Father says soldier son was forgotten
Perry demands better tracking of wounded Guardsmen
Updated: Thursday, 17 Mar 2011, 7:45 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 17 Mar 2011, 3:22 PM CDT
Erin Cargile
AUSTIN (KXAN) - A Hays County father said the Texas Army National Guard needs to do a better job of tracking wounded warriors.
KXAN Austin News has been following 1st Lt. David Inbody's road to recovery since he was injured in Afghanistan in July 2010. He lost his right foot when his convoy hit a roadside bomb. He was flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C., for surgery before being transferred to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio where he was fitted with a prosthetic foot.
During David's stay at Walter Reed, his father immediately picked up on a few things.
"Things that the Army was doing for it's regular personnel weren't happening for the guardsmen," said Don Inbody.
For example, Don noticed a commander of an Airborne unit putting displaying special patches on an injured soldiers hospital room door. He mentioned it to two Texas National Guard General's when they came by to visit.
"They both assured me they would get that sorted out in a hurry -- never happened," said Don. "My thinking is if you can't do the little things, what's going on with the big things?"
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Father says soldier son was forgotten
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Friday, March 18, 2011
Are wounded National Guardsmen being treated differently?
1st Lt. David Inbody's Dad says they are. We send them to go to war just like regular military members but National Guards/Reservists, the citizen soldiers end up being treated differently back home. They end up being deployed, taken away from their regular jobs and families and then they come home expected to just adapt back, picking up where they left. Now we are made aware of the conditions they face when they are wounded and in military hospitals.
We are a Reserve family and I can say there is a HUGE difference in treatment and acknowledgment. The same goes for many of the non-profit organizations that help wounded. You have to be Active all the time, not part time. We have families that are severely being torn apart by issues brought home from war, financial difficulties when they are wounded, and no one really seems to care. It's a shame when you think that the VA and the military will take care of your soldier "should" something happen, but when it does.....all you find is disappointment.
ReplyDeleteI knew there was a huge problem when they come home as far as support goes and treatment for PTSD but I didn't know they were having problems when they were sent to military hospitals too. This is so wrong!
ReplyDeleteLast Memorial Day weekend I had a tour of Walter Reed. I was there for the Nam Knights ride to the Wall. I talked to a lot of the wounded there and never once thought there was any difference between regular military and "citizen soldiers" but then again, I wasn't looking for what was wrong. I was just too amazed with the wounded and how great all of them are.
If this is going on, on top of everything else, this country has a lot to be ashamed of. Now they are talking about war with Libya and deploying more?