Wounded Soldier: Military Wants Part Of Bonus Back
Reporting Marty Griffin PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―

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.

link : http://kdka.com/local/military.signing.bonuses.2.571660.html

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Can we now agree that the government gives a rats ass about the soldiers serving in war...
the next time Bush is blustering about support for the troops remember how they are really being treated by our so-called leaders...what do we expect..Bush went awol & got away with it..and Cheney got many deferments so he could be the coward that he is...this really pisses me off...

Me too devinci,,, me too!!

This needs to go all over the internet and goto every radio and news channel passable.

I agree,we support the troops and not Bush.For them to want a wounded man's money is foolish since he'll need it for his medical bills since the Government isn't taking care of the wounded like they did in previous wars.

they told my brother that when they asked him to rejoin.he was discharged because he hurt his back DURING basic training but was able to stay in for 9 years.when they asked him to rejoin,the guy said "but if you get send to war and you get hurt,you'll have to pay back the $15,000 sign up bonus" (this was last year),my brother told the guy they could take the $15,000 and shove it up their @$$!

At the risk of inciting a riot, i am a former soldier and the thing is that a bonus is just that - a bonus, extra. Everyone is complaining about the money spent on the war, but at the same time, wanting soldiers to be paid a ton of money, even if they can't fulfill their contract. If you signed a contract with a roofer and he got injured while doing something heroic, say, saving a child in a fire, would you still pay him, even tho he didn't finish your roof? Nope, you wouldn't. Maybe the same logic applies.

I guess the re-up inlist bonus is different in different places?? My son was to get 50,000. Thank God that he recanted his papers. Little good that did though. He got caught in the stop loss thingy.
I am split on that bonus for a soldier that didn't finish his tour. On one hand...let him keep it, On the other hand, the job wasn't finished?
Kat

i know of how the soldiers get screwed first hand. I am still here in Iraq and i have been screwed multipul times already. The People here dont care one way or the other they say "oh, its just how it is." IM gettin out next year beacuse im tired of bein screwed. Heaven help them if they try to take ANYTHING from me if i get hurt.

You're way off base, cb. Anybody who goes to war to defend his/her country and gets shot up doing it, should'nt have to face the insult of Uncle Sam saying "You owe me money". For chrissakes, we owe HIM a helluva lot more than he owes us.

Newsflash: Just saw on Dan Abrams show that the Pentagon is now saying that he doesn't have to pay back the money.

Bonuses depend primarily on the MOS (military occupation specialty - the job, basically). The bonus on the original contract is generally higher than any other time. Once you hit SSG (E-6), the bonus is pretty much nil, because they figure they have you in their clutches and you're a lifer.

I'm not saying i necessarily think that the bonuses SHOULD be taken back - i'm just saying that i can see the logic. Even tho my bonus was damn nice to have, i still think they are WAY too high. The country just can't afford that. I also think that ridiculously high bonuses take away a little from the warm and fuzzy feelings you get from serving your country well - sure i did it, but i was also paid a bundle to do it, you know?

I don't care about the details. This guy didn't just go AWOL(like the Commander-in-Chief), he was wounded and COULDN'T finish his tour. He did his duty. If he was killed, should the Pentagon have sent his family a bill?

Whether bonuses should be paid at all is a separate issue. The military obviously needs these incentives to meet recruiting goals or they wouldn't offer them.

I am of the mindset that these bonuses get these young people strictly for said bonus.
It cares me for that. Money is just an evil that is used to lure us. However necessary.
Kat

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.

The logic???? The logic????

You cry for an illegal to become a Shake-N-Bake American, and now want to take back a promise to a real American that was injured doing your bid????

The Logic?????

This makes me sick......,,The Logic???????

OMFG!!!!

must be the policy they enforce do for everyone else and screw your own i cant wait til we get someone in office that knows what hes doing but guarantee it will not come from the democratic or republican parties ..too much deep seated corruption and ass kissing...

not to beat my own drum...but Ron Paul has considerable support from vets....and those currently serving...go to his site & read/listen to what he says about veterans...

I agree with everyone to a point. However...

First of all, i think it is damn sad that bonuses are even necessary to get people to enlist. My daddy did 22 years and never got a bonus. As a nation of sissies, they are now required. I would have joined and done everything the same, bonus or not. I did it for the pride, not the cookies.

Secondly, i'm assuming this fellow was medically discharged. He didn't fulfill his contract. The Army is a business, an employer. Again, i'm not saying i agree that he should have to pay it back (and let's not kid ourselves, they are never going to actually make him do it). But a contract is a contract. We are all adults and fully aware that we will possibly be injured or killed when we sign that dotted line.

I'm not real sure what Fanta is driving at with his Shake-N-Bake American comment, but i will assume it was not directed at me because i have never given an opinion on these forums regarding that subject.

I am the daughter of a solider, the ex-wife of a current soldier (who is rapidly approaching his third deployment), the best friend of a current National Guard soldier (who is in the middle of deployment number 2), a veteran of Iraq myself and a current police officer. I believe in protecting those who cannot protect themselves and fighting when fighting is necessary. I also believe that the public likes drama and to believe that the "evil government", be it federal or local, is out to get them. You don't hear the good stories, only the bad.

86 our elected officials one election at a time. thats the only way were going to have any change...vote against the incumbent, and get fresh blood and ideas in the house and senate. we have people in office who are way too comfortable and confident in their long term employment they've been enjoying at our expense. and we desperately need term limits.

maybe they should they congress to give up their FULL SALARY

pensions


azzholes

I agree I don't know what the percentage is but a number of congressmen and senators are rarely on the floor. and the fact they would've allowed this to continue if the media didn't get a hold of it.

And if it was at me fanta. Back off. I am not against him getting what is due him. If it was up to me, he would get it and keep it.
I was looking at it from a business point of view as well.
The shame of it is...that this land of ours can only get the numbers that they have by offering these inlistment bonuses. Fact. There are not enough people that believe in this war nor this admin to feel comfortable to sign that dotted line, without that bonus as insentive. That is in itself; shameful. For our government.

Again; if it were up to me, he would keep it. I feel he earned it.
He most likely will too. I saw this on tv some time back. As with all the injured soldiers, they deserve what they can get, and keep.
Kat