Your Voice: Military Malpractice Case

CBS News Viewers React To The Haunting Story Of One Marine's Misdiagnosed Cancer

(CBS)  Byron Pitts brought us Thursday the unforgettable story of Marine Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez, a 29-year-old Iraq war veteran who died of melanoma, which was misdiagnosed by a military doctor.

The response we received online was overwhelming, including more than 500 comments on our website, and scores of e-mails.

Among them:

"We as Americans have a responsibility to do something about this. If not, we are as guilty as the military."

"As a mother of a Army soldier, I am saddened and disgusted by this story. Most of all, I am outraged that he was not given a military funeral--that the family had to pay."

For more responses, see below.

What You Can Do

Let your representative in Washington know how you feel about the Feres Doctrine. Contact your senator here or contact your representative here.

The group Veterans Equal Rights Protection Agency, which tracks soldiers who are misdiagnosed, says there are hundreds of misdiagnosed cases across the country. Find out how to contact VERPA here.

If you'd like to offer support for the family of Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez, please click here to e-mail the CBS Evening News and we will profide information about their fund.

And you can always join our online community and comment on Byron Pitts story here, or on his blog post at Couric & Co. blog.

More Reporting On Soldiers And Veterans

The CBS News investigative unit has reported extensively on veteran health care in America. Read the stories or click here for more information.

Soldier Suicide Attempts Skyrocket

Suicide Epidemic Among Veterans

Congress Vows Action On Vets Suicides

VA Struggles With Vet Mental Health

Stressed-out Soldiers

What Readers Had To Say

We should be OUTRAGED! This story made be severely ill. Not only to see such a honorable young man dying but that I am part of a society that doesn''t demand better for our military and our human race. Every one of us should stand up and scream to have this situation looked at and someone held accountable for their actions.
Posted by kelmona at 08:32 AM : Feb 01, 2008

We as Americans, have a responsibilty to do something about this. If not, we are as guilty as the military…talk to our congressmen, and talk to other people. It my be our sons the next time.
Posted by m45066 at 07:13 AM : Feb 01, 2008

This story hit home with me, as the Feres Doctrine not only affects the men and women in the military, but their dependant families as well. I feel that the medical staff in the military should be held to the same standards as public and private institutions.
Debbie

I hope your heart wrenching story will draw the attention this injustice needs to affect change.
Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, Assembly District 30, Nevada

It hurt my heart to see the article on SGT Rodriguez. I too served in the military and retired from the United States Army 2 years ago. The law needs to be changed!!
Posted by bullskating at 12:33 PM : Feb 01, 2008

I could not beleive what i saw while watching this segment, it made me want to cry and im a tough dude but not tougher than sgt. Rodriguez...i myself am a member of the U.S. military and im floored...God Bless his family...all prayers go to them.
Posted by stanleydrl at 07:45 PM : Jan 31, 2008

I AM OUTRAGED!! Such a beautiful man reduced to skin & bones, I could hardly contain it when they showed him seconds away from death with his son holding his hand. HOW CAN this be allowed to happen to OUR soldiers?? OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS??!!!
Posted by PrettyMetal at 11:28 AM : Feb 01, 2008

Words can never express the emotions we feel at times like this. I was so moved by this story. I am about to explode about of my body. I am horrified, absolutely horrified. I am so angry at our nation and their inept medical care for those that sacrifice.
Posted by Molly828 at 06:58 PM : Jan 31, 2008

Let''s hope the govt learns a lesson from Carmelo Rodriguez, and that his life and death not be forgotten.
Posted by rosieroon at 11:29 PM : Jan 31, 2008

I am heartbroken. Almost literally heartbroken and outraged and in tears by the story of Carmello Rodriguez and the other young man profiled in the story. Our government and military should be ashamed for this and other stories like this of the men and women who protect this country,
Posted by DS9Sisko at 06:56 PM : Jan 31, 2008

Be proud of your son who wanted his tragic medical malpractice story told, and of yourselves for telling it! The people need to know and to be outraged with you. We grieve with you as well.
Posted by dvb0708 at 07:06 PM : Jan 31, 2008

[wendymcc1]

I was so saddened by your story, but not surprised. A similar thing happened to my husband. He had a mole that was bleeding and went to the doctor at the Naval base(he''s retired USMC) and she said that it was nothing. When i finally got him to go the dermatologist 2 months later, it was stage 3 melanoma. He survived, but he went through hell because of someone''s incompetence. the Military should be held to the same standards as civilian doctors. People give their lives to keep our country free and they cant even get decent health care

[montague81]

What a sad story. Thank you for bringing this story out in the open. I hope it helps the family some how. It''s just like the story last week of the person applying for disability...with your news story, the Disability Office telephone him after you air your story. Go after all those "earmarks" and maybe our government could afford to take care of our troops and veterans!

[smileywaggin]

As a Stage 2 survivor of Melanoma, this makes me so sick that I can''t read about it any more. WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR MILITARY??? OUR BIGGEST DEFENSE is the health of our militia...Good God. My skin cancer doctor has become like my family.. In July ''01, I didn''t have cancer; in November''01, it was at Stage 2. Had she not caught it, I would have died within about 6 ms. she told me. I am here today, 6 YEARS later, and loving every minute of it. ALL BECAUSE A DOCTOR CARED. My brother was in the Navy and various friends were as well...and the stories I''ve heard were terrible. SHAME, SHAME SHAME. I pray for his family.

[oohrah1775]

i am about to cry from this. being a former Marine myself i have seen what the medical personnel are like. and personally i dont think they go through enough schooling. Also, he was (and still is) a Marine, so why does his family have to pay for his funeral? Semper Fi Rodriguez family

[livin4today]

I am very proud to be an American, but the way we treat our Vets is worse than any other county. They give their life for us, all of us, yet we give them the very least we can get away with. One of these days no one will want to fight for our freedom. They deserve the very best of everything, after all, they make sure we get to have the very best life possible. Where would we be without them? Living like the people that risk their lives just to get here. Makes me wonder how the leaders of our country sleep at night knowing that people in prison live better than the men and women that fight for our freedom. To those who have ever served in the armed services, let me be the first (hopefully not the last) to say I am very sorry, you should be treated with the upmost respect. Thank you.

[debmul-2009]

I was both saddened and outraged by the story of Carmelo Rodriguez. As Americans, we owe the men and women that are serving to protect our rights and freedom better treatment than this! The Humane Society and PETA work harder to protect animal rights than the military does to protect the lives of our heroes. We have to do something to change this horrible situation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rodriguez family and friends.

[mjh1967]

It''s not bad enough that the military misdiagnosed this soldiers disease,but to not pay for a military funeral that he more than deserved makes me sad. This man fought for our country and he and his family deserved to be treated with a lot more respect and our government needs to wake up and hold these doctors in the military accountable!

[turkeyegg-2009]

My mother died of this disease. I was so saddenned by this story and brought back so many memories. I feels so bad for the family. The senators can spend money on bridges to no where. Why cant they take the money and spend it on the funerals for these familys. He served and represented our country. How disgraceful of the government to turn their backs on this soldier.
What does this say for our country. They arent worth anything. I pray for this family. Shame on the government for not admitting they made a mistake.

[csgalloway-2009]

I AM THE MOTHER OF A SOLIDER AND WHEN I SAW THIS ON THE NEWS, I WAS MAD AS HELL. OUR CHILDREN ARE OVER THERE FIGHTING FOR US, THEM AND THIS IS THE THANKS THAT THEY GET.SORRY, SORRY.

[colette53]

What a shame that our military men and women who serve our country are treated so shabby. This is an embarrassment and a tragedy. Shame on our congressmen and our people in Washington to think so little of our military. I am so appalled, to think that illegal aliens, drug users, people who abuse our system and give nothing back, are treated receive treatment at a moments notice. I think some of this should be rethought and our military should be first string. I only pray that there are some people up there that can make a change for the better.

[squigl4]

i am not a military mom- not after i have seen what has happened to this family. i asked my oldest son and daughter to watch and seriously think about joining the military, and maby to think of other ways to serve their country,they have changed their minds,and are now persuing alternate ways to serve their fellow american,wether it be in helping the homeless,hungry, or entering the medical field so that they can make a difference. you see, their grandfather died from melanoma. i think the gov. needs to realize that the greatest force on this world is not military,but rather the mother''s power of influence.

[stazni]

What a beautiful young man! The military and the doctors he saw contributed to his death just as if they had put a gun to his head. I was outraged by the story and the treatment of this young man - including the fact that his family had to pay for military honors at his funeral! Where is our appreciation for his years of service to our country?

[tazelaar1]

i injured my left knee and lower back while serving in iraq and haven''t been able to get the medical treatment i need i also had an up armored hmmwv fall on my head when a tire jack broke while changing a tire, i now also have daily headaches i have told several doctors of my medical injuries , i was sent to a va medical hospital for an mri and other tests and the doctors asked me a few questions and sent me home without any testing or treatment, 7 months without the proper medical treatment, and i''m a full time soldier, i would hate to see if i was only part time

[ljp13654]

This is such a black mark on our country... I am a very proud MOM of a USMC(Purple Heart) reservist...it takes a very special individual to defend our country and this is how he was treated... our military should have the best medical care... unfortunately they receive the poorest!! I pray for this wonderful Marine''s family... God Bless them!!!

[tomjo04]

That this has happened to a serviceman, is appalling.To know that the military chooses to treat this as unimportant,speaks volumes as to how they view post military personel. He was dis,charged due to his illness and they sloughed him off as if he were a no body. The Dr. that diagnosed him makes me wonder if he even knows his business. Then to refuse a military burial is totally unaceptable. This family needs to be imbursed for medical bills, care and the funeral services. Let some of these polititians take their earmark services and spend them on something and someone that is important especially our military.

[djmarch1]

This tragedy is happening to many of our brave servicemen that have served in Iraq. I know this for a fact! I have a nephew that made it back home (Fort Bragg) only to find out he has melanoma! What really angers me is the DELAY that has been made in his treatment!!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE, I don''t want to lose my nephew from the medical care he is receiving!
WAKE UP AMERICA and PROTECT our brave soldiers!
Darlene March
11508 E. Hartwig
Wymore, NE. 68466
[e-mail]

[pito916]

i,am a soldier release from walter reed army hosp, and i have to say that being there was worst then being in the front line in afhganistan , i told that i had exceeded al medical treament 3 weeks after haveing surgery , no occupation therapy. no one in the system cares about our wounded soldiers, my heart go s out to this family, shame on the goverment that is out to screw our soldiers

[apeaks]

My son is a medically retired Marine. He too was misdiagnosed back in 2005. Had I not went to North Carolina and brought him home on medical leave, he would probably be deceased today. They repeatedly placed him in the psych ward and called him crazy because he couldn''t remember anything. Three months later he was diagnosed with meningitis which in turned caused him to now have Lupus in his brain and because of the Lupus in his brain, he has seizures and mentally the age of a 17 year old. My heart is broken for this family and had I not went to bat for my son, his outcome would have been the same. He was due to go back to Iraq 2/05 and became sick and constantly harrassed by his commanding officers. I don''t have enough time to tell you all about what they did to my son, but I thankful I was there to fight for him and got him out of the hands of our evil government. They''re suppose to take care of our children when we entrust their lives to the government and they get mistreated for trying to serve their country. My prayers are with this family. God Bless them.

[squigl4]

i also want to offer this family my scincerest apologys our heats are with you- and pray the lord will bless you with all you stand in need of, i also admire your strength in reacing out to the world during this painful time. thank you

[nikkiblu-2009]

I WAS SO SHOCKED WHEN I SAW THIS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OUR MILITARY WHEN IT ALLOWES SOMEONE TO DIE LIKE THAT AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. ONE GETS THE IMPRESSION THAT AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A BODY TO FIGHT IS WHAT THEY WANT. ANY BODY IT DOESN''T MATTER. AND BUSH WANTS US TO BELIEVE IN THIS COUNTRY, TELL ME HOW? THE WHOLE THING IS SO SHOCKING. SOMEONE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. I CRYED. GOD BLESS CARMELO AND HIS FAMILY. THIS IS A VERY SAD SAD SAD THING TO HAVE HAPPENED. THE U.S. SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.THE DOCTOR IS NO DOCTOR AT ALL.

[allennmay]

I really did''nt think any could shock me about our
military,It really makes me angry when i see the army
commercial stating that parents made them strong and
the army can make them army strong!If our military wants to do something stop lying to our children. After all they are the one that put their lives on the line.SHAME,SHAME,SHAME.Reinburse the family for
the funeral.Since there is legal recourse for the family.

[miguardsmen]

This situation is a disgrace and an example of an old law that is no longer needed. The fact that this law is in place to "ensure order" is crazy. To ensure order we have to make sure that soldiers have the same rights as civilans. Also this Marine should have received full military death benifits and his son should be able to inherit those benifits, not just 55% of his retirement. I encourage anyone who supports the troops to contact your leaders in Washington and lets get something done. To the family I would like to say God Bless and God Speed, your son did not die in vein and you have opened the eyes of a country to a problem that needs to be fixed.

[Brenok]

I was shocked that our Goverment would not take care of this service man. This Marine was doing what our Goverment told him to do. He even went to a doctor while serving to protecting us. I would really like to know WHY his family has to pay for his funeral. He did the job he was told to do. Every service man or woman should be taken care. It should not be only when in active duty. This is totally outrageous.

[mahalac-2009]

If you look up bureaucracy it is defined as a system of government. There is no reason America should be shocked at this story. The Vietnam veterans have been telling this story to the government, the media and America concerning the VA Medical Centers across the country. Complaints of their treatment (or lack there of) they have been receiving ever since their tours of duties ended on going still 30 years later. The VA''s refusal to recognize the assortment of illnesses our young men have that have been caused by exposure to the variety of chemicals used by our government in Vietnam. My brother lost his life at 56 due to a variety of medical complaints either not identified, not treated or diagnosis as not related to his tour of duty. You can not fight the red tape or the "not my department" as the VA can run you in circles for years until the battle is over and our service men are dead and buried. The military are experts in camouflage, concealing facts, covering up mistakes and making facts obscure and almost impossible to research. This problem is not new. It is appalling, discussing and a true crime. The only recourse you have is to complain to the military. That is like telling the crime boss his hit men are killing people.

[mzjzy50]

First of all I like to say my heart really hurts for the late Sgt Pitts family and close friends. WHO AND WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT! HOW CAN WE CALL OURSELVES A GREATFUL NATION WHEN WE''RE ALLOWING OUR SOLDIERS TO BE TREATED SO TERRIBLE? WE ARE REACHING OUT TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO OFFER OUR FRIENDSHIP AND HELP AND OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS ARE BEING TREATED WORST THEN WE TREAT THE ANIMALS HERE IN AMERICA. THOSE DOGS GOT MORE ATTENTION AND MONEY WHEN THEY WERE BEING ABUSED THEN THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS GET WHEN THEY''VE BEEN ABUSED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE ANIMAL ARE MORE IMPORTANT THEN OUR AMERICAN OUR SOLDIERS. I AGREE SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE!!

[chach988]

As I watched the story of Sgt. Rodriguez I cried, then I got very, very angry. This story, along with all stories of substandard care of our veterans, should make us very ashamed as a nation. These honorable men have made so many sacrifices for us and we sit back and let something like this happen? What is wrong with us? They fulfilled their duty to their nation and now it is time for a grateful nation to do its duty to them. We all keep saying the government should do something........well we should do something. We need to inundate Washington with messages of outrage. They work for us. If something isn''t done to correct these wrongs, fire ''em. Vote the scoundrels out!

[fleaor]

As others, I was deeply saddened by the story of Sgt. Rodriguez. Those who have never had to deal with the military medical system has no idea how screwed up it is. My husband is a retired veteran of over 24 years in service and it is a fight to get things done by the VA. Our son is also a veteran. Until our society''s priorities change, those who serve our country the most will continue to be less appreciated than those who sit back and reap all the wealth but never risk their lives for it. Condolances to the Rodriguez family.

[mzjzy50]

First of all I like to say my heart really hurts for the late Sgt Pitts family and close friends. WHO AND WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT! HOW CAN WE CALL OURSELVES A GREATFUL NATION WHEN WE''RE ALLOWING OUR SOLDIERS TO BE TREATED SO TERRIBLE? WE ARE REACHING OUT TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO OFFER OUR FRIENDSHIP AND HELP AND OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS ARE BEING TREATED WORST THEN WE TREAT THE ANIMALS HERE IN AMERICA. THOSE DOGS GOT MORE ATTENTION AND MONEY WHEN THEY WERE BEING ABUSED THEN THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS GET WHEN THEY''VE BEEN ABUSED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE ANIMAL ARE MORE IMPORTANT THEN OUR AMERICAN OUR SOLDIERS. I AGREE SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE!!

[jacnic8585]

I am an ex- marine and I''ve always been proud of it. Not anymore. I''m sort of disappointed. Of course I''m not surprized, it is the way our Gov''t works. It''s kind of sad that our military men and women are sent out to protect our country and to support this Gov''ts screw ups, this is the thank you that Rodriguez got.

[annielyn]

This is, just, a horrible tragedy! I am outraged by what happened to this young man. There is, absolutely, no excuse for it. NONE! Our military government should be held accountable. Rarely do you hear any good news about the health care in the military. I wasn''t a bit surprised to hear of the conditions at Walter Reed Medical Center. But hearing about this young man, [& I''m sure, more stories are to come]is, too, much. Something needs to be done & NOW! I, just, can''t get over it. All the frivolous things our Government spends money on; & they can''t afford to pay for the best doctors for the men & women, who serve our country, & fight to keep us free, is beyond me! My heart goes out to the family & friends of Sgt. Rodriguez. And I pray to God that this never, ever happens, again!

[herself52]

This is heartrending, infuriating and embarassing. The military have always been victims and guinea pigs and IT''S TIME TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM. There are many good military health care providers; regrettably there are also many poor ones. The poor ones do not opt for private practice: they remain in the military bacause it is they who could - or would - face the legal ramifications of their incompetence. (I am retired Air Force.)

[mzjzy50]

First of all I like to say my heart really hurts for the late Sgt Pitts family and close friends. WHO AND WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT! HOW CAN WE CALL OURSELVES A GREATFUL NATION WHEN WE''RE ALLOWING OUR SOLDIERS TO BE TREATED SO TERRIBLE? WE ARE REACHING OUT TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO OFFER OUR FRIENDSHIP AND HELP AND OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS ARE BEING TREATED WORST THEN WE TREAT THE ANIMALS HERE IN AMERICA. THOSE DOGS GOT MORE ATTENTION AND MONEY WHEN THEY WERE BEING ABUSED THEN THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS GET WHEN THEY''VE BEEN ABUSED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE ANIMAL ARE MORE IMPORTANT THEN OUR AMERICAN OUR SOLDIERS. I AGREE SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE!!

[roseb1962]

WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MILITARY, THEY WANT YOU TO SERVE YOUR COUNTRY PROUDLY. BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE THE MILITARY THEY SERVE YOU SADLY...

[mzjzy50]

First of all I like to say my heart really hurts for the late Sgt Pitts family and close friends. WHO AND WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT! HOW CAN WE CALL OURSELVES A GREATFUL NATION WHEN WE''RE ALLOWING OUR SOLDIERS TO BE TREATED SO TERRIBLE? WE ARE REACHING OUT TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO OFFER OUR FRIENDSHIP AND HELP AND OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS ARE BEING TREATED WORST THEN WE TREAT THE ANIMALS HERE IN AMERICA. THOSE DOGS GOT MORE ATTENTION AND MONEY WHEN THEY WERE BEING ABUSED THEN THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS GET WHEN THEY''VE BEEN ABUSED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE ANIMAL ARE MORE IMPORTANT THEN OUR AMERICAN OUR SOLDIERS. I AGREE SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE!!

[luzmaria129]

Please do not forget or dismiss him or and do not let this happen to another soldier.
I have another three nephews in the several of the arm forces, also serving their country faithfully and without reservation. My heart continues to feel the sad emptiness of this one great loss. Carmelo was an amazing, loving, charming, useful and gentle soul who always made us laugh. He will always be missed by all who knew him and even more so by those who adored him.

[ddnrvl]

soldiers.the air force said after many yrs of service,(WW2)and (CAP),my dad died 3 mts too soon for my disabled mother to recieve his benifits.yet we can pay $6oo.00 for a toilet seat.this soldier with malinoma,missread by doctors,is this how we treat those who fight for our right to live free?hell of a thanks.and to think my dad tried to send me to vietnam to fight for a country that cares not for its soldiers.we have seen that at walter reed hospital.funny,we try and save the world,yet our gov turns its back on those who defend that right even here at home.and yet these soldiers still say i love my country.we just want it to love us as much as we love it.sure hope we do better.maybe i should run for president.look after our own first,then after others.god bless america.douglas mcintyre

[luzmaria129]

I have another three nephews in the several of the arm forces, also serving their country faithfully and without reservation. Please do not forget or dismiss him or and do not let this happen to another soldier.
Lucy

[vmax47]

My condolences go out to Sgt Rodriguez and his family, none of them should have been put through that ordeal.
As far as the individual stating that he should have got a second opinion not on post, evidently you have never been military otherwise you would have realized that that cost money something that is near and dear to your heart when you are active duty since they are so highly paid. What does the military get for Cost of Living raise each year that gets voted on by Congress about 3.5% a year and then you have Congress that gets 30% to 40% a year that is automatic and they are not in a war zone 15 months at a time. Only if they want to show their face and try and get some publicity before election.
I have been retired from the military for 3 years and it doesn''t surprise me one bit about the military doctors doing that. But on the other hand when some flight controls were mixed up on an F15 fighter jet, and it crashed they will hold the enlisted to the highest letter of the law. They wanted to burn the personnel who had worked on the jet (even though the Technical order was wrong. That is the bible for working on aircraft. Sorry to say it gets worse after you retire from the military, because then you have to fight for compensation from the VA who is in the dark ages when it comes to rating disabilites.

[proudmom56]

It totally broke my heart and sicken me to see such a young life to be taken like this. I''m a proud mom of a son that has served his second tour in Iraq and so thankful and blessed he is home. But, it makes me furious to see how our soldiers are treated while in the military and once they return home. Something has to be done NOW! I thank the Rodriquez family for sharing and exposing their story that needed to be told and thanks to CBS for airing the story. I can only continue to pray that the military and our government will step up to the plate and make some changes. And I also, with other families, want to help by standing by this and fight and push this on in what ever I can do. God bless our Soldiers!

[conmor-2009]

My husband is retired military and I''ve known all along that military doctors can''t be sued. I don''t like it and wish something could be done to change it.No doctor should be immune from being responsible for the care they give. When he died while the cameras were still there it made me physically sick. We as a country owe all our military members more than substandard care and that is what they get now in a lot of cases. This must be changed.

[madwizard1]

My heart goes out to this family. Especially for the son at age 7 has to see his father, in his 20''s and once in great shape, dwindled down to under 80 lbs. This is an utter disgrace by our government to not even provide a burial for this soilder. When will this end: we have the deplorable conditions in the Vet hospitals, the government not providing armor to our troops meanwhile they send them to war, and the inadequate facilities to support brain injured troops who are left to be forgotten to name a few. This is a disgrace and we should be treating people who serve and sacrifice their lives to protect and serve our country with utmost care. Meanwhile, politicians wallets get fatter!

[karen6058]

THE MILITARY NEEDS TO GET OFF THE BOTTOMS AND START HELPING OUR SERVE MEN AND WOMEN. SO MANY OF THEM ARE IN NEED OF CARE. I AM FROM A VERY LONG LINE OF MILITARY FAMILY. I AM SO A SHAMED OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE RESPECT OUR MILITARY HIS GETTING. I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THE FAMILY THAT LOST A WONDERFUL MAN. WE AS AMERICANS NEED TO DO SOME THING ABOUT THIS.
GOD HAVE MERCY ON THIS COUNTRY.

[patwolfer]

I find it so hard to beleive that people are so surprized at what has happened to this brave US Marine. This is not a new problem. It seems it''s now news worthy so the media will tell the story. That is why they have a law that stops law suits against the military by members and ther families.
The military has always made promises that they will not keep. We can give away trillions of dollars to everyone in the world, but we can not take care of our servicemen and women aftr they have served our great counrty. We can spend trillions on bridges to nowhere, but we can not afford to bury a brave US Marine. I hope the people who have spent all the money on earmarks and everyone else in the world, but could not afford to bury this retired US MARINE sleep well.
This is not just the fault of the government but all of us for not doing something about it. Now all that know about this abuse and don''t speak up to change things are guilty.

GOD BLESS AMERICA - SLEEP WELL

[gproios]

Whether it%u2019s the syphilis experiment performed on the Tuskegee Airmen from 1935 to 1970, to the Navy cover-up of an explosion aboard the USS Iowa from bad gunpowder that they tried to blame on a sailor John Mullahy in the 1990%u2019s, to the even more recent cover-up of football star Pat Tillman''s death in 2005, our military system and many of its leaders act in reprehensible ways unbecoming of officers --or even human beings.
Lying and deceit has been such a long tradition of our armed forces that it appears that it will never be eliminated. Even when soldiers within the system try to do the right thing (and we all know that whistle blower laws are as useful as domestic orders of protection), the institutional mentality of the chain of command that believes protecting the service is paramount to all else makes those soldiers casualties as well. News stations abound with stories of how our wounded returning soldiers are mistreated, both at Walter Reed for physical ailments to the abhorrent treatment of our young kids with PTSD.
There is a brief flurry of political activity in Congress, and when the stories die, the system returns to its old self.
The Roman Empire lasted for 800 years. I doubt the US will see its 300th birthday.

[momofaf]

My son is in the Air Force. He is having medical problems with his legs... 19 stress fractors.. they have had him on 1 - 2 crutches for the past 2 years... cannot find out what the problems is... the doctors do not return his calls and when they do they do not have any answers.... he is 30 years old... THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.. He has tried to go contact the Medical Advisory office... they do not answer and availability to leave a message is NOT available. If he were allowed to go to a doctor outside of the military an answer would be found. What is a person to do?

[mzjzy50]

First of all I like to say my heart really hurts for the late Sgt Pitts family and close friends. WHO AND WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT! HOW CAN WE CALL OURSELVES A GREATFUL NATION WHEN WE''RE ALLOWING OUR SOLDIERS TO BE TREATED SO TERRIBLE? WE ARE REACHING OUT TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO OFFER OUR FRIENDSHIP AND HELP AND OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS ARE BEING TREATED WORST THEN WE TREAT THE ANIMALS HERE IN AMERICA. THOSE DOGS GOT MORE ATTENTION AND MONEY WHEN THEY WERE BEING ABUSED THEN THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS GET WHEN THEY''VE BEEN ABUSED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE ANIMAL ARE MORE IMPORTANT THEN OUR AMERICAN OUR SOLDIERS. I AGREE SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE!!

[jwa1955]

I am sickened and totally digusted to think that our Government can treat our own Military people in such a manner after they have given their all for our country. At the least our Government could have given Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez a descent burial at no cost to his family.It is amazing that we can spend $220000.00 a day for the war, but we can''t spend a few thousand dollars to bury our own soldiers.

[annielyn]

I, just, sent emails to my US Senator & Congressman concerning this story & the horrible care our Vets & men & women serving in our military receive. I know my Congressman has been working to solve these problems, but I let him know how outraged I was after seeing this on the CBS Evening News.

[got4id]

I am ashamed of our Military. And I am a Military Spouse. Our Men and Women of the armed services deserve better than that. My prayers are with the Rodriguez family.

[shespeeksup]

http://www.verpa.us/home.html

For those of you who wish to do something about this. I know how screwed up the health care system is in the military. I have already signed this petition.