Has he put pressure on military leaders to pressure the doctors?
Legion Leader Decries Undersecretary's Remarks on Veterans

1/26/2005 1:19:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: Joe March, 317-630-1253 or 317-748-1926 (cell), or Wade Habshey, 317-630-1255 both of American Legion

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The leader of the nation's largest military veterans organization has reacted strongly to comments made by the Pentagon's undersecretary for personnel and readiness, Dr. David Chu.

Chu was quoted in a Wall Street Journal article Tuesday, pitting veterans from past wars against those currently serving in the war on terrorism, alleging veterans' benefits were taking away funds from national defense.

"His remarks about veterans' pay and benefits that 'the amounts have gotten to the point where they are hurtful...they are taking away from the nation's ability to defend itself' is a slap in the face to every veteran who took the oath to uphold and defend the constitution against all enemies," Cadmus wrote in a letter to the editor of the Journal.

"Our country cannot separate military retirees from veterans -- a veteran is a veteran!" asserted Thomas P. Cadmus, national commander of The American Legion. "When their country called all gave their best -- some gave their last -- and they deserve the best our country can give them."

"G.I. Joe and Jane have given all they have in this war and all the wars of the 20th century. They are not getting rich on what Dr. Chu seems to think is a gravy train," said Cadmus.

According to Cadmus, countless billions have been spent on wars past but precious little on those who fight for America's freedom. "America has spent well over $200 billion on battling terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan," Cadmus said. "Dr. Chu seems to think that $2 billion for VA health care in fiscal year 2005 and $6 billion to modernize the VA health care system is too much."

Cadmus made it quite clear that the 2.7 million men and women of The American Legion will continue to fight for veterans rights and issues.

"VA health care is an ongoing cost of war," Cadmus said. "That is why any budget forecast for war must include funding for those men and women in uniform who will, God forbid, acquire physical and emotional injuries as a cost of freedom."

"It is incomprehensible that some bureaucrats would even think that our veterans are second class citizens and would not want to include them in the budget process." declared Cadmus.

"America has never begrudged the expense of taking care of our men and women in uniform who, as President Lincoln stated in 1865, "shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan," quoted Cadmus.

"It is a moral contract that must never be broken," Cadmus said.

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