3/11/2007
Red Tape and me!
American Soldier says,
The red tape has begun its entanglement with me now. I have recently pushed the issue that I need to have some of my residual injuries checked out. For nearly a year I have just lived with them. I guess I was expected to just take the initiative and do things on my own. I mean I am a NCO after all and I am supposed to just do what I have to do right?
Wrong!
I am a wounded warrior who got injured and as a result suffers from some crazy PTSD at times. When I first got home I didn’t leave my house for nearly 3 months. I drank and self medicated myself into a stupor and dealt with my demons. I bought a car earlier last year and only have about 5000 miles on it. The math comes out to maybe 15 miles a day since I’ve had it. I usually drive into town and then right back.
Boom!
I requested my head get checked out because I was one of the lost souls in the system. Literally dropped from the active duty ranks and sent packing back to my reserve unit. They never knew I was home.
Shame!
So I went to my local MEDCOM and they made some phone calls but no one is coming back with anything concrete. I just want to be checked out. I am tired of the tremors, headaches, nightmares, sleepless nights, slurred speech, forgetfulness, etc.
Stand fast!
I expected a phone call this week. I expected one 8 months ago too. In light of the Walter Reed situation commanders are jumping out their asses to ensure they don’t get relieved. Funny thing is the same MEDCOM commander is the same one who never got back to me back then. I requested to be put back on active duty orders when I got home because I needed help!
Opps!
He looked me in the face this past week and assured me that he would take care of me. I shook his hand with a firm grip and told him that I expected nothing but the best care. However I have not heard from him in a week. I guess the bureaucracy and red tape scheme is taking affect. He is saying that Walter Reed may be backed up. So I may have to go nearly across country to get looked at.
Oh really?
This guy best find a resolution soon or I will fuck his shit up.
Pay back is a bitch when the media is in a feeding frenzy for material!
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23 Responses to “Red Tape and me!”
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Well I am glad that you can at least recognize the symptoms.
That is a big first step. Many don’t and years can go by without any treatment and life just going to hell. Hopefullt the liberal MSM will keep on demanding more from Washington.
You are also fortuate that they sent you back home,too many injured are being forced to return to Iraq because they need to fill the ranks.
http://www.salon.com/news/2007/03/11/fort_benning/
AS - this is just wrong. There’s a soldier in MN trying to make a difference. He’s started a new Veterans org - http://www.fortheveteran.com/index.html/ . I fwd’d this to an adopted soldier of mine from a couple years ago who has been dealing with much the same as you only he has no physical injuries.
toni,
Got it, I hope he fills this site out more.
((((hugs)))) to you, A.S. I’m sorry you are having to go thru all this - but am glad that you are coming out of your shell a bit to write about it, to help us see & understand as best we can…. (((hugs))) We are here for you no matter what.
Don’t give up & keep on pressing forward — get the care that you need and deserve — not just for you, but also for your family.
we luv y’all and are always praying for y’all.
**hugs**
MommaKat
AS,
I hope this red tape gets cut through real fast. This has been too long for you. Your PTSD needs to be treated, (and as you know self medicating doesn’t really work), and you deserve for it to be soon.
Keep at ‘em, the squeeky wheel gets the grease!!
Hey, soon as I finish up with this up n coming 6 weeks of training(minimum) I’ll be getting, just gimme a holler if aint nuthin been done by then and we’ll see if we can’t pull some “black ops” to get his arse in gear.! Oo Wee!!
AS, tomorrow, call the Oversight Committee in D.C. I know for a fact that they are collecting Soldier’s stories directly. I have spoken with them (about someone else). Call 202.225.5051. If you reach “David” and he misbehaves, let me know. I mean it. You should be shown nothing but respect and total interest. Take notes, take names, dates and times, write down what the weather was like. Actually, that’s a mnemonic of sorts. It helps later.
As annoying as it is, try to keep copies of everything you get or give, but keep it a secret. When you need to replace a lost record, and you happen to have a copy, use scenario #17 to explain how you “found” it. I used to work for lawyers. Never wait longer than two days, not anymore, not now. No more Mr Nice Guy as of last week, ok. You must receive proper care IMMEDIATELY. Because immediately in your case, as you don’t have a gushing gash, will not be soon enough. Delays are corrosive in cases like yours and time is not your friend, not yet.
I have no business telling you to do things. But the soldier who died all alone in Building 18 on New Year’s Day 2005, from drinking himself to death, looms in my mind. I simply could not bear it if it were to happen again, especially when I was listening. Please My Soldier, please. I’m praying even harder for you.
AS,
I don’t have first hand experience with veteran’s organizations. I only know what others have said about the wide range of assistance they can provide.
The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans are some of the organizations that I have heard will help with medical claims, benefit information, and related issues. Perhaps one of them can help you cut through the tape and obtain the prompt care and treatment that you need and deserve.
I’m so sorry all of you have to deal with all of the stuff (to put it nicely) that you do. I wish there was something more I could offer….
AS, just found out that the website ostensibly belonging to “@WR” is bogus. tcoverride has been hacked. I’m going to avoid @WR until I hear from someone I trust that it does in fact belong to the real @WR and the stories are not fiction. I posted a note of relieved, elated support over there, before I learned of the hack. I hope I wasn’t being mocked….
What? I’ve been duped!
Such a pity that darn big ocean stands between us. I’d love to give you a hand fighting your PTSD.
Why? Cause I suffer from it myself. With al the knowledge (my own experiences) I’ve become a good back-up for the vets. Doing this as a volunteer gives me te chance to bend “all that is bad” into something possitive. (Being able to help others and, crazy enough, thinking now that at least I can do some “good” with “the bad” that happened to me.)
Recognising what kind of trouble you are in en looking for help? Congratulations, you’re already 50% into your healing-process. The other 50% will NOT be a rose-guarden, but every stap foreward you’ll make from now on will be a victory in itselves.
Hold on to those steps, they’ll be like rays of sunlight and every day will become a little bit brighter than te one before.
I wish you good luck from te bottom of my heart walking this road up- en forward.
Hug,
Jeanet
You really are an amazing man. God bless you. We will all be praying for you AS.
Did my earlier comment tonight get taken by the ether?
No add to blogroll?
Apparently so… durn. I think maybe it was too long. I had tried to post an article in American Forces Press Service. I’ll post just an excerpt of it then. (I saw your post at @ and I left a little note.)
In the meantime, I got the following information:
”
Independent Review Group Hosts First Public Meeting
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 14, 2007 – An independent review group charged by the defense secretary with identifying shortcomings and making recommendations for improvements in care for injured troops held its first public meeting at Walter Reed Army Medical Center yesterday. ….
The review group may hold additional meetings for patients and families.
The group has established a Web site at
www.ha.osd.mil/dhb/irg.
There, anyone can submit comments. Click on “How You Can Help” in the left column. ….
Submissions will be recorded. All persons submitting comments can remain anonymous.
”
I am deeply interested in knowing how it goes for you.
I repeat, I will not be able to take it if another of My Soldiers ends up anything like CPL Jeremy Harper. Now, part of the Warrior in you might cause you to assign that to the What She Doesn’t Know Won’t Hurt Her compartment. Yes, it will. And I will know. I will be able to tell.
I am actually finishing up watching the Senate hearing, held last Tuesday. The panelists are of the particularly dry and bureaucratic type and easily the most problematic. For they are bean counters and paper riflers.
I regret that GEN Kiley ended his career on this note. But he was extremely well placed to know the problems that My Soldiers have been complaining about for YEARS AND YEARS.
If the @WR is the one I think I know, who may or may not be the contributor to the blog in question, I am a tad leery. I might have to side with AS in not blogrolling you, at least, not for a little bit yet, if that is what he is doing.
Who is the the one you think you know?
Contributor to what blog in question?
Why leery?
And what is it that you think I am doing?
For people that seem to want answers you are asking very few questions to the primary source.
@WR,
I had a very good online back and forth with “@WR” at another blog on the day of the House Cmte hearing. You don’t “sound” like him in the posts at the new blog that Chuck disavows. Hence my caution.
I fear the new blog might be fake, and is possibly a cruel way to yank people’s emotional chains, mocking them when they pour out their support and compassion in their comments.
I wish it weren’t true that there are trolls and other monsters out there who think that hurting other people as they fight to protect and love Our Soldiers is actually fun. There are radical, fanatical, immature and vicious people who will plunge a knife into a grieving heart without compunction. Words have consequences, and can apply healing or deliver soul-crushing beating.
It’s been my other experience with a soldier long ago… that he would sense what I was trying to say, and would understand. He would give me the benefit of the consideration that all humans deserve to get from each other first, rather than having to be talked into it. Namely, that I am acting out of decent, considerate, compassionate and tender motives. So perhaps he spoiled me.
And so, my reticence. Ok?
AS and @WR, I see there is a tiny victory worth noting: the Senate defeated the Reid resolution which called for the troops to be withdrawn by next March. There were 3 resolutions on Iraq being voted on this week. The Gregg resolution is up for vote now. It makes sure the troops are not defunded. The earlier Murray resolution required the troops be fully trained and equipped before they are deployed. It was defeated.
I am ashamed at my country for not taking care of our military folk.
you people should only receive the best of the best of care………..
iI am going to bitch to my government reps.,and anyone else that “might” do something to change this horrible injustice. Maybe we should get rid of “armed forces and V.A type hospitals and let soldiers see whomever THEY choose once back home………..
I am so PISSED OFF!!
Oops, so sorry, I misspoke. The Murray resolution, did pass, as did the Gregg resolution. Only the Reid resolution failed, rightly so.
Thank goodness you’re pissed. Try to make a list of reasonable, realistic changes you want made, then call your two Senators and your Congressman and politely but firmly tell them. May I suggest you read as much as you can, starting with the documents and statements filed with the Committees prior to the hearings. They can be found at the oversight.house.gov and look for the hearing held 5 Mar.