KERRY CALLS ON RUMSFELD TO ADDRESS MISTREATMENT OF WOUNDED TROOPS AT FORT STEWART, GEORGIA
October 12, 2003
Poor living conditions and back-logged medical care for military personnel at Ft. Stewart “raises serious concerns about the current stewardship of the American military,” says Kerry.
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) today called on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to give his personal attention to the treatment of wounded troops at Fort Stewart, Georgia. According to news accounts, more than 600 sick and wounded veterans of the U.S. war in Iraq are waiting for medical care at Fort Stewart. While they wait, they are being held in training barracks that lack basic accommodations.
“While I am heartened by reports today that additional medical personnel will soon be assigned to care for the reservists waiting for care at Fort Stewart, I am worried that these delays would arise in the first place,” stated Kerry in a letter sent today to Secretary Rumsfeld.
“The men and women of the American military deserve our highest respect. They have kept their commitment to this country in the face of enemy fire. We owe them the same loyalty when they return home and need our care. The failure to meet this obligation for the men and women at Fort Stewart raises serious concerns about the current stewardship of the American military.”
In his letter, Kerry called on Rumsfeld to give his personal attention to “this issue of basic welfare for our troops,” and demanded responses to the following questions:
"What specific actions are being taken to remedy this situation? How did this back-log happen in the first place? What changes are being instituted to make sure this doesn’t happen again? Does this indicate that the capacity of DOD hospitals is over-burdened with casualties from Iraq?"
The full text of Kerry’s letter to Rumsfeld here...
October 12, 2003
Poor living conditions and back-logged medical care for military personnel at Ft. Stewart “raises serious concerns about the current stewardship of the American military,” says Kerry.
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) today called on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to give his personal attention to the treatment of wounded troops at Fort Stewart, Georgia. According to news accounts, more than 600 sick and wounded veterans of the U.S. war in Iraq are waiting for medical care at Fort Stewart. While they wait, they are being held in training barracks that lack basic accommodations.
“While I am heartened by reports today that additional medical personnel will soon be assigned to care for the reservists waiting for care at Fort Stewart, I am worried that these delays would arise in the first place,” stated Kerry in a letter sent today to Secretary Rumsfeld.
“The men and women of the American military deserve our highest respect. They have kept their commitment to this country in the face of enemy fire. We owe them the same loyalty when they return home and need our care. The failure to meet this obligation for the men and women at Fort Stewart raises serious concerns about the current stewardship of the American military.”
In his letter, Kerry called on Rumsfeld to give his personal attention to “this issue of basic welfare for our troops,” and demanded responses to the following questions:
"What specific actions are being taken to remedy this situation? How did this back-log happen in the first place? What changes are being instituted to make sure this doesn’t happen again? Does this indicate that the capacity of DOD hospitals is over-burdened with casualties from Iraq?"
The full text of Kerry’s letter to Rumsfeld here...
posted by Pamela J. Leavey at 10:09 PM
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