Despite uproar, officials say all well at WTU

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Sgt. Loyd Sawyer sits with his wife, Andrea. Sgt. Sawyer worked at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, and developed post traumatic stress disorder during his deployment. After three days in the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Lee, Va., he became so stressed that he returned to the psychiatric ward where he had spent the previous three weeks.


Despite uproar, officials say all well at WTU
By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Dec 23, 2008 22:14:04 EST

At a recent gathering in a small auditorium at Fort Lee, Va., wounded soldiers listened as everyone in their chain of command up to a full colonel reassured them that life in the post’s Warrior Transition Unit remained good.

Capt. David Payne, their company commander, reminded them that Fort Lee had ranked in the top five of 35 WTUs for 15 straight months, according to monthly online polls. The barracks are “rated the top in the Army.” Three members of the cadre are former wounded soldiers themselves.

Lt. Col. Robert Lather told them the hospital is being revamped, with more space dedicated to active-duty soldiers so they don’t have to wait in long lines with troops going through Advanced Individual Training.

“Your mission is to heal,” said Col. Donna Diamond, head of Fort Lee’s Kenner Army Health Clinic. “We’re here to make sure your needs are addressed.”

“We’re having another dog-and-pony show,” he said.


Rest of artile at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/military_lee_warriortransition_122308w/%2e