Suspected Sikh temple shooter was discharged from Army after demotion

WASHINGTON — The suspected gunman in the Sikh temple shooting was administratively discharged from the Army in 1998 after being demoted in rank, according to his military service record.

Federal officials on Monday identified Wade Michael Page as the slain attacker in a rampage that killed six people and left three others critically wounded at a house of worship in Oak Creek, Wis., on Sunday. Officials said Page was 40.

While in the Army, Page was demoted from sergeant to specialist and was not granted an honorable discharge when he left the service. A military official would not say why Page had been stripped of his rank or what negative marks on his record led the Army to disqualify him from an honorable discharge after his 6 1/2 years of service. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity and was not authorized to speak to the media on the matter.

According to his record, Page joined the Army in April 1992 and did his initial training at Ft. Sill, Okla. He also was later posted to Ft. Bliss, Texas, and Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Page served as a repairman for the Hawk surface-to-air missile system and eventually trained as a psychological operations specialist. Army psychological operations units, or “psy-ops” units, study ways to trick the enemy in wartime and distribute information that will influence foreign populations.

Despite losing his rank, Page’s service record shows commendations and medals for basic achievement, good conduct and “humanitarian service.” He also earned a parachutist badge, commonly called “jump wings,” for completing the Army Basic Airborne Course at Ft. Benning, Ga.

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