Posted on 10/08/2013 11:06:28 PM PDT by Pride_of_the_Bluegrass
WASHINGTON — The families of four soldiers killed in Afghanistan last weekend will not receive death benefits or the money to pay for their funerals because of the government shutdown.
The bodies of Sgt. Patrick C. Hawkins, 25; Pfc. Cody J. Patterson, 24; Sgt. Joseph M. Peters, 24; and First Lt. Jennifer M. Moreno, 25, will arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday. The four soldiers were killed Sunday in the Zhari district of Kandahar Province when enemy forces attacked their unit with explosives.
But if their families want to meet the plane, they will have to pay their own way to Delaware.
Under the shutdown, Carl Woog, a Defense Department spokesman, said on Tuesday, “the Department of Defense does not currently have the authority to pay death gratuities and other key benefits for the survivors of service members killed in action.”
The benefits include $100,000 to each family; a 12-month basic allowance for housing, usually given in a lump sum to survivors commensurate with the rank of the service member; and burial benefits. The benefits are also being withheld from the family of Lance Cpl. Jeremiah Collins Jr., 19, of the Marines, whose death on Saturday in Helmand Province is being investigated by the Pentagon.
New hardships caused by the shutdown seem to emerge every day as the standoff between President Obama and Congressional Republicans entered its second week. But the denial of benefits to the families of fallen soldiers — however temporary — led to an unusual burst of outrage.
Senators took the floor to express their anger. In the House, members scrambled to write a bill to remedy the problem.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
You really know how to push my button with a picture like that!!!
This whole story is so untrue its not even funny...
I heard that the money is already budgeted, and available for these family members to take care of their fallen!!!
Its the mechanism to cut the check that has been curtailed...I bet I can find someone in a NY minute to perform that task...
If the National Gaurd can go out after the PARTIAL 17% government shutdown, and take delivery of a mechanical bull, for what purpose, is left to be determined...
then I think we can take care of our fallen heroes!!! AND THEIR FAMILIES!!!
Enough with this namby-pamby bullsh!t!!!
Fire them ALL!!!
Again, nice try NYTimes...
You’re BS is still showing...
I always wondered why Jews got on the cattle cars with their children, why they walked calmly into gas chambers. No fight, just calmly to their deaths. Now I get it.
I really hope our troops are paying attention to this.
Is this true? At some point, the DOD has discretion on certain spending choices, as in the declaration of "essential" vs. "non-essential" personnel, and in members of the military being what is termned a "captive audience" on military installations and therefore having an expectation of certain Morale, Welfare, and Recreation resources, and the like.
The big media articles on this payout to deceased issue have blamed Congress. I suspect however, that the President who grants executive exemptions (illegally?) under the ACA could, in a different arena, declare these payments to be the equivalent of "essential."
Yes? No?
And yet Obama’s laying his head to rest at the White House tonight, no?
We should all print that out and tape them to every “Closed” national park signs in our area.
“Generally, dereliction of duty refers to failure through negligence or obstinacy to perform one’s legal or moral duty to a reasonable expectation. In other words, it means willful or negligent failure to perform assigned duties or performing them in a culpably inefficient manner. Dereliction of duty is a specific offense in military law. “ (Quote from USLegal.com).
Dereliction of duty is an Impeachable Offense, as stipulated in the US Constitution. Dereliction of duty is also a US Military offense subject to a Courts Martial.
Will our sorry Congressional RINOs do their usual kid gloves, “boys will be boys” approach to Obama’s numerous violations of the US Constitution, or will they FINALLY draw up The Articles of Impeachment for B. Hussein Obama?
PING!
I'll bet there were also a few Nazi guards who said "this is disgusting" but still carried out their orders.
This is a blog and only one report – but I was wondering if you had heard anything else along these lines?
Obama Is Not Paying The U.S. Navy Stationed In Japan?
http://grumpyelder.com/2013/10/im-in-a-bad-moo-d/
And
In review of the video below Harry Reid says there have been 17 fallen soldiers.
16:10 Minutes
Video begins with Ted Cruz and then Harry Reid, then Ted Cruz again….
Families were notified via twitter that they would not receive benefits for loved ones lost. (this was at the beginning mentioned by Ted Cruz)
Around 10:40 Harry Reid says there have been 17 service members who have been affected by the shut down re: families who might be entitled to receive benefits.
Majority Leader Harry Reid Objects to Funding the VA. Again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jCETPWASUs
FREEPERS: Post all of your hotlinks to funeral news of our Fallen Warriors here !
“In the House, members scrambled to write a bill to remedy the problem.”
Any bill they send will be blocked by Harry Reid unless Republican senators agree to “special” rules for debating it.
Rules that don’t let anyone offer any amendments.
And the media will blame Republicans if they don’t fold.
The media have to help Harry hold his barricade of the House minibills at all costs. Senate dems cannot be subject to a recorded vote on those bills. They must be protected.
TWITTER ?
DOD notified the families at the last moment of this witholding VIA Twitter!
The regime keeps piling insult upon insult to the families of those warriors who sacrificed all, leaving their children fatherless or motherless. Damn their souls to the darkest depths of hell eternally.
Posting via phone, so youtube unvailable just now. What was Cruz's reaction to the twitter business?
Ted Cruz said this in a matter of fact way at the beginning of the video. But keep in mind Cruz is a man of great debate skill and would never let emotion slip unless it was intentional.
So no reaction on the floor of the senate - he just said it.
Understood - thanks for the reply. Still trying to get my BP down.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
