Wife Of Iraq Veteran: ‘My Life Was Ripped Apart’ (from hearing this a.m.)

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/05/mcleod-walter-reed/

Wife Of Iraq Veteran: ‘My Life Was Ripped Apart’ «

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s national security panel is holding hearings this morning on the neglect at Walter Reed military hospital.

They heard from Anne McLeod, wife of wounded Iraq veteran Cpl. Dell McLeod, who was profiled by the Washington Post. Dell “takes 23 pills a day, prescribed by various doctors at Walter Reed. Crowds frighten him. He is too anxious to drive,” and he can’t be left alone. “I don’t even know this man anymore,” his wife says. Yet Army doctors disputed that Dell’s head injury was the cause of his mental impairment, claiming he was slow in high school, and ended up giving him only a 50 percent disability rating (meaning he will receive only half of his base pay).

Today, Anne McLeod wept as she told the committee about her experience. “All I’m just trying to do is have my life, the life that I had and that I know. My life was ripped apart the day my husband was injured, and having to live through the mess that we lived through at Walter Reed has been worse than anything I have ever sacrificed in my life.” Watch it at link:

Transcript:

DAVIS: Mrs. McLeod, let me, let me start with you. You went up the chain many times, didn’t you?

McLEOD: Yes, sir.

DAVIS: You finally called this committee you were so upset.

McLEOD: Sir, I would talk to anybody that would listen, and it took the aid of another soldier who actually heard me crying, saw me crying one day, and he says, “This is the number. Make a call.” And that’s when I called Ms. Washborn, and then you know my story because you’ve dealt with me. Had I not had any other recourse, I wouldn’t be here today. The thing of the matter is, Mr. Harvey made a statement the other day that really bothers me. He said he hopes the Washington Post was satisfied because they ruined careers. First, let me come on record by saying, I don’t care about your career as far as anybody that’s in danger. That doesn’t bother me. All I’m just trying to do is have my life, the life that I had and that I know. My life was ripped apart the day my husband was injured, and having to live through the mess that we lived through at Walter Reed has been worse than anything I have ever sacrificed in my life.

[maddezmom]

1. How many more Anne McLeod's do we have out there?

Thank you Mrs. McLeod for speaking today, you made a big impression on me.

[babylonsister]

2. That's a great question; you know there are tons more. nt

[wake.up.america]

3. This is totally f***ed up. Stupid a** war based on lies, then lies about the medical facilities...

and treatment. America is totally sick. You have some selfish morons running the country.

[babylonsister]

4. Please, America is not totally sick, though we do have some

sick bastards in charge.

[wake.up.america]

5. Yes, you are right. Generalizations help no one.

[babylonsister]

6. Kickin'! nt

[fed-up]

7. 5th rec and kicking hard n/t

[pecwae]

8. K&R

I watched her entire testimony and cried along with her. Just as she said, "how many don't have me,"; someone to be their advocate when there's no one else.

Mrs. McLeod I salute you:patriot:

[Amsterdam Hooligan]

9. It`s Been Going On For Years

As a Nam vet with PTSD, it`s ALWAYS been like this...I can`t help but be bitter. Because it took something like this to bring it out into the open. They turned so many claims down for us, and we wrote our elected representives and called the press. Nobody gave a shit about us.....But we`ll keep on trying, to get our props.

[roguevalley]

10. Jesus Christ. So they are saying he was halfwitted to start with?!

I swear to God, this is evil.