[Thanks to David Honish, Veteran, who sent this in.]

"Nobody Really Understands What’s Going On"

"This Country Is Not Getting Any Better"

"We’ve Just Got A Lot Of Guys Dying"

[Thanks to AT, who sent this in.]

April 2, 2007 By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr., The New York Times Company [Excerpts]

It had been a long day for Colonel Sutherland and his brigade chaplain, Maj. Charlie Fenton, who have taken it on themselves to visit every dead and badly wounded soldier in the 5,000-strong unit, the Third Brigade Combat Team of the First Cavalry Division.

But it was still not over. After arriving in Baquba, Major Fenton walked into the brigade headquarters and heard Colonel Sutherland on a loudspeaker informing officers that a soldier from another brigade had committed suicide in Muqdadiya. Then he was handed a list of nine new casualties, the dead and the wounded. At the top was Sergeant Sebban.

Four hours later, he and Colonel Sutherland climbed into another helicopter, bound once again for Balad.

"We’ve never had to see this many at once," Major Fenton said as he walked in darkness in helmet and body armor to the landing pad just after 11 p.m., trailed by soldiers grasping stacks of Purple Hearts in navy blue leather cases.

The two officers have made the round trip to Balad more than 70 times since arriving in October. But on that day, March 17, the brigade suffered its highest daily toll, with two dead and 14 wounded.

Altogether, the unit has seen 39 soldiers die in five months, more in that brief span than the number killed in any brigade that preceded it in yearlong deployments here.

Names of the dead are written on a piece of metal affixed to a tall concrete barrier on Forward Operating Base Warhorse, near Baquba. With the death of Sergeant Sebban, the barrier ran out of space. A new barrier was just erected next to it.

More than a year ago the American military decided to cut back drastically the number of troops in Diyala.

But that plan is now in reverse, as new troops move back into Baquba, the provincial capital, trying to quell the bitter fighting as part of the plan to put more troops in Iraq.

"We’ve just got a lot of guys dying," said one combat soldier who did not want his name published. "This country is not getting any better.  Nobody really understands what’s going on."

Of the hundreds of thousands of American troops who have deployed to Iraq in four years of war, more than 3,200 have been killed.  But those numbers understate the mortal risk faced by those in dangerous regions like Diyala.

The primary combat unit in Baquba since November, the 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, has seen 21 soldiers killed in five months, out of close to 1,000.  An additional 93 have been wounded.  The battalion’s deployment is less than half over.

In some months the military hospital in Balad sees more than 500 wounded soldiers from northern Iraq alone, said Staff Sgt. Tanisha Denton.

Sergeant Denton offered Colonel Sutherland and his soldiers a familiar admonition: "Don’t take offense, but I don’t want to see any of you back here for a while."

But five and a half hours later they were back.  Five soldiers wounded at As Sadah arrived, as well as three from the Fifth Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment shot on patrol in Baquba.

IRAQ WAR REPORTS

Marine Killed In Anbar

April 3, 2007 Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory RELEASE No. 20070403-03

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – A Marine assigned to Multi National Force-West died April 2 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province.

Family Says Eagan Marine Killed In Iraq

Apr 2 MINNEAPOLIS (AP)

A Marine from Eagan was killed in Iraq, the soldier’s family said Monday.

Lance Cpl. Daniel Olsen, 20, was shot Sunday in Anbar Province, his parents, Wayne and Gwen Olsen, told WCCO-TV. They said two Marines, an Eagan police officer and a chaplain told them of the death.

Daniel Olsen, a graduate of Eagan High School, enlisted in the Marines on March 15, 2005, and was deployed Jan. 28, 2007, his family said. "He was doing what he wanted to do," his father said.

Wayne Olsen said his son was on patrol in the Fallujah area with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines Fox Company when he was killed. Though he was wearing heavy armor, he was shot in the back with small arms fire, his parents said.

A call from The Associated Press to a Marine spokesman wasn’t immediately returned Monday night.

Olsen is the 56th person with strong Minnesota ties to die in connection with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Oklahoma Marine Killed In Iraq

3/27/2007 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)

A 21-year-old Marine from Oklahoma City died in Iraq when the vehicle he was riding in hit a roadside bomb just 12 days before he was scheduled to return home, military officials said Monday.

Lance Cpl. Trevor A. Roberts died Saturday while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, the Defense Department said.

Roberts, who was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, was in the right rear passenger seat at 8 p.m. when the explosion occurred, said 1st Sgt. Scott Baker, a spokesman for Roberts' unit. Another person riding in the vehicle suffered a minor concussion.

Baker said Roberts was one of 30 people from the unit who volunteered to go to Iraq and had been in that country for seven months. The unit has since been activated and is training at Fort Sill, preparing for a July deployment.

"He was an All-American boy," Baker said. "He was brought up in a good Christian family. He was a good Marine. He volunteered to go. He felt it was his obligation to serve God, the country and the Corps."

Roberts was trained as an artillery specialist.

Rob Olmstead, pastor of Eagle Heights Church in Oklahoma City, said Roberts wanted to study anthropology or sociology in college.

"His experiences in Iraq were pretty amazing," said Olmstead, who was Roberts' pastor. "He was always aware of culture and slow to judge it and more open to learning from it."

His parents, Chuck and Twyla Roberts, had spoken to him two days before he was killed, Baker said. Roberts is also survived by a brother, who is attending college.

Baker said Roberts was the first Marine from the unit killed in the war.

He said Roberts was very involved in his church and was planning to participate in a church mission to China this summer.

Roberts graduated from Westmoore High School in 2004 and attended Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma City radio station KTOK reported.

Rosemount Soldier Dies In Iraq

3/30/07 by Tad Johnson, Thisweek Newspapers

Spc. Sean K. McDonald, 21, of Rosemount, died March 25 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

McDonald was assigned to the 9th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based in Wiesbaden, Germany.

According to the Star Tribune, McDonald was born in Burnsville on Dec. 25, 1985, to parents Russell and Marleen McDonald.

McDonald was not married and had no children, according to Marotto. His sister, Jessica, lives in Rosemount.

McDonald attended fifth and sixth grade at Valley Middle School in Apple Valley, according to District 196 officials.

After that he moved to the Netherlands with his mother when his parents divorced, according to the Star Tribune.

He enlisted in the Army at age 18.

McDonald’s death was at least the 26th suffered by the Schweinfurt-based "Dagger Brigade" since it deployed last summer to Iraq.

Marotto said a memorial service for McDonald has been scheduled for Thursday, April 5. McDonald’s service will be at Ledward Chapel on Ledward Barracks.

A service will be held April 9 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, where he will be buried, according to the Star Tribune, and at White Funeral Home in Apple Valley.

More information about McDonald will be posted on Thisweek Newspapers Web site at www.thisweek-online.com.

Those readers who knew McDonald are encouraged to call editor Tad Johnson at (952) 846-2033 or e-mail him at editor.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

U.S. Cargo Plane Down In Dalouiya

Apr 3 DPA

A U.S. cargo plane crashed in a remote area in eastern Dalouiya, Salah al-Din province, an eyewitness said on Tuesday

The source added that the US helicopters laid down fire in the area where the plane crashed in order to prevent anyone from approaching the scene.

U.S. Military Vehicle Destroyed On Kut-Baghdad Highway;

Casualties Not Announced

Apr 3 (VOI)

A U.S. Hummer vehicle was destroyed when an explosive charge went off near a U.S. convoy on the Kut-Baghdad highway on Tuesday, an eyewitness said

British Patrol Attacked South Of Basra

Apr 3 (VOI)

Basra – A British patrol came under an attack with an explosive device while conducting a search operation south of the city, where British soldiers had arrested a suspect and seized arms and ammunition, a military spokeswoman for the Multi-National Force – South said on Tuesday

"One Of The Newer Tactics The Resistance Is Using In Iraq"

From: [XXXX Veteran]

To: GI Special

Sent: April 03, 2007

Subject: Anonymous contribution

[This comment refers to the story that appears below the comment.  T]

***************************************************

This is one of the newer tactics the resistance is using in Iraq.  Link to video of an attack like this: http://siteinstitute.org/bin/articl...s&Subcategory=0

Mujahideen Army in Iraq Announces New Bombing Strategy in Response to American Troop Deployment, Issues Video of Bombing Two Humvees

By SITE Institute, February 6, 2007

"The Mujahideen Army (Jeish al-Mujahideen) in Iraq issued a communiqué today, Tuesday, February 6, 2007, claiming an attack in response to the strategy of U.S. President George W. Bush for additional troop deployment.

"The group intends to "make use of the American Army’s stupidity in city battles" by planting more than one improvised explosive device (IED) in their ambushes. As such, they provided a one and a half minute video of such an attack targeting two Humvees in West Baghdad."

[This is the news story referenced:]

6 U.S. Troops Killed Near Baghdad By Coordinated IED Attack;

Two More Wounded

April 1, 2007 Multi National Corps Iraq Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory RELEASE No. 20070401-12

BAGHDAD – While conducting a combat security patrol, two MND-B Soldiers died and two others were wounded when an improvised explosive device detonated near their unit southwest of the Iraqi capital March 31.

Four additional Soldiers were killed when a second improvised explosive device detonated near a separate unit responding to the initial IED strike southwest of the Iraqi capital April 1.

THIS ENVIRONMENT IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH;

TIME TO COME HOME, NOW

U.S. soldiers from the Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion of the 12th Cavalry Regiment on a patrol through Baghdad's northwest neighborhood of Ghazaliya, April 1, 2007. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

TROOP NEWS

THIS IS HOW BUSH BRINGS THE TROOPS HOME:

BRING THEM ALL HOME NOW, ALIVE

A hearse carrying the casket of Sgt. 1^st Class Benjamin L. Sebban in South Amboy, N.J., March 28, 2007.  Sebban died March 17 of wounds suffered in the city of Baqubah, northeast of Baghdad when an improvised bomb exploded near his unit, the Department of Defense said.  (AP Photo/Mike Derer)

"Warnings About The Programs Had Filtered Back To Front-Line Troops"

"We’d Get E-Mails From People In Hold Saying The Conditions Were Terrible"

"We’d Do Anything We Could To Not End Up In 'Med Hold"

April 03, 2007 By MICHAEL GISICK, Scripps-McClatchy Western Service

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Injured U.S. service members have become so wary of inpatient treatment programs run by the military that many consider hiding their health problems when they return from war, a group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans told U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson.

During a roundtable discussion in Albuquerque on Monday, those veterans also said poor record keeping by the military and a "revolving door" of doctors at the veterans hospital were hindering care.

Those programs have come under an intense spotlight following reports by the Washington Post of major problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Army’s flagship hospital in Washington, D.C.

But Trent Simpler, a staff sergeant with the Army Reserves who served in Iraq, said the problems weren’t isolated to Walter Reed.

After he suffered a foot injury, Simpler said he was sent to a medical-hold facility at Fort Benning, Georgia.

"They had 100 of us in some buildings that had been slated for demolition," he said, adding that the building he was in lacked basic amenities and TVs.

"They had some people in tents," he said.

Kenny Keelin, who served in Afghanistan with the New Mexico National Guard, said warnings about the programs had filtered back to front-line troops long before they were exposed by the Washington Post.

"We’d get e-mails from people in hold saying the conditions were terrible," he said. "We’d do anything we could to not end up in 'med hold.’"

After she returned from Iraq with a minor injury, Army Reservist Korrie Shivers said she faced the decision of acknowledging the problem and facing a year in medical hold or saying nothing and going home.

"I know a lot of people who were hurt who didn’t say anything," she said.

Wilson, an Air Force veteran, said she’d heard the same story from other veterans.

"(It) may be encouraging people not to report health problems," Wilson said.

Several of the veterans complained of long waits for appointments at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque and said they’d repeatedly been shuffled between doctors.

Donald Norman, an Iraq war veteran, said he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder while on active duty with the Army.  But after returning to New Mexico, he said, he went to the local VA hospital and was told he’d have to wait six months for an appointment with a psychiatrist.

Army Staff Sgt. Michael Chamberlain, who suffered knee and back injuries while working with military intelligence in Iraq, said he’d been told older vets were facing even longer waits at the local hospital.

"I don’t like people telling me they have to bump back Vietnam and World War II vets to make room for me," he said.

Chamberlain and others also complained about what he called a "revolving door" of doctors.

"You meet with one, and two weeks later you go back and they’ve left," he said.

The parents of Tyler Wilson, a New Mexico soldier who was partially paralyzed by a gunshot wound in Afghanistan in 2005, said their son had received outstanding care at Walter Reed and blamed the media for blowing the problems there out of proportion.

But, they said, their son nearly died of an overdose on Oxycontin because of an error by a nurse.

"It just seems like they don’t have enough help.  They’re always short-staffed," Joanna Wilson said.

"An Entire Generation Of Veterans Who Have No Faith In Our VA"

"A Disability Claim Under The Best Of Circumstances Takes An Average Of Four Months"

March 26, 2007 Army Times; By Rick Maze – Staff writer

Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are warning Congress that a new generation of disabled veterans feels shortchanged by the government because of delays in processing claims and a sense of unfairness in how services and benefits are provided.

Brady Van Engelen, a wounded Iraq war veteran and associate director of Veterans for America, said veterans and their families suffer because the VA simply isn’t fast enough in processing claims.

"We may end up with an entire generation of veterans who have no faith in our VA because those running it — as well as those overseeing it — were unable to hold up their end of the bargain," he told the House Veterans’ Affairs disability assistance subcommittee.

VA officials admitted at the hearing that despite years of effort, the backlog of disability claims is growing. 

Ronald Aument, VA deputy undersecretary for benefits, said processing a disability claim under the best of circumstances takes an average of four months, and that priority is being given to claims for the most severely disabled combat veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The average processing time is 177 days, which the VA wants to cut to about 145 days, he said.

The VA handled 774,000 claims last year but received 806,382. The number of veterans receiving disability benefits has climbed from about 2.3 million in 2000 to 2.7 million in 2006.

VA Patient Has Wrong Testicle Removed;

"The Vet's Healthy Testicle Is Removed Instead Of The Potentially Cancerous One"

April 4, 2007 By Mary Engel, L.A. Times Staff Writer [Excerpts]

Benjamin Houghton had fewer reasons than most to fear the surgery he'd scheduled at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center to remove his potentially cancerous left testicle.

For one thing, the 47-year-old Air Force veteran and father of four already knew that he could function normally with a single, healthy testicle.

For another, he was getting his surgery in a system that has prided itself on its pioneering efforts to prevent medical errors.  One top VA official said the VA's approach to safety is considered "a benchmark by healthcare organizations throughout the world."

But in Houghton's case, the hospital missed the mark. Last June 14, doctors mistakenly removed the right testicle instead of the left, according to medical records and a claim filed by Houghton and his wife Monica, 39.

Now the couple are seeking about $200,000 for future healthcare costs outside the Department of Veterans Affairs system and an undisclosed amount in damages. Their claim is pending.

Houghton was left deprived of the testosterone the healthy testicle produced, setting him up for potential health complications including sexual dysfunction, depression, fatigue, weight gain and osteoporosis.  

"At first I thought it was a joke," said Houghton, who recalls being told of the mistake immediately afterward, while he was in recovery. "Then I was shocked. I told them, 'What do I do now?' "

Dr. Dean Norman, chief of staff for the Greater Los Angeles VA system, has formally apologized to Houghton and his wife.  But Houghton, who has received care through the VA since his discharge in 1989, wants nothing more to do with a system that he believes failed him.

The surgery Houghton went in for that day was not urgent.  He had first been diagnosed with metastatic testicular cancer in 1989.  He declined surgery at that time and retired after chemotherapy at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

There had been