[Bleich Galley Directory | Home Page][Bleich Galley Directory | Home Page]There are times when the efficiency experts who cut military cost do so on the backs and pain of Veterans who served their country and deserve better. I believe this story by Eric Eyer will lead to the cessation of a new unfair army practice of having injured veterans pay for equipment that was damaged when they were wounded in battle.
At the end of this story I stated the reason why I was going to give $1000 to William Eddie Rebrook To help him realize his dream of becoming a Doctor to help People . Well the money was sent and received by an appreciative young man. There’s more to troop support than a decal on a car!
Rebrook was standing in the turret of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle when the roadside bomb exploded Jan. 11, 2005. The explosion fractured his arm and severed an artery. The last time, 1st. Lt. William “ Eddie” Rebrook from Charleston West Virginia, saw his body armor he was lying in a stretcher in Iraq, His arm was shattered and covered in blood. While a medic was applying a tourniquet to stanch the bleeding other assisting soldiers removed his blood soaked armor before he evacuated by a Black Hawk helicopter. He never saw the armor again .
He was flown to a hospital in Germany and than on to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. For more surgery. Doctors operated on him 7 times.
Rebrook’s right arm never recovered completely . He still has range of motion problems and pain when he turns over to sleep at night. Even with the injury Rebrook said he didn't want to leave the Army. That was the Army’s decision, not his. So after 8 month at Ft Hood, He gathered up his gear, “ and started up the long process to leave the Army for good. Things went well until they asked him for his OTV. ( outer tactical vest). which was missing. A battalion supply officer in Iraq had failed to document the loss. “They said That I owed them $700,“ Reebrook said “ It was like thank you for your service, now here the bill for $700.” “ I had to pay it to get on with my life” “In the past the Army allowed soldiers to write memos explaining the loss and destruction of gear, “ Rebrook said. But a new policy requires a “report of survey from the field” from the field that documented the loss. Rebrook said he knows of other Soldiers who also were forced To pay for equipment destroyed in battle.
He tried to get a Battalion Commander to sign a waiver on the body armor, but the officer declined. He was told he would have to supply statements from witnesses to verify the armour was taking from him and burned. “ It is a combat loss” he said “ and that cost should not be passed on to the soldier. If a soldier stuff is hit by enemy fire.”
“ I last saw the body armor when it was pulled off my bleeding body while I was being evacuated in a helicopter” Reebrook said. “They took it off me and burned it”
There is a complete lack of empathy from senior officers who don’t know what it’s like to be a combat soldier on the ground”, Rebrook said. “ There is a whole lot of people who don’t want to help you . They are more involved with the process than the product.”
Rebrook graduated with honors from West Point, N.Y., spent four years on active duty, 6 month in Iraq. Now Rebrook is sending out resumes trying to find work in Charleston West Virginia. He plans to take a couple of premed classes and apply to medical school. He wants to be a doctor someday.
“From being an Infantryman I know what it is like to hurt people. “ Rebrook said “ Now I want to help people”
“ When I read the story on Lt. Eddie Rebrook by Eric Eyer 348- 4869 in The Charleston Gazette from www.wvgazette.com It reminded me of another fine young man, James and his childhood sweet heart who is now his wife. I met He and his young wife in my gallery when they left West Virginia and ended up in Carmel. They stayed at my home for awhile. He had Gulf war syndrome and post traumatic stress. He was more concerned with Vietnam Vets, I offered to get him help with his medical problems. It seems like West Virginia produces True Grit Men, It doesn’t matter if they are miners or soldiers. I am going to contribute a $ 1000 from my sales to help this young hero, Eddie Reebrook realize his new dreams.
I was moved to do this for a number of reasons. I put another message on the blank side of the board That I attached to the flag pole, requesting that we pray for Soldiers in the Mid- East. That message was , “ There is more to troop support than a decal on your car. Support our Injured Veteran and Gold Star families“ I practice what I preach. It seemed to bother some people as Today which was Valentines day some one pulled out a holder for flyers and scattered them on the ground. I have these flyers out for people passing by. It has info for the positive things that others have done to help disabled Veterans and their families and information on web sites that help Veterans . Then the same day some else threw garbage on the garden instead of the waste receptacle that was near by. There have been times when some individuals with dogs will allow them to pee on the flowers beneath the American Flag. I will request that they stop their dog, and gently inform them that this is a Memorial Garden for our soldiers. Some will apologize, others could care less.
One lady got out of a big SUV with her large French Poodle to urinate on the garden. When I informed her that this was Memorial Garden, She replied “ This is a public garden in a dog friendly town.” I am too much of a gentleman to say what I was thinking, “ Well I am not being that friendly to you.”
I don’t have a decal on my car but I have been supportive of Veterans for years. The wonderful treatment I received and camaraderie of everyone at Fort Ord VA Clinic also prompted my gift of 1000 dollars. I touched me when Eddie said he wanted to be a doctor to help people. I go the VA clinic at Fort Ord in Marina, Ca. The staff and Volunteers there, up and down the line From the Nurses to the Doctors and every one else have been wonderful to me and all the veteran they take care of. Dr. Gosch may have saved my foot and Dr. James Helmer is one of the most caring and competent Doctors I have ever met. When Eddie said He wanted to be a Doctor to help people that touched me. If I am able to communicate with Eddie in the future I will recommend he communicate Dr. Helmer. I have friends Doctors and Researchers in the Medical Field and will talk to them about My Hero Scholarship concepts in relationship to Eddie Rebrook, in hope that they would contact the Medical University that they attended and perhaps the Alumni could Help Eddie.
If I have a problem getting 1000 dollars to Eddie Rebrook I will select another injured worthy veteran out of the 9007 who were wounded and disabled.
1000 dollars represents a sacrifice, as I am acustomed to living without fear on the edge of financial uncertainty. It is my nature to be a giving person. With Saint Francis of Assisi as a mentor the pursuit of money has not been the primary pursuit in life and I paint, write my songs, and sing them for the sheer creative joy of doing it and to share them and the fruits of my labor of love with others.
There is more to troop support Than A decal on your car.
[Bleich Galley Directory | Home Page]© February 15, 2006 George J. Bleich