For Injured U.S. Troops, 'Financial Friendly Fire'

[OneBlueSky]

Flaws in Pay System Lead to Dunning, Credit Trouble

By Donna St. George
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 14, 2005; Page A01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/13/AR2005101302166.html

His hand had been blown off in Iraq, his body pierced by shrapnel. He could not walk. Robert Loria was flown home for a long recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he tried to bear up against intense physical pain and reimagine his life's possibilities.

The last thing on his mind, he said, was whether the Army had correctly adjusted his pay rate -- downgrading it because he was out of the war zone -- or whether his combat gear had been accounted for properly: his Kevlar helmet, his suspenders, his rucksack.

But nine months after Loria was wounded, the Army garnished his wages and then, as he prepared to leave the service, hit him with a $6,200 debt. That was just before last Christmas, and several lawmakers scrambled to help. This spring, a collection agency started calling. He owed another $646 for military housing.

"I was shocked," recalled Loria, now 28 and medically retired from the Army. "After everything that went on, they still had the nerve to ask me for money."

- more . . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/13/AR2005101302166.html

[Neil Lisst]

1. Thank you for highlighting this story. It's outrageous.

They love to wave the troops around and pledge support. If you're providing support, you're not supporting the troops.

[Karenina]

2. The troops are

"fungible" says Rummy...