From the Department of 'WTF'
Oct. 18th, 2004 12:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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tcpip, this story:
Army Spc. Tyson Johnson III of Mobile, Ala., who lost a kidney in a mortar attack last year in Iraq, was still recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center when he received notice from the Pentagon's own collection agency that he owed more than $2,700 because he could not fulfill his full 36-month tour of duty. Johnson said the Pentagon listed the bonus on his credit report as an unpaid government loan, making it impossible for him to rent an apartment or obtain credit cards...
"Guys I've met, talking to people, they'd be better off financially for their families if they had died as opposed to coming back maimed," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Kelly, who served as a civil affairs specialist for the Army while in Iraq.
On July 14, 2003, the Abilene, Texas, native had been on his way to a meeting about rebuilding schools in Iraq when his unarmored Humvee was blown up. A piece of shrapnel the size of a TV remote took his right leg off, below the knee, almost completely, Kelly said.
Kelly attests to receiving excellent medical care at Ward 57, the amputee section of Walter Reed, but said he quickly realized that the military had no real plan for the injured soldiers. Many had to borrow money or depend on charities just to have relatives visit at Walter Reed, Kelly said...
One year after nearly being killed in combat, the Pentagon has yet to send Johnson his Purple Heart medal.
The Pentagon collection notices, however, arrive without fail.
In fairness, the article also notes that the Pentagon have realised there's a problem and are now making noises about fixing it. But IMHO these stories fall into the "should never have happened in the first place" category. Soldiers have been coming home maimed from wars since the dawn of time, and the USA had plenty of advance notice on this one. That it should take the threat of a news story, more than a year after the start of hostilities, to point out that the Pentagon isn't geared up to deal appropriately with injured soldiers... it beggars belief.
Smells like another case of "we didn't expect they'd be shooting back" :-(
tcpip, this story:Army Spc. Tyson Johnson III of Mobile, Ala., who lost a kidney in a mortar attack last year in Iraq, was still recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center when he received notice from the Pentagon's own collection agency that he owed more than $2,700 because he could not fulfill his full 36-month tour of duty. Johnson said the Pentagon listed the bonus on his credit report as an unpaid government loan, making it impossible for him to rent an apartment or obtain credit cards...
"Guys I've met, talking to people, they'd be better off financially for their families if they had died as opposed to coming back maimed," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Kelly, who served as a civil affairs specialist for the Army while in Iraq.
On July 14, 2003, the Abilene, Texas, native had been on his way to a meeting about rebuilding schools in Iraq when his unarmored Humvee was blown up. A piece of shrapnel the size of a TV remote took his right leg off, below the knee, almost completely, Kelly said.
Kelly attests to receiving excellent medical care at Ward 57, the amputee section of Walter Reed, but said he quickly realized that the military had no real plan for the injured soldiers. Many had to borrow money or depend on charities just to have relatives visit at Walter Reed, Kelly said...
One year after nearly being killed in combat, the Pentagon has yet to send Johnson his Purple Heart medal.
The Pentagon collection notices, however, arrive without fail.
In fairness, the article also notes that the Pentagon have realised there's a problem and are now making noises about fixing it. But IMHO these stories fall into the "should never have happened in the first place" category. Soldiers have been coming home maimed from wars since the dawn of time, and the USA had plenty of advance notice on this one. That it should take the threat of a news story, more than a year after the start of hostilities, to point out that the Pentagon isn't geared up to deal appropriately with injured soldiers... it beggars belief.
Smells like another case of "we didn't expect they'd be shooting back" :-(
no subject
Date: 2004-10-17 08:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-17 10:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-18 07:28 am (UTC)While i wish I could profess that the Gov't cares about its soldiers, having heard stories as these, stories of Vietnam, stories of Veteran Centers ... I'd have to say "No." When it comes down to treating them like fucking human beings and not little blips on a screen or numbers on a spread sheet. No, they don't care.