Wounded Warriors, Empty Promises

[groovedaddy]

The bad news about the Army’s treatment of wounded soldiers keeps coming. The generals keep apologizing and insisting that things are getting better, but they are not.

The latest low moment for Army brass came on Tuesday in Washington, where a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing to examine the sorry state of the Army Medical Action Plan. That’s the plan to prevent the kind of systematic neglect and mistreatment exposed by The Washington Post last year at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

After a flurry of apologies, firings, investigations and reports, the Army resolved to streamline and improve case management for wounded soldiers. Under the plan, “warrior transition units” would swiftly deliver excellent care to troops so they could return to duty or be discharged into the veterans’ medical system. Each soldier would be assigned a team to look over his or her care: a physician, a nurse and a squad leader. It all sounded sensible and comprehensive.

It has not worked out so well. Staff members of the House subcommittee who visited numerous warrior transition units June 2007 to February found a significant gap between the Army leadership’s optimistic promises and reality.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/opinion/25fri1.html?th&emc=th

[rasputin1952]

1. As a vet, I cannot speak for all other vets, or their families...

but for those who have served this nation, regardless of whether in Peace or War, every service-member deserves the best possible care.

When a wounded vet comes through the system, they should, far and above receive that best care possible. To do anything less is as barbaric as sending them into harms way w/o good cause in the first place.

I know that after a stint in the service, (or more), most vets are simply forgotten, left to their own devices to "get by". We ask these people to put their lives on the line for us, and after they have done so, especially in war, and have been wounded, for us to just "forget them", is about immoral as war itself.

These men and women have sacrificed their time, their limbs and too often, their lives...it is our duty to ensure this nation completes it's agreements and it's obligations to those who had the fortitude, courage and spirit to defend us.

[The River]

2. Beyond Disgraceful

I'm very grateful I've never had to use
the VA for anything, ever.