Former POW's Family Says Army Shortchanged Her (Disgusting!!!)

FoxNews ^ | Friday, October 24, 2003 | AP

[milan]

EL PASO, Texas

[milan]

As soon as read Jesse Jackson, I no longer took the story seriously. Shoshana should be glad that she is only 30% disabled. Why would she possibly want 80%disability? My brother has 50% and is in pain everyday! Poor Jessica will probably suffer from ARthritis etc. from all the broken bones.

Is this affirmative action for POWs? Sick, absolutely sick!!!

[milemark]

All they really have to do is compare the severity of injuries. Anyone can see that Lynch was far more severely injured. Johnson will have far more ability and function than Lynch and be better able to support herself. Maybe Jackson should go complain to the Iraqis for not bashing Johnson up as much as Lynch, the darn racists.

[veronica]

Jessica Lynch has come out in support of Shoshana. Shoshana comes from a military family. She and her family have served with honor. If she is being shortchanged that should be corrected. Too bad Jesse's involved. He taints everything he touches, but Shoshana should not pay for that.

[milemark]

I would be surprised if, when you compare Johnson's disability determination with other soldiers with injuries similar to hers, you find anything out of line. You can't compare the Lynch and Johnson cases because the disparity in the severity of the injuries is too great.

[KC Burke]

Shot in both legs and held twice as long as Jessica. Sure there is difference in the injuries, but the disparity of the awards is too great.

85% of these determinations are overturned in the Vet's favor if they appeal. So it sounds to me like the initial board reviews are based on limiting exposure, not fair determination by exacting standards.

She went to a combat zone, I sat at home in comfortable middle age. Giving her 1200 a month for parity wouldn't be even 100th on my list of items I was worried that my horrendous tax bill was paying for in the future.

I think service should be properly recognized with the arbitrary nature taken out of this. May our nation bless our young veterans.

[JesseHousman]

Shoshana Johnson

She may be entitled to 100% disability. From seein her on TV she appears to be brain dead.

[CWOJackson]

The level of disability is determined by the Veteran's Administration, not the U.S. Army.

It isn't based on how graphic the injuries or how long someone was a POW; it is based on a very structured formula that measures actual physical disability. It cannot be determined by comparing one soldier against another unless their actual remaining physical disability is identical.

[milemark]

85% of these determinations are overturned in the Vet's favor if they appeal.

So why not appeal? Why bring in Jesse Jackson and scream racism? Jackson will just use her to get his fat face on TV and dump her for the next situation in need of photography.

[milan]

I agree that she is entitled to everything she deserves. Problem is, I saw her walking. I saw Jessica bed ridden for months. Jessic is worse, she gets more money...that is how the system works. It is not based on race. It is also not fair. Disabled veterans don't get hardly anything, but the point is, it is equally unfair.

[KC Burke]

We have no knowledge that Specialist Johnson called in, or invited interest from, Jesseeeee "Ambulance-chaser" Jackson. He is about self promotion.

She did confere with her fellow unit member and the information made her dad complain publically. If my son is injured in combat and not treated with parity, I'll be the nastiest letter-writting, phone calling, in-your-face, tactician that you can imagine. Blood is blood.

[AMNZ]

Certainly, if Shoshana believes her disabilities have been understated, request of a review of that evaluation would be understandable. My recollection of the tapes of her rescue did not look like her injuries were anywhere near the severity of Jessica's. The introduction of Jesse Jackson into the mix is not good for Shoshana or equity.

[milan]

Giving her 1200 a month for parity wouldn't be even 100th on my list of items I was worried that my horrendous tax bill was paying for in the future.

I agree, but as I said, my brother is 50% and his injuries keep him from walking long periods (over an hour) and he isn't pissing and complaining with the help of Jesse Jackson. Shoshana got what she deserved from an unfair system. She could have denied Jesse's mouth or came out and said she did not need Jackson's support. That tells me that she thinks the "man" is screwing her. That is a load of crap!

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Shoshana Johnson She may be entitled to 100% disability. From seein her on TV she appears to be brain dead.

Jackson's the one brain dead!

[milan]

I agree with your post 100%.

[boxerblues]

I think both these girls have it wrong, an earlier article refered to the fact because Shoshana was of higher rank and was held as a POW longer that she deversed more

[boxerblues]

forgot the link

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1007730/posts

[CWOJackson]

Length of time as a POW has no bearing on a disability determination. Rank only has a bearing on the pay scale used, not the percentage of disability.

[PISANO]

It is NOT arbitrary and it is NEVER racial. Their are FORMULAS based on specific injuries and the severity of those injuries. While I agree that many appeals are rewarded it is MOSTLY due to the continued degradation of the wounds/injuries received as time passes. I have some experience in both areas.

[boxerblues]

I know that but do they?

[I still care]

I think the system is unfair. A 50% disability keeps you from holding 100% of a job.

If a person has to live on that money, and doesn't have family to help them, that's poverty. And we owe our vets more.

If social security kicks in also, well that's better. But I don't think it does.