Matty
Posted on 11/09/2014 8:34:42 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic
Where’s Matty?
On July 20, 2013, Spc. Brent Grommet returned from Afghanistan with his military working dog, a Czech German shepherd named Matty. The two had gone through basic training together, deployed together and were injured together when a roadside IED detonated.
Grommet slept on top of Matty’s crate as they flew back to the United States. Upon landing at an Air Force base in New Jersey, the two were separated — standard operating procedure.
Grommet wasn’t worried, though: According to Army regulations, if he wanted Matty, he had the sole right to adopt his military working dog. This right is colloquially known as Robby’s Law, and was signed by President Clinton in 2000.
Grommet had already filled out the adoption paperwork in the Middle East and handed it over to K2 Solutions, the private firm that then contracted with the Army on canine issues — and who took Matty for an examination.
But Brent Grommet never saw Matty again. He says a Lt. Col. Richard Vargas absconded with Matty, and the military has done nothing to make it right.
“It’s like someone stole your kid in front of you,” Grommet says, “and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Grommet, now 23, came back from Afghanistan with traumatic brain injury, hearing loss and spinal-cord injury. The latter required surgery and still causes him severe daily pain. He also suffers from migraines, chronic breathing problems and PTSD.
“Matty calmed his mood swings,” says Grommet’s father, Don. “When he thought he was getting the dog back, he seemed to be doing better.”
But months passed without any word on Brent’s adoption papers, and all of the Grommets’ queries were stonewalled. Furious, Don Grommet called every military base in the United States that handles military working dogs.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Matty
Doggie ping
Sad doggie ping.
The military has seen a real spike in suicides. They talk about confronting this problem, about doing whatever is necessary to stop suicides. Be a wingman. Be observant about people going through tough times. Help them.
The military has had a tough time bringing the suicide rate down. Well, I have a hunch that stealing beloved dogs from soldiers suffering from PTSD is not a step in the right direction.
Active Duty ping.
I hope what you said is true. I really do.
Contact his Senator and Congressman. There is no way some 0-5 can have this much authority. If he is violating a law fry him.
Grommet needs to get a good lawyer. He may have a case if Vargas is in violation of Robbie’s Law.
Last Friday Brent Grommet was pulled aside by two majors at Fort Campbell and warned not to speak about Matty to The Post, or he would be sent to prison at Leavenworth.
“It’s not a threat,” Brent was told. “It’s [military] law.”
It could be dangerous. Is Vargas aware of a custom known as fragging?
As the owner of a black German Shepherd, I know how loyal this breed is.
Let the Army send him to Leavenworth. Matty is worth the fight.
He should have told them that he does not understand their orders and demand they put it in writing and sign it.
Not a threat my ass.
How could someone sink so low as to do such a thing!?
Post is gone.
What was said?
It *is* despicable; how can we help Brent Grommet?
Perhaps call or write a letter to our congressman/senators?
Any other suggestions?
German Shepherd's are unbelievably loyal and intelligent.
This is really rotten of the military to not go way out of their way to accommodate this veteran. It's the least they could do...
If it were my dog, they'd have to put me in GD cage to shut me up over this.
I do not cuss on Free Republic but I will make an exception for this. Providing the article is correct, any officer that would deny this wounded warrior his dog, his companion and brother in arms is a SORRY SON OF A BITCH.
Yes, I think that is the key. If any FReeper can find out who the Congresscritters are of this soldier are we can do what FReepers do and reunite Matty with his soldier.
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