MIDLAND, TEXAS -- Private First Class Steven D. Green, accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and murdering her family, entered the Army with a criminal record for minor offenses that included possession of drug paraphernalia.

But a yearlong examination by The Sacramento Bee found that Green's court record was not the worst among former and current Midland residents applying for the military since the Iraq war began, and he's not the only one to later be charged with committing offenses in the military.

Unlike other courts approached by The Bee, the Midland Municipal Court retained records of all military requests for searches - searches that are routine when someone applies to join the military. Those records provide a rare look at a microcosm of the more than 250,000 applicants for military service every year.

Of the 534 former and current Midland residents who applied to serve between January 2003 and July 2007, The Bee found, 150 had histories ranging from theft, traffic or alcohol offenses and failure to appear in court to more serious offenses such as sexual assault. Of those 150, at least 50 entered the military. Others were offered positions but did not enlist.

Even those whose records appeared clean could have troubled pasts, because the Midland Municipal Court is required to maintain records for only five years and because applicants could have records in other area courts and elsewhere.

Among those who enlisted was a man with a history of inpatient treatment for mental illness and others with records of drug possession, assault, theft and illegally carrying weapons. At least 10 had outstanding charges, fines or sentences when they applied for military service.

When Green applied for the Army in 2005, a court record noted that he owed outstanding fines and "must contact court immediately." The following year in Iraq, Green drank before going to a house he'd previously visited, where he emerged from a room to tell fellow soldiers, "I just killed them. All are dead," according to an affidavit from an FBI agent.

Green was discharged from the Army "due to a personality disorder," the affidavit says. He subsequently was charged by a federal court in Kentucky with murdering and sexually assaulting Abeer Kassem Hamza Al-Janabi and killing her parents and sibling. Two months ago, Green's attorneys notified prosecutors that they may use insanity as a defense.

Texas produces more military recruits than any other state, and Midland is as patriotic as a city can be, proud to be the childhood home of President George W. Bush. Midland, with a population slightly over 80,000, hosts an annual dinner to honor wounded war veterans from across the country, and people in military uniforms frequently find their restaurant tabs picked up by strangers.

"I go to pay my bill, and it's paid," said Sgt. 1st Class Shawn L. Miller, station commander for the local Army recruiting office.

Still, Midland presents unique recruiting challenges. Well-paying, entry- level oil field jobs are plentiful, so much so that the local sheriff has trouble finding deputies for positions paying about $30,000.

And despite its patriotism and military foundation, the city is not immune to the obstacles faced by recruiting offices everywhere as the Iraq war continues. In the three-day period The Bee visited Midland, another 10 Americans were reported killed in Iraq.

At the beginning of the war, Miller said, he needed a revolving door to handle the seemingly endless line of applicants to the Army recruiting station. These days, his job is much harder.

"It's been pretty challenging," he said.

DRUG, ALCOHOL RECORDS

In the years leading up to his enlistment in the Marine Corps and deployment to Iraq, John Corry Holmes built a record of alcohol and drug offenses.

When he was 15, Midland police pulled him over for speeding and found a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey in his car. During the three years that followed, he was charged with another alcohol offense and two drug offenses.

Call The Bee's Russell Carollo, (916) 321-1178. Director of Editorial Research Pete Basofin, Assistant Director Sheila A. Kern and Phillip Reese, The Bee's computer-assisted reporter, contributed to this report.