Friday, June 20, 2008 | 2:04 a.m.
Your Monday editorial headlined “Keep sick soldiers home” should make us all sick to know our troops have been sent into battle when their commanders knew they had physical health problems that could significantly impair the performance of their duties.
Mental conditions were not mentioned, but there have been instances of troops being deployed from the U.S. who were suffering from traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. This could explain why a Rand Corp. report estimated that 320,000 veterans are suffering from mental problems.
How can military leaders at Fort Stewart, Fort Benning and Fort Drum ignore the medical conditions of our troops? For political expediency, to maintain the all-volunteer military?
Is the Defense Department doing all it can to identify mental and physical problems prior to releasing our troops from duty? If it hasn’t been, and probably still isn’t, it is no wonder that we are hearing all the horror stories when our veterans apply to the VA for care.
How many of our troops have become homeless because of this disgraceful treatment? Our troops and veterans deserve better.
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