Wounded Iraq Vet Pays Price Again

[Barrett808]

Source: KIRO 7

Wounded Iraq Vet Pays Price Again
By Essex Porter
EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. -- A Washington state Marine pays the price in Iraq.

His war wounds forced him from the service, so why does the military want him to pay back thousands of dollars?

Fred Ball still has the piece of shrapnel that could have killed him.

"This is the actual main piece that was lodged in my right temple," Ball said.

...he got a $40,000 severance check from the Marines -- less than a year's worth of his sergeant's pay.

But because he now gets benefits from the Veterans Administration, the law requires that he pay his severance check back.

Read more: http://www.kirotv.com/news/13348716/detail.html

[Lone_Star_Dem]

1. This is not how this should be done.

From the article:

"They way they figure out the math, it's going to take around three years for me to pay this off."

Each month, the Veterans Administration withholds 80 percent of his disability check -- paying him just barely $300 to take care of his family.

That's why -- despite his injuries -- Ball works 16-hour days at a packing crate factory to pay the bills.
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Is this supporting the troops? Or does that feel good statement only apply until their bodies and minds have been used up in battle, after that they're as disposable as a Dixie cup?

[Monkeyman]

2. Yep this is happening

[benddem]

3. warn anyone you know

getting out of the military DO NOT TAKE THE LUMP SUM PAYMENT. If you get VA disability they will take it from you with a vengeance.

[saigon68]

4. They will empty your bank accounts with a garnishment

They will seize your tax refund---(if any)

[magellan]

5. Another great example

...of how the government supports the troops.

:puke: