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Sick Veteran Battles Bureaucracy Back Home
ap.tbo.com ^ | Aug 12, 2003 | Lolita C. Baldor

Posted on 08/13/2003 4:31:43 PM PDT by B4Ranch

Sick Veteran Battles Bureaucracy Back Home
By Lolita C. Baldor Associated Press Writer
Published: Aug 12, 2003

WASHINGTON (AP) - After Army Sgt. Vannessa Turner survived a still-unknown illness doctors feared would kill her, she thought her toughest battle was over. But since a military flight brought Turner home she says she's had to fight to get medical treatment and can't even get personal items returned.

The homefront, she's finding, can be as daunting as the front lines in Iraq.

"It's easier to stay a soldier and be in harm's way than to come home and get care," said Turner, her quiet voice quaking with emotion.

Arriving at her mother's home in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood last month after hospital stays in Germany and Washington, the six-year Army veteran says she was told that despite severe nerve damage in her right leg she'd have to wait until mid-October to see a doctor at the local Veterans Affairs hospital.

She sought help from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and eventually got an appointment scheduled this week, but the experience was frustrating for Turner and her family. They look at the hero's welcome given to former prisoner of war Pfc. Jessica Lynch, who was in one of Turner's rehabilitation sessions, and see a double standard.

"Some people are getting scholarships, my sister can't get a doctor's appointment," said her sister Nicole. "To me, they threw her away like a piece of trash. She served her country and now nothing is being done for her."

Veterans' advocates said Turner's frustration is not unusual. More than 110,000 veterans are waiting six months or more for their initial visit with a VA doctor or to see a specialist, the VA acknowledges.

"Is this what our returning heroes from Afghanistan and Iraq can expect from their elected officials as they seek health care for their painful injuries sustained in the line of duty?" Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Ray Sisk said.

VA undersecretary for health Robert Roswell said everyone who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom is entitled to two years of VA health care benefits. And the benefits are available to those wounded in combat as well as those injured in accidents or who suffer illnesses.

He blamed Turner's treatment on errors at the VA's West Roxbury facility. Officials there failed to recognize her as a newly released veteran needing immediate care.

"We made an admitted mistake. But it was caught," Roswell said, adding that changes are being made to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Turner's ordeal started in Camp Balad, 42 miles north of Baghdad. One of the more than 150,000 American soldiers dodging bullets and toiling in the searing Iraqi heat, Turner was suffering from severe mosquito bites when she collapsed on May 18.

The next thing she knew medics were giving her shots, cutting off her clothes and rushing her to the hospital. As they wheeled the gurney down the hall, the 40-year-old Army cook could hear the doctor's terrifying words: "She's not going to make it."

"I tried to move my hand, I wanted to signal them - I was trying to say, 'Hey, I'm alive, don't let me die.' But I couldn't move. I couldn't talk," Turner said.

Doctors still aren't sure what caused her illness, though they suspect it could have been a reaction to the ointment she used on the mosquito bites.

Turner's recovery presented a new set of problems for her family. Because of her severe condition, the military quickly classified her as medically retired so her 15-year-old daughter Brittany could get increased benefits.

But because she no longer was an active member of the military, the Pentagon couldn't transport her family to her bedside in Landstuhl, Germany, where Turner had been airlifted for treatment.

"They told me she had no heartbeat, that she wasn't breathing," said Turner's mother, Beverly. "They said she had 36 to 72 hours to live."

Turner's family couldn't afford airline tickets so they turned to Kennedy and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., for help. Through their offices family members got flights to Germany courtesy of the United Service Organizations, and they received lodging and food from the Fisher House Foundation, which provides housing for military families.

Turner's fitness aided her recovery. An avid weightlifter, she began to slowly improve and by the end of May was flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, where she stayed for about six weeks before going to her mother's home.

For Turner, the work to rehabilitate the damaged nerves in her leg is compounded by confusion over her benefits, her quest for a doctor, and the Pentagon's initial assertions that she go back to Germany herself to get her belongings.

Turner is hesitant about the future. A year from now she'll go before a military board to see if she should be retired permanently or if she's well enough to be reinstated.

"Half my brain says yes, half my brain says no," she said. "But, ma'am, I'm a soldier. I love being a soldier. This is what I do."

AP-ES-08-12-03 0211EDT


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: 1abuseoftopics; baghdad; pentagon; unknownillness; va; veteran
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Our glorious President is considering "loaning" the scornful United Nations $1 billion American taxpayer dollars and still refusing to give proper benefits to our troops who went to war under his orders to fight for the freedom of Iraqi's. Increasing the Veterans Affairs budget is asking just too much at this time.

We've lost 300 troops in combat and I expect many more during our stay in country, estimated to be up to ten years.

Gee! What a great guy! Someone needs to explain why we want him in the White House again in 2004. While you're at it, please explain why we should encourage our kids to join the US military when this is the great care to be expected if they are wounded or become sick.

"Veterans' advocates said Turner's frustration is not unusual. More than 110,000 veterans are waiting six months or more for their initial visit with a VA doctor or to see a specialist, the VA acknowledges."

1 posted on 08/13/2003 4:31:43 PM PDT by B4Ranch
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To: B4Ranch; kristinn; Angelwood; steveegg; Endeavor; unspun; TheRightGuy; RedWing9; Jim Robinson; ...
This is a cause Freerepublic should be taking up!

Yeah, I had fun at the Hillary Freep, but now it is coming down to doing something that Really counts for the men and women who gave their all.
Any suggestions folks??

By the way, Does anyone know how to get ahold of this lady in the article???
2 posted on 08/13/2003 4:55:43 PM PDT by chicagolady
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; LindaSOG; LaDivaLoca; bentfeather; Bethbg79; ..
PING!!
Any suggestions??
3 posted on 08/13/2003 4:57:29 PM PDT by chicagolady
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To: Calpernia
PING
4 posted on 08/13/2003 4:58:21 PM PDT by chicagolady
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To: B4Ranch
My wife just started doing some contract work for the VA last month to help them catch up on their backlog. Don't be too quick to blame the doctors, I am getting the impression that the bloated bureaucracy is to blame for most of the problems. Major house-cleaning needed!
5 posted on 08/13/2003 5:05:11 PM PDT by LayoutGuru2 (Call me paranoid but finding '/*' inside this comment makes me suspicious)
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To: B4Ranch
Thanks for posting this. Just read it not 15 minutes ago in our local rag and was about to search for the article on the net for posting.
6 posted on 08/13/2003 5:07:32 PM PDT by Brian S
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To: chicagolady
I just sent it to the American Legion. They know how the system works and they will know how to contact her.
7 posted on 08/13/2003 5:41:24 PM PDT by Calpernia (Innocence seldom utters outraged shrieks. Guilt does.)
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To: chicagolady
I'm not sure I understand exactly what the problem is. The VA says it was a snafu that has been fixed?
8 posted on 08/13/2003 6:03:28 PM PDT by Bob J
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To: Calpernia
THANKS! IF ANYTHING I WOULD LIKE TO SEND HER SOME $$ AND A THANKYOU CARD.
9 posted on 08/13/2003 6:03:50 PM PDT by chicagolady
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To: Bob J
The problem is
"Veterans' advocates said Turner's frustration is not unusual. More than 110,000 veterans are waiting six months or more for their initial visit with a VA doctor or to see a specialist, the VA acknowledges."
10 posted on 08/13/2003 6:21:44 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Most of us are wasting rights other men fought and died for.)
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To: Bob J
Come on BobJ , I know that you are very intellegent. I have heard for YEARS about the problem with the military and the problems our men and women face when trying to obtain help in lots of different ways. No it is not a little snafu that needs to be fixed.
It is a deeper problem, you know it and I know it.
Sure it is a lot of fun to do some of the stuff we do, but to turn are heads when the tough stuff comes up shows what folks are really made of. And shows where peoples hearts and minds really our.
Te rally's and all were about local Freepers getting their names in lights and your name inWorldnet daily.
WOW, are the men and women of the Armed forces deserve a group to use their influence to try and speed things after they gave their all forour freedom, doesn't sound like a lot to me.
11 posted on 08/13/2003 6:22:09 PM PDT by chicagolady
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: LindaSOG
BTTT!!!!!!!
13 posted on 08/14/2003 5:01:13 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: LindaSOG
BTTT ! ! ! ! Thanks for the ping.

..."It makes my blood boil."...

You aren't the only one! I was fuming when I read this thread. Talk about Breach of Promise! I hate to see the way our troops get treated.

14 posted on 08/14/2003 5:01:29 AM PDT by SouthernHawk (AAAAAA - American Association Against Acronym Abuse Anonymous)
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To: Vets_Husband_and_Wife
Ping for you, Vets_Husband_and_Wife,
15 posted on 08/14/2003 6:28:35 AM PDT by M0sby (Proud Marine Corp's Wife!)
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To: LindaSOG
Support veterans bump!

Lest we forget.
16 posted on 08/14/2003 7:00:23 AM PDT by headsonpikes
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To: LindaSOG
Great, I welcome the address from whoever gets it!
17 posted on 08/14/2003 8:17:57 AM PDT by chicagolady
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To: B4Ranch
I have a few things to say, most directed at those who are doing everything they can to throw stumbling blocks in the path of this President and these awesome troops daily - starting with the BYLINE on this article _AP and their pals, trolling for victims, sowing dissent, misreporting on the war daily, partisan Senators on Capitol Hill intentionally preventing our troops from getting what they need to do the job, former Presidents and a sitting US Senator talking with current leaders of nations that opposed our war in Iraq, pledging their loyalty - and that of the Democratic Party - to global socialist international organizations - over the US military - even as the SOD and the Pres worked full time to shore up promised troops and $$$ aid from foreign nations who now used the AMERICAN Party of the Democrats as an excuse to pull back their own support - especially since the nations of the world - fed BS from day one - now believe that our valiant warriors awesome work in Iraq is a failure.

Shame on the lot of us for choosing to believe those who parroted Baghdad Bob and defended a mass-murderer while finding every opportunity to condemn those doing the hard work in Iraq.

You think THIS President wanted to give the UN anything???? Didn't you know that only a pro-socialist administration gets help from the UN?

Americans are buying the press lies. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee - now minus Jesse Helms - is condemning the GOOD Generals and pushing for UN involvement.

The world won't back a failure. Our victors are being sold out by a non-vigilant citizenry and an enemy press.

"In general,
the biggest shortcoming
from Iraq to Afghanistan
is not
the accomplishment of the mission
as much as
it is
getting the word out about
the successes we're achieving every day
.

"  -  Gen. Richard Myers, 8/05/03

8 Unapologetically Pro-Coalition News Links and Articles

18 posted on 08/14/2003 8:21:43 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl (~149,999 US troops won hearts and kicked butt w/ their fallen brother yesterday: www.centcom.mil)
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To: LindaSOG
Linda, thank you for the ping. YES, of course the troops deserve everything they need while in harm's way and forever after.

Please, read the briefings - we are being sold out around the globe and in our own nation by greedy ambitious pols who want our efforts to fail and want the troops unhappy - the number one way to turn Americans against the President for political purposes at home.

There are many leach groups attached to our military as well - for partisan purposes who would like nothing better to put each story front and center 'til Nov. 2004.

Be careful who's work you're doing, and who's the real target of this hit piece.

19 posted on 08/14/2003 8:27:21 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl (~149,999 US troops won hearts and kicked butt w/ their fallen brother yesterday: www.centcom.mil)
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To: LindaSOG
Indeed, we can make a difference - and should.
20 posted on 08/14/2003 8:27:49 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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