Posted on 10/19/2004 6:08:43 PM PDT by LouAvul
At a recent march for military families, it seems everybody in Lacey, Wash. turned out to support the troops at nearby Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base, both morally and financially.
John McClatchey, who donated $20, says, "It's not much, but I know every little bit counts."
As CBS News Correspondent Bill Whitaker reports, they raised $15,000 for military families in need.
"They're out there in Iraq and money is tight for those families," says Gary Benton.
At the Miramar Marine Air Station near San Diego where the movie "Top Gun" was filmed, some families are hitting rock bottom.
"It's not payday yet and I've got three kids at home," says Gloria Mendez. "(It's) time to feed them and the Navy doesn't pay enough for what we have to live here in San Diego."
So, some 500 military families come to the Food Locker on base every month for free groceries, donated by stores, the military and the Boy Scouts.
"Without us a lot of these families wouldn't make it," says Rita Riddick, co-chairman of the Food Locker.
The families agree they need the help.
"Yeah, actually we do," says Christina Roberts, a military wife. "That's the sad part about it.
You hear the same thing from families in every branch of the military, because enlisted men and women can earn as little as $1,104.00 a month.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
How bout we revoke all monies given to immigrants and funnel it into worthy projects? Like taking care of the soldiers who are trying to take care of us?
Illegal immigrants...
CBS hit piece. Since when did they ever care about military families before. Let them help them instead of donating to SKerry
It's Bush's fault.
So, if the soldiers weren't in Iraq/Afghanistan, their lives would be better financially?
DD just spent a month in the army.... starting pay for boot camp was 1200.00 a month...... just what year was this article written? not to say life isn't hard, but 20% increase since GWB took office.....
Did anyone notice in this article, that there is no solution? No where to donate, no way to help?
If they cared, they would have somewhere that we could send a check.
Someone that is in the military that has three children, should have been in long enough to be making a decent living. Maybe the new boat and the new truck to pull it with should wait a while. You see it all the time in Norfolk.
CBS doesn't care about the people. Their only interest is creating another hit piece on President Bush.
By the way, what is this $1,200 a month? Does this include food and housing allowances? I remember, in 1952, a PFC got $99.37 per month.
There's a whole host of relief agencies embedded within the DoD. That's what this CBS conveniently fails to mention.
www.soldierride.org & www.operationac.com
Two good charites.
CBS account...
The pay is better, no where near as good as it should be. But it seems this article is suggesting that finances are worse because a spouse is deployed. If we just weren't in a war. Seems to me that in the 90's, when we weren't at "war," our soldiers were using food stamps to feed their families.
I totally agree!
I meant charities.
A lot of military people work 2 jobs. When they are overseas, they have to give up that second job and it can definitely be a burden on a family. It' the same with reserve families. There needs to be a national group that people will know about so they can donate all year long. Especially when there is a war.
A recruit earns more than $1104...that number is bogus....My Sp4 son earns about $2000 a month...and my 1sg hubby, well, we won't go there...but it's not bad, thanks to Prez Bush and his recent raises......btw...those serving in Iraq(which my hubby did) recieve extra bonuses..Hazzard Duty, Separation etc which are tax free...people in the military have to learn to live within there means....but, we still have a long way to go and no one serving this country should have to go to a Food Locker!
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