Another war wound: Financial trauma for Central Florida's returning Reservists and National Guardsmen

Another war wound: Financial trauma
December 17, 2010
By Darryl E. Owens,
COMMENTARY
U.S. Army Spc. Dennis Akkurt was used to going toe-to-toe with ruthless enemies in Kosovo and Iraq.

Yet, when the Orlando man returned on special leave from Iraq in October, he quickly realized he was overmatched against his most relentless adversary yet.

Mounting bills.

His step-daughter desperately needed surgery. She had long struggled with an upper-jaw defect that hampered her ability to breathe, or enjoy a meal. She couldn't even close her lips.

His Army benefits whittled the $11,000 surgery to about $6,000.

Not that Akkurt really had that kind of money to spare — particularly after his reservist pay from Uncle Sam ended with his leave. Not that the father of three really had a choice.

"You can tell your landlord, 'No, I'm not paying the mortgage this month,'" says Akkurt, 39, "but you won't tell your daughter, 'You're not going to the doctor because I don't have any money.' "

The surgery brought her a step closer to a million-dollar smile. But it brought the family a giant step closer to ruin.

"Once you start getting behind," Akkurt says, "it's hard to catch up."

Ain't that the truth.

The real shame of it all is, it's a truth encountered by a growing number of Central Florida's returning reservists and National Guardsmen. That war exacts its bitter mental and physical toll on troops comes as no surprise. But too often their wallets become collateral damage.
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Another war wound Financial trauma