WASHINGTON, April 29, 2008
Tuition Promises Fall Short For U.S. Vets
American Soldiers Are Virtually Promised A College Education, But Many Are Left With The Bill
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Play CBS Video Video Uncle Sam: Deadbeat Dad? Military recruiting ads virtually promise a college education. But the GI bill, which covered all costs for World War II veterans, is leaving today's soldiers high and dry. Thalia Assuras reports.
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Todd Bowers says he had to drop out of George Washington University, despite loans and part-time jobs. He's now working with a veterans group to change the GI bill. (CBS)
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Home now, he is facing a different challenge: resuming college.
CBS News correspondent Thalia Assuras reports Todd thought his GI benefits would cover the cost.
"I was as surprised as, I think, all of America is," he said. "I hear from a lot of my friends who have not served and even family and they say - well, you served in the military, your college is paid for."
In fact, military recruiting ads virtually promise a college education.
And that's the reason Drew Cameron signed up for the Army. But, currently at the University of Vermont, he says he's struggling financially - and he's bitter.
"It's not the glorious opportunity that I perceived it was and how it was sold to me," Cameron said.
Both men are entitled to financial help under the GI bill, which covered all the costs for World War II veterans.
Almost 8 million vets benefitted. But today, with expenses exploding, the value of the benefit has plummeted.
Attending a public college costs an average of almost $13,000 a year. The GI bill pays about half that amount.
"Was it a hard decision to say, 'I've got to just stop going to school?'" Assuras asked.Couric & Co. Blog: A G.I. Bill For The 21st Century?
"It was very hard. It was difficult. It was embarrassing," Bowers said.
Todd Bowers says he had to drop out of George Washington University, despite loans and part-time jobs. He's now working with a veterans group to change the GI bill.
It could happen. Momentum, including a rally Tuesday, is building in Congress for a bill that would give the same benefits enjoyed by WWII vets to those who enlisted after Sept. 11, 2001.
"For all the people who have been saying that this is the new Greatest Generation, this is easiest way for all of us to prove that," said Sen. James Webb, D-Va.
Nearly 2 million vets are eligible for the benefit, which would cover tuition at even the most expensive in-state public university - and provides stipends for housing and books.
"We will always be there to answer the call to defend our nation, but we want to make sure our nation is going to be there to defend us," Bowers said.
Bowers says, no matter what, he'll finish what he started.
"I may be 60 years old, but I am going to graduate from this school," he said.
He just hopes his country will fulfill its promises to him.
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Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.
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Posted by moosbrth at 11:16 AM : Apr 30, 2008
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we are, that is why we are simply REMOVING those leeches out of our social infrastucture..you gotta admit if people like you would want to save every arse tick in the planet and still maintain enough for your arse..then might as we annex that sh*tholes they came from..right?
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oh come on you are still running on that 50''s technology..
its in your blood..in the right time. you can be atomized with a push of a button
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i see you...
SPECIAL "CLOSED SESSION" OF U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Word has begun leaking from last nights special,
Closed-door session of the United States House of Representatives.
Not only did members discuss new surveillance provisions as was the publicly stated
Reason for the closed door session, they also discussed :
1. The Imminent Collapse of the U.S. economy to occur by September 2008
2. The imminent collapse of US federal government finances by February 2009
3. The possibility of Civil War inside the USA as a result of the collapse
4. Advance round-ups of "insurgent U.S. citizens" likely to move against the Government
5. The Detention of those rounded-up at "REX 84" camps constructed throughout the USA,
6. The possibility of retaliation against members of Congress for the collapses
7. The Location of "safe facilities" for members of Congress and their families
To reside during expected massive civil unrest
8. The necessary and unavoidable merger of the United States with Canada
(for its natural resources) and with Mexico (for its cheap labor pool)
9. The issuance of a new currency - THE AMERO -
For all three nations as the proposed solution to the coming economic armageddon.
Members of Congress Have Been FORBIDDEN to reveal what was discussed
Several are so furious and concerned about the future of the country,
they have begun leaking info.
THATS RIGHT AMERICANS 350,000 THOUSAND AND COUNTING.. YES THE GOVERMENT IS NOT TELLING YOU THIS.
ASK WHY, WHY ISN''T THIS BEING TOLD TO ALL AMERICANS
Any now we''re making plan to attack Iran because the Israelis say they''re really dangerous?
Wake up AMERICA!