SOLDIERS ARE HUMAN BEINGS…
This post is the first I’ve published using the WordPress iPhone app. I hope that it is readable so that I can continue using this convenient app.
So let me talk about US Army Soldiers being real live human beings…YES…we are! Today I am going to the Emergency Room of my local hospital with the hopes of receiving quality treatment that should be available to me through the military healthcare system. Now there’s a contradiction in terms – MILITARY + HEALTHCARE.
I suffered through two consecutive tours in Iraq, enduring some very stressful physical challenges that severely impacted my physical and mental health. It’s been over 3 years since I returned home, but I am in a more debilitating state of health than I have ever been throughout my entire life. What hurts and disgusts me is that the Army has NOT provided adequate healthcare to make this broken Soldier whole again.
I am not going to reveal all that I am suffering through in this post, but I am in serious pain. I have damaged disks in my back and spine that are causing excruciating pain down my leg to my ankle, and up my back to my shoulder and bicep. The pain is exacerbated by the arthritis/bursitis in my shoulder, a damaged ACL, and…AND…a torn bicep tendon that was identified over 2 years ago. Now the pain is constant. It’s extremely difficult to walk, stand, sit, lie prone, etc. Sometimes it’s so bad that I can’t help but cry…
Now the whole “human” thing is REALLY disturbing. For some ‘inexplicable’ reason, my chain-of-command seems to think that it has the necessary medical credentials to actually make the claim that absolutely nothing is wrong with me. What The F**K???!!! And to make matters worse I was subjected to non-judicial punishment because I am not able to perform any duties…even though I was given direct orders to stay at home until the physicians could figure out what exactly is wrong with me. My list of other ailments includes severe hypertension, accelerated heart rate, aortic aneurysm, tumors, thyroid issues, chronic fatigue AND insomnia, spinal nerve damage, etc, etc… All of this, and more, is well documented in my medical records, but there really is a systemic disconnect among Army leadership, Army missions/duties, and the health and well-being of Soldiers.
I’m disgusted, hurt, and very saddened at how so many of our Warriors are being treated after years of dedicated service. I have served the Army and this country in uniform for 21years…and this is the thanks I am offered? I am so very proud of my achievements and accomplishments, but I am doing my best to forget every moment of the last 21 years of my military life. YES…I’m serious.
But those of you who know me can rest assured that I’m not going out quietly. I don’t want any awards, accolades, trophies, farewell gifts, backslaps, or even congratulations. I simply want to challenge the system – yet again – exposing as much impropriety, unfairness, neglect, bias, and inequality as I can personally identify…and then walk away with my head held high – like a HUMAN BEING should be able to do.
My life has been violated…apparently they haven’t heard about The Spook…I’m jus’ sayin’…
