Injured in Iraq? DOD Wants Part of Your Sign Up Bonus Money Back

By: PM
Published On: 11/20/2007 3:12:05 PM

Sad. Pathetic. Unfair. Any other adjectives?

http://kdka.com/kdka...

The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments.

To get people to sign up, the military gives enlistment bonuses up to $30,000 in some cases.

Now men and women who have lost arms, legs, eyesight, hearing and can no longer serve are being ordered to pay some of that money back.

One of them is Jordan Fox, a young soldier from the South Hills.
***

Fox was seriously injured when a roadside bomb blew up his vehicle. He was knocked unconscious. His back was injured and lost all vision in his right eye.

A few months later Fox was sent home. His injuries prohibited him from fulfilling three months of his commitment. A few days ago, he received a letter from the military demanding nearly $3,000 of his signing bonus back.


If you click on the video next to the story, you find out that if the injury occurs early enough in the tour, the entire bonus must be returned.

There is pending legislation on this issue, originating from a Pittsburgh area Democratic congressman, Jason Altmire.  http://altmire.house... 
http://thomas.loc.go...
The bill has 219 co-sponsors in the House so far.  http://thomas.loc.go...

I hope this is an issue Senator Webb takes on.  (I could not find parallel Senate legislation -- but then my Thomas research skills are not great.)

Comments



Absolutely outrageous! (Catzmaw - 11/20/2007 3:28:21 PM)
I saw this on the news last night and almost dropped my teeth. 


I keep hoping (Ron1 - 11/20/2007 10:17:51 PM)
that my capacity to be surprised by these thugs, hypocrites, and criminals is exhausted -- but it never is.


I'm not surprised at anything now (PM - 11/21/2007 9:53:44 AM)
You're right, it's one thing after another with this crowd.  And it seems to have made lots of people numb.  Nixon lies about one issue and the nation goes nuts.  This president lies continually, and it's shown (e.g., the Scott McCllelan book coming out) he's lied, and nothing happens.


No support from Wolf, Cantor, Goode, etc. so far (PM - 11/21/2007 10:08:01 AM)
NOT co-sponsoring thus far:

Drake, Thelma (R)
Goode, Virgil H Jr (R)
Goodlatte, Bob (R)
Cantor, Eric (R)
Wolf, Frank R (R)

It looks like the latest update on co-sponsorship is 11-15, but they've had plenty of time to add their names.

Why do these GOP representatives hate our troops?



Sen. Clinton to Introduce Senate Legislation (PM - 11/21/2007 7:35:19 PM)
http://rawstory.com/...

Her press release says in part:

Since the beginning of the war in Iraq, wounded soldiers have faced numerous bureaucratic hurdles that have resulted in treatment that does not measure up to their service and sacrifice," Clinton wrote. "Whether it is the disgraceful treatment as outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical center or the pay problems experienced by wounded soldiers, many wounded soldiers have been treated with indifference and neglect."

***[I]t shocks the conscience that the Army could demand that wounded soldiers return their enlistment bonuses."

"Therefore, I again request a reversal of the flawed policy of requiring wounded soldiers to repay their enlistment bonuses," Clinton added. "I also request any data that reflects the total number of medically discharged wounded soldiers who have been affected by this enlistment bonus repayment policy to date and the total amount of enlistment bonus repayment money collected to date."

I'm sure Sen. Webb will get behind her on this.



Update on Wounded Having to Return Bonuses (PM - 11/26/2007 11:50:59 AM)
http://www.tpmmuckra...

The Army says it is checking into it.  I've read several different versions of this "checking into it" story.  I'll continue to be watchful and report any news that's firmer than this.