U.S. soldiers still mending are returned to duty in Iraq

[sabra]

Source: The Denver Post

Sgt. Joseph Smith’s wife, Michelle, said the Army promised three things when he was deployed while recovering from foot surgery: He’d carry no heavy weapon, he’d get all the rehabilitation he needed, and he’d be assigned a light-duty job that wouldn’t require body armor or much walking.

“None of them were kept,” she said. He carries an M-16 rifle and broke two of his post-surgical boots from excessive walking, and when he asked for a truck to escort an interpreter to the gate, “the staff sergeant tells him, ‘You can carry him for all I care,’” she said.

Other soldiers, many of whom would only tell their stories anonymously out of concern that it would damage their Army careers, said they had similar experiences.

Their accounts were confirmed through medical records, additional interviews or the observations of reporters who met them near southern Colorado’s Fort Carson Army base.

...

Another soldier who asked not to be named provided these medical records: On Nov. 7, five weeks out of surgery to repair a shoulder injury, a doctor wrote, “He will be nondeployable for a minimum of 6 months. ... He is currently in a sling and participating in physical therapy. He is unable to carry or fire his weapon, he is unable to carry his ruck or IBAS (body armor), he is unable to wear his chemical gear, he is unable to construct a fighting position, he is unable to perform 3- (to) 5-second rushes.”

Twelve days later, the soldier received a waiver from his commander, saying he would deploy. In Kuwait, he reinjured his shoulder. He returned and has been discharged.

Read more: http://www.registerguard.com/rg/NationWorld/story.csp?cid=128172&sid=6&fid=1

[AuntPatsy]

1. There is absolutely no excuse for this....where are the people that pretend to care

about our troops? Where is the outrage from the media? Oh wait, no one cares.

[Pete2069]

2. And now Bush and McSame want to add Russia to the list

McSame wants to add Russia the the list for us to attack.   No
wonder McCain agreed with the woman which said that we need to
start the draft.   We are running out of troop with a small
country like Iraq , and Bush , Cheney and McSame wants to add
Russia to their list to invade.  Also is McCain going to sell
his houses to pay for his war adventures.

[foxeyes2]

3. Outrageous

This is outrageous but it is just another example of the way our brave men and women are being mistreated by this current administration. Where is the outrage? where is the main stream media asking the tough questions and demanding answers? why are we all in this basket and where are we headed?

[blackspade]

4. What a damned disgrace

This policy, and yes, it is a policy, otherwise these would be 'isolated' incidents, is stupid and short sighted. Sorry, Criminally stupid and traitorous.

The officers and Pentagon douche bags that started this policy should be dishonorably discharged and prosecuted for fraud and criminal negligence, and murder if any of these guys die.

Assholes.

[Imagevision]

5. No wonder NO. didn't get help for 10 days, No national guard in the US.

[gratuitous]

6. Reporting not ready for duty, sir

Remember when George W. Bush, of all people, concocted a scandal with those words in 2000? Oh, how unprepared the United States was for launching elective invasions of other countries without a pretext. Well, now we know why George needed all those extra troops the Peace Dividend was supposed to idle.

And as Little Boots' excellent invasion grinds on and on, there are no fresh bodies to throw into the fray. And nobody who supports this ill-starred war crime who is urging people to join up. Why doesn't Rush Limbaugh tell his audience to get their sons and daughters into the military? Where is Sean Hannity, who should be broadcasting his show from a recruiting station? How about Glenn Beck doing daily pitches for his young, with-it audience (I'm guessing, why in the hell else would CNN grant him air time?) to volunteer to fight for America's very existence?