Honor fallen citizens, be they service member or contractor
From this article today in the New York Times,entitled “Risks of Afghan War Shift From Soldiers to Contractors” by Rod Norland:
“Last year, at least 430 employees of American contractors were reported killed in Afghanistan: 386 working for the Defense Department, 43 for the United States Agency for International Development and one for the State Department, according to data provided by the American Embassy in Kabul and publicly available in part from theUnited States Department of Labor.” Feb.12.2012
Unfortunately, sometimes it’s only when stark numbers stare us in the face that we begin to comprehend the gravity of a situation, in this case a war, and the reality that contracted US citizens are dying in numbers greater than their uniformed counterparts.
Should a fallen US citizen, contracted to the US government, killed in a combat zone, be afforded burial with honors in Arlington, alongside their uniformed comrades?
I say, yes.
To a wider extent, I believe it’s time for our Commander-in-Chief and our Congress, to recognize the fallen and wounded contracted US citizens, and extend the recognition to include honors for the fallen and services to the wounded. To ignore this issue is to build upon a resentment that grows by the day with denial.
see article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/world/asia/afghan-war-risks-are-shifting-to-contractors.html?hp
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Marc Twain
3 months agoThe DoD honors US with their lips, but their heart is far removed. I served this Nation honorably, yet, for 22 years have battled the VA & SSA to get them to honor their promise. The VA rates me as a 100% “Service-Connected” Disabled American veteran, yet they resist awarding an Earlier Effective date for compensation that is consistent with my service dates (1987 is when the DoD injected me with harmful experimental vaccines, WITHOUT disclosure & WITHOUT Informed Consent or knowledge, contrary to the Rule of law.) I applied for Soc Sec Disability in 1991. The SSA medical examiner determined disability but the lawyers & Judges feel that disability program money is best when kept in their hands. Debra Bice, Chief ALJ, ODAR, 5701 Leesburg Pike, suite 1608, Falls Church, VA is empowered with the authority to make me whole again by reopening my case & correcting the CLEAR & UNMISTAKABLE “ERRORS.” Instead she employs a cadre of lawyers & other incompetent & or dishonest employees at the SSA to tell me to “Re-Apply.” They should know that after 22 years of not being gainfully employed, I no longer have the “work credits” needed for soc sec disability benefits. I did back in 1991 when I applied. The system cheated me. I want to be made whole again. I want the 22 years of retro-active benefits for my family that has been deprived and defrauded of honest services. HONOR YOUR PROMISE. Google: Kenneth Tennant to see the terror this regime is capable of. Thank you for your help. - Kenneth Tennant 3935 Rolling Hills Dr., Bettendorf, Iowa (563)355-7073 You Tube: Dr. Carley for VACCINE info & Read VACCINE-A & see Gary Null’s documentary: GULF WAR SYNDROME. This is a travesty of Justice and Honor…