Are Our Wounded GIs Being Punished for Talking About Their Neglect?

Question

RE: Our Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed placed under guard and are being censured and given punishment duties for asking for help.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/TNSreedinspect070227/
By Kelly Kennedy

Soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s Medical Hold Unit say they have been told they will wake up at 6 a.m. every morning and have their rooms ready for inspection at 7 a.m., and that they must not speak to the media.

“Some soldiers believe this is a form of punishment for the trouble soldiers caused by talking to the media,” one Medical Hold Unit soldier said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

It is unusual for soldiers to have daily inspections after Basic Training.

Soldiers say their sergeant major gathered troops at 6 p.m. Monday to tell them they must follow their chain of command when asking for help with their medical evaluation paperwork, or when they spot mold, mice or other problems in their quarters.

They were also told they would be moving out of Building 18 to Building 14 within the next couple of weeks. Building 14 is a barracks that houses the administrative offices for the Medical Hold Unit and was renovated in 2006. It’s also located on the Walter Reed Campus, where reporters must be escorted by public affairs personnel. Building 18 is located just off campus and is easy to access.

The soldiers said they were also told their first sergeant has been relieved of duty, and that all of their platoon sergeants have been moved to other positions at Walter Reed. And 120 permanent-duty soldiers are expected to arrive by mid-March to take control of the Medical Hold Unit, the soldiers said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Army public affairs did not respond to a request sent Sunday evening to verify the personnel changes.

The Pentagon also clamped down on media coverage of any and all Defense Department medical facilities, to include suspending planned projects by CNN and the Discovery Channel, saying in an e-mail to spokespeople: “It will be in most cases not appropriate to engage the media while this review takes place,” referring to an investigation of the problems at Walter Reed.

A Washington Post series over the weekend described "The Other Walter Reed," where overdoses, suicide attempts and depression among patients are the parallel narrative to the spit-polish hallways of the renowned military hospital.

I honor your service, but Sir, mold from leaky pipes crumbling ceilings and mice, rats and bug infestations is neglect at this army hospital is theArmy's and it is not the fault our wounded troops and for you to say it is the fault of our wounded men and women without knowing the specifics indicates that you operate from another agenda than support of our troops or the truth.

The Army reports that they have began repairs yesterday on Building 18, at Walter Reed

Answer 1

well that's the military for you.

Answer 2

From the story - I can see why they are in trouble. Apparently somebody went to the news media instead of letting the chain-of-command know about the problem.

And if they are having daily room inspections - then the most likely cause is that after the story appeared on the news their living areas were inspected and the Sergeant major was not happy about their housekeeping.