National Guard Troops Denied Benefits After Longest Deployment Of Iraq War

WCSH6.com:

When they came home from Iraq, 2,600 members of the Minnesota National Guard had been deployed longer than any other ground combat unit. The tour lasted 22 months and had been extended as part of President Bush's surge.

1st Lt. Jon Anderson said he never expected to come home to this: A government refusing to pay education benefits he says he should have earned under the GI bill.

"It's pretty much a slap in the face," Anderson said. "I think it was a scheme to save money, personally. I think it was a leadership failure by the senior Washington leadership... once again failing the soldiers."

Read the whole story: WCSH6.com

Comments

[Rand]

The next time I a RepubliClown says "Support the troops" to my face, I know EXACTLY where my fist will go!

[Qbear]

"Anderson's orders, and the orders of 1,161 other Minnesota guard members, were written for 729 days.

Had they been written for 730 days, just one day more, the soldiers would receive those benefits to pay for school.

"Which would be allowing the soldiers an extra $500 to $800 a month," Anderson said"

THIS should be considered G*D DAMN CRIMINAL!
This should have Minnesotans just OUTRAGED, tell cheney to get his troops from another F*CKIN State, if they are going to make these sneaky and VILE one day short of benefit deployments. EVERY troop deployed should be reading what happened to these MN guardsmen.

[Purple Girl]

Guess the funds were part of the lost shipment with those guns and ammo and what $60 Mil? Or chalk it up to the vests and armored vehicles that they did not get either. Perhaps they were hoping for more causalities. They'd plan for no return for our investment (our kids)

[booker52]

This is so bogus, now they are saying it's going to take until Jan 08 to take care of this problem. So wrong to treat our troops in this manner. But what else can we expect from the government???

[ZingoBonMot]

-booker 52-

NOT the government - THIS government.

And they wonder why our armed forces are having a hard time recruiting NEW SUCKERS!

[Blurp]

I hadn't any idea soldiers would even DESIRE an advanced degree. I just assume the fighting class would prefer jobs in some plant or something. Making something with their brute, dirty hands.

Dear God! The Dow is down. We need to make haste with our invasion of Iran. My Carlyle stock can't take it anymore!

[wm1066]

These guys were told they would be outta there in no time...then thier time got extended and extended. This just shows how this Administration mistreats our sons and daughters. Should we be surprised?
We should be outraged!

[consrevil]

Message to returning troops.

What the hell did you expect, you work for a crook and since there is no DRAFT, you took the job by CHOICE.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

So much for the republican line of supporting the troops. Conservatism is a mental disorder.

[mikelartist]

$500 to $800 a month is just chump change in the scope of things. Somehow they think this will "save money"? In the meantime they shower trigger happy fat asses like Blackwater with billions to protect "gawkers" that go over to Iraq for a photo op.

Why more fragging doesn't happen is beyond me. Maybe is does and that is yet another lie from this administration.

[waynesmyer]

"and it's Tommy! and Tommy that! and throw him out, the brute!
"but it's savior of his country, when the guns begin to shoot" '
"and they are hanging Danny Deever, in the morning!
WHAT'S GOOD FOR HALLIBURTON, IS GOOD FOR BLACKWATER!

[ljsfolly]

I cannot believe that anyone would agree to this denial of education rights to these fine soldiers. They are not the private ones. They were never expected to leave American soil before Bush/Cheney made this war and yet they went and stayed because they had to. They were ordered to by the same idiot who made this war and expected flowers and glory when the statue fell. Shame on Bush and more shame upon Congress if they do not fix this. Write and call to let them know we know it is not right!

[researcher]

an imperialist paid to kill army deserves better treatment.

[Where is Jesus?]

Well golly gee whiz! The soldiers are getting screwed by Bush again? Well, holy cow! What the hell do they expect? They should not come back here crying about it. They should have done the right and moral thing and fucking refuse to kill for Bush. The military had better start standing up for its men and women who are being betrayed along with the rest of us. At this point, they are the only ones who can save us from Bush. Congress won't do it.

I pray that the generals who have the intelligent brains will join together and make a stand against the traitors of this country. Their job is to protect our land from attackers" bot outside and inside. We are obviously being attacked from the inside and it must be stopped. Only the military is strong enough and capable of stopping this. It's time...

[swift goat pet for truth]

Romney said his 5 son's work just as hard campaigning for him as any of these National Guard guys.

[TakeSake]

And 35 years ago W did his part by doing the hard, sustained work of throwing back shots.

[waynesmyer]

And that's why we call him "Mitt The Shit" Does his sons have to wear bullet -proof "jesus jumpers? Lwayno, Veterans For Peace

[hmmmmmer]

What the hell is wrong with, not only this administration, but the pencil pushing AH that came up with moronic idea. The congress is no better in probably going along with the idea. Give me and them a break, where are their representatives when they really need them after giving them their lives for 22 months.

[PostSoccerMom]

Hold on there! You mean those ungrateful, sweat covered 'bulls-eye targets' expect to get something out of the vacation they're having in the tropics?

Wow, you give them a flack jacket and they want a tank; they're never satisfied. Next they'll probably want a job when they get out, never mind a few bandages for their amputated limbs.

Will their greed never be satisfied. You know, if we only had REAL SOLDIERS they wouldn't be crying for everything - but they'd have enough money to buy what they want. Put those soldiers of fortune in a uniform; call them the Army and we won't need those whinny kids.

RAH, RAH, LETS GO DRAFT!!!

[gakabani]

Why serve if you are going to be treated like a second class citizen?
Oh, I forgot I am a third class citizen.

We are becoming a country of irrelevant laws.