A long time ago I was having a conversation with my dad. This conversation was about how life was in the British army during world war II. He did say it was hard. Not just the fighting - that was obvious - but it was hard living. You took rest when you could and you fought along side those who were with you.
You shaved in cold water, ate cold baked beans - and I won’t say what they had to do when the bathroom was needed. Dad used to joke quite a bit about what it was like fighting along side the Americans - some of the stories would literally make me scream with laughter. But one thing dad always said was that the American soldier was looked after. They had the best - even Turkey was flown in for thanksgiving and Christmas.
Some times, more often than not, in fact - they would share with their fellow warriors.
A ration pack was the sum amount that dad would have. But - that is the way of the British army.
So, you may wonder why I am writing all this. I am writing it because of this story.
It seems that the second world war was a time when American soldiers were treated with utmost respect because of what they were doing for their country - to now, when things seem so different.
“This is embarrassing. It’s disgusting. It makes me mad as hell,” Ed Frawley said of the building where his son, Sgt. Jeff Frawley, had to live upon his return this month from a 15-month deployment to Afghanistan.
Frawley said Monday that Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Dick Cody called him to say he shares Frawley’s anger and that “there’s no excuse.” Cody said he would not want his own sons or any troops to return to such conditions, Frawley said.
If Gen. Dick Cody thought this was inexcusable - why was it over-looked for so long and only when the images were up on YouTube did someone see that this is wrong.
The internet is bringing so many things to light - I can understand why governments what to restrict our access by whatever means they can.
All Images designed by Alison Rhodes (LastingExpressions)
4 responses so far ↓
George Vreeland Hill // April 29, 2008 at 2:27 am
The military does not care how they treat their own soldiers.
Filth and lies are the military way.
Just look at this case of dirty buildings.
Ask Pat Tillman’s family.
Ask anyone.
Don’t serve your country, because your country is not serving you!
I am,
George Vreeland Hill
Soldier // April 29, 2008 at 10:18 am
This is not just a ‘Fort Brag’ issue. This is a United States of America Army WIDE issue. Soldiers often do not have a way to speak up about their living conditions. For a soldier to voice a complaint, he must tell his Team Leader, who tells his Squad Leader, who tells his Platoon Sergeant, who tells the Platoon Leader, who tells the Company Commander, who tells the Battalion Commander, who tells the Brigade commander, who tells the Division Commander, and so on. You get the point. If the soldier does not follow this strict protocol, then they are faced with possible legal action that results in loss of pay and rank, and will be required to work twice the hours that he/she already does.
I have seen 1 out of 20 complaints a soldier has ever voiced make it past the Squad Leader level. It is a hush hush system, because all it takes is one timid person in that chain that is not willing to talk to his superior and the complaint process stops.
I hope to God that more parrents will visit their children in the barracks and bring along a video camera in the days to come.
lunawolf // April 30, 2008 at 2:00 am
ellaella // April 30, 2008 at 11:08 am
It took the Washington Post to expose the horrible conditions and treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and it took George Bush’s expensive war to push us into what is probably (but not officially, yet) a recession.
Money for bombs, an Army track record..it all adds up for me. Sadly.
Leave a Comment