The Soldiers in Walter Reed Medical Center

Washington Post breaks the silence for wounded Iraq soldiers by posting an article and slideshow of the treatment of soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center. The center apparently cares for and houses disable soldiers of all kinds. The quality of care at Walter Reed is so astonishing you would think we were caring for criminals not heroes.

The Post points out the living conditions for many of these soldiers. The rooms are infested with rodents, rats, and mold. Which is not a surprise since the building has been around since the 1930’s, and it seems that no one has had any upkeep in the building. What is even a bigger shocker is the building is right down the street from the White House.

Living conditions are not the only thing the medical center is lacking. They seem to be unable to keep track of the soldier’s medical records as well. One wounded National Guard who had been at the center for more then a year, received a gynecological exam results. It would have been an understanding mistake, except for the fact that he is a male with a traumatic head injury. These conditions are not isolated to just Walter Reed Medical Center, other medical centers also have similar conditions.

Its so sad to think that much of taxpayers money are going to send men and women to Iraq but upon return, if injured, they are to live in poverty so they can get the hospital care they deserve. If the national budget does not allow for the care these soldiers deserve when they come back then we should not be sending them to war.

How does this affect our nation you ask?? Knowledge of these conditions can prevent people from volunteering for any arm services, which will deplete the number of soldiers and airmen, in the long run, if these numbers are down, what will the President decide? Maybe draft for more servicemen?

Vice President Dick Cheney promises improvements with all medical centers in the US. Why did the media have to point out what Walter Reed and other facilities were lacking for Congress to do something? It seems that soldiers get put on the backburner once they’ve done their service.The fact is these are our servicemen. They fight for our rights; they are the legs of this nation. Why would we even considering mistreating them?