"This Is How Bush Brings The Troops Home" Please help our soldiers!

[Tinoire]

Monica Benderman, who posts along with her husband Kevin, under the name of monicab (see my sig link for a thread) asked me to post this here... It is a cry for help from another military wife. It was meant to be part of this thread (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3858179 and I posted it there) but in view of the effect this had on me, I really wanted to create a separate thread for it.

We can't fail our soldiers! They are our brothers, our sisters, our nephews, nieces, fathers, mothers, friends...

Please- regardless of how you felt about this war, how you feel about it now, how you feel about occupation- please read this and think about how this is affecting an entire generation. Please read this and see if there's anything you can do, any support you can give.

It was heart-breaking to post this.


Kevin, Monica, Dawn-Marie and David Beals :toast:

I pray you all have strength to get through this. I am ashamed of what our country has done & is doing to you.

======================

THIS IS HOW BUSH BRINGS THE TROOPS HOME:




BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!



An Army Where You Are Lied To, Mistreated, Over Worked And Under Paid Only To Be Told That You Are Pieces Of Crap

From: Dawn Marie Beals

To: GI Special

Sent: June 10, 2005

He told my husband that he was going to deploy that week if he had to go from the hospital to the plane in shackles and chains.

All I can do is ask you to help my Soldier and all other Soldiers in his situation. And I can just pray that someone will finally stand up and take responsibility before he becomes another statistic of an American suicide in Iraq.

June 9, 2005


Dear Congressman,

My name is Dawn Marie Beals. I am the wife of SPC. David Beals, Bravo Company, 3rd Forward Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Ft. Stewart, Georgia.

Previously Fox Company, 2-7 Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division

I am writing this letter in concern for my Soldier as well as the thousand other Soldiers suffering the way my husband has and is currently suffering.

My husband is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to Balad, Iraq.

My husband suffers from Combat Stress Disorder.

This is his second deployment with the 3rd Infantry Division to Iraq. He has suffered with this horrible disease since August 2003. On 7 January 2005 my husband tried to take his own life.

That night after having received treatment and stabilized at a local hospital his superiors had him transferred to Winn Army Medical Center and admitted him into the psychiatric ward. He was admitted to Winn under a suicide watch in fear he would try to take his life again. My husband has had many symptoms showing that he was suicidal and that he was suffering from CSD.

He had asked his superiors on numerous occasions for help and tried to speak with them about what he was feeling. To no avail he was never helped.

In the weeks leading up to this incident I had myself called and spoke to Chaplains regarding my husband and my fear that he was to the point of being verbally abused by his superiors and suffering from this disease that I thought he may try to take his own life and I was worried for his safety as well as the safety of others around him.

In the hospital his team chief openly admitted to CSM William Grant that my husband had shown signs and had asked for help.

He said that my husband was a great Soldier who never got into trouble and who had just passed the promotion board to be promoted to Sgt. Effective 1 February 2005. He admitted that Soldiers were being told things and treated very badly by the Platoon Leader whom we had already made numerous complaints against.

Yet, no one investigated them and still has not to this day.

When my husband was at Winn, before even being properly evaluated he was told by Dr. Capp, that he was just malingering like all of the rest to get out of the deployment and that he would be charged with malingering.

He told my husband that he was going to deploy that week if he had to go from the hospital to the plane in shackles and chains.

Now, tell me is this how we are now treating our Veterans? If, so we should be ashamed. He was not even properly evaluated or counseled before receiving such accusations and marks.

These Drs do not know my husband, they have not been in combat where he had been. Who are they to make the decision of if he is malingering before they even know who he is?

Another physician who evaluated my husband wrote that he suffered from Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety with the disturbance of mood, emotion, and conduct. On 11 January my husband was picked up by one of his Non Commissioned Officers to go home to pack his bags so that he could deploy. Yes, deploy only 4 days after attempting suicide.

My husband went AWOL that day. He stated that he felt like he wouldn't make it if he deployed with the people who wouldn't help him and didn't feel at this time he could do it. He stated he didn't have a problem with going back but felt he needed and as a Veteran deserved help first.

Now, he stayed gone 9 days, but from day 1 he stayed in continuous contact with his Commander D. Tavares, telling him that all he wanted was the help he needed before they threw him on a plane and this escalated more than it already had. He stated he felt numb, like he had no control and just felt like he couldn't take it anymore.

He made several statements he font felt he wanted to crawl in a hole and die.

He stated to Cpt. Tavares that he was concerned with his mental well being and said he felt that he needed treatment and did not think that he could make it thru another deployment again without such. He then on his own returned himself to his Commander at Ft. Stewart. He was told he would receive treatment before being made to deploy. That he could stay as long as mental health felt he needed treatment.

Now, my husband went to his counselor Mrs. Barnett, she said that he suffered from CSD and needed to be in her treatment program which would run into April so he would have to stay at least thru then for the treatment. She also sent us home with pamphlets on ways to cope with CSD and Depression etc. She asked him what his Commander would need to keep him here. Cpt. Tavares said a phone call will work.

Mrs. Barnett called Cpt. Tavares on 22 February 2005. My husband never heard a response from anyone regarding his mental health class, so I sent an email and asked Cpt. Tavares if she had contacted him. He said yes, she had called and he would deploy on 15 March 2005, that he could get his treatment for this disease in 2 weeks instead of the 5 weeks she had told him he would need.

My husband was given an Article 15, he lost his promotion to Sergeant and he has been tagged by his subordinates as someone who went AWOL. They punished him under UCMJ, AFTER he went AWOL for being threatened by Doctors, never helped by his NCOs, trying to commit suicide and STILL mistreated as if some common criminal.

Is this how you as a Congressman think our Veterans should be treated.

Because my husband is not the first and will not be the last Veteran to be treated this way by the 3rd Infantry Division.

My husband was deployed to the same individuals who would not help him in the beginning. Only 2 months after attempting to take his own life, put on a plane to deploy to these individuals and still VERY suicidal.

When he was received in country, he had comments made to him by 1SG D. McClinton, that Rear Detachment had lied to him (He was given written order when he deployed he would not have to go back to this company.)

Now, he was also ignored by the other Soldiers in country. Then when he confronted one of the Soldiers as to why he had no friends when just 2 months prior he had many. The Soldier stated that the Platoon Sgt had held a briefing before his arrival informing them that he had ran off and went AWOL and that he was a loose cannon and everyone was to stay away from him.

AGAIN, is this how we are now treating our Veterans?

Yet, he left out the suicide part that they had no idea about, or the CSD, or anything else that had happened in the last 2 months. Just that he had ran so he didn't have to deploy.

Then he was put in a talk, to sit because they didn't think he should be in the motor pool. The 1SG would pop his head in and out regularly and ask if he was ok, "you aren't going to hurt yourself are you?" and laugh and leave the room. Did everyone forget?

He wasn't running, he was asking for help and scared and no one would do as they should have and helped him? Since when is the Soldier the common criminal? He asked for help, no one would help, he got scared and ran. Why is this the Soldiers fault? This is the Commanders fault, the 1SG's fault, the NCOs' fault. This Soldier was not a bad Soldier, he had not been in trouble, they were promoting him. HE JUST NEEDED HELP.

Finally after receiving emails from my husband stating he wanted to crawl in a hole and die and the kids and I were the only thing that made him not want to die I emailed numerous people and spoke with plenty, but no one eager to help.

So, finally after getting in contact with CSM Dixon of the 3rd FSB, I stated the situation to him and he sent out orders for the Command to pack my husband up and move him out. He was to be transferred to where the Division mental health would be. He could receive mental health treatment, be under a new Command etc. He said that it was deemed a rehabilitative transfer. My husband was transferred from Tikrit to Balad, Iraq, where he is currently still stationed.

After getting to Balad, he was finally able to see a mental health Dr. The Dr. prescribed him medications and asked how he was deployed to begin with. He also set up regularly scheduled visits.

Now, that's a good question? How was he deployed? How was he punished when in the Dr's own words he had disturbance of mood, emotion and CONDUCT? Should a Soldier be punished and lose promotions, face and the worth of his name because he was mentally unstable? And it is confirmed? Is this the way our Soldiers should be treated?

When my husband went AWOL he had a flag placed on his personnel file for adverse action, the day the punishment he received was imposed the flag should have been lifted.

Yet, the Command failed to do this as well.
The flag was not lifted until last week when I finally once again made a trip to visit Ft. Stewart.

My husband even appealed his Article 15, yet the Commander never forwarded this paperwork to the Major for his review and never gave my husband a final copy of such appeal or Article 15.

My husband has been told in the past few weeks that he was going to be sent back to the Company he came from, because the Command cannot find where his Article 15 went to show he actually was punished and that his old command will promote him to Sgt.

And just punish him again for the incident as a Sgt.

Once, again I believe I have gotten this cleared up as well, but how long is the administration going to allow for our Soldiers to be treated this way?

How many more Soldiers have to be mistreated and take there own lives in Iraq and raise the statistics before someone will say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Help them, don't hurt them. My husband will probably never receive a promotion to SGT while he remains at Ft. Stewart because he has been tagged not for his disease but for AWOL. That is all anyone sees. Even though under Army Regulations my husband's incident nor his punishment should have ever went forward to his new company. It is to be left at the old company.

If the Commanders had kept there mouths shut and did there jobs then at least he would have some peace in having a fair chance to get a rehabilitative start, but they took it upon themselves to gossip and forewarn the new Command. He is a good Soldier, with a good track record. So, why is he the criminal?

The DOD states that new guidelines mandate counseling for Soldiers immediately before and after deployment to a combat zone. A third counseling is required 3-5 months after deployment as well. My husband did not receive this treatment or we would not be where we are today. In this mess.

Maybe someone should spend their money on a poll of the Soldiers with the 3rd Infantry Division to find out just how many did receive this treatment. Being that there is already a inquiry into medical records being changed at the hands of the Command so that mentally unfit Soldiers can deploy.

No wonder the Army cannot recruit new Soldiers.

Why would anyone want to be in an Army where you are lied to, mistreated, over worked and under paid only to be told that you are pieces of crap.

To be told by your platoon leaders that half of you will not return home from war and that they don't want to have to deal with shipping your Sh** back home to your families.

Why would anyone want to sign up for that I ask myself.

Yet, after everything my husband still wants to be a Soldier. He is the better man. So, I am asking you. When is enough enough and when are Congressman, Senators, Democrats, Republicans, The President and the American People going to start holding the true criminals accountable for their actions instead of the Soldiers with only good marks who need help and never receive it.

So, I am asking you today to inquire into the conduct in this case and situation at Ft. Stewart, Ga.


I am asking that you help the Soldiers who should not have to suffer anymore from something they have no control over.

Help this Soldier get the promotion he deserves, help him get the treatment for his illness that he deserves.

If nothing else, why not offer him a suicidal compassionate re-assignment. When his Commander knew he was being honest and was not lying about his emotions, why not give this Soldier that option instead of punishing him? And yes, it is an option, it works the same as a compassionate re-assignment, except it is just for Soldier who have attempted suicide.

All I can do is ask you to help my Soldier and all other Soldiers in his situation. And I can just pray that someone will finally stand up and take responsibility before he becomes another statistic of an American suicide in Iraq.

Very Sincerely,

Dawn Marie Beals

"In war there are no un-wounded Soldiers"



From: Dawn Marie Beals

To: GI Special

Sent: June 10, 2005


"I don't care what I have to do, I want to and will protect my husband" DM in Savannah Morning News.



I wish I could go and personally bring them all home! Thanks T

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. I nominated for GREATEST page, but her letter should be a

front page article

[understandinglife]

3. Agree.

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us - Please, everyone, don't stop at 500,000 signatures; don't stop at 10,000,000 signatures; don't stop until Bush and the neoconsters are indicted and prosecuted for their heinous crimes against humanity and our Constitution.

[Karenina]

14. What will it take?

SCREAM AS LOUD AS YOU CAN, DAWN. There are countless souls worldwide reading your words who HAVE YOUR BACK, be it in thought prayer or whatever support you require. SCREAM that more will hear. May Kitty Genovese's fate NEVER be repeated. SCREAM!!! The force is with you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. It will take this on the front page of EVERY FUCKING

paper in this country.

It will take this being on the top of the news of EVERY newscast

You think they will suspend fake news for real news?

[Tinoire]

18. Good idea... Do you want to give it a go?

Maybe work on something together? Or even better yet, with Monica?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

38. I would be happy to assist

but I think Dawn's letter stands just fine on its own merits and is quite powerful

[Tinoire]

39. Ok... I'll see if we can get in touch with her...

Write a short introductory blurb to run past her and post her letter as it stands.

What will it take to stop this madness??!!

Btw, I do apologize for a certain snitty post 2-3 months back :blush:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

41. No worries

I've always appreciated you. ;-)

[babylonsister]

2. Boy, Mrs. Beals' pain, anger and

frustration are so obvious and real. My heart bleeds for her, her husband, and everyone in similar situations. :cry:

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[LevelB]

5. That is way out of line.

These people are being asked to do the impossible. They deserve our sympathy and support, now and when they try to reintegrate back into society.

B.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[FreedomAngel82]

9. So why don't you attack George Bush?

Hmm? The soilders didn't ask for this war! They ARE following orders and anybody who doesn't get that is cruel! This man went AWOL because he DIDN'T want to fight this war and look how they're treating him! Like he's a criminal! I thought what you said NYPagan was rude and disrespectful and heartless! How would you feel if you had a family relative who was called those names?

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[kliljedahl]

26. I missed that, what did that asshole say?

I'm almost afraid to find out. Have you got the user name? Inquiring minds need to know.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[tallahasseedem]

13. You are completely out of line.

Try talking to a soldier, its not like that. Dont forget the demographics that make up the military. Poor folks who had no other option.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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[monicab]

19. I am wondering if

you have ever served in the military? It's an interesting life. I am also wondering, only because I would have no way of knowing, when you felt strongly certain without doubt, that this war was wrong. I would also wonder what made you that certain, when it did.

Soldiers volunteer these days.. and once they sign on the dotted line.. it's not just volunteering to serve to defend their country.. it's something they don't learn until it's too late. Soldiers volunteer to give up their lives for their country.. before there is even the threat that their lives will be endangered by guns and missiles. When a soldier goes to basic training, the process of tearing him down begins. His individuality is forced into dark recesses of his sub-conscious, and over a period of time he becomes part of a unit which becomes defined as his family, and his family is relegated to second and third place. Until a soldier is married, or becomes an NCO, he must live in barracks on post, and he is subject to orders for just about everything he does, from maintaining his barracks room, to what he wears, to when he sleeps. Most enlisted soldiers are not paid enough to be able to handle a car payment, so many don't have a way off post to interact with the community they live near. On the installation everything a soldier or family member could need is available. Doctors, dentists, churches, grocery stores, furniture stores, department stores, liquor stores, gas stations, fast food restaurants and sit-down restaurants, daycare centers, schools for children up to the age of high school, gyms for kids' sports and adult workout programs, arts and crafts centers, tire stores, auto repair centers... there's a wastewater treatment facility, a landfill, playgrounds... everything. There is even an on-post newspaper. NOW... when a soldier is part of this.. and they have joined trusting in the belief that he is there to defend his country.. DEFEND.. it... and he is told to trust his commanders all the way to the commander in chief.. and that there is nothing he needs to know except what they tell them.

NOW.. once in combat.. a soldier's first responsibility is to protect himself and those he serves with. When they have not had access to the general public, when they have missiles and guns coming at them from every direction, and they are thousands of miles away from home with only the command who has told the soldier to trust them in a position to help the soldier when he needs it... AND.. that soldier comes to learn after a time that what he is doing is NOT defending the country.. that it is NOT what he was told... it's not the easiest thing to step back and say NO.

These soldiers are in the middle of defending their lives on a daily 24/7 basis. NOW.. we can't defend every soldier because not all soldiers come to terms with what they are doing being wrong.. but we have to ask that, before you pass judgment.. PLEASE look at things from their eyes. Most soldiers don't want to be doing what they are doing. Most soldiers do not shoot children.. most soldiers would do anything to avoid killing.. NOT ALL SOLDIERS CARE... but more do than we hear about. Most soldiers do not want to be part of this any longer.. most soldiers need the people in AMERICA to fight hard to get them home.. because they are fighting hard to stay alive long enough to get home.

MONICA BENDERMAN

[Tinoire]

24. Thanks for such a civil & heartfelt explanation

I'm embarrassed you saw that post because, as you can see by the immediate reaction of other posters, it is NOT the opinion of the overwhelming majority of posters here.

I have no idea who that poster is but oftentimes we have freepers who register here to post outrageous comments like that in order to discredit this site. After posting their stupid, ugly comments, they run back to their sewer-buddies to share the "shocking" post they found here as they drone on and on about how disgusting the Left is.

When you can't find anything- just manufacture it I guess :shrug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Monica most people who speak the way

this person did... have no clue...

They don't have a clue.... and this is the huge blind spot in the left... one that we will have to overcome as we embrace our troops, our soldiers.

[cry baby]

8. That is so mean!!!!

These soldiers deserve our help.

Jeeeeezzzz:mad:

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cry baby]

16. Get off your high horse, I want our troops home where they belong,

with their families. Not in a country that our selected prez wants to conquer. The troops were lied to, just like congress was lied to, just like we were lied to. They thought going to war was in our national interest.

I wish like hell we hadn't gone and ruined so many lives in Iraq. I hate this war for what it has done to so many thousands of lives, theirs and ours.

You are right when you say that it is a national shame. It will taint the USA forever, in my view.

BTW - they are not killing in MY name.

Edit: I see the poster I was responding to was deleted. :)

[Tinoire]

17. Absolutely unbelievable

Let me guess, you never served a damn day in the military did you?

That was an incredibly insensitive and ugly sentiment. Most of the soldiers over there are DECENT people who never harmed anyone until they were ordered to do so thanks to the bipartisan complicity of rotten politicians and the breath-taking stupidity of freepers everywhere.

BRING THEM HOME NOW!!! and then please dear Lord, do something with the stupid freepers.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. It's so disgusting

how they are treated. And here the rightwing is supposed to "support our troops" but they really could give a damn how they treat them whether they are fighting in Iraq or elsewhere or returning home they're treated horribly. I hate how George Bush is treating them and those who don't make it back a live. Sneaking them in like it's some sort of dirty secret. Instead why aren't they being honored and having the best care? Instead George Bush and his republican neocon friends give the wealthy tax cuts while families are suffering. Late last year I read from ABC I believe an article where more soliders are returning home to poverty. This is how you repay a human being who gave up their life to go and fight for their lies? At least they should be treating them with the respect they deserve when it isn't a photo-op!

[monicab]

11. From Monica and Kevin

We want to thank everyone in DU for the support we all are receiving.

On behalf of Dawn and David... we can assure you.. we have only just begun to fight. I am going to pass the link to this thread along to Dawn so that she can post here as well.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.. as I posted in the first thread linked by Tinoire, Kevin and David Beals serve in the same unit in the 3rd ID. Kevin and I were contacted by Dawn on Jan 7th because of what was happening to her husband. We told her then, please let David know that "Kevin has his back" and he will continue to for as long as needed. What is being done by this command is beyond belief, and it doesn't stop with Kevin or David. There are many soldiers who are not quite ready to speak out about what they have experienced with this command... and most of those who have done what they have to David, are the very same people who are the prosecution witnesses in Kevin's case. It would take an entire thread of writing to go back to a year ago when the travesty that is this unit formed and the nightmare began. It didn't matter who things were reported to, it always came back to that person reporting to the command, and telling the command to "shape up". Once they were out of earshot.. the command did nothing... except to find a way to punish the soldiers further. There were days when this command actually ordered the soldiers to report to formation after lunch (1330 to 1400 hrs.) and then would not come to formation to relieve them for another hour or more... soldiers and their wives did some investigating and soon learned that while the command was making their unit remain in formation, they were enjoying the free lunchtime bowling with every lunch purchased at the on post bowling alley (championship lanes even... there are PBA tournaments held here.) Soldiers could join them, as long as they were willing to turn a blind eye to their command's indecencies.

There is so much... but we have time, and we have the truth... it will come out. We have no doubt.

Monica B.

[Tinoire]

22. Monica- this is so appalling!

It hurts me to think that so many officers/NCOs in the military have sunk this low... To leave soldiers standing in a formation while they went to free lunchtime BOWLING? And worse yet to drag subordinate soldiers along for their wrong-doing?

I'll e-mail you later because I'm swamped right now.

Courage Kevin and Monica! Courage to Dawn Marie and to David! Courage to the many soldiers of the 3rd ID and in other units where they are NOT being cared for. Oh this makes me SO MAD :mad:

[monicab]

33. OH THERE'S MORE....

How about the staff sgt. who served as the team chief for the motor pool? These soldiers were training during the months of Jan, Feb, and Mar. last year, for two weeks every month. Where they train is basically swamp and pine forest in the areas surrounding Ft. Stewart. It rains here... quite a bit during that time. The entire battalion was training for a two week period in Feb. The staff sgt. wanted to do anything except go to the field. (this is the same staff sgt. who ran a computer business on the side... from the motor pool offices.) While his soldiers stayed in the field for the entire two weeks.. this staff sgt. waited until the commanders left the field for the day and drove home to his family and slept in his bed.. then got up and returned to the field before the first morning formation and the commanders arrived for the day. When the soldiers questioned him about it.. his response was that for the next training period, they could alternate nights to return home. He, of course, would still return home every night.

[Tinoire]

40. Wow. Things have indeed.... slipped!

How totally demoralizing for the soldiers... The complicity is appalling. You have to wonder how long such NCOs would last on the battlefield. I'd have no pity...

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. does the word fragging come to mind?

I know it does, I know it does....

The fact that we already had a case of fragging (they are not calling it this way) of the opeartions officer and company commander speaks volumes of where we are... and it makes my stomach turn

[Tinoire]

48. Yes... Sadly, it was the first thing that came to mind n/t

[bobbieinok]

20. so totally sickening......remember Mari333(?) of DU?????

son ill but returned to Iraq......and with all the stress her husband died

this adm just doesn't care about soldiers as people......lower level people wouldn't act this way if these actions were not condoned by superiors

[KG]

21. shameless

:kick:

[G_j]

23. sickening

I'm left speechless once again.
:cry:

[Tinoire]

25. That's how I felt. I was crying as I formatted that

feeling that poor woman's pain and her husband's despair.

I. Hate. Hate. Hate with a force few can imagine. This. MF-ing War.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. You shall know them by how they treat their veterans

George Washington....

[Tinoire]

30. Kissinger spelled out what they think (quote)

"Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy."

—Henry Kissinger, quoted in "Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW's in Vietnam"

:puke:

Just gives you the warm fuzzies doesn't it?

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. Yes especially since he WAS a troop in WW II

damn them to hell, all of them

[Coexist]

29. Heartbreaking story...

what can we do to help?

[monicab]

34. You're already doing it...

by letting us post here.. and tell the truth. it's just beginning, but the floodgates are opening one trickle at a time.

We need people to listen, and to hear what we say. We need people to learn just what the military has become, and to try to understand why it is so hard for soldiers to say NO.. to even know that they can say NO. It's beyond corrupt.. it's insane... diseased.

The problem is too many soldiers and their wives are too young to have the experience to know what to do or where to turn.

We also need people to understand.. it's not just the soldiers. For every soldier who returns with PTSD, with wounds that will never heal, with physical wounds that hide the inner anguish - there is a wife, a mother, a child who faces the result of what this war has done.

DEHUMANIZING... every one of us is facing the dehumanizing effects of war.

That is why Kevin is speaking out, and I will fight just as hard along with him, to stop war.

THERE IS NO ONE who wins.. no matter what our administration says.

NO ONE WINS.. until war stops.. for good.

[LuPeRcALiO]

35. I thought this was supposed to be a volunteer army.

It sounds more like a chain gang.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. I married my husbvand six years ago

He was a PO1 back then. That was ONE military... after 9.11 we both saw teh military change in front of our eyes... and the Navy it was not that radical... the Army and the Marines, all bets were off and no disention in the ranks was tolerated.

In the service they even had disucsions when interment came to be a topic... he suspects (and so do I) that the only reason why Muslim Americans did not face Internment Camps was that they were facing a revolt among the NCOs and many officers if they did... most of those people were senior enough they are now retiring for those who can are going hell no.

When yuo have good leadership any military force shines... when you have the scum we have right now... well what can I say?

[LuPeRcALiO]

37. And 9/11 could have been so easily prevented.

But it wasn't, and now Bush thinks he's earning "capital" from his stupid failed immoral war. Amazing how much damage one admnistration can do.

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. I know, I know

nothign like waking up to my sister's hysterical ramblings on 9.11, she was in San diego, I was in Hawaii...

At that instant I knew we were at war...

[oxbow]

44. I wish Monica or Dawn could speak at Conyers' hearing tomorrow

Every single news channel is going to be there, from what I hear. I would talk to him anyway. Or perhaps one of those congressmen who started the bring our troops home amendment.

[cynatnite]

45. At a local restaurant my family and I go to on occasion...

There is a large coffee can near the register. They are asking for donations for the large contigent of national guard which have been sent to Iraq.

I've debated on donating. I want our troops to have what they need in order to survive and come back home safely. On the other hand I can't in good conscience support this war.

My husband suggested putting a check in the can that basically says the best support for our soldiers we can offer is to bring them home. We're going there this weekend and doing it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. Suporting the troops does not equate suporting the war

send those troops foot powder... the worst we can do is seem to reject them... when we do that, they are more easily manipulated by a right wing willing to do that

Oh and insist that legislation is pased to protect those troops when they come home

Demand the VA remains open

They shall be judged by how they treat their veterans, George Washington

[monicab]

47. supporting the soldiers...

When Kevin deployed, I knew that I needed to support him, but I couldn't support war - not this war. We talked about how we felt before he left. I knew he had mixed feelings.. but he had taken an oath to defend his country (which at the time he thought he was doing) and more importantly, he felt a duty to see that the soldiers he served with were kept safe. I believe that is an underlying factor that keeps many from leaving and saying NO, now. Soldiers have to reconcile that by stepping away and following their conscience, they are not leaving their fellow soldiers. The soldiers there now are protecting each other. They don't know who to trust anymore.. and every day that they are there without a positive, caring support from us, they fall deeper into the darkness that living and breathing combat brings. They just want to get home.. and they are holding on to what they remember home being.

Even while I could not support the war, I did everything I could to support Kevin. Boxes were sent weekly, foot powder, powdered drink mixes to make the warm water taste better, canned meat to replace the MRE's.. new sox and t-shirts.. magazines, books and current newspapers, and pictures from home. I wrote to him every day and made sure that I was available 24/7 for when he called.. even telling clients that I would leave a meeting if he called... they always understood. Supporting him did not mean that I condoned the war... it meant that I would do everything I could to keep him comfortable and help him, through the madness, to remember that he did have a home that was safe.. and it was waiting for him. I think we all have to do that for the soldiers. I fought hard against this war here in the states, the entire time that Kevin was gone, but I didn't fight against him because he learned by being there that he never would be part of that again. Maybe that is what our soldiers are learning now. If they can just get home safely, and bring their fellow soldiers home safely too.. they can say no.. and not return. Once they are aware of how many back here really do feel about all of this, and once they know that they have a place to talk about their feelings without being considered a COWARD.. more will open up and more will say no. But they have to know that they can heal. We won't reach everyone.. there are some who will never change their mind about killing and war.. and being a warrior.

There's a difference between being a pacifist and saying no to aggression.. and being a soldier and saying NO to wanton killing. Conscientious Objection is an objection to war and the destructive acts involved. It should not preclude the objector's right to defend his family and home if attacked, with the amount of force necessary to protect what is his. In this war, Conscientious Objection has become an "obligation" it seems. If a soldier is morally strong, he must question what he's been asked to do. It may not be something that he thought about before he saw combat, but once a volunteer soldier has seen a tour of duty in this war, there is almost an obligation for a soldier who stands on his moral integrity, to say that he will not volunteer for another tour in a conflict with no justification.

Conscientious Objection is the only legal way for a soldier to separate from the military when he knows that what is being done is wrong. In the current military interpretation, there is very little chance for someone to be accepted as a conscientious objector. Kevin and others like him are not pacifists. They just have the moral fortitude to say that they will not be a part of what they know to be wrong. We need to give them that option. By making that option available to soldiers, more will stop fighting, and more will say no to future attempts at similar conflicts. We will do whatever it takes to see that our family is safe, but we won't strike first and we won't shoot to kill unless there is no other choice. THAT should be the essence of the beliefs of the new Conscientious Objector.

We just need to get these soldiers home.. and we need to be prepared for what we will face when they do come home. BUT most importantly.. soldiers and their families need people to listen and know that we are trying to learn how to balance taking care of our families and our communities, defending our constitution.. and at the same time protect ourselves from those who would choose to abuse our service and disregard our humanity. We can't do it alone. We would gladly defend a country that was willing to defend us when we need it to. Soldiers from many wars have done what they could do keep us safe.. and families of soldiers have been there through the sacrifice, giving themselves because they love their soldier. In this war, soldiers have been abused. Just like an abused wife or child who knows they are in trouble, but needs help to get free - the soldiers know.. but they are so busy fighting for their lives, they can't also fight to get free. We have to do that for them. To honor the soldiers we should do what we can to see that they know that home has not forgotten them... but we need to fight like HE** to get them home.

[meganmonkey]

49. Just want to thank you and Kevin

We need people like you who are experiencing this directly and are willing to be vocal about it.

You are heroes. I pray for the best for you!

:patriot:

[monicab]

50. We want to thank you...

for giving us a forum by which we can do what we want to do... support the soldiers who need your help.

i have forwarded the link to this thread to Dawn.. i'm sure she will respond and appreciate everything you are doing.

she thought she had things covered with a congressman in her own hometown here in GA.. her husband is actually from Oregon. she learned yesterday that the congressman's office, after many phone calls, emails and paperwork, determined that they were not in the right district and could not help them.

i have already connected Dawn with a very good investigative journalist in Oregon, who will start the ball rolling on his end to get this in the news. any other help would be greatly appreciated.

Kevin and I appreciate your help... we have learned that we can save many more soldiers by speaking out here.. than any could be saved by participating in this war.

EVERYONE HERE IN DU... is AWESOME!!!!!!!!

[malmapus]

51. I knew I shouldn't have read the whole thing

My heart goes out to the Beals. I really hope that Spc. Beal is able to find some semblance of peace in his hell. They will both find out how strong they are thats for sure.

[monicab]

52. A little info about military court proceedings....

Unlike civilian courts where a defendant must waive his right to be in attendance before they can proceed with the trial in absentia, in a military court, the trial proceeds whether the defendant is there or not.

There is no court recorder provided unless the defendant pays for one... about $1200.oo for one day. Instead, the proceedings are all recorded on tape and later transcribed at the whim of the SJA appointed soldier. This enlisted soldier, usually a specialist or less, listens to the tapes and transcribes a summarized version of the tapes. It is this summarized transcript that is presented by the Public Affairs Office to the media and by the prosecution to the defendant. If the defense should decide that it wants a complete transcript, the attorney has to request permission to retrieve the tapes from the record, and has to listen and transcribe every tape himself.

There is a huge margin of error in this. During the hearings that have already occurred in Kevin's case, we have found many comments that should have been available due to the significance of the testimony (including comments made by the prosecution in their closing statements at the current Article 32 hearing) that were never transcribed as the SJA appointed soldier didn't deem them significant.

People need to be aware of just how out of control this entire process really is. I wish I could copy every document we have, every email we have been party to by the prosecution, every action the prosecution has taken in cooperation with Kevin's command, and make them public here. People need to be able to see the discrepancies for themselves.

[monicab]

53. Another interesting development from the command of...

this unit. Cpt. Diogo Tavares (mentioned in Dawn's letter) and SSG Renaldo Cordova who are the commander and "CSM" of the Rear Detachment aspect of Kevin and David's unit, are the officers who have brought the charges of desertion, missing movement and larceny against Kevin, as well as the people responsible for the mishandling of David Beals' case.

At the end of this month, these two soldiers are traveling to Iraq for two weeks. They will be traveling for the last week of this month and the first week of July. There is no valid reason for these two to travel to Iraq.. but they are going at government expense. While they are there, these two soldiers will be collecting Combat Pay for TWO MONTHS... just because they are physically in Iraq during that time. They are actually bragging about this to the other soldiers in Kevin's unit. I wonder if they will apologize to David Beals when they see him?!!