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Death threat investigation points to soldier

TOPEKA, Kan. — Fort Riley officials continue to investigate a threatening phone call placed to an atheist soldier who is suing the government over religious freedom.

A spokesman for Fort Riley, Maj. Nathan Bond, said Wednesday that the military police and Geary County officials were looking into the threat against Spc. Jeremy Hall. Bond said the investigation is pointing toward another soldier, but no arrests have been made.

The message was laced with obscenities and a racial slur. Hall and his wife live off post in Geary County, and Bond said the Army was taking steps to protect their safety.

Hall and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation based in Albuquerque, N.M., have a lawsuit pending in federal court in Kansas City, Kan., with the Defense Department and Secretary Robert Gates among the defendants.

In the lawsuit, Hall alleges that while he was serving in Iraq in 2007, an Army Reserve major prevented a meeting Hall planned with atheists and others, then threatened to take action against Hall. The major, also a defendant, has denied the allegations.

Both Hall and the foundation allege harassment of Hall by fellow soldiers continued while he was in Iraq and after he returned late last year to assume duties with his military police unit. They also allege a promotion for Hall to sergeant was blocked.

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