A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
Sometimes I get very frustrated with the military system. I KNOW that it is set up the way it is for a reason. For good discipline and order. I understand that.
But sometimes, common sense just doesn’t enter the picture.
Take this situation.
A soldier from New Hampshire says the Army is standing in the way of lifesaving kidney donor surgery for his mother.
Army Spc. Frank Chapman, 27, is a match to his mother, Patricia Chapman, who suffers from kidney disease and is on dialysis three days a week. They are scheduled for transplant surgery June 13 in Florida., where Patricia Chapman lives.
Chapman, his wife and her two children are all packed up to move — he had sought a compassionate reassignment from the Army so they could care for Patricia, who lives in Dunnellon, Fla., after the surgery. But the plans are in limbo after the family learned last month that Army medical officials are denying permission for the surgery, which they say could lead to medical problems for Chapman down the road.
How useful, how sane and healthy would he be if he knew he could save his mother’s life but because of ONE bad reading, he was prevented from doing so?
Ya’ll please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers. Regardless of the decision that is to be made, they need an angel on hand to protect them and get them through all of this.
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I am posting this in case someone by the name of susan just goes to th
Sharm
This is case where the media can be helpful by putting on pressure to gain the proper result. The motive is probably to make the military look bad, though.
Grumpy
LL, this is one of those situations, we need to look at the whole truth, not bits and pieces. I think if you take a look, you’ll see the possibility of a completely different picture. If this soldier wants to help his mother, he must make a very difficult choice, his mother or the Army. This is a priority choice. If he wants to help his mother, he’ll probably need to be discharged. This does not mean he can not help in this GWoT, it does mean he will serve in a different capacity.
We must not “massage the truth, it is what it is. Let the soldier make his priority based choice, he’ll be the one facing it everyday. We can learn the lesson, not everything is as crisp and sharp as we would like it. We, as the milblogging community with the military and veterans can support his decision and sacrifice. He will sacrifice either way.
Sgt., you are in our thoughts and prayers, God Speed.
Respectfully,
Grumpy
LL
Sir, I respectfully disagree in that the soldier in question has what? 2 weeks when the article was written? Two weeks to submit for a discharge and GET a discharge and outprocess. Oh, and all of that and NOT raise his blood pressure, since apparently, that’s bad for an organ donor.
Since I’m a bit familiar with the military system, I’d say that’s about as big of a non-starter as I’ve ever seen.
He could disobey a direct order and do it anyway and risk a court martial. He could obey and wait to see if things turn around for his mom. There are many things he could do, but one bad reading (according to the article) is for right now, putting a hold on things.
And please, please don’t tell me that you, if you have served, have NEVER come across decisions and procedures and orders that were nonsense and bureaucratic. Cuz I’d have to ask you which country’s military you served in. It certainly wasn’t ours.
Grumpy
LL, it would make me very happy to be wrong. If I were him, in his situation and had any documentation on the mother’s situation, I would talk with a chaplain. This is the person to talk about with, about this type of situation and its urgency. These are the people who have an amazing amount of power.
About your assertion, I have found absolutely no “B.S Deficite” in our military.
Please feel free to disagree, this is how we learn.
“Grumpy”
Donna
LL,
I am praying for this family! Wow! What a choice. Seems the military isn’t giving him much of a choice however!
Patriot
The Army has come to its senses.
Grumpy
LL, Patriot– Y-E-A-H! Will miracles ever cease to amaze me? This was truly a miracle!
Patriot, Thank you, for your June 9th, 2007 at 12:26PM post.
Those two will remain in my prayers, I am asking for HIS ABSOLUTE BEST!
GRUMPY!