"No Excuse, Sir" Is The Only Answer

Everyone Is To Blame For The Walter Reed Scandal, Except Those Who Got The Story

(CBS)  Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.

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When I was in the Air Force – a long, long time ago – I was told there were only three acceptable answers when the commander called you on the carpet: "yes, sir," "no, sir," and "no excuse, sir."

Nowhere is "no excuse, sir" more appropriate than in response to the disgraceful treatment we now know that many of our wounded soldiers have been getting.

"No excuse, sir," across the board: from an administration that forgot "support the troops" is more than a bumper sticker; to a military that tried to blame it all on low ranking sergeants.

To a Veterans Administration whose leaders tried to play down the number of serious injuries, yet were so unfamiliar with their own system that too many times, the injured were sent to facilities unequipped to treat their particular injuries.

And, yes, to a Congress and news media that should have uncovered this long ago.

Only three people rise above this mess: Washington Post Reporters Dana Priest and Anne Hull and the remarkable Bob Woodruff of ABC News.

The Posties did what the rest of us should have. When they heard the rumors, they took the time to check them out. Not rocket science, just the first obligation of journalism.

Then there is Woodruff, who went to Iraq to get one story, was badly wounded and after months of treatment recovered to find another: the unacceptable way that many who suffered the kind of serious brain injury he suffered were lost in a nightmare of red tape and going without the treatment they needed.

The rest of us should have paid more attention. We can only be grateful to three who did.

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E-mail Face the Nation.

[dallison7]

I spent some time at Balboa Naval Hospital during Vietnam and the facility and staff were first class. I wonder if that has changed too.

[granolaboy1]

This is not America. This is not America. This is not America. This is not America. How many times to I have to say it?

[darkfyreaol]

I don't honestly know nowadays. Back in the mid 1990's, you still got excellent health care.

Now in the 21st century, the pharmacies and insurers bind the hands of the doctors and nurses with miles of red tape and countless forms to fill out. Bottom line is, money seems to be taking precedent over human life.

[cray4348]

I went to Hines VA Hospital in Chicago in the 1970's and 1980's, for Agent Orange exposure and mental health assistance and the experience was one of the most humiliating and dehumanizing experiences of my life. I'd rather die in the street than be treated in a VA hospital.

The VA was in deep denial then and it sounds like they still are. No change in 30 years!

Shame on the government and America for forgetting their veterans!

[cray4348]

I went to Hines VA Hospital in Chicago in the 1970's and 1980's, for Agent Orange exposure and mental health assistance and the experience was one of the most humiliating and dehumanizing experiences of my life. I'd rather die in the street than be treated in a VA hospital.

The VA was in deep denial then and it sounds like they still are. No change in 30 years!

Shame on the government and America for forgetting their veterans!

[jn122736]

Right on Bob Schieffer, Truth is as truth does.

[carolschneid]

"Amen" Mr. Schieffer---The trush says it all !!!

CBS News also did a story called "Disability Claims Sideline Veterans Care" on 1/11/07 a story about one of our Heros --- Mr Sean Lewis (who was wounded in Iraq). From all the online comments posted (including mine which I posted on 1/14 after I read the story), it certainly sounded like everyone was aware of whats going on or cared except the people in charge.

I'm also very glad that Mr. Gates is a man of his word !!!!

Sincerely,

Carol Schneider
St Louis MO - USA

[scott4261]

This just a symptom of much greater corruption.

[meritocrat]

Let%u2019s review the record. In Jan 05, Tom Delay removed Rep Chris Smith from his chairmanship of the Veterans%u2019 Affairs Committee for arguing that VA Medical programs could not function on the amounts contained in the President%u2019s budget request. Subsequently, Robert Novak noted that Rep Smith was %u201C%u2026a tireless promoter of spending for veterans, to save money.%u201D He also wrote, %u201CThe extraordinary purge buttressed the growing impression of arrogance as Republicans enter their second decade of power in the House.%u201D Later that summer, the Department of Veterans Affairs revealed an embarrassing budget shortfall that administration officials said was unforeseen. The missing money was nearly the exact amount requested by Smith before his ouster. Bush and his gluttonous Republican groupthinkers, with the exception of Mr Smith, only hollowly support veterans and do so purely out of political expediency, not out of a sense of duty or gratitude. Lockheed, Halliburton and Raytheon make no money on disabled vets, and thus there is no K-street support for that budget. Behind closed doors, Republican leadership views veterans as just another entitlement-sucking welfare group. It%u2019s about time the public learns this awful truth. Let%u2019s pray Secretary Gates finds more support than Mr Smith did, he certainly has earned mine. I only wish he could fire his boss too.

[rmsdm4]

There is no excuse, but that is the way gov't "universal healthcare" will be run if it ever passes. My dad was in vietnam and my wife and cousin have been to Iraq. The military insurance has been bad for years. It didn't start under Bush. But, Bush could fix it. The main problem is the red tape and pure stupidity of non military personel who file and process the paperwork. If you think it is bad now, just wait till osama and hillary pass socialized medicine. Oh, and Edwards will be out of a job because you can't sue gov't doctors.

[scott4261]

Not true. Look at Medicare for your example. There is no reason to not have universal helath care.

But if you want to look at the culprit in this picture; look at the dysfunctional administration in the White House and ask: why are they cutting veteran's benefits? And why would we ever tolerate such horrible conditions in America? And not just for veterans, but for anyone? God help us until this crime family is gone!

[sclaires]

Mr. Schieffer, I agree with you about "No Excuse Sir". That should be the answer from the top on down to the citizens of this country. There is no excuse for the conditions of Bldg 18 at Walter Reed. What should have been done a long time ago is just now being done more as a cosmetic job. They also need to get rid of civilian contractors and let the federal employees do the job. Federal employees are better at looking at things and getting it done then civilian contractors and in a shorter length of time. There is just too much contracting out of government services in the supposed rational that it will save money but it does not. Contractors are getting more money then it would cost to have federal employees doing the job.

[starleo146]

Mr. Sheiffer, Please do not let this story die out till every wrong that the Dept. Of Defese and congress President has done or should I say not done and has used these troops like no one should be treated .They go believing this great country will take care of them . Then they find out it is every man for themselves some get treatment and some do not some are on wait list they live in horrible cicumstances in a hospital where they are suppose to get state of the art treatment is it there fault they lost a limb or eye or they have brain injuries this country better wake up this administration and dept of defense is just shameful. DON'T LET THIS STORY DIE TILL IT IS ALL FIXED V.A.HOSPITALS AS WELL .

[p309]

As a volunteer, I visited a patient in the Atlanta VA Hospital to feed him as he was unable to feed himself, nor talk. The man across from him apparently couldn't feed himself. The nurse brought the trays and plopped his in front of him. Each night I'd see the man desperately try to feed himself. He didn't have enough control over how his arms and hands worked, and he would end up toppling the tray of food all over his blanket covering him. The nurse would come in and imperiously announce, "Not hungry tonight, Mr. Jones? OK!" He tried hard to talk but he, too, couldn't. She'd gather up the trays and was out of there in a flash. I ran after her, "Maam, he can't handle his utensils!" "He's not hungry," she'd reply tersely. I tried to report her but couldn't find anyone interested. I felt despair. My patient had AIDS. Had I not been there as an AIDS volunteer through my Church, I am sure no one there would have fed my patient. I value the time I spent with him feeding him nourishment and talking to him even though he was unable to speak, and I had no idea if anything I said was "registering" with him. Although this happened some years ago, apparently things haven't changed at all--the shocking omnipresent lack of respect for our Veterans. I am guessing "Mr. Jones" starved to death.

[martha532]

I watch Face the Nation every Sunday and greatly appreciate your coverage and comments. Mr. Shieffer is the best. Tonight's comment was great, as usual, but left out several things. This is not the first time this situation has come to light. Free Speech TV and Link TV has done many stories about Vet treatment, but the corporate news outlets don't pick up on them and they are never mentioned. Also, an excellent documentary is out there entitled "When I Came Home". It is about the appalling red tape these people have to go through and the plight of the homeless vets, and as you said, most of them are incapable of holding a job, making decisions and wind up on the streets! These documentaries by Brave New Films don't get any corporate media coverage, either. Are you people afraid to talk about them? Independent journalists are doing the job the corporate media refuses to do and therefore leave the public in the dark. It's time for you people in the corporate media to get the guts that Edward R. Murrow had and stand up to the people who only want to sell cars.

[martha532]

I watch Face the Nation every Sunday and greatly appreciate your coverage and comments. Mr. Shieffer is the best. Tonight's comment was great, as usual, but left out several things. This is not the first time this situation has come to light. Free Speech TV and Link TV has done many stories about Vet treatment, but the corporate news outlets don't pick up on them and they are never mentioned. Also, an excellent documentary is out there entitled "When I Came Home". It is about the appalling red tape these people have to go through and the plight of the homeless vets, and as you said, most of them are incapable of holding a job, making decisions and wind up on the streets! These documentaries by Brave New Films don't get any corporate media coverage, either. Are you people afraid to talk about them? Independent journalists are doing the job the corporate media refuses to do and therefore leave the public in the dark. It's time for you people in the corporate media to get the guts that Edward R. Murrow had and stand up to the people who only want to sell cars.

[kidneys1234]

I and many others tend to have tunnel vision when it comesto matters that affect our personal lives.
Nothing wrong with that, however those of us that are bitter for one reason or another should not slander an entire organization and its people for problems that stem from the top of the chain.
I am appauled at the treatment our Veterans are receiving however it does not shock me. This apprears to be norm rather than the exception from all that I have experienced and from what I have heard from others.
The saddens me is that all these problems our troops are having is because of the organizational culture in both VA and Military Medical Facilities. That culture starts with our representaives in DC and filters down.
As long as Service Members are considered parasites ( however necessary parasites ) the situation will never change. We will only see reactive, political posturing where there needs to be proactive attention given to our problems.
The Democrats talk a good story about taking care of Active military and the Veterans. This is their chance to shine where the Republicans have failed miserably.
Be sure to watch the news though about how the Republican Administration is appauled by all the poor treatment our Vets are being given and try like hell to take all the credit for the fix.

[inventagod]

The White House cut benefits.

The White House hid Iraq oil war wounded.

White House.

Bu$h

[tconnely]

I am a veteran of the Lost War. I have voiced my concerns about the VA since I first encountered it's
overwhelming baloney back in 1985 when I went to seek treatment for PTSD only to be told to go home and things would be okay in time. Well things weren't okay in time. I needed help from a US Senator before I got any real help. It seems you have to scare this folks before they act. I was a broadcast journalism at one time before becoming disabled by post traumatic stress, so I can smell the bullcrap. But when you question the authority of the VA, you are branded a troublemaker or disgruntled vet or no one believes you because you carry the initials PTSD around in your records. I have emailed reporters and written my congress people and so forth and so on but it seems it takes something like the Walter Reed mess for people to act and then it will soon be forgotten. I lived in the Minnesota Veterans Home 15 years ago and it had problems and it was just in the paper this week that three veterans had died from poor care. I complained for years but no one listens to poor farm boys from rural Minnesota, All we are good for and were good for was and is cannon fodder. If I sound bitter, it's because I'm tired of all those who don't understand that being a veteran in this country is a full time job trying to get the care you need for the price you have paid. That's my rant and that's about all I can do these days is rant because being a veteran really sucks.

[nvme3]

AMERICA WAKE UP! When will you Realize for the last Decade the Repubs have been in charge this is theirs! Support your troops impeach the chimp! Remember the line" THE BUCK STOPS HERE!" How much more do you need to see to make your blood boil? How many of our precious men and women must languish because of Chenney/Bush/Rumsfields follley?

[karlimhof]

The BUSH WAR is illegal

the resumption of hostilities was only a matter of time since Bush was elected with his neocon sidekicks....

blame barbara bush for iraq......
Posted by lars008

[rmsdm4]

After reading all the comments, some good, some of the same #$%t from name callers, I have come to this conclusion. The dems who are in control for now have been given a present wrapped in gold by the media. These conditions aren't new, or just didn't happen in the last 3 yrs. If the dems really CARED, they could fix it, or just blame bush. I remember in the late 70's when the dems were in control of it all and nothing now could compare to how bad and poor funded the military was then. Bush has taken some of the right steps by increasing funding, but we I would really like to see a private business handle all paperwork and insurance. The federal "quota" employees are worthless.

[dovestar]

There you go again.
Kneejerk reaction: Find Problem. Blame Bush.
Let's face facts. Enough of you hate his guts that everything that goes wrong is his fault. I know, the buck stops here, etc. One man cannot possibly know all the wrongdoing going on in the federal establishment. But everyone holds him responsible and the direct deliberate cause of all problems simply because his name is George W. Bush. I suppose that giving him credit for what has gone RIGHT if you'll admit to anything going right at all, is virtually nonexistent.

[dovestar]

Do you want to know why such things happen? Who or what is to blame? You might remember that every time you deal, or try to deal, with the federal government the bureaucrats act like you exist to serve them. In short, our public servants have become public masters. Customer service in the private sector appears to be going the same way.
One reason for this is that back in WWII the three pillars of sociedty (family, government, and the church) were all teaching essentially the same values. That stopped June 25, 1962 when the Supreme Court ruled that 33 million schoolids must stop praying in the government schools. Since then, those 3 pillars of society have drifted apart. They will come back together only when God is restored to His rightful place in this nation and not one second sooner.

[dovestar]

You almost got it right.
The correct answer should be, "No excuse, Lord".
Since June 25, 1962, we as a society have kicked God out on His Ear. And God, being the perfect Gentleman He is, has honored our requests for Him to get lost. This is why we have had problems over the years, the latest one being the military hospital scandal. No one can agree what is right anymore. Back in the day of "The Greatest Generation" the 3 pillars of society (family, government, and church) each taught and upheld the same essential values. They have since drifted apart. We can't fix it. The only solution is to restore God to His rightful place in our society and HE will fix it.

[bmanther]

dovestar....
Do you mean that same god that allows all of this suffering to exist? That same god that you think chooses sides? You are delusional!!

[dovestar]

"But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious Hand that preserved us...and we have vainly imagined; in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own...Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us...It behooves us then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."
Abraham Lincoln-March 30, 1863

Amen!

[navychief8]

dallison7,

I have not used Balboa since I left San Diego in 2004, But at the time the service was first class. Better than the Civilian hospitals here in Tn. I had Two surgeries at Balboa including a shoulder reconstruction. They did an awesome job.

[dovestar]

To bmanther:
This is one of the fundamental questions of our time. But what you conveniently forget is that though God allows suffering He promises to go through it with us. Jesus Christ, Who can be proven by history to exist, walked this earth and as God's Son suffered Himself. God did not spare even His own Son from suffering. Therefore, God understands what we're going through. Eventually, we'll live in a world where suffering is banned. It's called heaven and the ticket to admission is to admit that you are lost without Christ and that you accept His suffering as payment for your sins and invite Him to live in your heart. He will. Next, study the Bible with some mature Christians and grasp a better understanding of Who God is and why your present ideas about Him are just not right. Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. I once told God to get lost myself. And He forgave me for that. He can do it for you too. All you have to do is let Him.

[zoroastor]

I came home disabled from Iraq through walter reed in DC. It was okay, but that was early in the war. I could tell then that the resources were stretched. Three years later, this comes as no surprise. Nor should it come as a surprise to our administration. The same thing happened in the 60s and 70s.
I get sick of hearing our leaders say "support our troops" when what they mean is "support our agenda". If they truly believed in supporting our fighting forces, they would never have sent us over there without body armor, or the proper body armor, armored vehicles, etc...
Want to support our troops? Get them out of that quagmire as quick as is safely possible. Be willing to allocate a more significant part of the budget to the VA and military service sector.

[navychief8]

If they truly believed in supporting our fighting forces, they would never have sent us over there without body armor, or the proper body armor, armored vehicles, etc...

Posted by Zoroastor

Do you ever think about a fire extinguisher hanging on the wall of your home before a fire occurs? Do you ever inspect it to make sure it is still functioning correctly? Do you even own one?

I use this as an analogy to our Armed Forces. We are the proverbial %u201CFire Extinguisher%u201D that the public never thinks about until we are needed. But remember this: The training and equipping we did yesterday will prepare us to fight the wars of tomorrow. The day we cross the line of demarcation is not the time to say I wish I had this or I wish I had that. We fight with what we have.

How many in the public even thought about how well I was equipped for battle prior to 2004? I can%u2019t tell you how many times I spent money out of my own pocket to make sure I had everything I needed to complete a mission. And this was prior to 9/11. After the cold war ended we cut back our spending on the military (remember the peace dividend), and now it shows. We did this because that was what the public wanted. This is not a Republican or Democratic problem as the cut backs started during the first Bush administration and continued through Clinton%u2019s. Now, all the money we spend is to try and catch up and maintain.

[navychief8]

Part 2,

After this war ends, will you, the public still care for my and my fellow service men and women%u2019s well being? Or will you the public demand we scale back our spending on the military once again. And again I will go out and spend my money to make sure I and my troops have what is needed to complete the mission.

Our Armed Forces are a mirror image of the society it protects, no better and no worse. So blame the politicians all you want. But I blame you, the public for forgetting about me when I needed you most. Before the fires of war burned.

No Excuse, indeed!

[zoroastor]

NavyChief

How goes it?

Yes I own a fire extinquisher. No I don't check it. Good anaology. Okay, will you give me that it is taking WAAAAY too long to correct the problem of insufficiently equiped troops?

I was there for a year. We were surprised never to have gotten the equipement while in country. We are even more surprised it is still a problem.
I too spent money out of my own pocket for my troops' safety. To me, this only further proves my point.
You are right, the public will have forgotten this "outrage" a year after this is over and will want more military cuts. However, it does not absolve the administration from poor planning -that is their RESPONSIBILITY! that far exceeds my checking my fire extinguisher - and telling the American public that the war would cost 70-90 billion and that Iraq could largely fund it. C'mon we all knew that was a crock as soon as we heard it.

I believe you echoed my thoughts about being prepared to spend more money on the VA and military service.

[karlimhof]

I suppose that giving him credit for what has gone RIGHT if you'll admit to anything going right at all, is virtually nonexistent.

Posted by dovestar



Be pleased to hear from what he's done right.

[navychief8]

Zoroastor,

Absolutely! And I should stated from the beginning, that I was not attacking what you said. I just used your post as an example of the underlying problem. I agree that the people who run the hospital should be taken to task. But I just get mad when I read these posts. As a vet, you and I both know that the average citizen spends little time thinking about us when we are not fighting a war.

p.s.

Thank You for your service and your sacrific

[navychief8]

Zoroastor,

I wanted to elaborate. I think that the majority of money we are spending goes to just paying for ongoing operations. That is what I meant by trying to catch up.

During WW2, the war was a national effort. That does not happen today. Remember the scrapmetal drives and people doing without so that the troops would have what they needed? I remember the stories my grandparents told me. I am in no way trying to justify the war or its correctness, but if we are going to go to war, we need to do it all the way and not try to do it on the cheap. I think if we would have done that we would have been far more successful.

[karlimhof]

The Bush War :

The only positive things this mad war has accomplished is showing us our weaknesses;

- we cannot allow our elected officials to embark us on adventurist wars

- we have to keep our military strong to protect America, not Israel or to "change the face of the Middle East" or any region of the world

- we have to pay more attention to our veterans needs and normal citizens health care needs (invest money !)

- we have to have a credible response prepared for national emergencies (i.e.katrina)

- we have to become fiscally responsible again

Amen

[harp1963]

We're sending trillions of taxpayer dollars into a foreign country to rebuild it after we destroyed it, but our wounded boys come home for medical care in a rat hole. Makes perfect sense to me, considering what an idiot our president is.

[spargle]

A fitting finale to the failed Bush administration. Bumper sticker politics followed by . . . NOTHING. Support the troops - BRING THEM HOME

[truth_reason]

It really is disturbing to see that our boys and girls cant get the proper treament needed to fix them up. They put there life's on the line to fight this crazy war and when they get hurt what do they get...squt. Pay attion Bush, do your job right for once, please. Or let some one else do it.

[clemenhagen1]

The Bush Administration is on it, folks. Johnny at the Rathole! Heads is gonna roll, boys. Fire the guy who's done been on the job for six months and replace him with...the guy who held the job for years prior to that? Right. That'll do'er. And the bought and paid for press and the "see no evil" talking-point echo chamber right will assert that change is coming for our deserved soldiers. Right. Just like they really went after the people responsible for Abu Ghraid. "The animals remembered - or thought they remembered?" You know, how a few bad apples now rot in Leavenworth prison while those who ordered the torture never even got investigated. Right.

[martha532]

Bob, you are one of the most respected journalists we have and I watch you every Sunday morning. Your comments are especially good. But, I do have one complaint and that is the corporate media are stating that this is a surprise. Well, it shouldn't be because it has been widely publicized for years, but the corporate media don't report it. They don't report the truth about anything. Free Speech TV and Link TV and many other independent journalists are the only source of what's really happening. Paul Reickoff has written a book and done a documentary on how our veterans are treated..the title is "When We Came Home". FSTV has many documentaries that the corporate media ignore. When are we going to get back to real journalism? We need another Edward R Murrow, who was not afraid to stand up to power. A free press is what holds this country together, but we don't have it now and the public is in the dark because the corporate media is controlled by so few who in turn control what is aired with their megamillions to special interests and their only interest is in selling cars!

[lars008-2009]

I'm shocked, shocked to find such conditions.....
yeahhhhhh rightttttttttt

it is well known to both political parties and all news media that the va/military hospitals have been c r a p..... they always have been c r a p...... but then what do you expect from socialized medicine...... and that is what you will get when the demonic-rats try to force socialized medicine on the usa..... all the hospitals will be c r a p like the va/military hospitals....

reminds me of casablanca.......
Rick: How can you close me up? On what grounds?
Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
Croupier: Your winnings, sir.
Captain Renault: [sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.
[aloud]
Captain Renault: Everybody out at once!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/quotes

[pattipace7]

Without the room here to elaborate further, here is a small solution for a very big problem;
The military hospitals and the Veterans Administration Medical Centers (VAMC) were not able to meet the needs of all the veterans from past wars, not much has changed, only the amount of veterans that are using these same faculties have tripled. While our politicians are voting on the needed emergency funding for VAMCs (funding for equipment, more medical personal, space and veterans programs) a new type of DRAFT should be implemented; Out of Patriotic duty, humanity, and the future of our economy, just one fourth of the more affluent private medical/mental health facilities should be directed to use their office and expertise just a few hours a month for some of our young veterans. By temporally picking up the slack for the grossly under funded, over booked and under staffed VAMCs, each of our young children/veterans will have a chance to resume a comfortable life as a productive member of the society for which they offered to give up their own life to serve and protect.

[cdnunn]

This is what happens when vital services are privatized and then contracted to the lowest bidder. You get what you pay for. Whoever said that the private sector can always do it better was trying to sell Congress something. This is just another Republiscam and further proof that they're not fit to govern.

[j_flood]

Well stated Bob - as a fellow Air Force vet I recall the state of affairs during and after Vietnam for wounded soldiers. As a nation we know some truisms, what it says above the doors to the National Archives resonates so true "The past is prologue". They've let us down before, so why shouldn't it happen again. I've received VA care and it was first class all the way. But it occurred in peacetime without the strain of thousands of wounded coming home.

You're right about the lack of action on raising these issues. Where were the 'watchers'? The military needs to have a 'whistleblowers' clause in the soldier's contracts. Too many of them have been good soldiers taking what is handed to them expecting no more or less.

My thanks also go to the Washington Post reporters who uncovered this story. Makes me wonder were all those "Support the Troops" newspapers were too.

[texas1cowboy]

I also agree with Bob's commentary. As a Viet Nam era veteran, I know military families have been contacting their Senators and Representatives, therefore did the solders simply get a form letter response? I would like to know why Congress has not done its own investigation based on years of complaints from their respective constituents. Who is policing our elected officials to ensure they stop overlooking the medical needs of our solders. They also bear responsibility for this neglect.

[flidoc06]

Thoughts of a retired Army medical officer: Why is LTG Kiley still in office as Army Surgeon General/CG MEDCOM? It's obvious that MG Weightman is a scapegoat in all this uproar. Sure, he should have gone, but so should Kiley, who certainly had prior notice of the problems at "Walter Wonderful".

[christineg71]

Everyone is so negitive about Walter Reed's living conditions. Yes, there is need for improvments inregards to the living conditions. I want everyone to know how much respect from doctors all the way to the consolers if it wasnt for all of there help im not sure what would have happen to my husband who was shot over seas. He had great care, the surgerys where hours long an everyone kept things running right. Lets get some positive out there for all who does good. They are soldiers too. Any comments let me know. thanks