Iraq veteran got billed for missing gear

Congressman Helps U.S. Veteran Get Money Back For Missing Gear
WBOY.com
By Kelsey Pape, Marion and Taylor County Reporter
Posted: Apr 01, 2014
FAIRMONT

United States veterans all have thousands of stories to share, but not many are like Gerrad Branum's.

Branum served in the U.S. Army from 2001-2005. On his way home from Iraq, several of his bags went missing.

"My bags were lost in Iraq. A duffel, a ruck, and another ruck. Those bags had all my gear. My equipment," Branum said.

Nearly a decade after being discharged from the military, Branum received a letter stating that the IRS took nearly $1,600 from his tax return for that missing gear.

"Every piece of paper I signed that was considerably a field loss, it is proven there is a real thing as a field loss," he said.

Branum said he has received an outpouring of support by congressmen, senators, and those on Facebook.

Congressman David McKinley was one of those people. He reached out to Branum following our first report on the issue.
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