UPDATE: Please Pray for our son. Part 2

[Rayman70]

I think your son will have to request a Jag officer visit as @gtb1943 stated above.
I think parents might be able to send a letters to the commanders in his chain of command asking why the doctors orders were ignored. But I would not do so in a mean manner or even a threatening legal issues over it.
I would make a copy of the letter and show that you sent it to his chain of command. That could include the company commander, battalion commander, post commander. You might also want to send letters to Company First SGT, Battalion SGT Major, Post SGT Major and also SGT Major of the Army. Oddly enough the SGT Major of the Army might be the one that gets things done. We had issues of no AC in a few clusters of barracks at Fort Polk Louisiana in the summer for a few weeks. The Sgt Major of the Army happened to be visiting the post and took questions. One was about getting the AC fixed. Magically the issue was fixed in two days.

You might also want to contact your congressman that represents where you live to look into the issue. NOBODY START A POLITICAL rant in this thread. Whether you get any response is questionable but at least you can show that you sent requests of inquiry to multiple people.

I would be sure to ask your son if he wants you to do this though. Maybe he just wants to do his time and get out. Or maybe he has designs of continuing his military time and make a career out of it until retiring in which case he might not want the issue of any trouble hurting that.

With that said. He does need to take care of his health issues or he will not only not be able to continue a career in the military, but it may become an ongoing issue for him in his life outside the military and if he does have to leave the military due to health issues....He should be quick to get in with the Army VA medical services and also look into getting some kind of disability pay from the Army. They have various levels of disability rating and pay if you qualify.

Keep us updated.

Also, not sure if this site will help but could not hurt to look it over.

https://www.todaysmilitary.com/parents/support-parents

great advice. TY much for everything. Very helpful and yeah I will update you. Like you said, he may just wanna serve out his remaining year and just leave quietly with no fuss. I will def. ask what he wants to do before I do anything.

 

[rags747]

Hes way out in San Miguel, and we are in West Texas, with no way to go visit him. Its hard, its painful for us. He's been in 5 years on a 6 year contract. Straight from Highschool. He just wanted to serve his country. My wife has heart issues, all sorts of medical issues that cropped up in a matter of a few months, THEN all this stuff with the Army shenanigans. I want to do something, contact his command, but I feel that might make his life harder and they might single him out and make an example out of him. I don't want that. I also wouldn't be shocked if they medically discharge him early from the Army. That would be devasting to him. He is the type of kid that wants to finish what he started. I guess time will tell. I will update if I hear anything more.

What promises did the Army make to your son for a 6 year contract? Were the promises kept? Did he learn a trade that will be transferable? Agree on the escalation part that you mention,it may make things worse but I’m sure it is very tempting for you. Wish all of you God Speed!

 

[Rayman70]

What promises did the Army make to your son for a 6 year contract? Were the promises kept? Did he learn a trade that will be transferable? Agree on the escalation part that you mention,it may make things worse but I’m sure it is very tempting for you. Wish all of you God Speed!

I get it. You're not wrong but defying a medical professionals order after a life altering medial event, seems seedy and shady, maybe even illegal. That said, I won't get involved unless he greenlights it. He is his own man, but of course, in my eyes, as his father, my little boy. We are so proud of him how far he has come in his life to persevere just to get where he is today. He was always overweight, by like 100 pounds, when he got in Highschool he signed up for football, was good at it...you could see the light come on if you will, he found something he was good at and it was helping him get in shape, etc. THEN he was concussed 2 times in a 12 day span. The Dr. told us we had a decision to make. We made it for him and football was over. Not worth getting his brain scrambled at age 17. He had a back up plan. He always attended Army Club in Highschool for an hour after school 1 time a week. From Middle school he would attend. The back up plan was joining the Army, and being part of something bigger and greater than himself. He wanted to serve and defend. So he worked his arse off for almost 2 years and lost a ton of weight, all on his own, so he could make weight and go to MEPS, and pass. It took him 2 cracks at it but he did that. By the time he graduated HS he was all set to go to teh ARMY. His asvab score was off the charts high. He wanted to be a mechanic but the recruiter told him with a score like what he got he had his pick of any MOS. So he picked a "secret squirrel" MOS. He does cyber stuff..signal corp stuff, decoding and such. Stuff I would likely not understand, and he can't talk about it, bt only in general terms. He was always a straight A student every single year in school. It was easy to him. He is a big guy. He is well over 6' 2" and about 250-260, built like Brock Lesnar, the wrestler. Looks like a dang gorilla. He remade his body. Now with all the health setbacks, he will have a mountain to climb when he gets out of the hospital. As parents, our job now is to stay outta the way, and let him live his life and he will tell us when he needs guidance. So until then, we will trust him that he has a plan. If he should ask, we will take the appropriate channels. Right now we are just praying for him to get healthy.

 

[Runwildboys]

TY for this^ Means alot. Can we do anything on his behalf as far as getting a Jag involved? We just want to hold them accountable. Thats all we want. I think he likely tore something and didn't know it, while he was at work. He is a 25S Satcom specialist, almost a Seargent now. I feel like someone on that base has it out for him. Dont usually go into any detail, but I will this time. He is at Camp Roberts. They moved him from Twin Cities Hospital to Sierra Vista Saturday night. His unit is there visiting him, as well as his Girlfriend, which is a soldier. They been wonderful to him. BUT, I wanna know who signed off on making him go back against Dr orders after a life-threatening ordeal. To me, they are to blame as to why he almost died again this 2nd time. They are risking soldiers lives!

Hey, whaddya expect when we're at war???...Oh wait!

 

[Rayman70]

Hey, whaddya expect when we're at war???...Oh wait!

Lately it seems like we are at war of sorts, with our own country. I'll leave it at that.

 

[cristglo]

Lord Jesus I ask you to bring healing and comfort to this family. I ask you Lord to give the Dr's wisdom in treating his son. I ask for a hedge of protection to be placed around him and your healing spirit to flow through him. Be with the Family and strengthen them in this difficult time. We ask you in the name of Jesus and we claim it! Thank you!

 

[Rayman70]

Lord Jesus I ask you to bring healing and comfort to this family. I ask you Lord to give the Dr's wisdom in treating his son. I ask for a hedge of protection to be placed around him and your healing spirit to flow through him. Be with the Family and strengthen them in this difficult time. We ask you in the name of Jesus and we claim it! Thank you!

AMEN!!! Thank you. We need that.

 

[zrinkill]

Prayers.

 

[zrinkill]

Military leaders (ncos or officers) will always try to get a soldier back to work early if the time off is substantial.

I had to dress down a Full bird Colonel once because he wanted a soldier back to work after an injury and we were at a temporary duty station away from any army barraks. They wanted him to go back to work as a mechanic to help fix some trucks that were broke down. I refused to let them. Eventually I said if you can find a position where he is sitting and not lifting, moving, or exerting any amount of substantial energy ...then he could go back. We worked it out so he could just sit in the office and communicate to others in various areas via walkie talkies.


Point being. They have to take that stuff serious. And part of the problem is the soldier as well as when you are one you have that I am tough and full of piss and vinegar attitude and want to get back to work even if you know you should not.

Sorry for the rant, But I get it, have seen and fought against it.

Hope he gets the meds and rest he needs. And tell him to have the doctors write a note that is very clear and damning to his superiors and he has to stand up to it as well even going to far to ask them to call the doctor or take it up the chain of command even if you have to get jag involved. Those infections are serious and not just that infection, if he is working he can tear those areas and get septic shock.

Tell him to keep his head up and make sure he heals up before he gets that piss and vinegar all riled up. And you and your wife stay positive for him but firm that he needs to take care of himself until he is healed even if he has to ruffle some feathers.

This is spot on ........

 

[Rayman70]

This is spot on ........

yep he summed it up perfectly.

 

[Birch_Wood]

I agree with you and your families prayers for him.

 

[gtb1943]

Ty. His c/o told him his hands were tied and someone above him on the food chain denied him the time off that the dr. wanted. I dunno if I buy that, but if its true, I want names and rank. Like you said, HE will need to request a Jag. I doubt I can do anything. But he can.

I am going to be blunt. His C/O should be up front fighting for his soldier and is apparently bailing. You do need to find out exactly WHO ordered him back to duty and have your son make sure the JAG officer knows, this is serious. Over ruling the immediate C/O indicates someone that needs to be removed ASAP.

 

[Rockport]

Military leaders (ncos or officers) will always try to get a soldier back to work early if the time off is substantial.

I had to dress down a Full bird Colonel once because he wanted a soldier back to work after an injury and we were at a temporary duty station away from any army barraks. They wanted him to go back to work as a mechanic to help fix some trucks that were broke down. I refused to let them. Eventually I said if you can find a position where he is sitting and not lifting, moving, or exerting any amount of substantial energy ...then he could go back. We worked it out so he could just sit in the office and communicate to others in various areas via walkie talkies.


Point being. They have to take that stuff serious. And part of the problem is the soldier as well as when you are one you have that I am tough and full of piss and vinegar attitude and want to get back to work even if you know you should not.

Sorry for the rant, But I get it, have seen and fought against it.

Hope he gets the meds and rest he needs. And tell him to have the doctors write a note that is very clear and damning to his superiors and he has to stand up to it as well even going to far to ask them to call the doctor or take it up the chain of command even if you have to get jag involved. Those infections are serious and not just that infection, if he is working he can tear those areas and get septic shock.

Tell him to keep his head up and make sure he heals up before he gets that piss and vinegar all riled up. And you and your wife stay positive for him but firm that he needs to take care of himself until he is healed even if he has to ruffle some feathers.

Were you enlisted or did you out rank the Colonel? If you were enlisted and I was you NCO, I would’ve written you up on the spot. Right or wrong, enlisted do not dress down Cololnels. Maybe in the Army or Air Force, but not the Marines or the Navy. Not saying Rayman’s son did this in any way at all, but there’s a term in the Marines, “Sick bay Commando” given to those who are always at sick bay for one reason or another to get out of something. I only say this to add some depth to the conversation and to bring up that there’s other considerations when something like this happens and people make mistakes.

 

[Rockport]

Ty. His c/o told him his hands were tied and someone above him on the food chain denied him the time off that the dr. wanted. I dunno if I buy that, but if its true, I want names and rank. Like you said, HE will need to request a Jag. I doubt I can do anything. But he can.

All he has to do is request mast up the chain. Every soldier, Marine, Squid or Aircivs have the right to request mast up the chain.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Were you enlisted or did you out rank the Colonel? If you were enlisted and I was you NCO, I would’ve written you up on the spot. Right or wrong, enlisted do not dress down Cololnels. Maybe in the Army or Air Force, but not the Marines or the Navy. Not saying Rayman’s son did this in any way at all, but there’s a term in the Marines, “Sick bay Commando” given to those who are always at sick bay for one reason or another to get out of something. I only say this to add some depth to the conversation and to bring up that there’s other considerations when something like this happens and people make mistakes.

I was an enlisted E4p Medic.
And I was not going to let a Full Bird run some kid right back to work doing hard labor after having an injury and I was willing to put my neck on the line to do the right thing even if it meant being wrote up.

I respected the rank at that time but I was not going to let that guy railroad and run over that soldier. I did not dress him down by cussing at him or calling him names or disrespecting his rank but I did make it clear in no uncertain terms that I was there for what was best for the soldier in his injured state.

I will also say that after the talk I had with the officer he later said he appreciated that I stuck up for the troop and was willing to go down fighting for him if need be. Unlike the Col at the time, I knew the medical condition of the soldier and the Col did not so he was trying to get him back to work for the wrong reasons.

And stop with the sick bay commando crap. If you read the prior threads his son was in a serious accident with serious medical situations. He was hospitalized for some time over it. And after getting out and being forced back to work when he should have still been on profile he reinjured himself causing a staph infection. And those are nothing to sneeze at.

Way too many NCO and Officers in the military that get way to used to the idea that just because they out rank someone they are always right and everyone must cower down to their will. I usually lived by the rule you do not have to respect the man but respect the rank. However when it came to another soldiers well being and me being the medic on duty, I went to bat for them because that was what is supposed to be done. Unlawful orders are unlawful for a reason.

 

[Rayman70]

I am going to be blunt. His C/O should be up front fighting for his soldier and is apparently bailing. You do need to find out exactly WHO ordered him back to duty and have your son make sure the JAG officer knows, this is serious. Over ruling the immediate C/O indicates someone that needs to be removed ASAP.

exactly

 

[Rockport]

I was an enlisted E4p Medic.
And I was not going to let a Full Bird run some kid right back to work doing hard labor after having an injury and I was willing to put my neck on the line to do the right thing even if it meant being wrote up.

I respected the rank at that time but I was not going to let that guy railroad and run over that soldier. I did not dress him down by cussing at him or calling him names or disrespecting his rank but I did make it clear in no uncertain terms that I was there for what was best for the soldier in his injured state.

I will also say that after the talk I had with the officer he later said he appreciated that I stuck up for the troop and was willing to go down fighting for him if need be. Unlike the Col at the time, I knew the medical condition of the soldier and the Col did not so he was trying to get him back to work for the wrong reasons.

And stop with the sick bay commando crap. If you read the prior threads his son was in a serious accident with serious medical situations. He was hospitalized for some time over it. And after getting out and being forced back to work when he should have still been on profile he reinjured himself causing a staph infection. And those are nothing to sneeze at.

Way too many NCO and Officers in the military that get way to used to the idea that just because they out rank someone they are always right and everyone must cower down to their will. I usually lived by the rule you do not have to respect the man but respect the rank. However when it came to another soldiers well being and me being the medic on duty, I went to bat for them because that was what is supposed to be done. Unlawful orders are unlawful for a reason.

I guess the Army is very lax with this kind of thing.

 

[ShortRound]

As of 6/1/24 Saturday night, our son is back in the hospital again, with MRSA ,and more fluid leakage in his intestines/organs from the original wreck he had back in April. You all prayed for him. RJ is in the Army and the Army "Leaders" on base decided to ignore the doctors strict time off orders that he needed and sent him back to work 3 weeks too early. My wife and I are so ticked! Instead of resting he was forced to work, so now he's back in the hospital in ICU. He could have died as MRSA can be deadly. The intubation tube might be removed Sunday. THE mrsa is being treated and btw he also has AFIB we just learned. Good news is it might be the temporary type due to the trauma his body has endured. Hes had 2 more liters of fluid they drained and it tested positive for MRSA. He's hooked up to drainage tubes . Keep RJ in your Prayers. God Bless.

Good thoughts your way

 

[Runwildboys]

I was an enlisted E4p Medic.
And I was not going to let a Full Bird run some kid right back to work doing hard labor after having an injury and I was willing to put my neck on the line to do the right thing even if it meant being wrote up.

I respected the rank at that time but I was not going to let that guy railroad and run over that soldier. I did not dress him down by cussing at him or calling him names or disrespecting his rank but I did make it clear in no uncertain terms that I was there for what was best for the soldier in his injured state.

I will also say that after the talk I had with the officer he later said he appreciated that I stuck up for the troop and was willing to go down fighting for him if need be. Unlike the Col at the time, I knew the medical condition of the soldier and the Col did not so he was trying to get him back to work for the wrong reasons.

And stop with the sick bay commando crap. If you read the prior threads his son was in a serious accident with serious medical situations. He was hospitalized for some time over it. And after getting out and being forced back to work when he should have still been on profile he reinjured himself causing a staph infection. And those are nothing to sneeze at.

Way too many NCO and Officers in the military that get way to used to the idea that just because they out rank someone they are always right and everyone must cower down to their will. I usually lived by the rule you do not have to respect the man but respect the rank. However when it came to another soldiers well being and me being the medic on duty, I went to bat for them because that was what is supposed to be done. Unlawful orders are unlawful for a reason.

I'm hoping he was speaking to the attitude officers have about the sick or injured men, not that he was doubting Rayman's son.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I guess the Army is very lax with this kind of thing.

Or I was just willing to use my brain, do what is right and have the balls to stand up for what is right even if it gets me in trouble.
A soldier that knows wrong vs right and is not afraid to state it, is a smart soldier. Sometimes the military likes a smart soldier, sometimes they prefer a dumb one who never questions orders even if they are wrong.