Torn By 2 Calls of Duty.. (No Leave for Soldier with Infant Son in ICU)

[Stuart G]

Source: Raw Story..and Chicago Tribune.

Soldier torn by 2 calls of duty
No Leave for Soldier With Infant Son in ICU



http://www.rawstory.com/
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-armykid_24_bothdec24,0,4702707.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout

By Jeff Long and Sara Olkon |Tribune staff reporters
December 24, 2007

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-armykid_24_bothdec24,0,4702707.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout




During his two tours in Iraq, Army Sgt. Chris Williams has been in many firefights, but a battle with military brass over a leave extension as his newborn son clings to life has been the scariest and most frustrating of his career.

"It's a lot more stressful," he said Sunday afternoon during an interview at Munster Community Hospital in Indiana, where doctors are monitoring his son, Gabriel, around the clock.

"I'm an adult, I'm in the Army," said Williams, 24, of Crown Point, Ind. "If something happens to me, I can deal with it. But when it's your kid, it's a lot scarier than anything I've ever been in before."

The Army says Williams' country needs him more than his family does.

"They are fighting a war," said Catherine Caruso, a spokeswoman at Ft. Lewis, near Tacoma, Wash., where Williams' unit is based. "Even one person missing does have an impact. Sometimes, hard decisions get made."

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-armykid_24_bothdec24,0,4702707.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout

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Leave Extension Refused, by Army for Sgt Chris Williams...wants to stay with infant son..in intensive care.

...................ARMY ASSHOLES..... ........................................................................

[Spinzonner]

1. You can see the military's point of view on this

If they let him postpone deploying then everyone will want a critically ill infant so they can too.

It's a slippery slope and then things could really get out of hand.

:sarcasm:

[saigon68]

2. So many Islamics to KILL-- so little Time

</sarcasm>

[Stuart G]

7. About this "So Little Time"...These assholes will correct this too..

These assholes will do the following with this story...
......When it really gets out there...within a very little time.
............These assholes will grant this leave...........
...................so it won't look so bad for the army and this stupid ass commander........
...............................so the army and this Commander and Chief will not have to
....................................answer even one question about this stupid fucken decison
........................................not to let this soldier who is on his second tour..........
...............................................to stay with his sick son.................. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[MaineDem]

8. And Cheney got how many deferments for having kids?

Atrocious!

[Diane R]

3. George Bush's America. Is his reign over yet?

[acmavm]

4. Time for the troops to start making a stand. Unless, of course, things are

as hunky dory as they are reported to be. I saw the report myself on The Early Show just this morning.

[CranialRectaLoopbak]

5. The only way to support the troops is to let them fight and die.

[rocktivity]

6. I would think this soldier would be better shape mentally to serve his country

knowing he did all he could to be at his child's side should he not recover. How much more time are we talking about, anyway--a couple of weeks? Wait until the child is declared medically out of danger.

:mad:
rocknation

[JDPriestly]

9. Have we as a nation lost our humanity?

This story is just heartbreaking. Our soldiers sacrifice so much. We should not demand or even accept such great sacrifice except for the most dire crises. We should never have gone into Iraq. And we should have done a much better job in Afghanistan. What skewed priorities. My prayers are with this soldier and his family.

[Vinca]

10. These poor service people are considered fodder and nothing more.

So much for "family values."

[Stuart G]

11. One of three things is going to happen to this story in the Tribune.

......A.........These assholes will kill the story somehow...(this one,,, I do not think they can kill this story, but they may try.)
......B.........They will grant an extension of this leave so that that will kill the story...
......C.........This story will start to grow and grow across the country..and it will really embarrass these assholes to the point that
................this story will be have to be dealt with by the higher ups, and then they will have to grant this extension..watch..

[Vinca]

12. I'm betting on B. If there is a large outcry from every corner of the nation,

they will have no choice in order to save their own rear ends.

[Stuart G]

14. Damn Right.......

......I give them six hours...by 8pm tonite....he gets his extension...This story may not even make it to the evening news..
If it does, I wonder if/how they will play it?

[Yavapai]

13. The old saying is true:

Looking at politicians is like looking into a cesspool, the biggest pieces float to the top!!!

[fortyfeetunder]

15. UPDATE -- Soldier can get extension if needed

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/238085.html

"On Monday, Garcia said Williams’ return date had been moved to Dec. 28 all along.

“We take the welfare of our soldiers and their families very seriously. The medical condition of Sgt. Williams’ newborn son and the emotional well-being of his family were definite factors in the chain of command’s decision to extend Sgt. Williams’ leave,” Garcia said.

If conditions do not change for the better, Williams can request another extension, said Capt. Terassa Pearson, spokeswoman for Task Force Iron, the unit with responsibility for the sprawling and turbulent region north of Baghdad."

[Stuart G]

16. I guess that Answer B.......was correct....

but then again..they never admitted to any mistake...it was that way all along..see one post above mine.


sure............no one would ever lie in the army.............sure..........

[Orsino]

17. Of course this is what can and should happen.

The Army was extremely foolish to let this story propagate. It's a PR disaster.