Army suspends head of Western medical command

The Army says it has suspended the head of its Western Regional Medical Command, which is in charge of Army hospitals in 20 western states.

A brief Army statement at the Pentagon says Brig. Gen. John M. Cho was suspended, effective immediately. That's pending the outcome of what it calls an "inquiry centered on the command climate" of the organization that he runs.

Cho is a cardiac surgeon who took the job less than a year ago. His headquarters is at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

He was suspended by the Army Surgeon General.