From KDKA via Your Right Hand Thief and other vias and additional information at Oyster's site:
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back few months later Fox was sent home. His injuries prohibited him from fulfilling three months of his commitment. A few days ago, he received a letter from the military demanding nearly $3,000 of his signing bonus back.
One of them is Jordan Fox, a young soldier from the South Hills.
Fox received a $10,000 enlistment bonus.
Fox was seriously injured when a roadside bomb blew up his vehicle. He was knocked unconscious. His back was injured and lost all vision in his right eye.
A few months later Fox was sent home. His injuries prohibited him from fulfilling three months of his commitment. A few days ago, he received a letter from the military demanding nearly $3,000 of his signing bonus back.
He will never be able to pursue his career as a policeman.
Honestly, you think you've heard the absolute worst about the treatment of those sent off to the killing fields to fight our wars once they return home, but then comes news like this, which leaves me close to speechless.
Fox's mother, Susan Wardezak, started Operation Pittsburgh Pride, which sends gift packages to the troops in Iraq.
UPDATE: It appears that "thousands" of troops may have received letters similar to that of Jordan Fox. TPM Muckraker has a video of an interview with Brigadier General Michael Tucker, who is investigating the problem. The general said, "This doesn't pass the common sense test," and, "We're not sure what happened but we're gonna fix it."
I hope so.
Support the troops-- end the war.
ReplyDeleteWhat an absurdity, Mimi.
Why is it that Republicans denigrate our government as incapable of managing Medicare, yet trust it to take care of our military personel?
John, as my bumper sticker says, "Bring them home".
ReplyDeleteSpeechless is right. I don't know how else to describe this other than "criminal." I wish the soldiers could start some sort of underground resistance, like they did in Vietnam. And who knows, perhaps they have and we don't know about it.
ReplyDeleteOf course, this is not new. My partner's father was wounded in a jeep accident a week or so before he was due to leave the military (this is after many years of service, including in Vietnam), and the Army wanted to deny him his benefits because he didn't serve his "full" term. Ludicrous! The man nearly died of head injuries, and then is denied the benefits due to him. Thank God for Max Cleland, who helped him get what he was due.
We all have to start speaking up about this stuff. As citizens, how could we do less?
Mercenaries: Blackhawk and the gummint.
ReplyDeleteI just reread this post, and it still leaves me speechless, except to wonder what kind of twisted logic is in operation here.
ReplyDeleteI have used the phrase "moral bankruptcy" in relation to this issue. It is immoral, cruel, and a great evil. My guess is the mainstream media are not likely to give this much coverage; let us spread the word! I do not think the American people would be indifferent if they knew about this. Thanks, Mimi, for pointing the way.
ReplyDeleteSee the update I posted. It appears that relief may be on the horizon.
ReplyDelete