Thanks for your service. Now, shut up.

In October of 2006, a woman who was a long time volunteer at Walter Reed Army Hospital took her friend, Donald Rumsfeld's wife, to the hospital to see the conditions there. The friend was then banned from visits to the hospital.

Last Sunday, the Washington Post broke the story of the deplorable conditions for the injured veterans there. On Monday, the sergeant major for the troops in the Medical Hold Unit at Walter Reed arrived and told them:

1. You will be awake daily at 0600.

2. Inspection will be daily at 0700.

3. You must not speak to the media.

4. If you need help with paperwork or conditions, you must stay in your chain of command.

5. Your first sergeant has been relieved of duty.

6. All platoon sergeants are hereby reassigned.

7. 120 permanent duty soldiers are on their way to take charge of this unit.

That is all.


I particularly like the part about the daily inspections. Perhaps they will gig the individual soldier for having mold or rodents in their room.

Meanwhile, the Commander in Chief has proposed to cut funding for care of veterans.