Pentagon Denies Benefits to Service Men and Women Wounded in Iraq

I know we're in an economic downturn and I know that we should be careful with military expenses just like every other category of spending and I'm all for that. But I am also soooooo tired of our politicos AND the military establishment paying lip service to our heroes and then seemingly doing what they can to give them the shaft when they are most in need.

Tuesday, Nov. 25, the LA Times's front page headline read, The Pentagon narrows what constitutes a combat disability." That doesn't sound too bad but the next line in the deck read "The result is lost benefits." The Times calls it an "Open Wound for hurt veterans." Mmmmmm. That is closer the truth.

Then reporter David Zucchino gives us a couple of examples of wounded and maimed solders, hurt in Iraq while ON DUTY but are being denied benefits. They they must fight for every shred of help they can get at a time when they have the least strength to do it is nothing short of shameful.

The Pentagon blames Congress saying the new rulings are "consistent with Congress's intent when it passed a "wounded warrior" law in January." Chairman of the Armed Services Committee says that these results were not the intent of the law-making body.

That's quibbling. That means it's time to write you Congress person--again. While you're at it, fire a couple of salvos at the brass, and at the White House. The Disabled American Veterans group calls this new policy a "shocking level of disrespect for those who stood in harm's way" and is lobbying strenuously. They need our support.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry, Tracings, won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/