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Mark Benjamin's Veterans Reporting

The Pentagon's chronic neglect of Iraq vets
Military officials knew long ago about the failure to take care of America's war wounded at the beleaguered Walter Reed hospital.
By Mark Benjamin Apr 25, 2007
Kerry slams Bush pick for VA post
Nominee knew of problems at Walter Reed in 2004.
Mark Benjamin Apr 13, 2007
New Walter Reed questions
Democratic senators ask why the government failed to respond to 2004 warning about hospital conditions.
By Mark Benjamin Apr 13, 2007
Why'd you nominate this guy?
Responding to a Salon report, Sen. Barack Obama sends a letter to President Bush questioning his choice for a key VA job, saying the nominee knew of problems at Walter Reed.
Apr 12, 2007
VA report found Walter Reed problems in 2004
A task force learned nearly three years ago that wounded vets were unhappy with the hospital. So why does Bush want to promote the task force co-chair?
By Mark Benjamin Apr 11, 2007
The Walter Reed focus group report
Read the full report on what soldiers were telling the Bush administration about conditions at Walter Reed -- in 2004.
Apr 11, 2007
Injured troops shipped back into battle
Salon has uncovered further evidence that the military sent soldiers with acute post-traumatic stress disorder, severe back injuries and other serious war wounds back to Iraq.
By Mark Benjamin Apr 9, 2007
Army deployed seriously injured troops
Soldiers on crutches and canes were sent to a main desert camp used for Iraq training. Military experts say the Army was pumping up manpower statistics to show a brigade was battle ready.
By Mark Benjamin Mar 26, 2007
Army pledges to investigate injured troop charge
In a defense appropriations hearing, Sen. Patty Murray demanded that military leaders respond to Salon's article about medical reclassification of injured soldiers as fit for combat.
By Mark Benjamin Mar 15, 2007
The Army is ordering injured troops to go to Iraq
At Fort Benning, soldiers who were classified as medically unfit to fight are now being sent to war. Is this an isolated incident or a trend?
By Mark Benjamin Mar 11, 2007
Walter Reed, on the cheap
The Pentagon's top civilian official in charge of military healthcare wanted more money for bullets and bombs, and fewer benefits for soldiers.
By Mark Benjamin Mar 6, 2007
Gen. Kiley knew about vets' outpatient scandal
Veterans groups told the Army surgeon general about the shockingly bad mental health treatment at Walter Reed two months before the latest expose, but there's no evidence he followed up.
By Mark Benjamin Feb 27, 2007
The long-term wounds of Walter Reed
Despite military officials' "surprise" at recent coverage, Salon exposed inadequate care and an overwhelmed system unfriendly to vets beginning two years ago.
By Mark Benjamin Feb 23, 2007
Losing their minds
More U.S. soldiers than ever are sustaining serious brain injuries in Iraq. But a significant number of them are being misdiagnosed, forced to wait for treatment or even being called liars by the Army.
By Mark Benjamin Jan 5, 2006
Incalculable pain
The Pentagon is underreporting the number of American soldier casualties in Iraq, say House Democrats.
By Mark Benjamin Dec 10, 2005
Protecting America's wounded
Democratic senators have stepped up to defend benefits for soldiers traumatized by combat.
By Mark Benjamin Sep 24, 2005
Sticker shock over shell shock
The U.S. government is reviewing 72,000 cases in which veterans have been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, claiming that misdiagnosis and fraud have inflated the numbers. Outraged vets say the plan is a callous attempt to cut the costs of an increasingly expensive war.
By Mark Benjamin Aug 9, 2005
Military injustice
Iraq vet Jullian Goodrum blasted his superiors for misdeeds that he says cost a soldier his life. His reward: The Army he once loved refused to treat his psychological wounds, then charged him with desertion.
By Mark Benjamin Jun 7, 2005
Dinner is served
A new Senate bill requires veterans hospitals to stop charging wounded soldiers for meals.
By Mark Benjamin May 13, 2005
The invisible wounded
Injured soldiers evacuated to the U.S. never arrive in the light of day -- and the Pentagon has yet to offer a satisfactory explanation why.
By Mark Benjamin Mar 8, 2005
"Insult to Injury" update
Mark Benjamin Feb 22, 2005
Behind the walls of Ward 54
They're overmedicated, forced to talk about their mothers instead of Iraq, and have to fight for disability pay. Traumatized combat vets say the Army is failing them, and after a year following more than a dozen soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital, I believe them.
By Mark Benjamin Feb 18, 2005
Insult to injury
Some wounded soldiers back from Iraq are having to pay for meals at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Veterans' groups say it's another symptom of fighting a costly war on the cheap.
By Mark Benjamin Jan 27, 2005

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