Wounded Soldiers at Walter Reed being Charged for MEALS (insult to injury)

[Modem Butterfly]

http://salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/27/walter_reed/print.html

SNIP:

But here's how the new rules drain hundreds of dollars a month from the pockets of soldiers: Enlisted soldiers get an extra $267.18 every month in their paychecks for food. So before this month, all soldiers at Walter Reed got free food at the chow hall and extra cash. Soldiers say they received that extra food money while they were serving in Iraq, too, and they just let their families spend it on groceries. Now, though, the outpatient soldiers forced to buy meals at Walter Reed say they could spend around $15 a day if they eat three square meals at the dining hall -- about $3 for breakfast and around $6 each for lunch and dinner. That adds up to $450 a month, $183 more than soldiers' food allowance from the military. (The situation is even worse for officers, who get only $183.99 extra each month for a food allowance.) The soldiers at Walter Reed point out that that they don't have the option of eating at home to save money because they are stuck at the hospital. Vandrey said spending $6 for lunch and dinner sounds excessive. "I eat breakfast and lunch there every day and I never spend more than $5 a meal," he said.

Most soldiers in medical hold eat at Walter Reed every day, too. But for those well enough to leave the hospital grounds, a favorite spot -- and a rare treat – is the local Red Lobster, particularly if the press is paying. At a recent meal there, three soldiers from Walter Reed told Salon the new meal charges were putting a serious strain on already tight pocketbooks. (All three ate hefty-size meals.) "I don't starve, it might be beans and weenies or a cup of noodles," said the soldier from West Virginia who was treated for the broken neck; he can now walk, but does so with an awkward, bowlegged gait. "I'm not going to starve to death, but it is an issue that really sucks." A soldier from Pennsylvania said, "They want to charge us for uniforms, for food, everything."

[atreides1]

1. Maybe Soemone Should Tell

That this is what they were really fighting for, and that the only thing they were defending was the ability of this administration to
give tax cuts to the rich at their expense.

Next thing you know they'll be paying for their treatment!!!

[GoldenOldie]

3. How about comparison Of Hospitlized Military daily costs

of housing & food, per person, on a daily basis.

Compare this against the Per Diem/cost allowance given to high ranking officers, government civilians, Congressmen, Senator's, Administration Staff, etc. You will discover, that their daily food allowance alone, would adequately feed a family of four. They also benefit greatly by the toadies, who pick up their tabs, allowing them to reap the full-price and then charge it to the taxpayer.

Want to know the treatment a retired General receives or a Congressman/woman, or a Senator when they enter Walter Reed Army Medical Center, or Bethesda Naval Medical Center?

[DistantWind88]

8. The per diem rate

for a General is the same is it is for a Private. And for Washington DC for example, the Meals rate is $48 (when no Government meals are provided).

[Inland]

2. Rummy sez, "STFU and eat your goddamn freedom fries".

"You eat with the money you have, not the money we are going to keep."

[underpants]

4. Does anyone have the address to send phone cards to?

I lost the address since I sent the last one.

[donsu]

5. this problem came up before and the bushgang said it would stop

charging them for food. guess this is just another promise smirk didn't really mean.

[Walt Starr]

6. This is a common practice and has occurred for decades

If you receive BAQ, you pay for your meals. If not, you don't pay for your meals.

Basically, BAQ is your meals and accomodations.

[DistantWind88]

9. Actually it's BAS that you get for meals

BAQ is for quarters. BAQ has been changed to BHA recently.

[Ezlivin]

7. Thank god for wives!

When I was hospitalized at the Tripler Army Medical Center, the food was so bad that my wife decided to bring me my meals. I had crusted blood in my hair and my wife go so tired of seeing it that she dragged my bed over to a sink, slid me to the side of the bed and washed my hair (I was/am paralyzed). It felt fabulous!

I can't imagine not having an advocate like that by my side.

It sucks to get kicked when you are already down. These veterans will leave the hospital with a much different view of their country. I hope they all get counseling.

[Itsthetruth]

11. Make GI's Pay For Bullets?

Will the military brass be charging soldiers for ammunition used anytime soon?

[Ezlivin]

12. I had to buy a torpedo on my sub

I lost a poker game and I had bet a MK88 torpedo.

:)

[LuCifer]

10. SUPPORT THE TROOPS...

...all you righties out there with those friggin yellow ribbons on your piece of crap SUV with your BUSHitler/Cheney04 stickers, I HOPE YOU ARE HAPPY AND SLEEP TIGHT in your gated community. Cretins.

Who would have thought that the neo-CONs would have took Bill Hicks' joke "I support the war, but not the troops!" seriously and made it their MO?

SUPPORT THE TROOPS, right? All you righties out there spouting that crap can SHUT UP right this very second, because you are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and a disgrace to America AND THE WORLD and we cannot wait for you people to be damned to the 9th Circle Of Hell for your sins. Shameful, disgusting and SICKENING.

Lu Cifer
http://www.LU13.TK
http://www.MidnightCalling.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LeftWingRadicals/join
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SternAndMore/join
http://www.RandiRhodesArchives.com
http://www.TheRandiRhodesShow.com
http://www.BillHicks.com