My wife forwarded this to me.
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Interesting viewpoint, although I find it very surprising that the
chaplains
didn't know there were medhold soldiers in bldg 18.
SG
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 10:43 AM
Subject: FROM THE CHIEF OF CHAPLAINS WRAMC
I have had enough and am going to give my perspective on the news about
Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Please understand that I am speaking
for
myself and I am responsible for my thoughts alone. The news media and
politicians are making it sound like Walter Reed is a terrible place
and the
staff here has been abusing our brave wounded soldiers; what a bunch of
bull!
I am completing my 24th year of service in the Army next month so you
decide
for yourself if I have the experience to write about this topic. I have
been
the senior clinical chaplain at Walter Reed for
four years and will leave to go back to the infantry this summer. I
supervise the chaplain staff inside Walter Reed that cares for the 200
inpatients, the 650+ daily outpatients from the war who come to us for
medical care, the 4000+ staff, and over 3000 soldiers and their
families
that come for clinical appointments daily.
Walter Reed has cared for over 5500 wounded from the war. I cannot
count
the number of sick and non-battle injured that have come through over
that
timeframe. The staff at this facility has done an incredible job at the
largest US military medical center with the worst injured of the war.
We
have cared for over 400 amputees and their families. I am privileged to
serve the wounded, their families, and our staff.
When the news about building 18 broke I was on leave. I was in shock
when
the news broke. We in the chaplains office in Walter Reed, as well as
the
majority of people at Walter Reed, did not know anyone was in building
18. I
didn't even know we had a building 18. How can that happen? Walter Reed
is
over 100 acres of 66 buildings on two installations. Building 18 is not
on
the installation of Walter Reed and was believed to be closed years ago
by
our department.
The fact that some leaders in the medical brigade that is in charge of
the
outpatients put soldiers in there is terrible. That is why the company
commander, first sergeant, and a group of platoon leaders and platoon
sergeants were relieved immediately. They failed their soldiers and the
Army. The commanding general was later relieved (more about this) and
his
sergeant major has been told to move on--if he gets to. The brigade
sergeant
major was relieved and more relief's are sure to come and need to.
As any leader knows, if you do not take care of soldiers, lie, and then
try
to cover it up, you are not worthy of the commission you hold and
should be
sent packing. I have no issue, and am actually proud, that they did
relieve
the leaders they found who knew of the terrible conditions some of our
outpatients were enduring. The media is making it sound like these
conditions are rampant at Walter Reed and nothing could be further from
the
truth. We need improvements and will now get them. I hate it that it
took
this to make it happen.
The Army and the media made MG Weightman, our CG, out to be the problem
and
fired him. This was a great injustice. He was only here for six months,
is
responsible for military medical care in the 20 Northeast states, wears
four
"hats" of responsibilities, and relies on his subordinate leaders to
know
what is happening in their areas of responsibilities. He has a colonel
that
runs the hospital (my hospital commander), a colonel that runs the
medical
brigade (where the outpatient wounded are assigned and supposedly cared
for), and a colonel that is responsible to run the garrison and
installation.
What people don't know is that he was making many changes as he became
aware
of them and had requested money to fix other places on the
installation. The
Army did not come through until four months after he asked for the
money,
remember that he was here only six months, which was only days before
they
relieved him. His leaders responsible for outpatient care did not tell
him
about conditions in building 18. He has been an incredible leader who
really
cares about the wounded, their families, and our staff. I cannot say
the
same about a former commander, who was my first commander here at
Walter
Reed, and definitely knew about many problems and is in the position to
fix
them and he did not.
MG Weightman also should not be held responsible for the military's
unjust
and inefficient medical board system and the problems in the VA system.
We
lost a great leader and passionate man who showed he had the guts to
make
changes and was doing so when he was made the scapegoat for
others.
What I am furious about is that the media is making it sound like all
of
Walter Reed is like building 18. Nothing could be further from the
truth. No
system is perfect but the medical staff provides great care in this
hospital. What needs to be addressed, and finally will, is the
bureaucratic
garbage that all soldiers are put through going into medical boards and
medical retirements. Congress is finally giving the money that people
have
asked for at Walter Reed for years to fix places on the installations
and
address shortcomings. What they don't want you to know is Congress
caused
many problems by the BRAC process saying they were closing Walter Reed.
We cannot keep nor attract all the quality people we need at Walter
Reed
when they know this place will close in several years and they are not
promised a job at the new hospital. Then they did this thing call A76
where
they fired many of the workers here for a company of contractors, IAP,
to
get a contract to provide care outside the hospital proper. The
company,
which is responsible for maintenance, only hired half the number of
people
as there were originally assigned to maintenance areas to save money.
Walter
Reed leadership fought the A76 and BRAC process for years, but lost.
Congress instituted the BRAC and A76 process; not the leadership of
Walter
Reed.
What I wish everyone would also hear is that for every horror story we
are
now hearing about in the media that truly needs to be addressed, you
are not
hearing about the hundreds of other wounded and injured soldiers who
tell a
story of great care they received. You are not hearing about the
incredibly
high morale of our troops and the fact that most of them want to go
back, be
with their teammates, and finish the job properly. You should be very
proud
of the wounded troopers we have at Walter Reed. They make me so proud
to be
in the Army and I will fight to get their story out.
I want you to hear the whole story because our wounded, their families,
our
Army, and the nation need to know that many in the media and select
politicians have an agenda. Forget agendas and make the changes that
have
been needed for years to fix problems in every military hospital and
the VA
system. The poor leaders will be identified and sent packing and good
riddance to them. I wish the same could be said for the politicians and
media personalities who are also responsible but now want it to look
like
they are very concerned. Where have they been for the last four years?
I am
ashamed of what they all did and the pain it has caused many to think
that
everyone is like that.
Please know that you are not hearing the whole story. Please know that
there
are thousands of dedicated soldiers and civilian medical staff caring
for
your soldiers and their families. When I leave here I will end up
deploying.
When soldiers in my division have to go to Walter Reed from the
battlefield,
I know they will get great medical care. I pray that you know the same
thing.
God bless all our troops and their families wherever they may be.
God bless you all,
+Chaplain John L. Kallerson
Senior Chaplain Clinician
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
