cbs13.com – Family’s sole surviving son denied GI benefits
FRESNO (AP) ― Army Spc. Jason Hubbard was forced to leave the combat zone after his two brothers died in the Iraq war, but once at home the soldier faced another battle: The military cut off his family’s health care, stopped his G.I. educational subsidies and wanted him to repay his sign-up bonus.
It wasn’t until Hubbard petitioned his local Congressman that he was able to restore some of his benefits.
Now that Congressman, Rep. Devin Nunes, plans to join three other lawmakers in introducing a bill Wednesday that would ensure basic benefits to all soldiers who are discharged under the sole survivor policy. The rule is a holdover from World War II meant to protect the rights of service people who have lost a family member to war.
There are going to be more and more stories like this over the next few years as the budget crunch meets to real and long-term costs of war. Please remember this the next time you are thinking about supporting an idiotic war whose motive is primarily based on irrational fear.
Then send in a ninja to get the bad guy, and leave the rest of the population alone.