Serve your country, get shot by a radical Islamist, be denied benefits because said injury isn’t “combat related” sounds about right from the Obama administration!
It’s a miracle the Fort Hood attack was deemed a terrorist attack after years of admin representatives calling it workplace violence. If a soldier being shot in a terror attack is not considered combat then what exactly is?! What do victims like Staff Sgt Sean Manning, who suffers from PTSD and still has two bullets in him, have to do to get benefits he deserves!?
Americans serve in our military to defend us against all enemies foreign and domestic knowing they could be injured but with the understanding they will be taken care of. It is a slap in the face to deny this man and others benefits he deserves.
Does anyone in government who make these decisions to deny benefits realize what it says to our troops? With all the poor treatment we hear about it’s no wonder enlistment is down!
Fort Hood shooting victim denied benefits, despite Purple Heart decision
FoxNews
…Manning submitted new paperwork so the Army would recognize his injuries were sustained in the line of duty. But his appeal was rejected by a physical evaluation board, apparently based on a narrow interpretation of the law.
“Section 571 of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act addresses both the awarding of the Purple Heart to service members killed or wounded in attacks inspired or motivated by foreign terrorist organizations and the Defense of Freedom Medal for those members and civilians killed or wounded during the Fort Hood attack on 5 November 20009,” the April 6 letter states.
“Nowhere in the act, however, does it offer combat benefits for service members permanently disabled in attacks inspired or motivated by foreign terrorist organizations. Although subsequent and guidance may change, currently, the Board has no authority to award V1/V3 (service related) designation to soldiers disabled during the Fort Hood attack. ”
Manning said, “it’s a great thing to finally be recognized, to stand up there and say, ‘Hey your sacrifice did mean something.’”
But he said the board’s decision means, on a practical level, his family will lose back pay, and $800 a month in benefits, adding he believes other Fort Hood survivors will face the same treatment. “I think you know it’s a huge let-down. I hope that’s not what the Army had intended to do.”…read more