Sick, wounded U.S. troops held in squalor

UPI ^ | Oct. 17, 2003 | MARK BENJAMIN

[El Gato]

Since it was classed as elective, my platoon sergeant had the say-so over it.

Then he wasn't doing his job. Part of his job is to take care of his equipment, and you were part of his TO&E, so to speak.

[El Gato]

What's keeping these soldiers from visiting real doctors?

I very much doubt their civilian insurance is going to cover anything that the company can argue is "service connected".

[El Gato]

Ask yourself if any of that $87 billion the administration just asked for, is going to these troops. With all the waste in that $87 billion, it wouldn't hurt to throw a million or two at local civilian doctors and nurses

Or call up Reserve and Guard doctors, many of whom got a full or partial ride through med school in exchange for a few years of part time service. No proctologists would be nice, but they're bound to call up a few. I had an AF reserve doc who was one in civilian life give me a physical once, that was the least unpleasant "spread 'em" exam I've ever had, including by my personal docs over the years.

[El Gato]

weapons systems that are around 50 years old (B-52s, etc.)

That's not old, they are just doing an "avionics MID LIFE Upgrade" program now. My employer, and maybe me, are helping upgrade some of the maintaince trainers to the new configuration. The old girl has lots of life left. (The -H models aren't quite that old yet, only about 40, and the rest are in the boneyard)

[El Gato]

Airman attached to army units get squalor pay (I'm sure the bureaucratic name for it isn't that honest). That is depressing to hear!

I think it's called "non availability of quarters" allowance, or something like that. Even Navy many Navy BOQs are, or were in 1974, substandard by Air Force standards.

[First_Salute]

I don't know the whole story.

I'm getting only some of it from the wife.

He did manage to catch something which they had no explanation for, and they cut his tour of duty in Iraq (his tour thus lasted only about 30 days) and sent him packing.

Stateside, well, he was told that they would release him from active duty. Then they reversed that. Then they were going to release him from the military altogether. Then they reversed that. Then they gave him something to do.

That's all that I've heard.

[joesnuffy]

Typical chicken hawk responses of Bush Bots

They languish in the VA hospitials (not all but 1 bad hospital is bad enough for combat vets)
Having been wounded and spent my time in VA hospitals I can tell you they suck

If the govt. including the VA were worth it's salt at living up to promises made to combat vets
there would be no need for DAV (Disabled American Veterans) MOPH (Military Order of the Purple Heart), American Legion, AMVets, PVA (Paralyzed Veterans of America)

Any criticism of the VA or the Bush administaration when it comes to troops is seen as DU propaganda?....Jees what a load of crap...Im more inclined to think that any criticism of those who look out for combat vets is more like DU crap since they are the party that laid claim to loathing the military...(and apparently anyone looking out for wounded troops)

The VA hospitals have still have service cuts staff and equipment cuts and huge lags in time between when a disabled vet gets his/her claim adjuticated and then can get treated for their combat related injuries that need LONG TERM CARE....its the wait that kills people...

Unless you've been down that road...you have no idea...wave the flag all you want ..
but where the medal meets the meat...is in the VA hospital ten years after.....

Both the Dems and Repubbies have been cheap sons of beetches when it comes to combat vet after care...but never will they go without pay raises and fat retirement perks to themselves or contracts to friends...

[jjm2111]

"According to my prof., living conditions in the Air Force are much better as a consequence."

Fort Dix and McGuire AFB are right next to one antoher. If one drives by base housing the AF houses, while modest are pleasant well maintained. The Army housing looks like it is fifty years old and falling apart.

[jjm2111]

My Navy Reserve unit has the same problem. We are a shoreside unit with trucks and humvees, etc. We go out into the field in the Winter and no winter weight gear is issued. No goretex, no winter weight cammies, no heavy duty boots, etc. People have to buy warm clothing with their own money.

We also have the 1970s flak jackets.

[Hot Tabasco]

Today's top military news
October 21, 2003



Pentagon Investigates Fort Stewart
Base Accused Of Neglecting Reservists

(Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 21, 2003, Pg. 1)
The Pentagon is sending an investigative team to Fort Stewart to investigate allegations that ill and injured reservists, many returning from the war in Iraq, are being treated like second-class citizens at the sprawling Army post in south Georgia. The reservists claim that regular Army troops with medical problems are being given priority attention, and some say they have waited weeks or months for appointments with Army doctors.

[af_vet_rr]

Story at Washington Times "The Army does acknowledge that medical hold challenges exist -- across the Army as well as Fort Stewart," according to the statement. The Army "is absolutely committed to taking care of our people."

At the Pentagon, Army Public Affairs Specialist Steven Stover said officials would try to use findings about the problems at Fort Stewart to improve conditions in the future.

"Is this happening? Yes, it is," said Stover. "What we learn from this incident is going to help the Army when we have other major units returning" from Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Story at NY Times

It is getting a lot of attention now.

Should never have happened in the first place, but good to see they admit it and are hopefully going to do something about it.