What Went Wrong? Army Has Some 'Splaining to Do...
Wednesday, 29. August 2007, 02:29:45
The Houston Chronicle reports here that an Army sergeant, a two-time war veteran, participating in a solo field exercise with over 300 other soldiers, became lost, overcome by dehydration and the effects of South Texas' scorching heat, despite his repeated calls for help to his superiors.
A medic told investigators he suggested the exercise be stopped because of the mounting casualties. But he said he was told that only 10 minutes remained in the exercise, that only one soldier was missing and that such a decision would result in too much paperwork.
Too much paperwork? Then that "1,700-page Army investigative report" prepared after the incident must have sent them right over the edge. Of course, a death certificate? Well that's just ONE piece of paper. Jesus.
WIDGETIZE
Jon # 5. September 2007, 10:08
on top of being dehydrated during the drills in 100degree heat, i also had what i thought was a cold but turned out to be something worse.
woke up on the ground, out of formation after passing out... woke up to the voice of my instructor swearing at me, over me.
that finally got me a trip to the infirmary, but when i got there, the doctor reprimended me for "forgetting my military bearing". i forgot why, i was out of it! i probably forgot to salute someone.
the doctor (actually a do) told me to drink more water, gave me some GI Gin (cough syrup with codine) and sent me back out for training, which was the WORST thing to do, and my diagnosed "cold" became a terrible pnuemonia.
i heard quite a few similar stories from my Army friends at Ft. Hood...