Walter Reed Story

Chief of Chaplains @ Walter Reed AMC
> > >
> > >
> > > This e-mail is from the Chief of Chaplains at Walter Reed. He
> provides his perspective on the Walter Reed story that has received so
> much attention in recent weeks. Yet, this is a reminder. This story is
> ultimately not about peeling paint, but a system that no one challenged
> for years. Our warriors deserve so much better.
> > >
> > > 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
> > >
> > > A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents
> and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents
> eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.
> - Max Planck