This part is something that struck me, because I had to endure the same exact thing for over 7 months.
"I have loved the Army. I have served the Army faithfully and I have done everything the Army has asked me to do," said Sgt. 1st Class Willie Buckels, a truck master with the 296th Transportation Company. Buckels served in the Army Reserves for 27 years, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first Gulf War. "Now my whole idea about the U.S. Army has changed. I am treated like a third-class citizen
This part too. It doesnt matter how much blood, sweat and tears you have given them in the past, when you cant perform your duty anymore, they could care less about you. You become a budget issue, not a soldier who served for 27 years
Most soldiers in medical hold at Fort Stewart stay in rows of rectangular, gray, single-story cinder block barracks without bathrooms or air conditioning. They are dark and sweltering in the southern Georgia heat and humidity. Around 60 soldiers cram in the bunk beds in each barrack.
The barracks I was in when I went through this same process was congressionally investigated at the same time I was there, and several people were later found guilty of wrongdoing for essentially the same things these guys are going through
Soldiers make their way by walking or using crutches through the sandy dirt to a communal bathroom, where they have propped office partitions between otherwise open toilets for privacy. A row of leaky sinks sits on an opposite wall. The latrine smells of urine and is full of bugs, because many windows have no screens. Showering is in a communal, cinder block room. Soldiers say they have to buy their own toilet paper.
If they are on crutches, chances are some have open wounds that are draining ar whatever. Is this sanitary for a trauma wound? How do you keep your wound clean and prevent staph infection?
I guess the rest I just ignored, because I am so used to ignorant reporters with bones to grind being out to slam the military. I focused on things I know from experience to be true. Thats why I took my position.
We're talking about a three week period here in the article though that treatment wasn't available. This isn't unusual. Note, the reporter didn't say why treatment wasn't available. Journalists skew facts as much through what they decide not to tell as by what they do. For what it's worth, I had to wait two years for treatment.
You become a budget issue, not a soldier who served for 27 years
And this is different from normal American life how?
Around 60 soldiers cram in the bunk beds in each barrack.
Guys in bunk beds? Well, look. Maybe this sounds horrid to you, but I just don't see it. I lived many many moons in these types of conditions. Best time of my life. What's wrong with bunk beds? It's better than the floor. Congress can say what they want- they're full of it anyway. What's next? Conditions in Basic are too harsh because each soldier doesn't have his own personal room?
If they are on crutches, chances are some have open wounds that are draining ar whatever.
Why? Most people who get crutches (in my experience) have sprained ligaments in the ankle or knee. Even me with torn ligaments- I didn't have open wounds. This is pure speculation on your part.
Look, I will say it again as I have said it before- I am absolutely certain there are soldiers there with legitimate complaints. But I don't buy for one second on this scant info that something grave and terrible is happening here. What the reporter describes sounds like totally normal Army life to me.