Mother fights Army over son's death

[Contrary1]

"Undetermined cause of death" = "noncombat-related" There is no excuse for treating our troops like this.

And how many like Sgt. James W. McDonald are not being counted among the 4,000?


"WAUSAU, Wis. - Joan McDonald believes her son was a casualty of the war in Iraq, but the Army says that while he did suffer a severe head wound in a bomb blast, the cause of his death is undetermined, keeping him off the casualty list.

She and her family are demanding more answers in the death of Sgt. James W. McDonald.

"I don't want it to be an undetermined cause of death," said Joan McDonald. "That is ridiculous."

McDonald, 26, was injured in a roadside bomb blast in Iraq last May. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment based at Fort Hood, Texas. After treatment in Germany, McDonald returned to Fort Hood and underwent extensive facial surgery in August.

His body was found in his barracks apartment Nov. 12, a Monday. He was last seen alive the previous Friday..."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080323/ap_on_re_us/combat_casualty

[lonestarnot]

1. Good luck with dat. Why did you let him go lady?

[Fleshdancer]

3. I see no reason for blaming the mom

He was 26 and not in her control. :shrug:

[lonestarnot]

5. If my kid was 50, I kick his ass and tie him up until it was over!

[BlooInBloo]

4. Classy.

[lonestarnot]

6. You a mom?

[BlooInBloo]

7. Nope - but please... stay classy!

[lonestarnot]

9. Something told me you were not. And I'm not into classy but for the

class war, so fuck the classy nonsense please.

[BlooInBloo]

10. You've fucked the "classy nonsense" enough for both of us - no need for me to.

[patrice]

2. Shame! on the Army for doing this. nt

[seabeyond]

8. i forgot that was another way they were keeping casualties down. or they get transfered to hospital

and then die, not combat. i had forgotten this