On the heels of reports that the U.S. military is lowering its standards to meet recuiting goals, including signing up felons and senior citizens, comes this story from the Denver Post that the U.S. Army is sending wounded and injured soldiers back to Iraq and Afghanistan rather than allowing openly gay service members into the ranks.
In e-mails obtained by the Denver Post, reporter Erin Emory reveals that soldiers at Ft. Carson, Colo., who were designated not medically fit were sent to war despite their injuries, in order that the Army could meet its 'deployable strength' goals.
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One of the soldiers, Master Sgt. Denny Nelson, who was sent overseas last month, despite doctors' orders that he not run, jump or carry more than 20 pounds, told the newspaper that he was one of at least 52 soldiers deployed who should not have been.
'There were two soldiers deployed with a torn rotator cuff. Another soldier was sent overseas who had mental-health issues, and another suffered from nerve damage to his groin area and had been taking morphine for seven months. When that soldier went to a clinic in Iraq to ask for more pain medication, medical professionals said he could not have it and he was sent home,' said Nelson.
