Please help

ThetaSig AGD · #1 12-09-2003, 09:49 PM

Hello Everyone!

I have a question. My brother is currently fighting in Iraq, Tekrit(sp?) to be exact, in the army.

His son was born Nov. 18th and he wants to come home for the holidays to see his son and family before he goes back for another year in Iraq.

The Army has granted his leave for the holiday, in part because of his first son's birth, but the soliders have to find there own way home. Airfare is not paid by the Army.

I know there are some websites, and organizations that help soften the financial burdens for these soliders but I do not know what they are. Can anyone help?

ajuhdg · #2 12-09-2003, 09:58 PM

Actually, the Army should be paying for his flight home! My husband's leave starts on the 19th, and I'm due to have our first child on the 25th. The Army pays for his flight as far as Baltimore, Atlanta, or Dallas. It is the soldier's responsibility from there. Southwest and Delta offer special fares for soldiers. Basically, you buy a ticket and as soon as they get to the airport they are put on the next available flight.

You can PM me, if you want some more info!

Also, for those frequent flyers...you can go to HERO MILES and donate your frequent flyer miles to soldiers coming home!

aj

ThetaSig AGD · #3 12-09-2003, 10:44 PM

Thanks for the info....That is what I thought as well, however, they are telling him that they arent paying any of it and that he will have to come up with the money or face cancelation of his leave?????

I have written our congressmen, president, and the army. I doubt they will do anything though.

Is your husband enlisted or commissioned?

AlphaXiGirl · #4 12-09-2003, 10:50 PM

Also, tell your brother/huband to make sure and wear their uniform - don't change into civies....

I've been on four flights in the last couple of months where there were empty seats in first class.... after the flight was completely boarded, each time they moved the soldier up to first class.

My husband has been put on active stateside duty so luckily he's just got to fly in from Missouri for the holidays.

Lady Pi Phi · #5 12-10-2003, 12:55 PM

Am I the only one who think it's INSANE that the military doesn't pay for flights home. They ship you half way around the world to fight, but when you want to come home, it's screw you we don't care, find your own way home!

rainbowbrightCS · #6 12-10-2003, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
Am I the only one who think it's INSANE that the military doesn't pay for flights home. They ship you half way around the world to fight, but when you want to come home, it's screw you we don't care, find your own way home!

not exactly. They will bring the troops back to the base. But like a reagular job that pays for your transprtation if you take a vacation would they pay for that? I think they (the military) should pay for the troop erving over sea to come home for the holidays, but that would be alot of money.... Or atleast a discount.

Christia

mullet81 · #7 12-10-2003, 01:15 PM

i'll donate $10 (sorry, i'm poor!) to the "bring ThetaSig AGD's brother home" fund

I thought a lot of time military personal can just jump on military or cargo flights for a free ride. Aren't there any military flights bringing him at least somewhat closer/

Lady Pi Phi · #8 12-10-2003, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rainbowbrightCS
not exactly. They will bring the troops back to the base. But like a reagular job that pays for your transprtation if you take a vacation would they pay for that? I think they (the military) should pay for the troop erving over sea to come home for the holidays, but that would be alot of money.... Or atleast a discount.

Christia

But this isn't your average joe 9-5 regular job. These men and women are risking their life and the military is too cheap to send them home for the holidays?

I don't know. I know I don't know much about the workings of the military, but I just think this is wrong.

rainbowbrightCS · #9 12-10-2003, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
But this isn't your average joe 9-5 regular job. These men and women are risking their life and the military is too cheap to send them home for the holidays?

I don't know. I know I don't know much about the workings of the military, but I just think this is wrong.

oh, I agree it is wrong and the gov. should help. But I was understand of why they are not.

My entire family is either in the military, was in the military or married one of those two.

Christia

Tom Earp · #10 12-10-2003, 06:27 PM

First off, what part of Missouri??

Yep, it sucks and there is a brewha if you call it that about troops having to pay their own way home!

I got so enraged when I saw that!

While this is not a war now (B S), there is no damn reason that all of these heros who are fighting and maybe die should have to foot a damn dime!

Oh, our moronic poloticians at work!

Many of these people are "Pat Tme Soldiers" who have left their jobs and families to be activated becaus the Federal Government decided to cut back the real regular military!

One of my neighbor store owners is a Store owner, a Marine, who has been there and now back. His wife and two little girls are tickled, but since his whole unit was not activated, He may be called back!

Just Funfuc*ingtastic!

AlphaXiGirl · #11 12-10-2003, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom Earp
First off, what part of Missouri??

Ft. Leonard Wood until the end of March and then, who knows where.

ThetaSig AGD · #12 12-11-2003, 01:35 AM

Thank you guys soo much for your concern and information.

Apparently, as some IM's have stated, the military is SUPPOSED to send the soliders to one of three airports in the US and it is the soliders responsibility to get home from there. This would be great, however, they are not keeping there promise!

My parents have bought tickets for fear that my brother may lose his leave. They did get a "discount" but the tickets are $900 each way!!!!That is down from the $2500 round trip.

My brothers batalion told him that he needed to purchase tickets ASAP or he may lose his leave because there are other soliders wanting to go home that are not going to be able to.

I understand and sympathize with those soldiers but GD!!! His son is only 2 WEEKS old!

I have emailed, called, and written my Govenor, Congressional representatives (senate, and the house), the army, the president, the vp, and even the first lady to tell them of the injustic I feel these soliders are being put through, and to my new nephew!!

I urge you if you want to help me, do the same. I dont want you to give your hard earned money, though I GREATLY appreicate your offer. The military needs to take care of its soliders, and I will accept nothing less!!

Some people's families cannot afford the outrageous costs of the airplanes tickets, Thank god my parents recently refinanced their home! They just wont be able to do repairs tothe house quite yet.

Wendy

ajuhdg · #13 12-17-2003, 10:13 PM

This has really got me scratching my head, so I'm assuming there is WAY more to the story than we know. These guys don't loose the leave just because they don't have a ticket! Leave is assigned per company based on many different factors....mainly there need to be enough people there to still get the job done! I bought my husband's ticket today (YEAH!) and it was only $68 with the special military fare.

If your brother's leave is of his own request (which would be odd, because leave is not granted during a deployment in anything other than an emergency) then the military is not required to pay for anything. However, if it is 'his turn' for leave within his company, than the military (by recent move in Congress) is required to get him to one of the three afore mentioned airports. As, I told you before, something seems a little fishy with this scenario!

aj

Tom Earp · #14 12-17-2003, 11:20 PM

TV news, Kansas City, Tues!

Soldier sent a ticket to get home from his designated Posat, on own from there, and the ticket was lost in the mail!

If you pardon me, but, THIS IS BULLSHIT!

They should have an all expense trip back home for what they have gone through! Hell, it aint no god damn Paradise there!

They did not ask to go there, I Government sent them there!

I would rather see my Tax Money go for something like this than some of the S**t that they spend money on!

JohnsDGsweethrt · #15 12-18-2003, 10:19 AM

We were orginally told that my husband would be able to come home from Iraq for the birth of our first child due July 1. Now as it turns out the 1st srgt. told him they aren't letting people fly in and out b/c its too dangerous or something so he maybe able to use his R and R to come home for the birth but who knows.

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have him miss the birth over getting shot down trying to get to the birth etc etc but it still sucks.