Blackhawk Helicopter Pilot To Tell Her Story To Veterans' Committee

[darrels joy]

BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER PILOT TO TELL HER STORY TO VETERANS' COMMITTEE
VA, DOD and GAO to report on transition from active duty to veteran
(Washington, DC) Chairman Larry Craig announced today that the U.S.
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee will hold a hearing concerning the
transition process for military men and women after they have left the
service. The hearing will examine the issues involving both those
physically injured in the war on terror and discharged as a result, and
those without physical injuries at the time of discharge, but who may
seek health services from VA at a later date.

The hearing, titled, "Back from the Battlefield: Are we providing the
proper care for America's Wounded Warriors?" will be held Thursday,
March 17, starting at 10:00 a.m. in room 418 Russell Senate Office
Building. It will be webcast live on the committee's website at:
http://veterans.senate.gov. It may also be audiocast on the C-SPAN
hearings website: http://www.capitolhearings.org.
"During Korea, Vietnam and the 1991 Gulf war, about one servicemember in
four died from their wounds. Today's battlefield-wounded are surviving
at twice the rate, but many are coming back with very severe
disabilities, including missing limbs. One of those heroes, Tammy
Duckworth, will testify before our committee. I want to ensure that for
Tammy and others, there is a seamless transition from military service
to civilian life ," said Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho).

Duckworth, originally from Hawaii, who was shot down while piloting a
Blackhawk helicopter in Iraq for the Illinois National Guard. She lost
right leg above the knee and her left leg up to her knee after her
helicopter was hit by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG). Her right arm
was also injured.

"Major Duckworth's first-hand experience in Iraq and her evacuation to
Walter Reed will help us as we grapple with how best to ensure that our
servicemembers, particularly our Guardsmen and Reservists, are provided
with the care they need from DOD and VA," said Sen. Daniel Akaka
(D-Hawaii), the ranking member of the Committee.

Panel 1
* Maj. Tammy Duckworth, United States Army National Guard -
wounded in Iraq
* Mr. Joseph Costello, MA, Team Leader, Vets Center, Vista, CA -
Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) Bronze Star winner
* Mr. David Hosking, Counselor, Vets Center, Madison, WI -
Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) Bronze Star winner

Panel 2
* Major General Kenneth L. Farmer, M.D., Commanding
General, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and North Atlantic Regional
Medical Command
* Jonathan B. Perlin, M.D. PhD, MSHA, FACP Acting Under Secretary
for Health
* Ms. Cynthia A. Bascetta, Director, Veterans Health and
Benefits, Government Accountability Office (GAO)
#####

Jeff Schrade, Communications Director
U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Chairman
412 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Direct: 202-224-9093 Fax: 202-228-5655
http://veterans.senate.gov

I think it's great that they're doing this but that "...about one servicemember in four died of their wounds." is both pure BS and downright insulting to medics and dustoff crews!

[catman]

I can save them all alot of time and money.....The system sucks. Fix it.

Trav

[1CAVCCO15MED]

Vietnam casualty statistics: 47,378 killed, 304,704 wounded in action for a total of 352,082 American casualties. 7.43% of wounded died of wounds. Quite a bit less than 1/4 or 25%

[Jerry D]

agreed the Media like to round up the fatalities to make bigger Headlines Just recently they admitted there were more Career Military serving in Vietnam and that the average age was closer to 21 then the purported 19 that always gets quoted.
It always amazes me also that a Soldier returning from war with disabilities and discharged because of them still have to go thru red tape to get their VA disability qualified.