Troops dumped in Baltimore for their R&R. Told to find their own way home

[bigtree]

and back.
16 days.
Pay their own way also.
Military says that's the way it will be.
I suppose it's always been like this. But for a manufactured war?!!
How do these families give and give and keep on giving?

Soldier on TV says he just wants to look around before he goes back.

If you see them, say hello,
They're someone you should know.

[ClintonTyree]

1. I wonder......................

how many will be AWOL when the time comes to fly back to Iraq? I imagine many have had it by now, and I wouldn't blame each and every one if they "just got lost". These poor people, their government is crapping all over them, all the time crying "patriotism, sacrifice". I'm all for the troops, we need them home safe right now. If any soldier needs a place to hide, they've a safe house here.

[bigtree]

2. same here

n/t

[Andy_Stephenson]

29. Ditto...I have 5 bedrooms and only use 1

if they double up...I can hide 10 of them

[Bandit]

32. I'm amazed they gave them R&R in the USA

When I was in Vietnam we were not allowed to go to the states except for married guys and they could have theirs in Hawaii. We could only go to Taiwan or Singapore or Thailand or Australia. I know they were afraid of desertions during that war. These guys are all volunteers so I guess they are not worried about that. I wouldn't be surprised if some didn't just disappear. It can't be pleasant over there.

[Toucano]

3. On ABC

They talked to a soldier in Baltimore and the FIRST thing he wanted was a recent newspaper!

He put that before the flush toilet.

That seemed very significant to me.

[sleipnir]

4. If the pResident can do it, why can't they

[pnorman]

5. Can you provide a link for this?

n/t

[opihimoimoi]

6. We ask these guys to fight for America, risk life and limb, AND WE CANNOT

GET THEM HOME???

WTF is that??? Oh well, I guess nobody thought of it as important.

[Solly Mack]

8. I can verify it firsthand

My husband is in Iraq and that's the deal to come home for mid-tour leave.

We've had to work in overdrive to get some soldiers from Baltimore to
this post and back again-to avoid being late in their return. It's a group effort and the families bear the cost to/fro Baltimore.Some have even had to pay their ticket out of Kuwait...which runs roughly 1300 dollars.

Baltimore is as far as they will fly them for family member deaths(in many cases),as well.

[Mari333]

9. This should be all over the Goddamned News

and every DEM should be bringing it up and screaming Bloody Hell over it

http://www.mfso.org/

[spooky3]

10. Is there an org that would accept donations

from us to help the soldiers and their families pay for this trip? If so, can you provide a link?

Appalling, but even more appalling would be if they never had a chance to get out of there at all.

[bigtree]

24. I don't have a link for that kind of donation

I'll keep looking.

[Solly Mack]

33. I know of no such program/fund

but it is incredibly awesome of you to want to help. The people at D.U. have been a wonderful support network during this trying time.

We're at the 6 month mark and DU has been instrumental in helping me to keep my sanity. 6 more months to go...unless something changes (and it always does)

I do know that (some) airlines have been decent enough to offer "discounts" and to even give a first class ticket for a discounted economy price - to/from Baltimore.

[bigtree]

36. I'm praying for you

And working for you as best I can.

http://www.returningsoldiers.us

[bigtree]

23. Thanks for the first-hand info

I saw this on the local news

[SoCalDem]

7. They should have at least 6 drop off points..

Baltimore, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas, Atlanta,Denver..

These guys are going to waste 2 or 3 days just GETTING home..

This whole thing was so hastily thrown together, that a guy they interviewd yesterday, said his c/o WOKE him up and told him to get his stuff together, and 15 minutes later he was on the plane..:wtf:

It's a PR stunt... See how compasssssshionate * is?? Dump them in Baltimore and let them figure out how on earth they will get to wherever their family is.. If the govthad thought this through, there would have been drop off's in more places..

Maybe the bodies are being flown back in the belly of the plane and these guys are just along for the ride.:shrug:

[annagull]

11. well that's just so fucking sick I have no words

Yes I do: between paying for your own food while in Hospital, and Dick Cheney getting his cut from H(Double LL) Halliburton, there should be rioting in the streets.

[PNAC_butter_jelly]

12. There won't be.

Most families will be so happy tp see their soldier, that they would sell anything they could to get the money to him/her so they can come home.. It stinks though, that they are being DUMPED in Baltimore.. What if they live in California?? Last minute airfare can be really expensive..

No planning at all went into this thing.. Somebody got upset about being called a bad guy (Rumsfeld) and this was the best they could come up with in a hurry..:(

sample airfares from baltimore to los angeles


Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 203.00
America West
offers connecting service Advance Purchase: See Rules Rules

Latest Travel: 16Dec03
Earliest Return: 01 days
Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 203.00
American Airlines
offers connecting service Advance Purchase: See Rules Rules
Latest Travel: 31Jan04
Earliest Return: See Rules
Latest Return: 30 days
Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 203.00



United Airlines
offers non-stop service and connecting service Advance Purchase: See Rules Rules

Latest Travel: 31Jan04
Earliest Return: See Rules
Latest Return: 30 days


Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 203.00



AirTran Airways
offers connecting service Advance Purchase: See Rules Rules

Latest Travel: 31Jan04


Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 203.00


Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 263.00

America West
Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 273.00

AirTran Airways
offers connecting service Advance Purchase: See Rules Rules
Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 303.00
AirTran Airways
offers connecting service Advance Purchase: See Rules Rules
Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 313.00
Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 333.00
America West
offers connecting service Advance Purchase: See Rules Rules
Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 367.00
America West
offers connecting service Advance Purchase: See Rules Rules
Round-Trip not including applicable taxes and fees* Price: USD 387.00

[annagull]

13. Do you know who pays the connecting flights?

I have a soldier there, and I would like to know if he is one of the lucky ones. I would also like to know if these guys were dumped in Baltimore.

[PNAC_butter_jelly]

14. I think they are ALL being put off in Baltimore

Your soldier will probably call you the instant he finds out he's coming home.. :)

I am haopeful that he will be one..

Maybe someone needs to shame the airlines into taking these guys for free on a standby basis.. OUR tax dollars have bailed them out often enough..

I pity the ones who get sent to Baltimore around Christmas time. The flights will be packed..

maybe you can drive there and pick him up ??

[Don_G]

15. Found A Link In A Local Paper

Looks like the majority of the flights are to Baltimore now with other flights to another three major airports planned...period. It looks like the GI's are stiffed once again.

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRAQ_RR?SITE=KYLOU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Ouabache]

16. After WWII when GIs came back and hit the east coast

they were allowed to jump trains and buses for free wherever and whenever there was space on board.

Many rode on the outside of trains, those little platforms between the cars...many stood in the aisles of buses, etc.

Ok, so why can't they hop FedEx planes, and trains, and Post Office, UPS, etc.,trucking company trucks -- trucks that ply the interstates?

Those companies and agencies ought to be more than GLAD to do it if the railroads and buslines could do it after WWII.

And the rail lines and buslines too, and the freaking airlines, how much of our tax money has propped up airline companies after 911 ?
Every unfilled seat on an airline ought to be absolutely free to a soldier in this situation.

Every airline seat out of Baltimore that is not filled with a paying passenger ought to be FREE to a soldier, no ifs, no ands, no buts.

ABSOLUTELY FREE and that soldier should be treated like royalty by all the management, employees and other paying passengers.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY THAT THAT CANNOT AND DOES NOT JUST AUTOMATICALLY HAPPEN ?

[bigtree]

25. This would be a good activity for DUers

Call the airlines and buses. Buses are always the first to step up to these types of appeals.

[dflprincess]

34. My dad was in the same situation when he got home

to the west coast. Lucky for him he had been in the Pacific long enough he was among one of the first bunch of guys to get home when feelings of gratitude were running especially high. There were people on east bound trains who actually gave up their places for returning GI's.

From that time on my dad - who never picked up hitchhikers - made one exception. Everytime he saw a guy in uniform he'd stop because he figured it was "some kid" trying to get home.

[Capn Sunshine]

35. Well, that would be admitting its a WAR

and they don't want to pay hazardous duty pay, remember? That is why they never declared a war in the first place.

[scarletlib]

17. Two Weeks not enough time to de-stress

I've read several articles that state that a 2 week vacation is not enough time for an individual to really relax, de-stress and get fully rested from the job. It takes 2 weeks just to get to that point. That's why real vacations (like the one's people get in Europe) need to last 3-4 weeks. Considering the distances these guys need to travel, the time-zone disruptions to their bodies, etc. 2 weeks is simply not enough time. For many of these guys they will only be getting after travel time maybe only 2-3 days with their families. THat really sucks. At a minimum they should have been given one week just for travel and 2 weeks of leave.

[Gin]

18. Maybe the airlines should give them free tickets from Baltimore

and back to Baltimore..after all...we are subsidizing them too.

[DoYouEverWonder]

20. Especially since W gave them that big bailout

to keep their mouths shut about 9-11.

It's the least these greedy bastards could do?

[bigtree]

26. bush had a month

[BiggJawn]

19. My Girlfriend says this went on during the Nam

Soldiers (airmen in her case) would get R n'R to Thailand or Japan and the wife would scrape up every dime she had/could borrow to fly there and be wih him.

Her ex baby-sat a Minuteman, wasn't overseas.

Airlines are missing out on one hell of a PR op here....

[Andy_Stephenson]

30. I feel a DU Letter campaign.

flood the airlines with this request.

[DoYouEverWonder]

21. A soldier was killed today

By an SUV, which ran her over while she was walking along a busy highway on her way home.

Thanks for the ride Rummie.

Here's the link:

Army Reservist Struck, Killed On Highway 69

[bigtree]

27. An Army reservist home on leave was struck and killed as she walked along

An Army reservist home on leave was struck and killed as she walked along Highway 69 early Friday morning.

I just had to amplify this.

[AP]

22. After the billions in tax dollar subsidies we gave Delta et al, you think

they'd fly a few of these guys home.

[nostamj]

28. and they want 100s of MILLIONS

to hire 'advisors' and 'experts' to rebuild Iraq.
a 100 million for garbage trucks in Iraq.
50,000 a bed for new prisons in Iraq.

there is NO sense of priorities. NONE.

[Sick of Bullshit]

31. Oh, they have a sense of "priorities", all right

Stuff their own coffers to overflowing, and to hell with everyone else.