Schoomaker new CO for Walter Reed, replaces Kiley

It's like musical generals!

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID...

Army chief fired over Walter Reed
Bush vows inquiry into soldiers' care

By Michael Abramowitz and Steve Vogel
The Washington Post
March 03. 2007 8:00AM


Defense Secretary Robert Gates fired the Army secretary yesterday and President Bush vowed to investigate allegations of substandard treatment of wounded soldiers as his administration scrambled to contain fallout from the scandal over squalid housing and bureaucratic delays to outpatient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

The Army also named Maj. Gen. Eric Schoomaker as the new commander for Walter Reed only a day after picking Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley as the temporary chief. Kiley's selection angered soldiers and family groups - and more importantly, Gates - because of their belief that he had been aware of problems at the hospital and done little to address them. Kiley is the current Army surgeon general and commanded Walter Reed until last August.

Gates made little secret of his dismay when he appeared before reporters yesterday to announce the resignation of Army Secretary Francis Harvey. Pentagon officials indicated Harvey had been forced to resign because Gates was angry with how the Army handled allegations of poor care detailed in a series of Washington Post stories. The facility's commander, Maj. Gen. George Weightman, was dismissed last week, and a captain and several lower level soldiers were reassigned.

"I am disappointed that some in the Army have not adequately appreciated the seriousness of the situation pertaining to outpatient care at Walter Reed," Gates said. "Some have shown too much defensiveness and have not shown enough focus on digging into and addressing the problems."

Later, in an interview, an emotional Harvey appeared both apologetic and defensive.


"It's inexcusable to have soldiers in that type of building," he said, explaining why he resigned.

But he also said the Post stories lacked balance.

"Where's the other side of the story?" he said, his voice rising. "Two articles in your paper have ruined the career of General Weightman, who is a very decent man, and then a captain . . . and the secretary of the Army. If that satisfies the populace, maybe this will stop further dismissals."

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