Injured Iraq Vets Come Home to Poverty

[saigon68]

Injured Iraq Vets Come Home to Poverty

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/IraqCoverage/story?id=163109&page=1

Oct. 14, 2004 -- Following inquiries by ABC News, the Pentagon has dropped plans to force a severely wounded U.S. soldier to repay his enlistment bonus after injuries had forced him out of the service.

Army Spc. Tyson Johnson III of Mobile, Ala., who lost a kidney in a mortar attack last year in Iraq, was still recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center when he received notice from the Pentagon's own collection agency that he owed more than $2,700 because he could not fulfill his full 36-month tour of duty.

Johnson had been flying high last September, after being promoted from Army private first class to specialist in a field ceremony in Iraq. Inspired by his father's naval background to join the military after high school, Tyson planned a career in the military and the promotion was just the first step. But only a week after the ceremony took place, a mortar round exploding outside his tent brought him quickly back to Earth.

"It was like warm water running down my arms," he said. "But it was warm blood." In addition to the lost kidney, shrapnel damaged Johnson's lung and heart, and entered the back of his head. Field medical reports said he was not expected to live more than 72 hours

Its the Rumsfelt Collection fund "To attack Iran next Project".

[JusticeForAll]

1. Bush's Injured Veterans know the Truth

It is unfortunate these former troops have suffered in order to realize the hypocrisy of the system that will "serve" them for the rest of their lives. Valued while in, trashed when out.

I hope that the military's current troops can learn from the vets that Bush just doesn't care about them when they are used and spat out from the system.

[Carla in Ca]

2. I stayed up late tonight to watch the Nightline video

And I also heard about this sad story on the mistreatment of our soldiers. What in the hell is going on? And more importantly, what are we going to do about it?
Who in their right mind would approve reimbursement of a bonus and go even further and make a collection account out of it? I am so absolutely angry right now!
What can we do to get this out?

[xxqqqzme]

3. well, that story just went 2

about 70 people who will B equally outraged!

[Bullshot]

4. And how many times have we heard Bush talk about how he

values our soldiers. This is one of the biggest lies Bush has spewed in the debates and on the campaign trail. And the librul media hardly ever call him out on it.

[mom cat]

5. This is *'s PAYGO policy...You go, you pay!

[saigon68]

6. kick

[gratuitous]

7. In wars past . . .

Specialist Johnson probably would have been killed. Advances in treatment of the wounded keep the number of deaths down, but realistically, what will Mr. Johnson do for the rest of his life? He is 23 years old.

[Blue_Tires]

21. makes me think of "Johnny got his gun"

[underpants]

8. I posted this in GD with no responses

This beyond sad. They wanted his enlistment bonus back? He didn't get hurt enough for their tastes?

The comment about guys saying that their families would be better off if they had died is just terrible.

Thanks for posting this saigon68

[Mizmoon]

17. Most people are hanging out in the campaign room

or here. I wouldn't take it as non-intrest in the subject, or a slight against you :)

[underpants]

20. Oh no I didn't

But it really isn't a GD2004 article and I wasn't sure if it was LBN (it is but I saw the report last night)

Anyway :kick:

This is really unbelieveable.

[underpants]

9. Kick

Too important to let slide.

[johnnie]

10. I came back from lunch at work just now

Another engineer had put this story on my seat for me to read. The supervisor just told me about 5 minutes ago that this story was the deciding factor for the guy who gave me this story to go with Kerry. He was undecided up until about a half hour ago.
I am trying to stomach reading the rest of this.

[saigon68]

11. Its very disgusting

Those of us who fight for Veteran's rights can tell you this behavior is the NORM rather than the exception.

[underpants]

12. I have to give the General a lot of credit for at least speaking out

Good for him.

[Karenina]

16. Ya know, Saigon68

The "used-up dishrag" is as American as apple pie. One need look no further than Monday night football. Should a player be injured, he's DEAD MEAT. It's the ultimate expression of the "throw-away" society.
I witnessed it with the return of Vietnam Vets in the 70's. Many who "survived" are STILL on the streets 30 FUCKING YEARS LATER. Who cares?

[proud patriot]

13. This is an OUTRAGE ! ! !

:mad:

[Laughing Mirror]

14. The Pentagon Collection Agency

Bet a lot of people didn't even know there was such a thing. A tenacious bunch too. They go after that money. Wounded soldiers are expected to pay twice with their lives, yet one more time. The article didn't state this, but if the Collection Agency can't wring the last penny out of the soldier who happens to die IN DEBT to the Pentagon (as incredible as this alone may seem), the Pentagon goes after his wife for the money.

[qwlauren35]

18. Question...

Die in the normal course of life? Or die in combat?

If a death in combat doesn't absolve a family of a debt to the Pentagon, I don't know what does...

[Laughing Mirror]

19. In my mother's case, 25 years after my father's combat (WW2)

for massive VA hospital bills he incurred in the final years of his life.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. Excuse me? Don't we owe HIM?

I guess they won't hear this story on FUX.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

22. War becomes the ultimate drug addiction. Drunk on Glory and Fantasy.

"I love being a soldier," Kelly said. "I don't regret what happened. If I had to go back to Iraq knowing that there was that chance of losing my leg, I'd do it. Because that's what the nation asked me to do."

There is a unique mixture of fantasy, pragmatism, self-sacrifice, and self-aggrandizement in every soldier.

Sadly, the fantasy spun by the neo-con-job-ers is a tough one to expose to those swept up in the violence and needing myth to maintain sanity.

[donkeyotay]

23. Well, I didn't even know there was a Pentagon Collection Agency

You don't suppose they go after defense contractors, do you?

It is beyond my comprehension that these people could be willing to serve, be used so badly and then have salt thrown on their wounds. The pseudo-patriots, FUX network, used to constantly have a banner up (I don't know if they still do) that said, "The Cost of Freedom." I always wondered what the f' they meant by that. Is this it? Is it a cost the smug bastards who think they own it all pass on to the used up?

[mbperrin]

24. Kick

I'm speechless.