AWOL soldier claims mistreatment

AWOL soldier claims mistreatment
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Mar 10, 2008 5:52:45 EDT

A 10th Mountain Division soldier who went AWOL claiming his commanding officers threatened to send him back to Iraq despite his listing as medically unfit for combat planned to surrender Friday to Fort Drum authorities and ask for an investigation into his treatment.

Spc. Bryan Currie, 21, of Charleston, S.C., will ask Army Secretary Pete Geren to convene a court of inquiry — a rarely used administrative fact-finding process — to investigate top generals at Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Drum, N.Y.; and Fort Hood, Texas, said Tod Ensign of the New York City-based veterans’ advocacy group CitizenSoldier.

The request calls for convening a panel to investigate the case of Currie and four other soldiers at Fort Carson and Fort Hood who also were set to be deployed despite medical holds.

A court of inquiry includes at least three high-ranking military officers and can subpoena civilians, Ensign said. Geren can refuse the request.

The court should “investigate the extent to which the have been derelict in failing to provide for the health and welfare of wounded soldiers,” according to the request.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/03/ap_awolsoldier_030708/

I'm glad this is being exposed, but it's not new and it's not rare. The military doesn't care about us as people with rights and moral standing and personal value. We are commodities to be used. If we're broken in some way we no longer have value. Why do the right thing by us, such as provide us the best medical care or approve our requests for pay and benefits, when the wrong thing is cheaper? Add in that it's not likely those managing medical care, pay and benefits will be caught or punished for withholding what's required by law, and there's even less incentive to do what's right. The people at the top always 'place the mission first.' They do this because the things that affect us at the bottom don't affect them, and they do this because that's what they're told to do.

I looked at your profile, and then read some of your blog.

I'm not sure if you are aware, but we have a Veterans for Peace chapter that meets monthly just a couple miles from you, in Troy. If you need help with advocacy, particularly on a local level, we're here - sometimes the hassle of just dealing with finances and medical care drains a person of the energy they need to be their own advocates on top of all that.

Also if there is other support you or your family) needs, feel free to message me.

We have an Iraq War Moratorium coming up in Royal Oak on March 21st, not sure if you already know about that or even if you'd want to go, but I want to make sure you are invited. Flyer for Royal Oak: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennisforim/2317934823/

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. Thank you for the invitation. I'm certainly interested in any help I can get. My wife and I have been struggling for so long, with successes and failures. We have a good group of people advocating on my behalf, but we could always use more.

I've not posted enough to send a private message, but you're free to send email to my primary email address: Jimison1@gmail.com.

Take care Iwfern, and thanks again.

Something similar happened to a buddy of mine. You can read his story at www.thebrokensoldier.com under the title "Ritchie."

Truly sad.