drive.
844
00:34:48,066 --> 00:34:49,867
[narrator]
The greatest disgrace
845
00:34:49,867 --> 00:34:53,967
is where and when the tryst
was recorded.
846
00:34:53,967 --> 00:34:56,500
He was in Iraq and not in
Afghanistan with his brigade.
847
00:34:56,567 --> 00:34:58,100
His brigade
just went off to war.
848
00:34:58,166 --> 00:34:59,767
He's supposed to be leading
his soldiers
849
00:34:59,767 --> 00:35:03,000
and instead he's screwing
around with his mistress.
850
00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:06,125
[chuckles]
851
00:35:06,125 --> 00:35:06,667
[chuckles]
852
00:35:06,667 --> 00:35:07,000
He's not a leader.
853
00:35:12,100 --> 00:35:13,800
[narrator] Army investigators
have learned
854
00:35:13,867 --> 00:35:16,767
all they need to know
about Jim Johnson.
855
00:35:16,767 --> 00:35:19,266
They're ready to prosecute.
856
00:35:19,266 --> 00:35:23,000
Jim is arraigned on a total
of 27 charges
857
00:35:23,066 --> 00:35:27,667
with a maximum possible
sentence of 54 years.
858
00:35:27,667 --> 00:35:31,166
The charges range
from adultery, bigamy, fraud,
859
00:35:31,166 --> 00:35:33,000
misuse of government
resources,
860
00:35:33,066 --> 00:35:36,100
and, uh, conduct unbecoming
of an officer.
861
00:35:36,166 --> 00:35:37,000
[narrator] The army
flies Kris to Germany
862
00:35:38,266 --> 00:35:41,467
to attend a trial her email
helped trigger
863
00:35:41,467 --> 00:35:45,500
and which could cost Jim
and her everything.
864
00:35:45,567 --> 00:35:49,567
[suspenseful music playing]
865
00:35:49,567 --> 00:35:52,767
[Kris] When you're married
as long as I was to Jim,
866
00:35:52,767 --> 00:35:55,266
pawn a divorce,
you are eligible
867
00:35:55,266 --> 00:35:59,000
for up to half of the service
member's military retirement.
868
00:36:00,100 --> 00:36:02,467
But if Jim's colonel behavior
869
00:36:02,467 --> 00:36:06,125
led to him being dismissed
or incarcerated,
870
00:36:06,125 --> 00:36:06,667
led to him being dismissed
or incarcerated,
871
00:36:06,667 --> 00:36:07,000
those benefits would have
been taken from him
872
00:36:09,567 --> 00:36:12,667
and so then half of nothing
would be nothing for me.
873
00:36:12,667 --> 00:36:14,667
{\an8}Jim's not gonna be the only
one that's gonna be punished.
874
00:36:14,667 --> 00:36:17,266
{\an8}Kris and the children
are gonna be punished as well.
875
00:36:17,266 --> 00:36:19,600
Made my stomach churn.
876
00:36:19,667 --> 00:36:22,467
[narrator] Jim Johnson
has not been shut down.
877
00:36:22,467 --> 00:36:25,066
Even in the midst
of a court martial,
878
00:36:25,066 --> 00:36:26,967
he's about to show
his own family
879
00:36:26,967 --> 00:36:29,400
how destructive he can be.
880
00:36:29,467 --> 00:36:31,967
[Cathy] Jim was going
out of his way
881
00:36:31,967 --> 00:36:34,166
to do anything he could
882
00:36:34,166 --> 00:36:35,767
to cause Kris
and their children pain.
883
00:36:35,767 --> 00:36:36,125
It was just unbelievable.
884
00:36:36,125 --> 00:36:37,000
It was just unbelievable.
885
00:36:37,867 --> 00:36:39,767
I was so hurt. I just...
886
00:36:39,767 --> 00:36:41,867
Blown away. Numb.
887
00:36:41,867 --> 00:36:43,100
I think it's horrible.
888
00:36:43,100 --> 00:36:46,600
I think that's the worst...
the worst of it all.
889
00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:52,567
[narrator] On June 12th, 2012,
890
00:36:52,567 --> 00:36:54,867
disgraced army
Col. Jim Johnson
891
00:36:54,867 --> 00:36:56,867
gets his day on court
892
00:36:56,867 --> 00:36:59,266
and Kris is there to watch
over the proceedings
893
00:36:59,266 --> 00:37:01,567
every step of the way.
894
00:37:05,567 --> 00:37:08,867
[Kris] You know, I remember
one time him looking at me
895
00:37:08,867 --> 00:37:11,266
{\an8}just, you know, if he could
kill me with his eyes,
896
00:37:11,266 --> 00:37:12,400
{\an8}he would have
897
00:37:12,467 --> 00:37:15,367
{\an8}because I'm the one
that blew the whistle.
898
00:37:15,367 --> 00:37:18,166
[narrator] The original list
of 27 charges
899
00:37:18,166 --> 00:37:19,624
has come down to two counts
of conduct unbecoming
900
00:37:19,624 --> 00:37:20,000
has come down to two counts
of conduct unbecoming
901
00:37:21,066 --> 00:37:24,200
an officer and a gentleman
by the time trial starts.
902
00:37:24,266 --> 00:37:28,100
[Kris] He pled guilty
to 15 charges.
903
00:37:28,166 --> 00:37:30,200
He had to plead guilty
to adultery
904
00:37:30,266 --> 00:37:32,200
because they had
a videotape of it.
905
00:37:32,266 --> 00:37:33,400
I testified in the trial,
906
00:37:33,467 --> 00:37:35,266
testified for a couple days
at least.
907
00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:40,000
[narrator] The prosecution
presents an irrefutable case.
908
00:37:40,066 --> 00:37:41,300
Thanks in part
to the evidence
909
00:37:41,367 --> 00:37:43,000
Kris has provided them.
910
00:37:44,367 --> 00:37:46,467
[Paul] Seemed like
the panel was, um,
911
00:37:46,467 --> 00:37:48,166
{\an8}getting close to, you know,
not only convicting him,
912
00:37:48,166 --> 00:37:49,624
{\an8}but, you know,
giving him a sentence.
913
00:37:49,624 --> 00:37:49,667
{\an8}but, you know,
giving him a sentence.
914
00:37:49,667 --> 00:37:50,000
{\an8}You know, involving
some incarceration
915
00:37:51,767 --> 00:37:54,100
{\an8}or maybe a, you know,
dishonorable discharge
916
00:37:54,100 --> 00:37:55,800
{\an8}from the military.
917
00:37:55,867 --> 00:37:57,800
[narrator] Jim's attorneys
now put anyone
918
00:37:57,867 --> 00:38:01,000
willing to testify in defense
of Jim on the stand,
919
00:38:01,066 --> 00:38:03,867
including Jim's father.
920
00:38:03,867 --> 00:38:06,000
[Kris] His father said,
921
00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:08,000
"My son is an honest man.
922
00:38:08,066 --> 00:38:09,900
My son is an honorable man.
923
00:38:09,967 --> 00:38:12,400
He's not a...He's not a liar.
924
00:38:12,467 --> 00:38:14,567
My son is not a criminal."
925
00:38:14,567 --> 00:38:16,967
Dude, your son is a criminal.
926
00:38:16,967 --> 00:38:18,567
He just pled guilty
to 15 charges
927
00:38:18,567 --> 00:38:19,624
and now you're up on the
witness stand saying,
928
00:38:19,624 --> 00:38:20,000
and now you're up on the
witness stand saying,
929
00:38:20,166 --> 00:38:21,400
"My son is not a criminal."
930
00:38:21,467 --> 00:38:23,166
Really?
931
00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:27,266
[narrator]
Both sides rest their case.
932
00:38:27,266 --> 00:38:29,400
It takes the jury
only a few hours
933
00:38:29,467 --> 00:38:31,867
to reach their decision.
934
00:38:31,867 --> 00:38:33,467
Jim Johnson is convicted
935
00:38:33,467 --> 00:38:36,767
on two counts of conduct
unbecoming of an officer.
936
00:38:36,767 --> 00:38:39,166
The army pronounces
his behavior to be
937
00:38:39,166 --> 00:38:41,000
of a nature
to bring discredit
938
00:38:41,066 --> 00:38:43,567
upon the Armed Forces.
939
00:38:43,567 --> 00:38:44,800
What happened to the guy
that, you know,
940
00:38:44,867 --> 00:38:47,500
embodied duty on our country?
941
00:38:47,567 --> 00:38:49,624
You know, what happened
to the man that, you know,
942
00:38:49,624 --> 00:38:49,800
You know, what happened
to the man that, you know,
943
00:38:49,867 --> 00:38:50,000
doesn't lie, cheat, or steal,
and/or tolerate those who do?
944
00:38:54,166 --> 00:38:56,367
[narrator] Jim's sentencing
hearing is one last chance
945
00:38:56,367 --> 00:38:59,000
to acknowledge the pain
he's caused.
946
00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:01,200
But he doesn't do that.
947
00:39:01,266 --> 00:39:03,400
Instead,
he uses the opportunity
948
00:39:03,467 --> 00:39:07,000
to plead with the court
not to send him to jail
949
00:39:07,066 --> 00:39:10,567
so he can care
for his beloved, Haveen.
950
00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:16,200
[Kris] He was talking about,
you know,
951
00:39:16,266 --> 00:39:18,900
allowing him to go back
and save her
952
00:39:18,967 --> 00:39:19,624
and keep her
from being deported.
953
00:39:19,624 --> 00:39:20,000
and keep her
from being deported.
954
00:39:21,166 --> 00:39:23,567
He also made a comment like,
955
00:39:23,567 --> 00:39:27,000
"Haveen and her daughter
are the center of my life."
956
00:39:27,066 --> 00:39:30,500
And one of my children
behind me heard that
957
00:39:30,567 --> 00:39:32,667
and just starts sobbing.
958
00:39:32,667 --> 00:39:36,166
You know, our children used
to be the center of his life.
959
00:39:36,166 --> 00:39:37,467
His family,
960
00:39:37,467 --> 00:39:38,700
us,
961
00:39:38,767 --> 00:39:39,900
was the center of his life.
962
00:39:41,100 --> 00:39:45,166
He destroyed the relationship
with his children.
963
00:39:45,166 --> 00:39:46,867
He chose to do that.
964
00:39:46,867 --> 00:39:49,500
It just, uh... It's so sad.
965
00:39:51,867 --> 00:39:56,800
Five years confinement
or pay a $300,000 fine.
966
00:39:56,867 --> 00:39:58,867
That was his sentence.
967
00:39:58,867 --> 00:40:03,467
His father wrote a check for
$300,000 and paid the fine.
968
00:40:03,467 --> 00:40:06,266
He could have gotten
up to 54 years in prison.
969
00:40:06,266 --> 00:40:09,700
Instead, he walked out
of the courtroom as a colonel
970
00:40:09,767 --> 00:40:12,000
with eagle still
on his shoulders.
971
00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:15,567
Justice wasn't served.
972
00:40:15,567 --> 00:40:18,467
[Cathy] Jim should have gone
to jail for what he did,
973
00:40:18,467 --> 00:40:19,624
but if he did go to jail,
974
00:40:19,624 --> 00:40:20,000
but if he did go to jail,
975
00:40:21,266 --> 00:40:23,867
{\an8}Kris and their children
would have been...
976
00:40:23,867 --> 00:40:26,567
{\an8}It would've been catastrophic
for them.
977
00:40:26,567 --> 00:40:29,700
[narrator] Kris does
finally divorce Jim Johnson
978
00:40:29,767 --> 00:40:32,066
for real this time.
979
00:40:32,066 --> 00:40:33,567
[Kris] From what I understand,
980
00:40:33,567 --> 00:40:36,000
he's still with Haveen
and her daughter.
981
00:40:36,066 --> 00:40:37,767
We have no communication.
982
00:40:37,767 --> 00:40:41,100
Our children are essentially
estranged from him.
983
00:40:41,100 --> 00:40:43,266
[narrator]
Kris and her kids get half
984
00:40:43,266 --> 00:40:46,200
of Jim's pension
and benefits.
985
00:40:46,266 --> 00:40:49,367
She knows not everyone
is this lucky.
986
00:40:50,567 --> 00:40:53,367
There's no whistle blower
protection for spouses.
987
00:40:53,367 --> 00:40:57,467
So, you tolerate illegal
and immoral behavior
988
00:40:57,467 --> 00:40:58,900
where you turn him in,
989
00:40:58,967 --> 00:41:01,367
and you risk losing
everything.
990
00:41:01,367 --> 00:41:05,000
And that's what led me into
working on some legislation.
991
00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:07,467
[Cathy] Kris amazes me.
992
00:41:07,467 --> 00:41:08,767
She fought for herself
993
00:41:08,767 --> 00:41:10,400
and she fought
for her children.
994
00:41:10,467 --> 00:41:12,300
And now she's fighting
for other families.
995
00:41:12,367 --> 00:41:14,767
What we ultimately created
was called
996
00:41:14,767 --> 00:41:18,166
the Family Serve to Military
Justice Reform Act.
997
00:41:18,166 --> 00:41:19,624
And what that would allow
is if a service member
998
00:41:19,624 --> 00:41:20,000
And what that would allow
is if a service member
999
00:41:21,166 --> 00:41:24,100
commits misconduct,
it allows the service
1000
00:41:24,166 --> 00:41:26,200
to properly punish
the lawbreaker
1001
00:41:26,266 --> 00:41:28,667
without financial
repercussions on the family.
1002
00:41:28,667 --> 00:41:30,100
The benefits that the family
1003
00:41:30,166 --> 00:41:32,767
has also earned
are protected.
1004
00:41:32,767 --> 00:41:34,600
So, that'll be my swan song
from the army.
1005
00:41:34,667 --> 00:41:36,400
That'll be the last
kind of move I do
1006
00:41:36,467 --> 00:41:38,467
to help take care
of families.
1007
00:41:38,467 --> 00:41:40,467
{\an8}I'm at peace
where I am at now
1008
00:41:40,467 --> 00:41:44,567
{\an8}and I hope my story
gives other spouses hope.
1009
00:41:44,567 --> 00:41:46,300
{\an8}You know, you can rebuild.
1010
00:41:46,367 --> 00:41:49,467
{\an8}You can have a happy,
successful life,
1011
00:41:49,467 --> 00:41:49,624
{\an8}um, after going through
something so painful.
1012
00:41:49,624 --> 00:41:50,000
{\an8}um, after going through
something so painful.
1013
00:41:54,367 --> 00:41:56,200
{\an8}You know,
it's just nice to know
1014
00:41:56,266 --> 00:41:57,667
{\an8}that someone else has dealt
with it
1015
00:41:57,667 --> 00:42:00,500
{\an8}and has gotten
through the tunnel
1016
00:42:00,567 --> 00:42:03,266
{\an8}towards the light
and life is good again.