Iraq veteran sued Pentagon for lost job and won

Vet Sues Pentagon, Wins Back Pay
Sep 28, 2012
Knight Ridder/Tribune

CHIPPEWA FALLS -- When Mike Hanke returned to the Chippewa Valley in spring 2010 after a tour in Iraq, he expected to go back to work as an ROTC cadre at UW-Stout in Menomonie.

But Hanke, a 47-year-old Chippewa Falls city councilman, was surprised to learn he had lost his job with the Department of Defense while he was overseas and would not be rehired.

Hanke's active duty status ended March 27, 2010. On April 6 of that year he went to UW-Stout to request to begin working again.

"That's when I found out I no longer had a position," Hanke said.

Hanke filed a complaint against his termination, arguing federal law prohibits soldiers from losing their jobs because they were activated into service. He was part of the 128th Infantry unit of the Wisconsin Army National Guard that went to Baghdad. Earlier this month, Hanke reached a settlement with the DOD, which oversaw Hanke's job.

Hanke declined to reveal the size of the settlement but said it is believed to be the second-largest of its kind.
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