[AngelsSix]

Part 2

Changing behavior

But four months later, changes in his behavior were
noted. He went from being lauded for his
"exceptionally meritorious service," "gallant conduct"
and "incisive competence" to being called an
irresponsible failure. In September 2002, he was
disciplined for losing his assault vest and other
military items. He was AWOL for several days from his
post in Fort Campbell, Ky., and later demoted from
staff sergeant to sergeant.

"In retrospect, when he got back from Afghanistan,
there were signs," his mother said. "But we thought it
was combat stress. We didn't know what it was."

No one knew that the changes in Staff Sgt. Alford's
personality - forgetfulness and impaired judgment -
were early symptoms of CJD.

Staff Sgt. Alford's wife, who was working with Army
intelligence before her husband's illness, was
training in California during this period, and his
parents saw him only briefly at Christmas before he
was deployed to Kuwait in January.

In Kuwait, as his condition worsened, his conduct
became more erratic. He received a written order to
carry a note pad "to write instructions down to ensure
they are not forgotten." His records show he was
placed on probation, accused of "dereliction of duty"
and "larceny," of losing his protective mask, stealing
another soldier's mask, failing to report for duty
four times and lying to superiors.

His commander wrote on April 10 that he would initiate
action to revoke Staff Sgt. Alford's Special Forces
designation.