WOUNDED WARRIOR CONCERT - Country music artist Wynonna Judd performs with the U.S. Army Band at the Wagner Sports Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. The concert for staff and patients was held in conjunction with a Morale, Welfare and Recreation picnic that featured a local blues band, barbecue and steaks.Defense Dept. photo by Fred W. Baker III

Labels: photos, Tonal Troop Support, Walter Reed, Wounded Heroes

This year's Milblog Conference was even better than last year's! Have to say, it's going to be hard for Andi to top the Presidential opening remarks, but if anyone can do it, she can. The panels were great, the luncheon provided by Soldiers' Angels was wonderful. It was nice to get a chance to say hi again to the bloggers I met last year, and to meet some I didn't know.

A couple of things from this year really stood out for me...

Mr. Robert Stokely addressing us brought home the import of what we do more than almost anything else could have. If we bring some comfort to families of our fallen heroes, that in itself is a reason for our existence. BlackFive has video, here.

At the luncheon, the conference honored some of the Soldiers' Angels present - and one of them, surprisingly, was me! The inscription on the plaque I received is worth more than I think any other honor could be:



Still makes me cry every time I look at it.

John of Argghhh! gave the closing remarks, and led us in a Castle Argghhh "dance" - the conference ended with the soft sounds of Taps, and a room full of heads bowed in remembrance of fallen Heroes. It was a fitting close to a very full day.


And then, on Sunday, I went to Walter Reed. We were at Mologne House for a Barbeque with some of the Heroes there. Before we chowed down on some great food, we had the chance to visit with some amazing Heroes. Patti made sure that we had some goodies to give out, and I depelted my supply of t-shirts pretty quickly. I also had a Hero ask for one of the Soldiers' Angels pins; I only had one left - the one I had on. It's an honor to know that there's a Hero out there who now sports a pin I gave him. I was also there when Project VALOUR-IT handed out laptops; they've now passed the 1,000 mark! Chuck Z made an incredible speech. He told our recovering Heroes that the world didn't stop when they got wounded - that they would get better, and they would more or less just have a new version of "normal." It was great - one Soldier to other Soldiers, words of encouragement from one who had been where they were now. And any of you who have ever heard Chuck know that "entertaining" is really an understatement some times. He also spoke at the conference; there's video here. I was fortunate to be able to spend a little time speaking with Caren, and I tell you, they don't make better than Caren and Chuck. Everyone who works with Project VALOUR-IT - Beth, Chuck, Lynette, Jim - are top notch, and deserve every word of praise that is sent their way. What an incredible program.

I took lots of pictures of the laptop presentations, but I'm not going to post them here. One, I didn't get specific permission from those Heroes to do so, and Two, I am not going to take the risk of any of those pictures being used by some knucklehead. If you were there, and would like copies of the pictures, I'd be happy to send them to you.

My husband asked me later that evening on the phone, "How was Walter Reed?" To be honest, I struggled for an answer. It's hard to explain. Yes, some of those Heroes have devastating injuries. There are missing limbs, shrapnel wounds. But when you spend time with them, it's not their injuries that leave the lasting impression. The Heroes I met at Walter Reed are possessed of incredible character. One, when I asked him if there was anything he needed, said "No ma'am - you all have done so much for me already...you all are amazing." When you meet them, it isn't pity that you feel - it's incredible respect and love. I remember being struck by how young most of them looked. One Soldier was with his wife and infant daughter, and I remember thinking that he didn't look old enough to have a family...And as young as they are, they have seen more, endured more, done more... than most people far older. Many are possessed of a wisdom, a strength, far beyond that others achieve in their whole lives. They are truly Heroes, and it was a humbling experience, and a great honor, to be able to spend a few hours with them on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Labels: heroes, Milblog Conference 2007, Project VALOUR-IT, Walter Reed

As I suspected, Chuck Z has got a lot to say about the situation at Walter Reed.


Go here, here and here to start with.


And when you're done with that, don't miss this post.


For more on WRAMC, NOTR, over at ROFASix, notes that:

The danger is that once the media glare leaves the horrors at Walter Reed, it will settle back to "situation normal." That means essentially the real horror of all this, the stripping of the dignity our soldiers deserve would remain unchanged. That is what must not be allowed to happen.

Too true.

It doesn't really matter whose fault it is. It doesn't really matter whether the Washington Post was biased. If any of that report was true - any of it - it's unacceptable. Don't examine, analyze, requisition, or anything else. Fix it. Now.

Where is Congress? Instead of arguing with each other about who called who unpatriotic, maybe they should be actually doing something important...nahhhh.

Labels: Walter Reed, Wounded Heroes

DoD Working on Patient-Care Issues
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2007 – The Defense Department is working to address patient-care problems recently identified at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the department’s flagship medical facility, a DoD spokesman said today.

Wounded servicemembers at Walter Reed still receive the best medical care available, but they do face some administrative and personnel problems that need to be fixed, Bryan Whitman told reporters.

“Taking care of our wounded servicemembers is about taking care of the entire person, and taking care of the entire person is making sure that their administrative needs are taken care of, that when they’re outpatients that their housing needs are taken care of, and there are some shortcomings there,” Whitman said.

A recent Washington Post series of articles detailed housing problems, a lack of assistance and bureaucratic frustrations for Walter Reed outpatients, who live in buildings on post or in nearby houses, apartments and hotels while continuing treatment or awaiting decisions about their duty status.

The Army has known about these issues for some time and has been working on them, Whitman said, but DoD leaders have just been made aware of them. Top leaders, including Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Dr. William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, are discussing the issues and how best to address them, he said.

“The department takes these issues very seriously; they’re being looked into,” Whitman said. “Our servicemembers that are wounded deserve the kind of holistic care that goes beyond just the medical treatment that they receive in our facilities, which is unquestionably outstanding.”

Whitman added that Winkenwerder is looking into whether similar problems may exist in other DoD medical facilities. No formal review has been announced, however.


Related Posts:
Accusations of Poor Conditions at WRAMC
ROFASix: Second Look at the Walter Reed Story

Labels: Walter Reed, Wounded Heroes