Andrew Kantor's Place: Army: That bloody shrapnel wound is psychosomatic

Army: That bloody shrapnel wound is psychosomatic

Published 5/4/08

Filed under: Technology

[Jon Town] was standing in the doorway of his battalion’s headquarters when a 107-millimeter rocket struck two feet above his head.

[...]

Eventually the rocket shrapnel was removed from Town’s neck and his ears stopped leaking blood.

[...]

But instead of sending Town to a medical board and discharging him because of his injuries, doctors at Fort Carson, Colorado, did something strange: They claimed Town’s wounds were actually caused by a “personality disorder.” Town was then booted from the Army and told that under a personality disorder discharge, he would never receive disability or medical benefits.

Town is not alone. A six-month investigation has uncovered multiple cases in which soldiers wounded in Iraq are suspiciously diagnosed as having a personality disorder, then prevented from collecting benefits.

The Fray

6 responses (add yours)

gnomic says:

I’m sure this will all be fixed once this “support the troops” adminsitration is out of office and a real patriot takes the office.

May 5th, 2008 at 7:45 AM

greyrat says:

Did the doctors who discharged Mr. Town actually *see* this supposed “piece” of “shrapnel”. Is there scientific evidence of this supposed “artillery shell”? And even if there is scientific evidence, I’ll bet it’s just a theory. I mean, Mr. town might have just had a psychotic break and imagined that he was in a war zone. After all, major combat operations have been over for years! And the FSM might have put those scars on his head and neck and He might have also placed his noodly appendages in Mr. Town’s ears to simulate the heading loss from this “theoretical” 107-millimeter shell…

Sorry. I’m just practicing crossing the streams for the election this fall.

May 5th, 2008 at 12:11 PM

Leland says:

If this is true, someone belongs in jail. Unlike the two Gs above, I’ll wait to see who is responsible before I condemn the President.

May 6th, 2008 at 2:05 PM

greyrat says:

Leland, you’re not holding your breath while you’re waiting, are you? Leland? Leland!

May 6th, 2008 at 2:55 PM

gnomic says:

Several news shows - 60 minutes, 20/20, and VA groups have reported this pattern of behavior over the last 5 years.

Leesee… who is in charge of this? Some Decider who Works Hard and Supports the Troops…

…by putting them in harms way without body armor, armored transport, and keeps them there for 7 rotations, with no clear objectives, no real advantages for the country that is racking up debt.

Well, at least we take care of them when they come home and reward them for thier sactifices with jobs and a good education.

Oh, wait….

What does support the troops mean again?

May 6th, 2008 at 4:31 PM

greyrat says:

Also, Leland: I a time of war (illegal, unjustified or not), who is the Commander-in-Chief? Leader of all military branches? Now as CEO of the military — like any corporate CEO –the Commander-in-Chief can undoubtedly get away with murder and come out smelling like a rose, but it doesn’t make the CEO any less culpable. Also, Leland, do some historical research: Where did disenfranchised soldiers go after the Civil War? After World War I. During Viet Nam? To protest the loss of benefits that they were promised in exchange for their sacrifices? And who (yeah, it’s a long list, but you know who I mean), who were they protesting to?

May 8th, 2008 at 8:04 AM