A Letter from an Iraq Veteran
Submitted by Kat on May 28, 2008 - 1:48pm.
Veterans & Military | Wesley Clark
Yesterday, Gen. Clark received the letter below from a young veteran. Failing to provide adequate education benefits for our returning soldiers will only dissuade a large number of our best and brightest from choosing military service over other career options. The armed forces will remain strong only if we attract the most talented Americans with a promise of a bright future after they have served our country. We can do better.
21 May 2008
General Clark,
My name is Michael B. I am an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran. I served with the 89th and 42nd Military Police Brigades in Baghdad, Balad and Ashraf, Iraq in 2004 and 2005. I was only 18 years old when I left my home to go and serve my country. I was a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for six years and was just separated in April. I am now 23 years old and cannot use my GI Bill anymore. According to the VA, the chapter 1607 GI Bill that I was using is only available to drilling reservists. And I've been told that I cannot use the Chapter 1606 GI Bill anymore.
I'm telling you these stories so that you can hear from someone on the 'front lines' of this battle. I've sent letters to both Senator Bob Casey and Senator Arlen Specter (my senators) asking them to support the new GI Bill. I'm spreading the word among my fellow vets and my family and friends, asking them to spread the word about Bush and McCain not supporting the GI Bill. I've heard that they won't support it because they fear that too many soldiers will want to get out of the military to use their new GI Bill. The net effect of that would be that retention rates drop. Should anyone ever doubt that Americans will stop answering their nation's call?
Mr. Bush and Mr. McCain are misguided and fearful. I helped three young men join the Army National Guard recently. All three are satisfactory recruits with bright futures. Never should anyone doubt that our military will crumble because of college tuition assistance. If anything, the new GI Bill will help make the decision to join the military easier.
I greatly admire you sir and have appreciated the work that you do for veterans across America. Thank you for your time. God bless you!
Your Fellow Vet,
Michael B.
This guy served on ACTIVE DUTY for five years, but because he's no longer actively drilling in the Guard, he's not eligible for GI benefits? I hope there's something else at work here, or I might have to get pissed.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
Get even more pissed that so many people who have had little to no connection to the Armed Forces, or spend less time around those on active duty than they might once have spent - would be completely unaware that these men and women are getting screwed - were it not for people Like Wes Clark, Chuck Hagel, Jim Webb, Jon Soltz, and groups like Votevets.
It's not like this gap in funding just appeared in the last few years - it's been widening for decades. Maybe that's why it slipped through the cracks of the public consciousness for so long - decimal creep - and, oh yeah, the fact that so few holding the purse strings had served or have children who serve...that might also have something to do with it...out of sight, out of mind kinda thing.
Seriously - how many of us knew the current G.I. Bill didn't cover current college costs for vets? I'll bet most of us thought it still did. It's always been sort of a 'given' since the Bill's inception, and an appreciated incentive to serve.
Thank God Wes, Webb, Hagel & Vote Vets championed this - no one else sure seemed interested in leading it, let alone keeping it in the public eye, and particularly Washington's eye, until this administration is finally - at least to some small measure - forced to put up or shut up about its support for our troops.
So - how about helping WesPAC make Washington put up or shut? They need the resources to do that - to get Wes out there for vets running for Congress right now.
How about we start a little "Put up, or Shut Up" fundraising drive right here, right now?
I'll start it, k?
Transaction ID: 31524466
Date: May 28, 2008
Amount: $xx.xx
;-) Kelly
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
I love the idea, Kelly! Unfortunately, I can't do more than my monthly WesPAC donation.
So many worthy causes, so little money!
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
the Put Up or Shut Up fundraiser drive. ;-)
So - shall we start a new thread on this??
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
There is even less excuse for not adjusting the G.I. Bill correctly and appropriately, as the years progressed, in the first place - and so it covers everyone who serves fairly.
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers