Shot in Iraq, soldier gets bill for missing equipment

As Americans prepare to honor fallen soldiers this Memorial Day, one former Oregon National Guard member is wondering why he's being charged more than $3,000 for military gear that was lost after he was shot.

Gary Pfleider, a six-year veteran of the Guard, received a Purple Heart after he was shot by a sniper in Iraq. Some time later, he received a somewhat less gratifying award: A bill for $3,175 for military equipment that was lost when he was shipped out of Iraq for medical treatment.

CBS affiliate KVAL in Eugene, Oregon, reports:

"Pfleider feels disrespected by the charges. He said he lost sight of the gear when he left Iraq and believes he should not be responsible for it now....

Pfleider inventoried his belongings and discovered several personal items and military-issued gear, including clothing, canteens and grenades, were missing.
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He believed the supervisors at his former unit in Albany had filed paperwork clearing him of the charges. But in June 2009, Pfleider received a bill for $3,175.88. Shortly afterward, the federal government began taking $120 out of his Social Security disability checks each month. Pfleider said his state and federal tax returns were also frozen.

Pfleider says he can't work because of his disability -- he walks with a cane -- and can now no longer afford to visit his daughters in Vancouver, Washington."

Here's your disability check. But sorry, we can't afford to actually pay you so we are going to have to take it all back.
The guy was shot, then flown out of the country. But because while he was laying there bleeding to death and in pain, he didn't make arrangements to stop off at his barracks first and pick up his gear the government is charging him for it, along with interest.

It's good to know though at least we know what we are fighting for over there. Don't we?

Maybe they could take his purple heart back in trade for the canteens he couldn't return.

Here is the direct link to the video from the news story on this: www.kval.com...

OMG!!! At this rate, the Military Industrial Complex will go broke!

IRM

One would think that instead of harassing wounded soldiers for missing equipment worth a few thousand, they would spend more effort finding the billions of dollars that disappeared from Iraq...

Thats great
- Sign up for combat in the name of 'patriotism'.
- Move to a life threatening environment in the name of 'patriotism'
- Getting hit and injured in the name of 'patriotism'
- Having the eternal thanks for serving from people that don't
have to fight in the name of 'patriotism'.
- Getting the bill for missing equipment from being injured in the
name of 'patriotism'?

Priceless.

Maybe it is the new trick of the government to make people pay...
Next, they are going to charge family of deceased soldiers for same reason?!?... Revolting.

Bureaucracy and red tape at it's finest. It's crippled the government now it's finding its way into the military.

No more common sense anymore.

And sadly...this isn't even the only story I have heard like this. This is just the most recent....

The military won't even admit it;s their fault. Even though he has already filed for reimbursement months ago....