Soldiers: Mold infests Okla. barracks for wounded

[sabra]

Source: USA Today

LAWTON, Okla. — Mold infests the barracks that were set up here a year ago for wounded soldiers after poor conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center triggered a systemwide overhaul, soldiers say.

Twenty soldiers, who spoke to USA TODAY early last week, said their complaints about mold and other problems went unheeded for months. They also said they had been ordered not speak about the conditions at Fort Sill.

Officers at the Army base last week ordered that ventilation ducts in two barracks be replaced and soldiers be surveyed, anonymously if they wished, about any concerns. Maj. Gen. Peter Vangjel, the commanding officer, said it was "inappropriate" for soldiers to be ordered not to talk about the mold.

"We're going in and we're going to take care of this for these guys," he said over the weekend.

Images of mold growing on walls of wounded-soldier bedrooms at Walter Reed last year, along with issues of bureaucratic delays in health care, led to an overhaul of the Army's wounded-care system. Warrior Transition Units (WTU) were created to expedite the care and treatment of wounded and ailing soldiers.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-08-17-mold_N...

---

[MikeNearMcChord]

1. And if Veteran still wants to vote Republican and McCain after this,

then they f***king deserve what is coming. Support the troops from the GOP?
BAH!!!

[SpiralHawk]

2. Republicons always show disdain for our honorable veterans.

This is yet another example -- in a long list -- showing how crappily the Chickenhawk Republicon 'leadership' treats our sons and daughters who have served honorably in uniform.

Ptoooey on the republicon chickenhawk 'leaders'

[judasdisney]

3. a nation of WHINERS

tell them soldiers to pick 'umselfs up by they BOOTSTRAPS... and pass the Grey Poupon.

[grilled onions]

4. Once They Become Liabilities...

the very ones who put them in harms away have a strange way of honoring those troops. They talk a good game before they go fight their dirty wars but once you become injured physically,mentally,emtionally you are now a thorn in their side. Injured vets make people think. It makes them realize that war is not a true likeness of enlistment posters. Every dollar they can squeeze away from those that have returned allows them to spread their "message" to more ports all over the globe.

[kirby]

5. Mold? Its penicillin!!!

And penicillin is needed in a Hospital!

[wmbrew0206]

6. Everyone here does realize that this is not the fault of politians (R or D) but the fault of the

Commanding General at Ft. Sill, right?

We have plenty to go after the rethugs on in regard to veteran care and veteran benefits. However, this is not one of them.

The CG at Ft Sill is responsible for the conditions at his base. Mostly likely this is the fault of the facilities manager or some military officer who has responsible for the state of the barracks. However, as an officer, you are taught that everything that happens or fails to happen under your watch is your responisbility.

FYI, Ft. Sill is a crappy base in general. Spent 6 months there and it felt like two years.