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Sounds like prison guards towards prisoners rather than the military helping their own. The cadre treat them like it their military but its everyones house to prevent abuse and fights.
An interesting article but it seemed rather one sided. I'm sure a number of the folks there are disgruntled and unhappy. But PTSD does not make a person unable to meet some basic military requirements such as showing up for formation and certainly doesn't cause a person to abuse drugs. Perhaps a number of the soldiers in the unit are there related to personality and discipline problems in addition to the war related issues and so are at higher risk.
I particularly didn't care for the assertions about being over medicated. Couldn't the reporter have gotten some additional background on this or interviewed some of the prescribing physicians to understand their rationale?
Is it really hard to believe we are over medicating? Considering....
In the U.S. , prescriptions have increased over the past decade to 3.4 billion annually, a 61 percent increase. Retail sales of prescription drugs jumped 250 percent from $72 billion to $250 billion, while the average price of prescriptions has more than doubled from $30 to $68.
Retail prescription drug sales 1995 to 2006 PDF from www.census.gov
To help ensure the status quo on U.S. drug regulation and pricing, the pharmaceutical industry has thousands of lobbyists in Washington, DC that lobby Congress and protect their interests. The pharmaceutical industry spent $855 million, more than any other industry, on lobbying activities from 1998 to 2006, according to the non-partisan Center for Public Integrity.
Some advocacy groups, such as No Free Lunch, have criticized the effect of drug marketing to physicians because they say it biases physicians to prescribe the marketed drugs even when others might be cheaper or better for the patient.
It is important to note: Some medications have been known to cause severe depression and suicidal tendencies.
You are an idiot, what background knowledge do you have of PTSD and the VA system. Let me tell you I have years of knowledge dealing with my husband who had lived since Vietnam with Ptsd. Since back then the military didn't acknowledge Ptsd they just tossed them out on medical discharge, many vet's my husband included turned to drugs and alcohol to self medicate themselves with they fought with the VA to find medical record's that were "quote unquote" lost, or destroyed.
When he finally received help and treatment, they medicated him to the point of being a zombie. How about you get medicated and try to get up into a formation. For you to say without experience, that it doesn't turn people to drink and drugs, is idiotic. I just thank god I didn't drink myself, I felt the same despair that he would never get the help he needed while dealing with people in the VA some who look at these guys like they are worthless wastes of flesh.
One doctor my husband saw at the VA 10years ago treated him like crap. He recently saw this pysch Dr. again, who know after having been deployed himself 2 times in the last 10 years to Iraq and Afghanistan has a new respect for the men he treats. To bad it took experiencing it first hand to get a point across.
This article is the absolute truth. I take the max. dose of Zoloft (200mg), 100mg Trazedone, and 50mg Prazosin a day as prescribed...and I find it damn near impossible to get up and function at 0530AM...let alone remember detailed instructions and perform tasks properly such as waxing and operating a buffer in the hallway as ordered (you know...to give us a "mission"). When cadre tells you to do it over 4 times and you finally lose your cool...you are considered a discipline problem. As for you Paul...the medical officer's are ordered to keep such information confidential...and last but not least, we don't give a rat's rectum what you think.
So right on Glenn.
Paul does not know what he's talking about. I was on 100mg trazodone, I do not have PTSD, although I did do 27yrs, and I could not function in the morning without gallons of coffee. Went down to 50mg and now I only need half gallon to get functional.
Hey you folks out there...you ain't been there...you don't know crap...listen to these heroes!!
Paul 711611-You know nothing about PTSD. Period. Go back where you came form and keep your comments to yourself.
paul must be one of them wannabe soldiers who thinks he knows everything about what goes on but never spent one day in the f'ing military
try it sonny boy and when you find out what f'ing reality really is about ptsd do not come crying to anyone because it is real whether you want to believe it or not. i have a bad case of it all the way from vietnam where i spent 18 months and i never touched drugs but used to booze it up a lot until a doctor told me to quit or die and i chose to live and i know hundreds of guys that had to use drugs to try to forget and got hooked on them
take note of Cat she knows what she is talking about
with that said go the hell away you little puke
vietnam vet
I just want to say to all of you who have served in the military and now have PTSD that I am truly sorry for your suffering. Thank you for your service to our country and for the sacrifices you have made to keep all of us Americans safe. I hope that all of you will be able to heal and that one day you can find peace.
It is impossible to intelligently discuss an issue with people whose best response is an ad hominem argument.
I went through the medical discharge process, and managed to avoid being sent to a WTU. Bottom line is its a great idea, that was horribly executed. The article was a bit one sided, but I was not suprised by anything that was written.
Paul you are correct- this story is one sided! I spent three months at the WTU at Walter Reed and although I would have rather been back with my unit in Iraq, I was treated well and received excellent medical attention. The wounded soldiers all have different takes on their own situation and treatment. I am grateful for the NCOs and Officers who took care of me and my fellow soldiers when we were suffering. I feel for the men and women who struggle with effects of war and the isolation they feel when recovering.
Armyranger: Considering that Walter Reed was hit by recent issues and is close enough for congressmen to do little press stunts in front of, I'd say Walter Reed would operate a little better. I would love to hear from others at the WTU's mentioned in this article.
Paul: The issue is the lack of first-hand experience with PTSD, WTUs and the VA system, not whether or not people don't like you. But you certainly have tripped a lot of nerves.
Paul:
Do you have any idea what you're talking about? You, and everyone else who doesn't believe this story, need to read this article from May 2006:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/12/us/12training.html
This is not news. My son was part of the WTU at Fort Sill from January-March 2006. He knew the soldiers mentioned in this article, and he confirmed for me that all of this was true. My son was in the unit because he had broken both feet during basic training. In fact, they estimate he broke them the first week of basic in Sept. 2005. According to my son, you do not ask to go to the doctor during basic training. So, despite the pain he was in every day, he finished basic and his time in WTU, and went on to serve his country. After all this came out in 2006, I asked him about the article and the soldiers mentioned as victims of this Drill Sergeant, and he confirmed everything the writer said. My son added one little piece of information: When they were awakened during the night for the formations mentioned in the article, quite often they had to run down the stairs and assemble below their barracks, and once they were in formation, the Drill Sergeant would send them back to their barracks to get their toothpaste and a comb (or something else equally unnecessary). This could go on for as long as an hour. Then they were dismissed only to have to replay the scene just a few hours later.
I'm sorry to say, I took my son's word for it when he said the Army had taken steps to improve conditions in basic and in other medical units. Obviously he was wrong.
r u an idiot ? have u been in one of this units probley not they killed a solider at dix with meds
One sided? Just goes to show what you know about the military. Instead of our "fearless leader" taking in a nice weekend to talk to a religious leader, he should be in that unit talking to the women and men he continues to send to the Middle East.
What the hell possible good for our soldiers comes from such a warehouse situation. That just goes to prove what a lame military leader Obama really is. Like the POPE, HE is responsible for all under HIS care As Commander In Chief. But then when you have never served a day in your life in the military let alone in combat what the hel* did Americans think was going to happen.
OBAMA CARE: STEP RIGHT UP AND GET IT!
Greenglass1, get the hell off the political bandwagon and Obama. This has been going on for years. Take you political bs somewhere else.
I have to agree no one wants to take responsiblility for what is happening to these soldiers. And what can you expect when you have a Commander in Chief (and I use the term loosely) that has never been there. These kids need help, yes they are still soldiers but weren't we all taught the buddy system? Weren't we all taught to care for one another and have each others back. They need to know there is help for them and not just meds to keep them doped up so they forget about what happened. That is a temporary fix for a lifelong problem. They did what they were told to do now we need to care for them as we said we would.
Please get off the Obama bashing, this is about a system that has been trashed for decades, you don't know what he is doing to help fix this. Not everything is printed about what is going on. To tell the truth the help that the Vet's have been getting is improving, it is a long way from being fixed for sure, but you try to fix something that has been so F**k'ed up. This warehousing was set up by the previous Commander and Chief "and I use this loosely since all he did was fly over the sky's of Texas to keep us safe.
I wish my husband and brother had ,had a Daddy with political clout to keep them out of Vietnam.
According to Bush, it was 'Mission Accomplished'. What happened?
greenglass ass-Get a grip and get out! Your buddy W was the one under whom these treatments were developed. shut your mouth, since you obviously know nothing.
just remember Greenglass - your hero George dubya dumbass was the one who invaded iraq for over 1 dozen reasons and none of them valid. atleast this latest idiot is fighting in the right country, you remember afghanistan, where bush decided to just leave a small force - go play in traffic you fool
vietnam vet
Well, Andy, that's where you are wrong. Those guys may still be soldiers technically, but in their minds and hearts they stopped being soldiers when they became so damaged (either mentally or physically) that they have now become just a shadow of their previous selves.
You can't treat these men like soldiers just because they haven't been discharged yet (thanks again to more red tape), they need to be treated for what they are, human beings in need of serious help. Your army F@#$ed them up, now you want to make things worse by denying them proper treatment?
People think that the worst thing to happen to a soldier is getting killed in battle. But the living hell these guys go through when they get home is far worse!
Young men and women become soldiers for lots of reasons. Many believe that they are serving their country and protecting the people at home. Ideally, that's what is going on.
However, in Vietnam -- and now in Iraq and Afghanistan -- they find that it is not as clear as all that. Killing people to save them -- not knowing who, exactly, the enemy is -- discovering that they are fighting to preserve the assets of big business -- these things by themselves are demoralizing. And then when you are injured, when your buddies are killed and you survive, you have lots of questions. You have the guilt of survival. You have to learn to live with memories no one should have to live with.
It's true -- the President should visit these Warrior Transition Units. He should see how they are medicated up the wazoo. And then he might realize that they do indeed need treatment of a different sort. The Warriors need to heal -- body, mind and spirit. There are approaches that take all three of those aspects into consideration. It is only through work in all three aspects of these men and women's lives that they will be healed and ready to move on.
y by the time the president got to one of this units the higher ups would only present there best med holds. can u say dog and pony show. thats all it would be
Why should these guys be required to show up for formations? What's the point? They're all drugged up! Leave 'em alone and let 'em wait for their discharges in peace.
When I was in the Navy, I met many good doctors. They were civilian doctors drinking in a civilian bar, but I met them. The Navy doctors themselves, well they pretty much sucked. I could never understand why any good doctor would ever join any armed service. Then it dawned on me: they don't.
Put those NCOs on the same drug cocktails and see what happens. I imagine they'd get a new understanding of what it feels like to be heavily medicated?
now ur thinkin i was stuck at ft dix for 6 months when i got back drug them up with the same stuff
Alot of us here have no idea what we are talking about and have no right to comment on this article. Although I agree that the article may be a bit one-sided, I also agree that anyone going into these units deserves every bit of slack they could possibly get. Disciplining a person in these units for being late to a formation seems asinine. Perhaps the people in charge of these units don't fully understand the intention of their formation?
The cadre is comprised of individual NCOs who are not wanted by their own companies/platoons...So they put them through a crashcourse and park them here.
That's what it sounded like to me too, Glenn. Take that NCO that no one gets along with and send him somewhere else...probably this cadre unit.
This is why the military shouldn't be running the WTUs. Doctors, nurses and therapists should be in charge?
yeha they wanted their own companies. but the big thing is most of those so called nco's have not been to war at all they were to sick lame or lazy. and there watching druged out combat vets. hell the ones at ft dix were scared of us lol
The true costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will never be known. They are producing a generation of lost and damaged young people, many of whom will require care the rest of their lives.
Where will the money come from to care for them?
Maybe the War Profiteers could help care for them
they need all the care they earned and deserve, but they are not doing anymore than the boys in ww2 did. ever since viet nam they expect to be taken care of by the government. i served in the army for 3 years and did not expect anymore than i got which was nothing.
Thank you George W Bush.
I've been in the Army for 20 years and have served in Afghanistan and Iraq. I am also a RN for the Dept of Veterans Affairs.
I think the aritcle is dead on. The last time I came back, I took one look at the WTU at Ft Lewis and knew I had to do whatever it took to avoid it. I truly believe the system is set up to discourage people from getting help on the Army's dime. I think it's about money. All the demobilization people kept saying at Lewis was, "Wait until you get home and get treatment at the VA" and "Anything you complain about here might hold you up from getting home" They don't want Soldiers receiving a full time pay check to get treatment. There is a perception that people are trying to stay on and "Sham" or get over on the system for a paycheck especially regarding PTSD. With a force that is 50% National Guard and Reserve that's a big savings.
That being said there is very very little actual treatment available for Soldiers and Veterans suffering from PTSD. I have a mild traumatic brain injury and fairly severe PTSD and the only thing that is ever offered is Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitors (things like Prozac, Efexor and Wellbutrin) They only work in a minority of people and certainly not for me. They are easy to prescribe though and check the "We are doing something" block. It is very important for the administrations both Army and VA to check that block. My opinion is they are doing the absolute minimum to get the attention off of them after the Walter Reed fiasco and news that suicide is killing more Soldiers than the enemy.
This last time I deployed I had to go through 4 hours of psychological testing and it was recomended I didn't deploy but when I asked for a second opinon they said it was too expensive to fly me somewhere and so they just changed the recomendation to "deployable". They did finally give me some access to a few sessions of Rapid Eye Movement Desensitization therapy but the person doing it didn't seem to know what they were doing. That was the first real attempt at treatment the Army offered in the seven years since the injury happened. The VA said I don't qualify for anything more than a counseling appt with a social worker because the cutting edge therapies are in high demand and there are not many people qualified to do them. Since I have a job, a home and I am not addicted to Heroin I am not high priority.
The bottom line is real treatment takes time and real access to psychiatrists and truly competent counselors.... Too many people I have met just seem to be in the Psych field because the idea of doing any real work terrifies them. I have read about 10 books on the subject and find Jonathan Shay and David Grossmans books to be the most helpful to me in reconciling the impact and injustices of the War. Unfortunately when you try to discuss those observations with doctors and therapists they generally just look at you like a cow looks at an oncoming train and verbalize that they have heard of the resources but haven't read them and would you like a pamphlet on PTSD symptoms and the phone number for the Suicide Hotline.
The biggest thing anyone has done is install the suicide hotline so someone can tell you to go the hospital or call 911 if you get suicidal. Then you can go lay on a stretcher in some emergency room somewhere (there is a critical shortage of inpatient psych care everywhere in the US) until you are willing to sign a waiver that you are no longer a danger to yourself. (that covers everyones liability and checks the all important "we did something" block. I'm not sure but it wouldn't take me a long time of laying on a hard stretcher staring at a flourescent light before suicide did seem like the right answer.
Nobody wants to hear the real answer that we need to spend a lot of money over the next 50 years to care for the physical and psychological wounds of these Soldiers that as Abraham Lincoln so aptly put it "Have borne the burden of the battle." Unfortunately the answer of just ignoring it and hoping it goes away works. Ignore them and they do go away... permanently.
William, please try to seek help again. I was lucky with a friend of mine that had PTSD, severe depression, and long term pain issues due to an unresolved medical problem. She tried to commit suicide twice - both times under the care of various mental health workers. We finally sent her to another duty station because that military hospital really wanted to help and make a difference. She's gone thru some intensive PTSD therapy, has been effectively treated for her unresolved medical problem. It took a lot of work to get her the proper care and treatment. While things are not perfect, they're much better.
Don't give up and try again.
While this article may be a little one sided, if even half of it is true then it is an embarrassment. These people dedicated their lives to preserving our freedoms. Now that they need help, they are treated like garbage by their fellow soldiers. The doctors medicate them into a stupor so that they do not have to deal with the real issues. The U.S. military has always had an abysmal record whe it comes to the psychiatric care of the soldiers. It is time they put command of these units in the hands of medical professionals so that the cadre can not overrule a doctors orders and these soldiers received the care they need and deserve.
FYI - I left the military on a medical discharge 25 years ago due to a blow knee, so I know a little about the process and how you are treated. I had a friend who was severely injured in a helicopter crash. The military personnel tried to trick him into signing discharge papers so they could stop paying him and get out from under having to provide his medical care. I offer this story as a first hand example of how injured soldiers are treated from someone who saw it first hand, not from some reporter.
As a licensed therapist (and a vet), I worked for a year in a mental health unit on an Army post. One sentence does it for me. What a joke!!
Get serious Greenglass and Melissa--you seem to forget who our "great" Commander in Chief was who started sending our young men and women to die in Iraq in the first place. George "Bring it on" Bush.....and though he sort of served in the National Guard, he also never saw day one of anything remotely like combat. Therefore he had never been there either. So by your definition then, Bush was an even more lame military leader because he presided over this situation for a much longer period of time than Obama has....resulting in far more dead and crippled (both mentally and physically) young Americans than has occurred under Obama's presidency.
The Army can't possibly provide these wounded warriors with what they really need, which is a comprehensive approach to PTSD including therapy on several levels, not just the medication. The medication is a small part of a larger treatment plan. The Army just doesn't have the people, or the know how, to do it.
As for the formations, there is a thought process within the Army that if you keep your soldiers close to their 'regular' routine, the chance that you can re assimilate them into back into their unit. I've talked to some of these guys in the WTUs, and they truly do suck.
A shame. our guys deserve better.
I'm uncertain what the point of articles like this try to make. Are they picking on the quality of care the Army provides? Here's something to consider. How expensive is medical care per soldier? How much are we really willing to pay to lure/keep psych doctors in when docs on the outside make twice as much and don't have silly military conventions to adhere to?
Here's another thought, let's say the WTU's are the problem. Fair enough, then what exactly is the solution? I don't see many ideas comming from this article (or responses) so much as complaints. Is there even a solution to be had for this situation? What should we expect of anyone who has gone to a fast-paced, exciting lifestyle with a good network of friends that has suddenly been disfigured/disabled and put into a slower solitary life with limited support of their family (if any) who may be nearby? Should entire units return from the field to hang out with the injured until the injured feels better about the situation? Should people who've lost everything they've known be expected to dance around with joy? What should we provide for them that isn't already?
There's all this blame being thrown around with no consideration of personal responsibility. Can we really blame the Army for sticking needles full of illegal drugs into soldiers arms or do people have any responsibility for their own well-being at all these days?
As for people who blame Obama, I don't like many things about him or his admin just as I didn't like many things about Bush and his admin but is this REALLY his or Bush's fault? What really got us over there and what have we done to stay out of the world's problems in the future? Has anyone considered the oil problem or, if you want to get deeper, the puppet regimes created during the Eisenhower admin throughout the world that backfired on us? It seems pretty naive to blame a president for everything.
I feel bad for these soldiers going through this but at the same time the NYT isn't helping anything or anyone. What might help is the same thing that writers at the NYT, MSNBC and cynical posters in forums like this are always quick to attack as being worthless or even dangerous. There's no place for religion in print any longer because it's all about molesting priests, middle-eastern fanatics, money-grubbing organizations and some insane notion of keeping the 'state' and religion separate (even though one was founded upon the other). How about this? How about the concept that when all of our science (medicine), organization (military/politics) fail that perhaps these soldiers need something man-made systems can't provide? If faith in God/Jesus suddenly worthless or is there the possibility that it might be the best option for people like these soldiers who feel they've run out of options? They say there are no atheists in foxholes. Really, they should say there are no atheists who've ever won a purple heart.
God bless and be with these former soldiers and their families who've made priceless sacrifices defending the democracy we all have a hand in managing, for better or for worse.
Are you trying to say the NYT shouldn't report on what appears to be inadequate treatment of our military members? Let's be real.
MovingOut - excellent points, worth re-reading. Any person who has been severely damaged mentally or physically is not likely to be too happy about their situation no matter where or what it is. The WTU approach may have lots of faults - but let's have some ideas about what better solutions there are - or should be.
Many thanks and God Bless! to our soldiers, vets and their families.
This is a good website + hotline/ National Veterans Foundation
nvf.org
1-888-777-4443
It is a national disgrace to not have cutting edge treatment for all who need it. EMDR is very effective when under the direction of a trained professional. There are other alternative treatments, as well.
http://www.ptsdmanual.com/
here is a section on "TFT", a do-it-yourself method that has been successful. This could also help out stressed out family members...even kids.
http://www.ptsdmanual.com/stnot.html
Military personel, individuals suffering from PTSD and other emotional or physical issues returning from WAR...should get treated with the utmost respect and care...to discipline them...and expect that they "want to improve" is foolish...the only they thing they are sure they want is to feel better and if the people in charge only prescribe medication and enforce rules they are not getting the proper care...When you are ill you don't know what you want...but gentleness and hope and compassion...above all...RESPECT...ALL of them deserve the BEST care!!! Tough LOVE???...geez we're talking about United State VETERANS of WAR...
I'm disgusted at the idea of how our military men and women return and are treated...in general by the public but to have the military make excuses and insult the ill and damaged personel that are in their care is embarrassing to the United States of America.
"... Army surveys showed that most soldiers treated in transition units since 2007, more than 50,000 people, had liked the care ... ."
The very way in which the Army defends itself in this statement clearly shows that those who did not "like the care" must be malcontents and troublemakers. The mindset of the powers that be at the Pentagon is that soldiers are nothing more than pawns on a chessboard, not actual humans. Maybe we need to get back to having a draft; maybe then these soldiers will have more importance to the military, I don't know. The present enlistees' importance seems nonexistant, that's for sure.
what in the hell does a draft got to do with this crap?
Actually not a lot, although if rich kids had to go and get blown up and come back dead or maimed for life, how long do you think the war would last?
mr. crabduster. a nano second.that's how long. rich kids don't usually go to war.
ah yeah has anybody thought thtya by perscribing the gazzillion medications their giving these people that maybe they're exacerbating the probem?these people have it all ass backwards.they don't realize with their problems that these medication can enhance the situation.they be conunteracting each other in a lot of cases. it's not a once size fits all solution folks.
to me this whole so called program sounds like it was slapped together.the army better gets it's act together because in this case, they are doing a real crappy job. these people deserve better, than here's 10 pills take um and call me in the morning if i'm up.just archaic and ignorant.despicable
the freaken army owes this much to these people. wake the hell up!
Solidiers and military personnel need to understand that wherever they go they are really nothing but guinea pigs. Even this trauma unit, they're studying how the soldiers respond to different medications and treatment.
Guinea pigs.
It certainly doesn't help the situation when these guys and gals are being spoon fed prescription drugs that can often cause or worsen bouts of depression and suicidal tendencies. This is an extremely serious issue which needs to be officially addressed.
The Pharmaceutical Industrial Complex marketing and influence on doctors and other health professionals through drug reps, including the constant provision of marketing 'gifts' and biased information to health professionals; highly prevalent advertising in journals and conferences; funding independent healthcare organizations and health promotion campaigns; lobbying physicians and politicians (more than any other industry in the US); sponsorship of medical schools or nurse training; sponsorship of continuing educational events, with influence on the curriculum; and hiring physicians as paid consultants on medical advisory boards.
To help ensure the status quo on U.S. drug regulation and pricing, the pharmaceutical industry has thousands of lobbyists in Washington, DC that lobby Congress and protect their interests. The pharmaceutical industry spent $855 million, more than any other industry, on lobbying activities from 1998 to 2006, according to the non-partisan Center for Public Integrity.
There is a serious conflict of interest here. Not only does the profitable Pharma Industry have pocket politicans, it now has pocket physicians. Psychological distress is part of a normal human response to overwhelming experiences. Only when symptoms are severe, or last too long, is the response considered pathological. In the majority of people, symptoms progressively resolve over the first few months. Not all people who experience trauma require treatment in the form of drugs. Severe traumatic events rarely leave the individual unaffected, but the majority of survivors adapt without developing enduring symptoms. It's as if we have medicalized human nature, for the proffitable gain of the Industry.
Feeling depressed? fatigued? dazed? stressed? fat? Here's a pill, don't worry about the side effects. See you next month for your refill. Cha-Ching.
Having worked in a locked pysch facilty and have had two Concussions, and I have a number of questions regardin this story... One is, I think I have read it before, it just seems very familiar the way it is written the pace and the interviews..It is strangely familiar.....
Anyway, why is the author giving credence to a Soldier self diagnosing himself, as well as his family diagnosing the young mans illness??? Therein I believe lies the problem...
Mental injuries to the brain, especially after a couple of concussions (which I have had from fights with psycho patients) can lead to memory loss, confusion, hallucinations, headaches and decision making difficulties.. I know. I experienced all of those after my second concussion... As an example my wife came home from work to find me stretched out on the Couch, she asked me what I was doing home so early since I normally got off work two hours later than she....I didn't have an answer.. I couldn't remember. She asked me if I had gone to work at all,, I couldn't remember if I had a job...She then found the hospital ER slips that they sent me home with, she asked me if I had been to the hospital, I couldn't remember...In fact I had been ordered to stay off work for two weeks and to return to the Doctors every three days for a follow up to see how I was doing mentally for the first two weeks and then once a montha after that to check to see if my brain was healing....
The Doctor had prescribed for me a number of Medications to relieve the pain, check the swelling in the brain, and a pyschotrofic drug to keep me calmed down and relieve my fears..and because one of the medications tended to cause Insomia, there was one for sleep as well....
So from my own experience,,,something stinks real bad in this story..... and I think it is the author and the Soldier maybe helping out in order to get that Medical Discharge with100% disability meaning a tax free paycheck for life...Which if deserved, I have no problems with what so ever, let me make that perfectly clear..Because I was an Admin Sgt. in the USMC and had to deal with a few malingers who eventually went to the Brig instead of home, then they were given a dishonorable discharge, but if a soldier is seriously wounded, then I would give him part of my paycheck if need be..cause he earned it...
I just now remembered seeing stories like this back in the media around the time of Senator Kerry's cowardice and dishonesty coming to light,,,that is why I remember it so...Their must have been a dozen or so stories like this in papers and in the Leftist Liberal Free press...
It was the goal of the Free Press at that time to undermine the Government and the Military with story after sob story like these handed out free tio the young and impressionable on College Campuses across the nation and maybe this is just another one and the poor solider just doesn't have the brains at this moment working properly to realize he is being used!!!! Just like so many others in the 60's and 70's by these Demonrats...
As the Mother of an Infantry soldier and a Marine, this is a very disturbing story...As a Nurse who works for the Military and clears soldiers for deployment this is double disturbing. As a Citizen of America, where our Congress just forced through a healthcare bill we did not want, this is most disturbing. However, I would like to hear the other side...there is always 2 sides to every story. As a RN x 23 years I know that a shortage of Nurses and axciallary staff is always a problem. Also lack of education and proper trainning of the staff is a problem too. Our warriors deserve only the best treatment and if they are not getting it then citizens evertwhere should be voicing their concern all the way to DC. We should not allow any mistreatment of our soldiers....God help us when they do pass universal health care....your seeing the tip of the iceberg here.
Eddie S., how is it in that dark deep hole where the sun doesn't shine? What running, dribbling, chaotic comments were you trying to make? Cheeeeessse! How's the meds you're on? Many of these comments are right on! What chaffes my a$$ is these cheesy NCO's who run their personal hell holes! Stateside lifers who are near to getting a retirement pension ... riding herd over neurotic and medicated combat soldiers! It's one thing to fight for your country ... it is totally another when your country doesn't fight for you!!!
ATTENTION ALL YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN:
Read this article well so that you know what awaits you if you get injured in Iraq or Afghanistan, and remember how patriotic you felt before you read this article. Think twice before you enlist in the army because your worst enemy may end up being your drill sergeant.