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Thank you, President Bush

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Anonymous

Guest
For supporting our troops. :mad:

The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments.

To get people to sign up, the military gives enlistment bonuses up to $30,000 in some cases.

Now men and women who have lost arms, legs, eyesight, hearing and can no longer serve are being ordered to pay some of that money back.

One of them is Jordan Fox, a young soldier from the South Hills.

He finds solace in the hundreds of boxes he loads onto a truck in Carnegie. In each box is a care package that will be sent to a man or woman serving in Iraq. It was in his name Operation Pittsburgh Pride was started.

Fox was seriously injured when a roadside bomb blew up his vehicle. He was knocked unconscious. His back was injured and lost all vision in his right eye.

A few months later Fox was sent home. His injuries prohibited him from fulfilling three months of his commitment. A few days ago, he received a letter from the military demanding nearly $3,000 of his signing bonus back.

"I tried to do my best and serve my country. I was unfortunately hurt in the process. Now they're telling me they want their money back," he explained.

It's a slap for Fox's mother, Susan Wardezak, who met with President Bush in Pittsburgh last May. He thanked her for starting Operation Pittsburgh Pride which has sent approximately 4,000 care packages.

He then sent her a letter expressing his concern over her son's injuries, so she cannot understand the U.S. Government's apparent lack of concern over injuries to countless U.S. Soldiers and demands that they return their bonuses.

While he's unsure of his future, Fox says he's unwavering in his commitment to his country.

"I'd do it all over again... because I'm proud of the discipline that I learned. I'm proud to have done something for my country," he said.

But Fox feels like he's already given enough. He'll never be able to pursue his dream of being a police officer because of his wounds and he can't believe he's being asked to return part of his $10,000 signing bonus.

KDKA contacted Congressman Jason Altmire on his behalf. He says he has proposed a bill that would guarantee soldiers receive full benefit of bonuses.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments.

To get people to sign up, the military gives enlistment bonuses up to $30,000 in some cases.

Now men and women who have lost arms, legs, eyesight, hearing and can no longer serve are being ordered to pay some of that money back.

You've got to be kidding me :???: :shock: :( :mad: :mad: This is unbelievable- even for King George :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
 

Goodpasture

Well-known member
For those that want to verify the story, here is the VIDEO and the LINK

yep.....pay blackwater thugs $1,000 a day.....but lets get the soldier who failed to survive intact to repay their bonus......guess Bush's years with the Texas Ranger Baseball franchise taught him all about bonuses and non-performance.
 

Steve

Well-known member
KDKA contacted Congressman Jason Altmire on his behalf. He says he has proposed a bill that would guarantee soldiers receive full benefit of bonuses.

Blame Bush all you want, but the only people who can change this law is the democratic controlled congress....

you guys would blame Bush for laws that have been on the books for decades....as this one has...but the fact is congress makes the laws....but worse then that your not telling the "whole truth"

Military Says Bonus Letter Was A 'Mistake'
http://kdka.com/kdkainvestigators/Iraq.veteran.bonuses.2.592432.html
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Steve said:
KDKA contacted Congressman Jason Altmire on his behalf. He says he has proposed a bill that would guarantee soldiers receive full benefit of bonuses.

Blame Bush all you want, but the only people who can change this law is the democratic controlled congress....

you guys would blame Bush for laws that have been on the books for decades....as this one has...but the fact is congress makes the laws....but worse then that your not telling the "whole truth"

Military Says Bonus Letter Was A 'Mistake'
http://kdka.com/kdkainvestigators/Iraq.veteran.bonuses.2.592432.html

Steve-- Is this actually law-- or just Administrative Policy/Rule-- that is made and changed by Departments on their own-- just like USDA changed their BSE rule in mid stride :???:

Much of the rules concerning the military are just that- rules - and no explicit law fomally spelling out the policy was ever enacted....
 

Mike

Well-known member
My oldest son was in the Navy and was offered a signing bonus of $25,000.00 to "Re-Up" for 2 more years. Plus... he would get his regular pay scale. While on leave we took the contract offer to a lawyer friend of mine.

He explained to us that the signing bonus would be paid at the time of the signing and that my son would get to keep all the money if he stayed in the Navy for the two years he promised. If he were to have been killed or wounded, or discharged for any reason, he would have to give back the part of the signing bonus left open for the remaining two years, pro rata.

All of the military signing bonus' are that way and always have been according to my lawyer.

Not saying it's right or wrong, but the guy should have known how the signing bonus contract worked before he signed it.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Mike said:
My oldest son was in the Navy and was offered a signing bonus of $25,000.00 to "Re-Up" for 2 more years. Plus... he would get his regular pay scale. While on leave we took the contract offer to a lawyer friend of mine.

He explained to us that the signing bonus would be paid at the time of the signing and that my son would get to keep all the money if he stayed in the Navy for the two years he promised. If he were to have been killed or wounded, or discharged for any reason, he would have to give back the part of the signing bonus left open for the remaining two years, pro rata.

All of the military signing bonus' are that way and always have been according to my lawyer.

Not saying it's right or wrong, but the guy should have known how the signing bonus contract worked before he signed it.

Thats sad too-- when you have to hire an attorney to get the straight skinny from your own government on what they should be providing for you in the first place :( :(
 

Steve

Well-known member
Steve-- Is this actually law

The congress would have to authorize the bonus,.. and the military would craft rules to comply with the law....

So it would be based on the law....or at least the budget authorization...

either way the Military has already acknowledged that the repayment letter was a mistake.. time to fire another union civil servant...
 

Mike

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Mike said:
My oldest son was in the Navy and was offered a signing bonus of $25,000.00 to "Re-Up" for 2 more years. Plus... he would get his regular pay scale. While on leave we took the contract offer to a lawyer friend of mine.

He explained to us that the signing bonus would be paid at the time of the signing and that my son would get to keep all the money if he stayed in the Navy for the two years he promised. If he were to have been killed or wounded, or discharged for any reason, he would have to give back the part of the signing bonus left open for the remaining two years, pro rata.

All of the military signing bonus' are that way and always have been according to my lawyer.

Not saying it's right or wrong, but the guy should have known how the signing bonus contract worked before he signed it.

Thats sad too-- when you have to hire an attorney to get the straight skinny from your own government on what they should be providing for you in the first place :( :(

No different than a private firm job contract. Get an attorney.

The military will even provide you one.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Laura Ingram had the soldier on the O'Reilly factor tonite a few minutes ago...He claims this is widespread thruout the military-- while the Pentagon spokesman said it is just a "glitch".... :roll:

The military actually asked for $5,000 of his $10,000 ($7500 after taxes) sign up bonus because he came home 3 months early--but lowered it to $2800 after they deducted his unused leave time :roll:
Interesting thing is that Laura said they have had hundreds of offers by private citizens since his story was aired- to pay his bonus money out of their pocket- since our dysfunctional government is unwilling to do so :clap:
 

Mrs.Greg

Well-known member
Although sad that anyone serving a country isn't automatically assigned the bonus...I know with the Health Unit I work for that when a person is hired with a signing bonus,they have to honor the time agreement or they loose the bonus.
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
No one should be surprised by this.

Remember when these wars first cranked up....many parents/families were having to buy, out of their own pockets ,the Kevlar for protection for the troops as the service did not provide enough of it for the troops.
 

passin thru

Well-known member
I have a novel idea that the moveondemocrat party can do.................................since they control congress...........they can vote in what they want.



Why aren't they.......................instead they give lip service
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
passin thru said:
I have a novel idea that the moveondemocrat party can do.................................since they control congress...........they can vote in what they want.



Why aren't they.......................instead they give lip service

I think in about a year you will see that come true-- when they control not only Congress, but the White House-- and we may not like what they vote in... :???:

But the Repubs had total control for 6 straight years- and solved none of the problems that the majority of the population and voters are concerned with (health care costs, social security stability, illegal immigrants, government ethics and corruption, runaway national debt and trade imbalances (economy))- so now it'll be the Dems chance....
 

passin thru

Well-known member
You are right that the reps did not do many of the things they could have.
Though the Dems have failed also, very seldom do they come up with sonmething..............if Bush would veto it they could be on him hard.
One thing I have found funny..........but it really interesting. The dems have complained about Bush's spending.........rightly so. But there answer since they have the opportunity (including the dem president hopefuls) is advocate more spending.

To solve gov problems you have to increase income and cut spending.
The tax rate cuts increased revenue..............now who will step up to the plate and cut spending instead of using our money to buy votes.
 

backhoeboogie

Well-known member
At Pearl Harbor personnel losses were 2,333 killed and 1,139 wounded.
We went to war and no one had Kevlar, Kolo.

More died at the World Trade Center. Much less have died because of going to war afterwards.

The rest of the world now knows the USA is not going to sit around and do nothing when someone strikes.

Those military personnel who have paid the ultimate price HAVE NOT paid it for nothing.
 

Tex

Well-known member
backhoeboogie said:
At Pearl Harbor personnel losses were 2,333 killed and 1,139 wounded.
We went to war and no one had Kevlar, Kolo.

More died at the World Trade Center. Much less have died because of going to war afterwards.

The rest of the world now knows the USA is not going to sit around and do nothing when someone strikes.

Those military personnel who have paid the ultimate price HAVE NOT paid it for nothing.

I don't think anyone has argued against the war in Afghanistan, backhoe.

If you want to extrapolate and say the war in Iraq was an extension, then you must also support a war with Saudi Arabia, which is where bin laden is from and most of the hijackers and madrassa funding from bin laden is located. Ultimately that funding came from our purchases of oil.

I want to say once again, that I was a supporter of war with Iraq. I don't anymore because this administration is incompetent in handling the resources of citizens in the U.S. and in promoting democracy in the world.
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
backhoeboogie said:
At Pearl Harbor personnel losses were 2,333 killed and 1,139 wounded.
We went to war and no one had Kevlar, Kolo.

More died at the World Trade Center. Much less have died because of going to war afterwards.

The rest of the world now knows the USA is not going to sit around and do nothing when someone strikes.

Those military personnel who have paid the ultimate price HAVE NOT paid it for nothing.



Pssst.....Kevlar wasn't invented till 1965 :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Mrs.Greg said:
Although sad that anyone serving a country isn't automatically assigned the bonus...I know with the Health Unit I work for that when a person is hired with a signing bonus,they have to honor the time agreement or they loose the bonus.

This is hardly the same thing. These people didn't just decide they didn't want to be soliders any more. They are damaged, mained, wounded and are unfit for duty. Many of them would be glad to go back and serve if they were medically cleared for duty. To compare your "Health Unit" and these soldiers is like apples and oranges. :roll:
 
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