Commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center Relieved of Duty

Fox News ^ | 3/1/07 | AP

[cake_crumb]

"You've hit the nail on the head of one of the major problems with military care - the TRICARE system which has been mismanaged since which Administration?!"

It wouldn't have been the Billary administration, would it? It can't support the medical needs of our veterans, yet Wal Mart supports it nationally? Flipping grand.

[af_vet_rr]

This was in another thread: In an interview with several reporters two days before the first Post story was published, Weightman acknowledged shortcomings at Walter Reed but also said the problems were magnified because of the facility's location in the nation's capital. "We're a fishbowl," he said, noting that being in Washington makes it easier for complaining patients and their families to draw the interest of members of Congress.

I've been hearing about this crap for well over a year from both friends/family who have direct knowledge, as well as other FReepers who have direct knowledge.

The guy had six months, and if he couldn't make headway in six months, well, I gotta say Gates didn't waste much time - kudos to him.

[af_vet_rr]

That's why the military has the Inspector General system and allows military members to complain directly to their Congressional representatives. From what I understand about his attitude, I think the Army took the right action by relieving him of his Command. I can't understand why it took over two years to fix this, though.

I can - for some in leadership positions, this was a low priority. I also think that we started getting more wounded American troops than they expected.

From what I've heard from friends and family, and from other FReepers - many of the people working at WRAMC were doing the best the good in a bad situation. Too me, it sounded like a classic top-down problem. You might have good people and lousy conditions, but unless the people up the chain go to bat for you, it's going to continue.

[Liberty Valance]

I knew somebody's head would roll with this big a media blitz. Hope it actually helps the Soldiers.

[shield]

SOD Gates takes the proper steps to see to it our troops are well cared for . ;o) If our troops aren't getting what they need on an outpatient bases...fire all of 'em.

[katiedidit1]

And there are many generals that have earned and deserve their pay!

[Christopher Lincoln]

VA hospitals are under the Department of Veteran's Affairs, which is quite separate from DoD. WRAMC, as its name implies, is run by the Army.

[NonValueAdded]

Yep, his ship ran aground.

[Red6]

True,

And their are some who have failed and still get $7k a month for the rest of their lives.

[NonValueAdded]

I thought WRAMC was supposed to be combined with the National Naval Medical Center?

Yes, BRAC recommended the closing in 2005. The funding plan for the combination w/ Bethesda runs to 2011. ASK CONGRESS why the funds are held up for so long. If CONGRESS (and the DoD, making the request,) wanted to expedite things, CONGRESS could provide the money. According to the BRAC plan, demolition of the Bethesda VOQ to make way for the replacement facility for the worst WRAMC facility was supposed to start this year.

[PatriotCJC]

DITTO

[USMCWife6869]

I am aware of that. I was just stating that I know the crap our veterans go through, and no one cared until now, when it was convenient. FFS. Oh, and I know that Naval hospitals are operated by the Navy, too.

[khnyny]

Usually, I can remain pretty detached, but I must say, the way these young veterans are being treated in these sub-standard facilities makes me very angry. Our government spends money on the most assinine things, but is negligent in the medical care of its heroes. The priorities in DC stink.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

There have been some reports in the last few days that the material condition of parts of the hospital are really bad. Disrepair, that sort of thing.

[Albion Wilde]

"They just didn't pay attention to this less-critical facility." Less-critical? Weren't there wounded servicemen being treated there? How could that be anything less than very critical?

The facility receiving the most condemnation is Building 18. It is not the main hospital and is not even on the grounds of the Walter Reed base. It is one building out of the many barracks and other non-hospital buildings associated with the 116-acre Walter Reed base.

Building 18 is a former motel across the 6-lane avenue from the WR base that was purchased to house an overflow of ambulatory outpatients - people who have been hospitalized and are now well enough to walk, make it over to the base for appointments, et cetera. The men refer to it as a "barracks." It is not a caregiving facility, but only one of many WR housing facilities for recovering outpatients.

The following video gives both sides of the story, including not just the complaints, but also a view of several of the nicer rooms in Building 18. This video gives both sides of the story, including a view of several of the nicer rooms in the place.

[KantianBurke]

'I can't understand why it took over two years to fix this, though."

Because there was a hard headed idiot named Rummy who ran the DOD and brooked no bad news. Many on FR worshipped the ground he walked on. Ring any bells?

[KantianBurke]

Bingo. Too many around here deal with bad news with the an intelectually sleazy out - simply claim media bias. Sure there's the occassional left wing slant but pavlovic denial is pretty shameful.

[Mr.Unique]

Generals when they retire get their full base-pay for the rest of their life.

That's news to me. Got a source? They don't get a housing allowance once retired either....

[Doofer]

Military members are not supposed to speak to the press without authorization. It was like that before the war, during the war, and it will be that way after the war as well. That was not a new rule, no matter how the media wants to spin it.

I was in the Navy for over 20 years, retired in 2002 and I was never told that we couldn't talk to the press.

[Just A Nobody]

Thank you for your reasoned responses.
Amazing how you first three are ignored while the ignorant babble on and on and on.

I have resisted the urge to comment much on the latest hit series, designed to further erode our military, but enough is enough! It astounds me that FReepers read the crap that has been written by the enemedia and swallow it whole and begin spewing nonsense. They went outside their chain of command and talked to the media.

You are correct, txradioguy. Not only did many of them go outside the chain of command, they NEVER went to the chain, choosing instead to go to the media...or at least respond when the media came to them. There are 8 or 9 people they can go to to register complaints. Did they?

Someone should ask Jeremy Duncan how many requests/reports he filed for repairs on the falling down ceiling.
Ask him if he was offered another room...or how he feels about having a roommate.
Ask him how he feels about the Commander being fired when HE was trying to get fired.

"Clinton turned the Army into a bunch of wusses. Welcome to the kinder softer Army."

This crap is the result of the above, per an officer that has been in the Army the past 14-18 years and a current wounded OIF vet residing at WR for well over a year.

They drew down the Army so much that personnel had to be replaced with civilians. No need to comment on that, I hope.

More quotes: "A few punky, whiny a$$, f---ing soldiers that are bit@&ing are causing all this! There are maybe 7 sub-standard rooms out of 100."

"Why is the General fired when no one else was? Building 18 is a company building. Why didn't the Garrison Commander or 1st Sgt. get fired instead of a General that has only been there 6 months?"