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American Legion to help at Walter Reed

The Army has reached an unusual agreement with the nation’s largest veterans’ organization to help ease discharges for wounded service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

A memorandum of understanding between the American Legion and the Army, signed today, will put two paid Legion staffers in the administrative offices at the hospital to help process veterans’ disability claims, set up appointments at veterans’ hospitals in a wounded member’s hometown and other services, said Peter Gayton, the group’s director for veterans’ affairs and rehabilitation.

The agreement is an outgrowth of the continuing controversy over the plight of outpatients at Walter Reed who have faced a variety of what military officials now agree have been unnecessary hurdles, including problems in getting out of the Army and receiving continuing care at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility

The Legion already has a program it calls Heroes to Hometown that has a Legion member meet a wounded veteran who is returning home to help with immediate needs, including helping with mortgage payments and other pressing needs. “We are going to fit the two programs together into one aimed at making things easier,” Gayton said.

The big difference is that the Heroes to Hometown program had depended on volunteers while the new agreement has two paid staff members working at the Army’s flagship hospital with the intention of speeding the out-processing of wounded service members.

The Legion is happy to help, he said, although he conceded it would have been better if the government would have helped wounded combat veterans without needing a veterans’ group.

The Legion “wants to be part of the solution,” he said. “We have the ability to help, and that is what we are going to do.”

This is not the first time the military has turned to a major veterans’ group for help. Disabled American Veterans has paid staff helping with the physical disability evaluation process at Walter Reed.

In a statement, Legion national commander Paul A. Morin said, “The American Legion’s presence at Walter Reed will assist service members cut through the red tape that now hinders a truly seamless transition between DoD and VA.”

“Our goal is to streamline the process to reduce or eliminate the need for housing recovering service members in facilities not intended for long term accommodation,” Morin said.

“We as a nation have an obligation to not only give our wounded warriors the finest health care, but to ensure their recovery takes place in the best accommodations we can give them.” Morin added. “Since 1919 The American Legion has battled to secure and protect the earned benefits of America’s veterans and today’s action strengthens that steadfast commitment.”

The Legion is not the only veterans’ group concerned about Walter Reed. The commander-in-chief of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Garry Kurpius, said, “What occurred was disgraceful, but it was an aberration that should not be allowed to taint the dedicated service of thousands of military and civilian employees who provide outstanding care to our wounded at Walter Reed and elsewhere around the country.”

Kurpius said the situation at Walter reed was “entirely preventable if only those in positions to effect change had listened to the troops and acted upon their concerns and suggestions.”

“We must now have confidence that the investigations and hearings and corrective actions will take place rapidly so that the nation can refocus its attention back on taking care of troops,” he said. “Those serving our nation in uniform today — and their families at home — must know that the VFW will not tolerate any half measures when it comes to the care and treatment of our wounded warriors.”