Dear IAVA Supporter,
It's a situation so terrible that it's almost impossible to believe. A young soldier is injured in Iraq when a rocket hits a wall two feet above his head. He suffers hearing loss, headaches and memory problems. And then he is discharged without medical benefits or disability pay, and told that he must return part of his enlistment bonus, meaning he actually owes the Army $3,000.

This was the infuriating experience of Specialist Jonathan Town. Like 22,000 other servicemen and women since 2001, Jon Town was separated from the military for what was deemed a pre-existing 'personality disorder'. That means the Army has decided that Spc. Town's medical problems existed before his military service. Consequently, they avoid having to pay for his medical care.


IAVA helped to make Jon's story public. Now, we're fighting to keep it in the spotlight, and we're demanding a full investigation by the Department of Defense. But we need your support. If you think this is an issue worth fighting for, then take action now to help us fight this critical battle.

Bob Woodruff, the ABC reporter who made an incredible recovery after being injured in Iraq, sat down with Jon Town and Donald Louis Schmidt. Schmidt was being treated for PTSD when he was discharged without benefits and told he owed the army $10,000. Click here to see their incredible stories.

Your donation today will help IAVA to advocate on behalf of these veterans. We're going to continue to push this issue in the media, pressure Congress, and amplify the voices of troops and their supporters to finally make sure veterans get the support they unquestionably deserve.

With your support, IAVA has been at the forefront on the biggest issues facing troops and veterans. But we have a long way to go. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today . Every gift matters.

Thank you for standing with us.

Sincerely,
Paul Rieckhoff
Iraq Veteran
Executive Director
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America


US News & World Report ran a piece with stories like this not long ago.

$600,000 missiles are treated like 4th of JUly firecrackers. Then the poor soldiers get the shaft. I've actually read worse stories than this one.

I've seen this guy on a couple of news programs. It's true that we treat our returning vets like garbage. For Bush to constantly drag out that "support the troops" bullshit is a disgrace.

I heard a commercial on the radio the other day for the (I think) Paralyzed Veterans of America (or something very close to that) asking for support. It made me sick to my friggin stomach to think these guys have to go asking for help when our own government, particularly our President won't move heaven and earth to help these guys.

People are always making a big noise about impeaching the phony patriot in the White House. If I had the power to do it I'd throw every ONE of those goddamned bums in prison.

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Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.

Sick.

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Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their altars. ... I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask no one to live for me, nor do I live for others. I covet no mans soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet.

Ayn Rand, Anthem.

I'd be broke if I gave money to every good cause. Tough call at times.

The soldiers often do not like Bush.

They do their jobs. Every last one of them, regardless of their politics. And when they get home, blinded, maimed and paralyzed they are ignored because they can no longer serve the miserable, parasitic bastards in Washington.

It's been that way since Vietnam and NONE of the people in Congress or the "heroes" in the White House even deserve to breathe the same air as these brave young men and women.

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Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.

America has never treated its veterans as human beings after they return from fighting wars. Quite interesting if you really think about it.

I first heard about this problem (regarding Iraq specifically) when a guy got hit with shrapnel from a bomb and was injured to the point of discharge. When he got home he got a bill from the military for $700 to pay for the armor that he was wearing (which got destroyed) when he got hit. His entire community pitched in and paid for it... but it was pretty disgusting.

In ancient times.... did the military of, say, Alexander the Great, go to the fallen soldiers families and ask for compensation for armor lost? Don't think so. Even the maimed and hurt were honored as heroes. That was long time ago, I guess. Go USA.

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In other words, as a society we are no better than that of a couple of thousand years ago.

And we wave our flags and call ourselves superior.

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Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.

im sorry, i don't think it's appropriate for me to say anything bout the topic. i just couldn't fathom how terrible it feels to be in that brave soldiers position.

Thank you for your honesty. Too many people don't know, yet they yell "yeah team" for any administration which happens to be in power.

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Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.

The tragedy of our time is that wars are started by old men and fought by young men. (That and we waste money in a war that shouldn't have begun and for causes we're not really sure about.)

I praise the soldiers who have lost their lives and blame the beaurocracy for taking it.

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