how far back does the Walter Reed scandal go?what happened to those who spoke out?

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/7/3786

GI Denied Health Care After Speaking Out

Tuesday 02 March 2004

Congress, veterans groups, and the press should immediately launch a full investigation into this Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran's allegation he suffered retaliation from the military for speaking with reporters about substandard military healthcare. A series of three UPI articles about this major scandal are posted here. They describe the "squalor" more than 1,000 wounded, ill, or injured service members were forced to endure while on "medical hold." -- Veterans for Common Sense


http://www.veteransforamerica.org/index.cfm/Page/Article/ID/1235
Army Scandal Explodes: 400 More Sick and Wounded Soldiers Warehoused at Fort Knox

Oct 29, 2003

more at lead article

[babylonsister]

1. There is NO excuse for Congress not to have looked into this and done

something about it! 2003??? And who held the reins then? Infuriating. So can we expect more of the same for the soldiers who spoke to Dana Priest?:grr: :grr:

[calimary]

8. Wanna make a stink about it?

Here! TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers - reconfirmed and fully operational:

Posted in General Discussion forum:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x250991


Also posted in General Discussion-Politics forum:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3123083

If they think you don't care, THEY WON'T, EITHER!!!

And if they think you're not paying attention, THEY'LL GET AWAY WITH EVERYTHING!!!

[babylonsister]

10. Yes, we should ALL make a stink! And those links

look familiar! ;)

[calimary]

16. Yeah, well, I'm nothing if not repetitive.

Cheers, dammit! :D

[TahitiNut]

18. Hey! They put Yellow Ribbon magnets on their SUVs!

What more can anyone ask?

:puke:

Seriously ...
I'm very wary of those who advertise their "good works" ... wearing the flag pins on their lapels. I've lived long enough to know what it means to say "virtue is its own reward." Politicians do more talking than walking. Some do no walking at all - all talk. I think I might be particularly wary - since, while I'll sure talk principles and values, I strongly eschew talking about walking (unless it's a protest).

[AndyA]

2. This is how Bush and the GOP support our troops.

Use them for political purposes, swear that it's necessary to fight the war on terror, fight them over there so we don't have to over here, then when they get injured or come home and need support, you toss them aside like a used tampon.

Nice. I guess the money needs to go toward the war on terror instead of supporting the troops. Halliburton doesn't make anything once the troops come home sick or dying.

And why is it that we aren't impeaching Bush and Cheney again?

[w8liftinglady]

3. more

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1017-06.htm

Sick, Wounded U.S. Troops Held in Squalor
by Mark Benjamin
FORT STEWART, Ga. -- Hundreds of sick and wounded U.S. soldiers including many who served in the Iraq war are languishing in hot cement barracks here while they wait -- sometimes for months -- to see doctors.

The National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers' living conditions are so substandard, and the medical care so poor, that many of them believe the Army is trying push them out with reduced benefits for their ailments. One document shown to UPI states that no more doctor appointments are available from Oct. 14 through Nov. 11 -- Veterans Day.

"I have loved the Army. I have served the Army faithfully and I have done everything the Army has asked me to do," said Sgt. 1st Class Willie Buckels, a truck master with the 296th Transportation Company. Buckels served in the Army Reserves for 27 years, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first Gulf War. "Now my whole idea about the U.S. Army has changed. I am treated like a third-class citizen."

[w8liftinglady]

4. here is the interview between Amy Goodman and Mark benjamin

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/11/10/1537224

[lazer47]

5. A Very Long Time.

In the late 60s and early 70s the same thing was going on at Walter Reed and Letterman, Hospitals at the same time, OH by the way nothing happened then about it either..

[w8liftinglady]

6. we didn't have the internet then_I WILL NOT let this go

My son and dad are both wartime veterans with service -related injuries.

[lazer47]

7. GOOD ON YOU!!!!!!!

[calimary]

9. Welcome to DU!

Glad you're here. Now get to work!

[Monkeyman]

11. Did anyone think we of Veterans For America would not post truth

VVA is now in the mix. The Committees are about to hear a ear full. No more will we not defend Veterans and the Troops . The Replugs won't watch for VoteVet to put out a ad.

[lazer47]

12. Maybe this time

We as 'Nam vets (VVA) can actually make a difference

[w8liftinglady]

13. Monkeyman-I've got your back on this one,brother.Already sent a contribution

http://www.veteransforamerica.org/donate.htm

[w8liftinglady]

14. Kicking because it needs to be

[w8liftinglady]

15. Kicking because we need to have our soldiers' backs

[w8liftinglady]

17. kicking for the night crew

[allalone]

19. it isn't only walter reed

My husband was in a VA hospital in Long bBeach, cCa in the 70's, stayed for months from an auto accident. He was in a large room with I don't know how many men all in various stages of trauma and illness.
this place was so filthy it made you gag. they had one so-called nurse. she was very fat and could barely walk and spent most of her time doing nothing. my husband and some others were able to get around and get water etc for others. One man had the whole bottom of his face gone from cancer and never received any special care. there was no air conditioning, the roaches were walking around even in the day time. if you wanted to get some water for somebody, you made sure to rinse the glass so the roaches would fall out first. it was worse that something in a Dickens novel.
My husband served in Korea.