Former Army Specialist Rodriguez started getting bills for $700 for lost or damaged government property this summer. Although he was discharged some four years ago, bills recently arrived demanding payment, but giving no details on what or why -- nor do they offer a way to dispute the charges.
"For doing my job you're going to bill me?" Rodriguez said.
Remember 1st Lt. William "Eddie" Rebrook IV? He had to reimburse the U.S. Army $700 last year for body armor and other gear damaged after he was seriously wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq.
He was eventually reimbursed.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 20)
1. This sounds about right. I have been out of the military for nearly three years, and while I didn't go overseas, I have a million examples of being treated like this since getting out... mostly about receiving my benefits, but also within the VA hospitals. If you were to ask 10 veterans what they thought about their treatment since discharging, over half would tell you it's completely appalling.
I guess all those "We Support Our Troops" banners and bumper stickers are just for show.
patrick at 3:27AM on Jul 25th 2007
2. Patrick I completely agree with you 110%. The VA is as appalling as it can get. My husband served in Saudi during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. When he needed medical care after coming home he was treated terribly at the VA Hospital. I signed him out and took him to a public hospital where he got the care he needed and of course we had no insurance but had to pay the bill. Then the VA had the nerve to bill us on top of it! If it weren't for my taking charge and signing him out, he would have possibly died. Sad situation with the VA.
patrick states "If you were to ask 10 veterans what they thought about their treatment since discharging, over half would tell you it's completely appalling"
Tonda at 5:55AM on Jul 25th 2007
3. Sorry, I didn't have time to watch the video yet, but I wanted to add a slight counterpoint onto the comments.
I got was honorable discharged in 2002 and for the first several years received excellent service and care from the VA hospitals in WA. It helped me out greatly and I was very appreciative.
When I moved back to Seattle in mid-2006, the VA Hospital was not how I remembered it. It took 3 months before I could get my general care appointment. It was near impossible to find a parking spot in a huge parking lot... The VA hospital have always been busy, but now it was overrun with veterans.
I've tried to keep up-to-date with the changes and mishaps at the VA. I think it is horrible that the VA refused to acknowledge that there was going to be a huge influx of veterans needing care. That is starting to change, but I was reading that the leadership of the VA was trying to privatize the VA even though there are report showing that the VA can do it cheaper by itself. I wonder who gets the bids? lol... I don't think there will be much surprise to who the bids go to.It's funny in a very sad way.
As a little bit of background, I'm a member of the DAV (Disabled American Veterans.) Fantastic group. I didn't have to do a thing to get my benefits; they took care of it all. I have no doubt that they are overwhelmed now though. What I've seen, read, and felt have caused me to volunteer through the DAV to help at the hospitals. I had to shuffle my schedule around quite a bit, but I had to do something.
Ken at 6:26AM on Jul 25th 2007
4. I a'm not a veteran, But I have four brothers who served honorably. Tow in world war 2, one in Korea, and one during no war. My dearest love is for the veterans of this country who faught for the freedom I enjoy today. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
Don at 6:51AM on Jul 25th 2007
5. for those of us who think the immigrants are taking our jobs i can say try england or anywhere in europe, i hear the euro is very strong these days, travel to a foregn country to make a buck (or euro) and see for yourself how it is im sure nobody will twist your arm to stay in the US, and for those who think they are draining our healthcare should know that most of the countries around the world provide free medical benefita AND education no mater if its their citizen of foreign national, as to why its not like that here in the US, just like someone ellse said here on the blog, remember to vote, it counts
garynj33 at 6:52AM on Jul 25th 2007
6. I WILL TRY AGAIN. I am not a veteran, but I have four brothers who served this great nation honorably during WW-2 and Korea. My deepest gratitude if to the veterans who have faught for the freedom I enjoy today. THANK YOU, VETERANS. However, I hurt inside when I see how the veterans are ignored in our society today. It seems we just don't appreciate those great people who gave their lives for us. But, I guess that's because we don't even acknowledge Jesus Christ either, Who gave His life for us also. What else can we expect as a Nation? We are "politically correct" but spiritually and approaching financialy bankrupt. Something to think about wouldn't you say? Chaplain, DON
Don at 7:43AM on Jul 25th 2007
7. first of i would like to thank all the brave men and woman that put there lives on the line for this beautiful country every day. I'm so sad to hear that they are treating those brave people so badly. This makes me very dissapointed in our govermnet. i would love to see President bush stick hist tail out there in the line of fire and se what its like and someone in the army, plz send him a bill for the sratch on his gun.
Anne
annembarnes at 8:01AM on Jul 25th 2007
8. I am a veteran , in fact a 100% disabled veteran. My primary care is with the VA and it isn't good. The only reason that I get treated there at all is becasause it is the only health care I can afford. I am very fortunate now to have finally found a primary care "doc" that knows what she is doing but it took FOREVER. It also deppends on which VA that you go to, if your are from MAINE , you drive as far as you have to , to ANOTHER VA ! I would rather go to a vet clinic that have those people have anything to do with me. They are the worst I have ever seen and they have no respect for the vets or themselves. Clearly they just don't care one bit.
There is one in Tucson , Az that is very good and the one is Manchester NH is pretty good too. Bsoton wasn't great but they were not the worst either, they were atleast TRYING to do what they could to help. I ahve been to about 10 all over the country and that has been my experience. My Dad was also a vet and wheel chair bound and he went as far and to move from Maine to Arizona BECAUSE of the treatment he got from preostetics at the Augista , Maine VA. If you can my friends get out and stay our of that adminstrative night mare n Augusta.
D at 8:05AM on Jul 25th 2007
9. I do not normally respond to these things but am sick and tired of the VA getting such a bad rap.
This blog wasn't even about the VA it was about a soldier that supposedly lost gear and the military is now asking him to pay for it.
But as far as the VA goes I am a retired Marine and Disabled Vet and I may be one of the few but I have never had a bit of trouble with the VA. They have always treated me with respect and courtesy and the treatment I have had from them has been on the same lines as any civilian hospital.
Vets responding to this went into the military by their own choosing (we haven't had the draft since Vietnam) you knew the risks when you signed up. Now you want to whine and cry because you are not being treated with "kid gloves".
When was the last time you spent 3 to 4 hours in a civilian hospital emergency room? Only to have the Doc's there treat you like you were just a number and they were way too busy to really care?
Come on people wake up it isn't just the VA health care in this country that sucks. This country is run by corporate america and it is the all mighty dollar that speaks the loudest. Just be greatful that we have a VA Health Care system available for those that can't afford health care. Yea the lines are long and the people there are overworked and underpaid but they are still people too!!!
Jeannie at 8:35AM on Jul 25th 2007
10. it's a shame that this soldier has to pay for equipment that he use while in the military as it is the defense department does not pay them enough to support themselves and their family
maria at 10:05AM on Jul 25th 2007
11. I understand the frustration on both sides of this argument. My father was a disabled veteran of the Vietnam war era. He recieved absolutely no help from the VA. However, my husband served in Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia. He is also a disabled Veteran. He has recieved benefits and care on a decent level. All things need to be viewed in proper context. Could things be better? Absolutely. But couldn't they be better for just about anything? And remember, you can't please everyone so there will always be grumbling no matter what is achieved.
Holly at 10:05AM on Jul 25th 2007
12. Shame on our government for treating our vets so POORLY! These men and women have given up their lives to fight in a war that we shouldn't even be in... and then has the nerve to send them bills for gear that was lost in God knows what kind of circumstance.... If I had the money I would pay this Vet's bill for him - but the point is - NO VET should be charged ANYTHING for serving OUR COUNTRY! Such apathy on the part of ALL AMERICAN's to NOT be outraged! WE have all stuck our heads in the sand and pretend that this is NOT OUR situatiion it is THEIRS (the Vets)> This is not OUR war - it's someone elses. Who's war is it anyway? And why are AMERICAN'S DYING if it isn't OUR WAR? WE SHOULD ALL BE PROTESTING AND OUTRAGED ON THE CARE OUR VETS GET! WHAT A DISGRACE AND HYPOCRITES WE ALL ARE TO LET OUR SERVICE PERSONNEL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THESE KIND OF SITUATIONS! Some may well feel that Iraq is a better place to live then America.... At least there they get medical treatment and are cared for... Shame on all AMERICAN's - myself included - because all I do is blog - not even I have the courage to stand up for what's right. The Bush administration has us all scared to do the right thing.
Nanette Carter at 10:09AM on Jul 25th 2007
13. I would sure like to know what hospital Jeannie goes to. My husband was injured in Viet Nam 68, he is a paraplegic, confined to a wheelchair. We have dealt with VA hospitals in Ca, OR, WA, N.C.and finally VA. If CA, while an in-patient, if he broke any of their ruels they took away his wheelchair. Some of his incontinence supplies are of course meant for one use only. The hospital staff suggested he wash them out and reuse them. The hospital aids regularly stole from the inpatients, and if the patients complained, guess what? Next time they needed to be turned or lifted out of bed they were dropped. When my husband turned one of the crooks in he threatened to kill him.
When we moved to OR my husband went to a small hospital in Roseburg. The first person in the medical profession that he spoke to said "Can't you go to Portland? Your supplies cost too much." He then tried to go to Portland, but they said he had to go to Roseburg because they were the closest to our home.
Then he tried the Seattle VA. One of our friends ahd gone ther and received decent care, our friend was an attorney for one of the Vetereans groups. It turns out that the care he received was not the care they were willing to give someone that was not an attorney. My husband almost died there, he went into anaphylactic shock when they administered pennicilin, that he was allergic to and it was on his chart. Thanks god one of the other patients alerted the nurse on duty or I would be a widow.
Now here in VA, it took 3 years to get a replacement wheelchair, VA regs state that he ia allowed 3 wheelchairs and can replace one of the 3 every two years. My husband only has two wheelchairs and by the time he got a wheelchair here his newest chair was 5 years old. My husband had a heart attack and the only medication that the outside cardiologist perscribed that the VA carried was plavix. About 15 months after his heart attack the chief of pharmacy, NOT a doctor, called and said they wuld no longer fill that persrciption. They feel that he only needs to be on Plavix one year, no matter that studies show that those patients that discontinued Plavix at one year suffered a 40 percent greater chance of another heart attack.
So, again I really wonder what facility Jeannie went to. I'll have to tell my husband, who, incidentally was awarded the Silver Star for valor, that he should stop whining and crying because he is not being treated with 'kid gloves'. Of course, it would be nice if they could raise their level of care to simple human dignity.
Becky
Becky at 10:18AM on Jul 25th 2007
14. Why am I not surprised? What a messed up country this is....Why are we not billing the Iraqi's for what they blow up?????
Margaret at 10:35AM on Jul 25th 2007
15. I can't criticize you on this topic- you nappy headed Canook! I got out of the service for many reasons which included the horrible socialized style of healthcare where my primary doc for everything was a pediatrician or a gynecologist- despite the fact I was 25 and an anatomically correct male. So I'd get a referral to the wrong specialist or surgeon because the primary was incompetent. Twice I went to the VA hospital in Philly and saw things which were like out of midevil times, so I got out of the service and don't recommend it to anyone. There was even an issue where a VA hospital misplaced/lost a post-surgical patient back after gulf war 1. I hope at least that they disconnected the anesthesia machine and got him thru Pacu before they misplaced him!
Mike at 12:51PM on Jul 25th 2007