The Broken Soldier

This message is a call to get other soldiers, airmen, seamen, and marines harmed by military medicine and or military bureaucratic roadblocks to pay and benefits on board for a press conference. Details of where and when will be ironed out as soon as we have an idea of who’s involved and their level of commitment.

For those uncomfortable speaking to press, you can still help. The Archbishop is willing to speak on our behalf. We would serve as backdrop unless we wanted to do more.

We have commitments from injured service members already. Some I’ve talked to seem to believe speaking out against this is or could be construed as anti-military. Making a problem the military has with keeping its promises to those who’ve enlisted known to those outside the military when those in it have failed to address these matters is hardly anti-military. If anything, better access to medical care, pay and benefits is the most pro-military, pro-service member stance one could take. For those who would construe or claim to construe shedding light on these problems, problems that destroy the lives of service members and their families, as anti-military I suggest their opinions aren’t driven by a desire to force the government to keep its promises to us, and certainly not by a desire to do what is in our best interest. They’re likely the kind to push ‘mission first’ down your throat, themselves never having suffered the harm we have. In other words, their opinions don’t matter.

Until we speak out nothing will change. My friends, courage and integrity and strength aren’t measured in one’s ability to endure injustice, contrary to what you’ve been told. Courage and integrity and strength is hating and fighting against that which is clearly wrong.

Addendum: Do not be afraid, as I was in the beginning, of aligning yourself with someone or some group who may otherwise not be like you. Agreement on every issue is not possible and isn’t necessary. If you can find those with different political views who agree and are willing to support you on this issue, accept their agreement and offers to help graciously. I am finding a lot of my support is coming from members of left-of-center religious groups. Left-of-center certainly doesn’t describe me. But so what? We agree that active and reserve component military members deserve to receive medical care and benefits consistent with the law. When they don’t receive these things, a great injustice has occurred. You don’t need to agree on everything else to agree and accept help on this.