Jon Town has spent the last few years fighting two battles, one against his body, the other against the US Army. Both began in October 2004 in Ramadi, Iraq. He was standing in the doorway of his battalion's headquarters when a 107-millimeter rocket struck two feet above his head. The impact punched a piano-sized hole in the concrete facade, sparked a huge fireball and tossed the 25-year-old Army specialist to the floor, where he lay blacked out among the rubble.
Eventually the rocket shrapnel was removed from (Spc. Jon) Town's neck and his ears stopped leaking blood. But his hearing never really recovered, and in many ways, neither has his life. A soldier honored twelve times during his seven years in uniform, Town has spent the last three struggling with deafness, memory failure and depression. By September 2006 he and the Army agreed he was no longer combat-ready.
But instead of sending Town to a medical board and discharging him because of his injuries, doctors at Fort Carson, Colorado, did something strange: They claimed Town's wounds were actually caused by a "personality disorder." Town was then booted from the Army and told that under a personality disorder discharge, he would never receive disability or medical benefits.
Town is not alone. A six-month investigation has uncovered multiple cases in which soldiers wounded in Iraq are suspiciously diagnosed as having a personality disorder, then prevented from collecting benefits. The conditions of their discharge have infuriated many in the military community, including the injured soldiers and their families, veterans' rights groups, even military officials required to process these dismissals.
They say the military is purposely misdiagnosing soldiers like Town and that it's doing so for one reason: to cheat them out of a lifetime of disability and medical benefits, thereby saving billions in expenses.
2007-03-23 14:23:25 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070409/kors
2007-03-23 14:33:34 · update #1
I just want to add the next freaking time you see some nimrod conservative post about taxes and wanting to keep what they earn because it's thiers dammit you point thier blind @sses to the link and show them what their selfishness costs those they claim to support
2007-03-23 14:39:55 · update #2
6 answers in 20 minutes and not a conservative one to try and defend it because they know it's INDEFENSIBLE!!!!
2007-03-23 14:41:00 · update #3
This story should sicken every single American. This is fraud, plain and simple. Every single American soldier should receive benefits at least as good as white house staffers receive.
Also, a conservative estimate is that 1/3 of American soldiers are coming home with post traumatic stress syndrome. This incredible statistic makes me wonder how many of them will be diagnosed with "personality disorder". It is shameful.
2007-03-23 14:34:14 · answer #1 · answered by katydid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Welcome to what Vietnam Vets have been fighting for decades!
He should have been retired and if any incident like that happened someone should be facing charges of Conduct Unbecoming!
This is how we treat our vets, this is how we treated Vietnam vets. Don't be surprised.
Guess not much has changed as Vietnam Vets are still fighting over Agent Blue!
Of course its on purpose! They might have to pay! Well they damn sure should pay!
I bet conservatives will say it's his own fault for joining the military. I have read none of the answers, but I suspect that will be an answer.
Neocons and Republicans don't like to answer these type questions, just more funding so they can keep doing it which insures their jobs!
As Bush wants another blank check, send him to see the press and his Congress people, if they aren't Republican. And stay away from Fox!
2007-03-23 14:37:04 · answer #2 · answered by cantcu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, but not because i like Bush, but because the military institution has done this since Vietnam, no matter who is in office.
Soldiers are routinely discarded. I saw some of this firsthand during my time in the Air Force. People permanently hurt due to something that happened, and then the military says it wasnt their fault and screws them.
One of my friends (female) cant have children due to inept medical care. She gets 0% disability pay.
Another of my friends was thrown out, even though her knees had been wrecked during the time she was in, by the doctors' refusal to help her medically until the situation got so bad they could throw her out. She gets 0% disability pay.
Theres a long history of things like this being done.
And remember, military members have to sign papers saying we CANT sue the military for anything...so no malpractice or anything. Thats the way it works...
2007-03-23 14:30:30 · answer #3 · answered by Beach_Bum 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Terrorism won't finish with the dying of 1 guy. If you don't see the chance of extremist/fascist folks inclined to take the lives of others who don't believe their philosophy on a global scale as detrimental, you're gravely improper! Furthermore, the media as a entire is hardly ever supportive of the Bush management.
2016-09-05 13:53:12 · answer #4 · answered by brinton 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes... this is what is really messed up about Bush's illegal war in Iraq. Bush & Cheney are using our troops for their hidden agenda and then not even taking care of them after.
It's sick.
2007-03-23 14:35:03 · answer #5 · answered by Surfer Dude 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Where did you find that story? A link would be nice. But, if it's true, this is sad.
2007-03-23 14:31:31 · answer #6 · answered by CC 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Truly sad.
2007-03-23 14:28:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋