Michael is back...hes a mess..please help, people

[Mari333]

Please call Sen Levins office and keep him home..he only has 2 weeks he said..he said they are sending him back in 2 weeks...please help

[Bunny]

1. OMG Marie.

I cannot adequately express my feelings for you and Michael. I'm hoping that the power of DU can help you and him. Take care of yourself, dear. :hug:

[flamingyouth]

2. Mari, we will all do whatever we can for you

You have our support, 100%. Much love to you. I called Sen. Levin's office yesterday. And I have a candle burning for you on my altar.
Love,
Lisa

[proud patriot]

3. I'll Call

Glad to help .

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

4. Senator Levins?

Getting right on it.

And know that there are prayers and good wishes and hope being sent to you from all over because of DU.

I pray he can stay!!!! Two weeks????

[calimary]

22. Carl Levin of Michigan. A good guy. Democrat, of course.

[anarchy1999]

36. Okay Calimary, I'd say this is a "Game On" event.

Refering everyone to Activism Thread and list of contacts.

Anyone thought about Kucinich, Harkin, Max Cleland or maybe even Kerry?

I'll get it out on Texas on-line communities.

www.dallaspeacecenter.org

Mari, We love you and I feel certain that Michael will not be going back.

[calimary]

99. Yer ON, anarchy! Race ya to the phone!

[laylah]

5. Mari

I'll call Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday...however many times it takes. :grouphug:

Love and prayers to you, Michael, and the family,

Jenn

[Red_Viking]

6. I'm glad to help

But, I want to make sure I have all the info I need before I call. Could you PM me with all of Michaels' info? I'll call Levin immediately.

Still keeping you in our thoughts and hoping you can find some peace. Give Michael a big hug for all of us.

Namaste,

RV

[wryter2000]

7. I tried yesterday

His website was having problems. Probably from us overloading it. Will try again.

Keeping all my appendages crossed for the two of you.

[nostamj]

8. contact info for Levin is here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2275445&mesg_id=2275445

in the OP.

[madrchsod]

9. i already did

we`ll see what we can do...

[Desertrose]

10. please..we are on this!!

tell Michael there are many many people working on this for him...tell him to hang in...you too Mari333.


we love you !
DR

[Ladyhawk]

11. I'm going to write, email and call Sen. Levin's office, Mari.

DU will do all it can. Please hang on.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Mari, I sent a letter

I hope and pray Sen. Levin will intervene.

[vetwife]

15. OK People ! We have to call Sen Levin but we need to get some

other senators on this too. This is outrageous !

[Bunny]

17. What other ones can help, in re: Michael?

I'll be glad to call all of them, if I know who they are.

[nostamj]

19. we need Michigan DUers' input too...

are there Congressmen/women? who's her Rep?

his medical condition, scoliosis, must be stressed too.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. I am on my way to the state Democratic Convention here in Mighigan.

PassingFair is going to try and speak with Carl Levin who gave a speech today. Debbie Stabenow is speaking tomorrow. I will look up her precinct before I go and try and find out who the Reps are.

Laura

[stavka]

33. From what I can gather it's the West/N. West side of the state....

Meaning her Rep is white, male, and probably Dutch.

Ann Arbor aside, Michigan is very divided along white/black - urban/rural-rural-wannabes lines...the three Detroit counties of Oakland/Wayne/Macomb are at constant odds with the rest of the state.

[gollygee]

43. Do you know more specifically where ?

but yeah if it's that part of the state it will probably be someone who isn't too helpful.

I called Levin's office yesterday. I hope it helps.

[stavka]

48. South Haven

[gollygee]

49. Here's the congressman - FRED UPTON.

I was wrong - his congressman is Fred Upton.

(I incorrectly thought it was Pete Hoekstra)

edited to correct his problem! and add this

http://www.house.gov/upton/contact.htm

That's how to reach Fred Upton. I don't think he responds to people who aren't from his district, so all of us from his district need to call.

[stavka]

52. What a shock - He's Dutch!

What ever happened to Guy Vanderjack?

I miss the steaks, and I don't care about sexual indiscretion, I'm a Democrat! I would have hoped he's be Michigan's Strom Thurmond -wait, that's John Dingell

[gollygee]

55. He lost the rep. primary in '92

to Hoekstra.

But I WAS WRONG! The rep for south haven is Fred Upton! He's also my congressman. I'd give him a call Monday.

Uptons contact info is at http://www.house.gov/upton/contact.htm

I don't think he responds to comments from people outside his district so all of us from this part of Michigan need to call.

[nostamj]

56. MV - is there a local Dem group

or, local group of people with a heart, that would get behind this.

god bless DU but... neighbors and constituents are going to carry a unique weight I would think...

and THANKS!

[gollygee]

57. Maybe the young democrats at Western Michigan University

I'll see what I can find.

[nostamj]

59. that would be great

as you can see from this and the UPDATE thread, DUers across the country are going to be working this, but... LOCAL action is going to be very important.

thanks and keep us informed. even if we hear from Mari infrequently on the forum, some of us are in direct contact and can update her on your efforts.

[gollygee]

63. I got an email address for the college democrats

I'm going to send an email but I'm hoping you can as well. Please see you inbox. Thanks!

[nostamj]

66. got it and

passed it on to Mari333. no one knows the details about Michael's condition better than her.

THANKS!

[stavka]

61. My father lives in Grand Haven

He was at the Democratic primary - they said they had nearly 80% of the registered showing up, and less than 250 voters.....

a couple were republicans though!

West Michigan (The Traverse-Holland-Grand Rapids Triangle) is grim indeed

[kerry-is-my-prez]

90. SW Mich. is the Dutch side. The NW side is the "good" side.

Speaking as a Dutch person from SW Michigan - lol! Thank God I wasn't raised by religious fanatics like most of them were...

[Bozita]

91. Her Congressman would be Fred Upton (R-St.Joseph) -- link

6th District, covers the SW corner of the lower peninsula.

http://www.house.gov/upton/

BTW, St. Joe is across the river from Benton Harbor. Just think of the river as railroad tracks.

[susanna]

104. I'm not sure of congressman...

But the Junior Michigan Senator is Debbie Stabenow, if that helps.

[underseasurveyor]

41. Good idea. I will call my Senator Tom Harkin

in between the calls to Senator Levin. Harkin's a good guy. Here's to hoping he can help too *fingers crossed*

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

13. They can not send him back ...

These people have no heart ... no heart at all .

[Rowdyboy]

14. I will happily contact Senator Levin's office....

The least I could possibly do.

[madrchsod]

16. we need to send all the posts she has received

to levins office thru registered mail- i think the website is over loaded..we need to put this on the front page of du for the next few weeks..i read she received over 700 condolences-send those..let`s e-mail our own democratic senators-durbin is getting one this weekend.
and don`t forget to mention the democratic underground-mari333 is one of ours and we are all behind her and her son...

[nostamj]

28. I have the entire condolences thread

and I'm cleaning up the formatting to send to Mari but, I can make it available in a plaintext format sometime tomorrow. (I have to leave for the city soon but will get on it first thing tomorrow morning.)

it runs to 90+ pages in WP format!

there's also the "To My Husband" remembrance that Mari333 wrote. it's still on the first page. that *should* melt some hearts.

[LWolf]

18. I call first thing Monday morning.

:hug:

[calimary]

20. Don't forget 1 (800) 839 - 5276 - TOLL FREE to Capitol Hill Switchboard.

Won't cost you a nickel of your money, and probably less than a minute of your time. Might save a life.

JUST DO IT. Don't be afraid to call more than once.

The only way we're gonna get anywhere is if we make A LOT OF NOISE about this.

[Downtown Hound]

21. Need some info

What is Michael's last name? Rank? Unit? Ect. Just so I can be more specific when I call, which I will do first thing on Monday.

[never cry wolf]

29. Yes, info needed

I will call and write every congress person from Michigan, as well as from my own state of Illinois.

Mari, I have been away since Wednesday moving my draft age son into the dorms at Northern Michigan U and just got back. I just found out what happened. I missed your original thread but please trust my prayers are with you and your family. The tears are streaming as I feel Scott's spirt fill us all who want these murderers sent away in chains.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the earth!

Peace be with you!

[Robb]

24. We're all on it.

Try not to worry! :grouphug:

[vetwife]

25. Help may be on the way .......Michigan duer trying to see him face to face

Keep calling !

[AFSCME girl]

26. Hi Mari,

I don't know the background on this situation, but can Sen. Stabenow's office help too? Sen's Levin and Stabenow were at the State Convention today, but I'm not sure about tomorrow.... Please hang in there - your fellow DUer's will do whatever we can to help out! :grouphug:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

27. Have you considered Canada? (Rhetorical, but do consider it)

Saved a lot of people back in the 60's and 70's. I don't know much about the details but I'm sure there are plenty here that know more than I do about the subject.

I'm with you in heart and hope.

[underseasurveyor]

46. I don't think Canada or Mexico are options anymore

I do believe both countries signed agreements last year or the year before with the US to send evaders back to the US. Might have to look elsewhere to go.

Someone else may know for sure.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

132. I'm trying to inform myself on whether Brazil would send him back.

Gonna get back if I get the right answer.

[stellanoir]

30. Mari

We have not had the pleasure of acquaintance, but I've been following with rapt attention your story. I'll certainly call Sen. Levin's office. In the interim, sincerest condolences, and though it may seem prosaic, here is a blessing that has helped me through some difficult times. Mods it's an e-mail so I can't do the four PP minimum with a link. Thanks and please give a big hug to Michael for all of us. This is for both of you.

BLESSING

"I send you light to hold you, to hold you in love.
I send you light to heal you, to heal you in love.

May you love, honor, and cherish the preciousness and
uniqueness of your own being and of each other being in
this world.

May you see your own goodness and beauty reflected
wherever you look.

May you be contented and appreciative of all life's
bountiful gifts.

May the splendor and majesty of your being guide
your thoughts, words, and actions.

May your pain and fear be transformed into strength,
understanding and compassion.

May the shining light of your being radiate peace and
harmony wherever you are.

May you be suffused with happiness, joyfully
celebrating each day you are alive.

May you be abundant in all wealth and rich in generosity,
sharing your blessings freely.

May you be a soothing balm of kindness and a fragrant
blossom of love to everyone you meet.

May you be well, whole and healthy.

May the great love and compassion of your heart
embrace the suffering of all beings everywhere.

May the inner light of your purity and perfection
dissolve the clouds of discord, despair, and conflict.

May the intelligence and wisdom of your infinite mind
give you clarity in a confusing world.

May you trust that you are loved, cared for and supported
by the infinite-always.

May you possess the precious magic jewel of gratitude
that transforms all life into a paradise.

May you pause for a moment each day to remember
this blessing upon you, and calling forth the full power
and magnificence of your own being, may you pass it
on to all beings everywhere.

I send you light to hold you, to hold you in love.
I send you light to heal you, to heal you in love."

This accident is horrific but you can heal and hopefully we can all help to save Michael from going back to Iraq. I'm so sorry for your loss. Life is so fleeting. We must savor every moment regardless of how dire our circumstance. Much love and appreciation.

[stavka]

31. Tell your son to just not go back...period.

He MIGHT do a bit of jail time - but you are comparing jail time to possibly dieing, maybe maiming, and probably serving is a totally unjust war.

Carl Levin is my Senator - and I actually don't like the idea of Senatorial interference on a case by case basis - it's no different than GWB getting preference, it's not right...

i.e. Somebody else's son doesn't have a cadre of DU writers pounding down their senator's door, so they go back?

Just take off the uniform, take a deep breath and stay home. Don't want to go to jail? - I'm sure somebody here can help with that too.

Sorry for your loss.

[nostamj]

32. Michael has a medical condition

(scoliosis) and should never have been deployed.

there is a difference.

[stavka]

34. ...then get a doctor to diagnosis it!

Damn right he shouldn't have been deployed, he shouldn't have ever been inducted.....

Why is he even in the military?

Males suffering from scoliosis are rare, very rare as younger people - how did he even pass his physical? - if you suffer from scoliosis it's pretty damned obvious (the test is a visual one initially)

What is Michael's last name, rank and Branch of Service - I'd be happy to write my Senator, and Governor (if he's Guard) about even allowing somebody with a crippling spinal condition to serve in a combat position.

[nostamj]

38. Mari was planning to get X-rays

the last name is Shepard, he's Army Reserves but I don't know his rank. (he was a prison guard at Abu Gharib--after the atrocities!)

[Mel]

39. does she need money for the Doctor?

Mari if you do I can paypal it or write a check either way please let us know you know we will help you and Michael out!

Mari,
I will be calling my Senators Edwards/Dole and yours who is your House of Rep. congresscritter?

Know that I care and you and Michael are in my thoughts!
:hug:

[nostamj]

42. go to the UPDATE | DU's Outreach for Mari333 thread

there's a link to donate. she can use the money as she needs. originally it was for the funeral expenses but...

[stavka]

45. This should be shared with the press....keep the lad at home.

"I?m very worried about his (Michael's) state of mind. He?s not the most mature 21 year old. He?s aggressive and has a lot of anger. I?ve tried to work with him on that since he started living with us when he was 18. But, it?s a big task. I worry about what he is capable of when he gets very angry. I hope his commanding officers notice how angry he is and understand that he may not be the best person to put into stressful situations with civilians."

"...I?m worried that he?ll try to play American Hero and that he?ll do something violent, over and above the call of duty."

- MARIANNE BROWN of South Haven, mother to soldiers Michael Shepard and Robert Brown.

This young man sounds like the last person in the world that should serve as an Military Policeman. (with the 428th MP battalion) - the press would understand that; it's dirty pool but it keeps somebody off the battlefield if prison is the greater fear.

From other things I've read Mari has been attacked repeatedly on the road and her family's propery vandalized for her anti-war stance... I'm sure political refugee status might be a possibility in Canada if there are police reports for all the keying and threats.

[Susang]

148. Kalamazoo Gazette Email Link Here

http://www.kalamazoo-gazette.com/emaileditor/

The largest paper in the area and seen by Western Michigan University (my alma mater) and Kalamazoo College.

[loftycity]

82. I'll call Mark Dayton (MN) thanks for Michael's sir name

Dayton is on the Armed Services Committee. I'll tell his office to contact Levin's Office.

[dflprincess]

84. Took the words right out of my mouth

I will be contacting Mark's office as well.

On edit: Dayton is bound to show up at the State Fair this week. If any of us happen to run into him at the DFL booth, let's bring this up with him face to face.

[nostamj]

85. wonderful

I'm tapped out. a couple of kicks to other threads and I've got to crash.

I'll see where things are in the morning.

[vetwife]

35. We will make this happen some way...There are a lot of us !

[vetwife]

37. They are nuts...They are taking people with disabilites in..We have to

STOP IT ! AND DEMAND IT STOP !

[bigwillq]

40. I will call Monday

Michael needs to be home for good.

Mari, again I am sorry for your loss.

I will call for you, it might be the only thing I can do, but I will call.

Please take care of yourself.

[Cuban_Liberal]

44. A kick for Chuckie.

You're in my prayers, Mari333.

:hug:

[nostamj]

50. C_L how very kind of you

I replied to your heartbreaking thread earlier today.

damn tough couple of days for DU.

between your anguished eloquence and Mari's I've cried more today than the past few years.

[Cuban_Liberal]

64. Thank you!

If we can help Mari, then maybe the rest will make some sort of sense.

:hug:

[Hawkeye-X]

142. Which thread?

I've been swamped all over today looking for Mari333's thread and found this one.

[alphafemale]

122. Your words strengthened the resolve of everyone in my home.

To defeat Bush.

Do we have your permission to share the letter with others?

It's moving and powerful and I think it could shift people who are undecided.

Your love of country and your rage and grief at it being ripped asunder will resonate.

We've been betrayed.
Good kids are dying for nothing.

I'm a parent of two beautiful teens, a step-mom to another I love, and I'm really fond of a helluva lotta teens through my kid's friendships.

I see too much heartbreak in my future.

Fuck George Bush.

Tony. I'm so sorry.

From your words it was obvious your nephew was a gift to the world. A precious, loving person who would have given countless children memories of a favorite teacher. He'd of inspired them. Kid's who thought they didn't have a chance? He'd have shown them they did.

Instead?

He's dead at 19.
And we can't even honour his flag-draped casket.

Fuck George Bush.

[GreenPartyVoter]

47. Mari, have already emailed, will call too *hugs* And how

are the other kids holding up...and yourself?

[democrank]

51. Mari and Michael....

I promise to call Senator Levin. Please wrap up in this sincere hug I`m sending.

Have you considered contacting these groups?

veterans for peace
veterans against the iraq war

[stavka]

53. Does Michael want to go back?

I think that is worth asking...

[nostamj]

54. he didn't want to GO at all

he signed up with the RESERVES to get training to be a POLICEMAN.

[DemBones DemBones]

60. Well, the Reserves may have lied to him but once he signed

on the dotted line, they owned him. Coming from a military background, I can't imagine that they will let Michael go because his father died and his stepmother wants him to come home. However, he might be able to get a MEDICAL DISCHARGE for the scoliosis and, IMO, that's what he should aim for if he wants to stay home permanently.

[nostamj]

62. THAT is Mari's plan.

the scoliosis and PTSD. she already has a counselor lined up and plans to get x-rays. she doesn't expect sympathy to be a factor.

[DemBones DemBones]

67. Good, so why all the phone calls to Senator Levin?

P I ( Political Influence) sometimes works in the military -- is this just to get the Army to look at his medical problem? How did he get in with scoliosis?

[nostamj]

69. "How did he get in with scoliosis?"

I have NO idea. frankly, I think bushco would put anyone with a pulse on his frontlines. he's stripped OUR homeland defenses to protect HIS friends foreign oil interests.

and, the Levin angle is... he helped her other son from being caught in the 'stop loss' trap when he had completed his service. that's why Mari has stressed calling him.

DUers are certainly widening the targeted congresspeople to include Stabenow, the local Rep and others.

[DemBones DemBones]

70. OK, thanks. I think callers to Sen. Levin need to know

a bit about the situation here. As I said earlier, your father dying and your mother wanting you home will not get you an early discharge, just compassionate leave to attend the funeral, so we need another reason why Michael shouldn't be returned to Iraq.

[MUSTANG_2004]

118. They're not ignoring medical issues

Even now, they seem to be rigorous about medical disqualifications. A friend's son who just tried to enlist was rejected for a minor medical issue. Nothing that would affect him serving, but simply a slight physical abnormality.

Knowing how they're issuing stop-loss orders now, I was quite surprised to find out they were still being that strenuous about what grounds they use to disqualify someone.

[truthspeaker]

141. depends on the severity of scoliosis

I have it, but you'd never know without looking at an X-ray. It certainly wouldn't keep me out of the service.

[Mari333]

110. When Michael was stationed at Ft Dix

they did an X ray on his back, and told him "you have scoliosis of the spine..." this was in Jan of 04...he emailed me that information..I told him "send me all of your medical records NOW so we can document them and get you OUT..you cannot go with scoliosis"..
The next day, Michael said, they told him "we lost your X rays".
The next week they sent him to Iraq.

[shance]

68. Would you want to go back to the apocolypse?

I think that is worth asking.

[ChickMagic]

58. Mari

I called Sen. Levin's office on Friday. The woman that answered the phone said she had received numerous calls and although Levin can't personally keep Michael from going back, he's investigating how it can be done. I really hope he comes through. I'm always thinking about you. :hug:

[TacticalPeek]

65. This is why God created the Hardship Discharge.

And the Hardship Reassignment (also Dependency, also Compassionate Reassignment). Surely there are some ex-JAG or JAG types out there who could swing this, especially with a Congressional flag on the paperwork?

-------------------------------


Fact Sheet: Hardship and Dependency

* Helping Out Regulations Guide: Hardship Regulations

Some men and women in the military have family problems which can be resolved only by their discharge from the military. You can apply for a discharge based on the "genuine dependency or undue hardship" being a member of the military is causing if all of the following conditions are met:

* The hardship is severe and not temporary.
* It has developed or gotten worse since your entry into the military.
* You have made every reasonable effort to improve the situation before applying for a hardship discharge.
* Separation from the military is the only solution to the problem.

Consider applying for a hardship or dependency discharge if you have a sick parent, spouse or child who needs your care, or a family member is unable to make ends meet without your presence and help.

Applying for a hardship or dependency separation can result in either discharge or transfer to the inactive reserves. Servicemembers may also apply to be reassigned closer to home for hardships of shorter length. Characterization of service will be Honorable or General (under Honorable Conditions).


more
http://www.objector.org/girights/gettingout/hardshipfacts.html

[imax2268]

71. exactly...

go for the hardship...I believe that is your best option Mari...

[leesa]

72. Will do. They are extremely hard-nosed about this stuff though

I ahve tried to get quite a few people home to spend last moments with dying family and they are quite inflexible.
I will try and I'm sure many more will as well.

[peacefreak]

73. Mari, I hope you don't think this is intrusive...

I just e-mailed this to Michael Moore. As much as he loves his home state, I hoped he would consider helping one of his own. Love, P.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am a proud member of Democratic Underground. It is a strong, active & worthy voice of a cross section of Americans. One of our own has suffered a loss & I hope that you might help us help her.
Marianne Brown of South Haven, Mi. has logged on as Mari333. Over the past year I have read many of her posts about the personal cost this horrible war & administration has brought to her door.
Her beloved son Michael Shepard was sent to Iraq last year. He had the misfortune of being sent to Abu Graib.
The impact of Michael took a horrible toll on their family. The Bush economy affected Michael's father & he was not able to find work for quite some time. The stress of that coupled with Micheal's deployment led Scott to deep depression.
Things appeared to be turning around. Sadly, Scott Shepard was killed in a car accident last Thursday night.
Mari's first priority was to get Michael home to mourn his father. Her next priority is to keep him home.
Our members have taken the task of helping her to that end. We have been in contact with Rep. Levin's office. They have been very understanding & receptive to the calls.
We were all gratified in June when 9/11 hit the screens. We came out in force to see what that squirrelly guy from Michigan was up to this time (thanks so much by the way, for getting the truth out).
I am hopeful that you might take a few minutes to look into this. Your power to tell the truth is proven. Please stop by DU & read some of the posts. We can be a rag tag bunch, but when something happens to one of our's we have become a family of almost 50,000 strong. Mari333 has put a face on this war. We are her family. Thank you.

[nostamj]

76. beautiful job

please let us know if there is a response.

and what a great idea, go to a Michigan native. bravo!

[GreenPartyVoter]

78. Beautifully said. Any chance you can call him as well cause he gets

ton of email.

[ezekiel333]

79. Well Done!

[Mari333]

74. Michael is back, I am working on getting him to stay, Im calmer now

He is filled with emotions, and looks disoriented...he just came home to his dad not here, he had to take a cab from the airport. He has me and his brothers here to be with him.
Thats all that is important, today.
I just let him take my car for a ride, hes tired and depressed. He is a kid, he needs to see his friends.
No one even told him how his dad died. This kid came in from Baghdad, all fucked up, alone, and no one even told him. They told him he has 2 weeks, thats all. He is going to try and get an extension.
The sad thing is, he was going to come home and surprise us on leave in 5 days anyway.
Now he is here, I am going to be with him, and try and get him to go get an X ray for the scoliosos he has .
Thanks, friends, for being there for me.
If it wasnt for you guys I doubt Id be sitting here typing this.
Michael says thank you too. He had no idea, over there in that hellhole, that people here cared so damn much.
I showed him this site.
Now, he knows.

[roguevalley]

75. Mari, sweetie, I called Levin's office. They have voice mail and I left

a message for Levin. I told him about you and Michael and asked him to intercede, giving him your son's medical condition as a possible
opportunity to make it fly. I apologize for speaking for you about
private matters but I think this might work.

If everyone calls the operator and asks for Levin, then fills his voice mail with pleas, he will have to do something about it. Fill his voice mail up until it explodes with pleas.

RV, sending you hugs and much love from Alaska

[faithnotgreed]

83. beautiful. we are all in this together.

[ClassWarrior]

77. I emailed, Mari.

[Schmendrick54]

80. Would it be helpful...

to deliver a message in person? I travel through DC every day on my way to work. (I live in Maryland and work in Virginia.) If it would help, I can try to hand deliver a message to Senator Stabenow or Levin. I have no reason to believe this would be more effective than the post office, but I would be willing to try if Mari thinks it would help.

Respectfully,
Schmendrick

[calimary]

101. There is NOTHING that makes an impact like a face-to-face.

They have to LOOK YOU IN THE EYE when they consider turning you down. They have to see YOUR LOOK IN YOUR EYES when you impress upon them how urgent this.

If you can manage it, I'd say GO FOR IT!!!!!!

A face-to-face visit speaks so loudly I can hardly even articulate it. It means you gave a damn enough to come all the way down there, yourself, to press your case. That's why MoveOn.org has organized many visit-your-rep days - so people can take their case directly to their congressperson's/senator's office. It speaks even louder about your issue if you are standing there, in person. It's even better than a paper letter - and THAT speaks volumes, too.

[Christof]

81. I sent Sen. Levins a letter.

I asked him to keep your son home. I also pleaded with him to help bring ALL of our troops home.

I hope your son gets to stay here and never has to go back to that dreadful country. :hug:

[noamnety]

86. Could Max Cleland possibly help?

I'm going to see him this week. If you want to message me with a letter, I'll see if I can get it into his hands if you like. I can't promise anything, but it's billed as an ice cream social in a local park - that sounds small, right? Debbie Stabenow is supposed to be there as well. And maybe Sandy Levin - he's not on the list, but I've seen him 4 times this month already (I think he's stalking me). So I could print out a few copies and try to get them into various hands.

[burrowowl]

88. Do it!

Vetwife has also said to contact Senator Byrd.

[Chili]

87. Mari...

I just heard your call on the Guy James show (I just downloaded the broadcast). Your grief and fierce love for your son broke me down into tears. I pray that Michael can stay home with you and your family and that you can comfort each other at this terrible time. Bless you, and I wish you strength. There are many who care.

[Richard D]

89. This might help!

http://girights.objector.org/

A site for GI rights.

[Skittles]

92. sending a letter and will call too

this just not right

[kerry-is-my-prez]

93. Personally, I would refuse to go back if I were him. But that's just me.

He has to do what he feels is the right thing to do.

Remember that soldier in Fahrenheit 911 who was going around with Michael Moore and he said that he was refusing to go back to Iraq? Wonder whatever happened to that soldier.

[rumguy]

94. Shouldn't he be treated the same as other soldiers?

Maybe I'm missing something here, but he did sign up, right?

[DemBones DemBones]

95. It is not usual for someone to be discharged, or even

transferred out of a war zone, because a parent dies, just as most employers don't give unlimited bereavement leave.

According to other posters, Michael has scoliosis that might qualify him for a medical discharge.

Otherwise, you're correct, he should be treated the same as other soldiers.

Of course, they should all be brought home for good.


Edit: I'm surprised you haven't been flamed yet since everyone is very upset about Mari's husband's death. We all know how miserable Mari has been about Michael being in Iraq but lots of soldiers have left unhappy moms at home. So if this effort is to succeed, there needs to be more to Michael's case. Like the scoliosis, if it's bad enough.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

96. All the other soldiers should be doing the same thing....

This war is bullshit.... Why should someone be going over there when they completely disagree with this illegal war?

[Spiffarino]

97. Dude, his father died fer chrissake.

You want he should just go back now when his family needs him? Jeebus, talk about special circumstances. This is exactly when Senators are supposed to intervene on behalf of their constituents.

[DemBones DemBones]

98. A death in the family will get a soldier home for

a bereavement leave, but it won't get him out of the military.

[vetwife]

100. PTSD and a bad back should under title 38..Hey,

this vetwife has got to get some rest..Jeff and I are past going.Please keep kicked. Thanks !

[DemBones DemBones]

103. That may indeed work. As a vet's daughter, I'm

just saying that people calling Levin should be aware that senators and congressmen can't/ won't pull strings for every soldier. It's natural, perhaps, for civilians to think "Mari's lost her husband, the Army should give her back her son," but the military doesn't think that way.

However, if there's a problem with the military not looking at his claim about his back & PTSD, someone in DC can probably help get that specific problem addressed.

[Spiffarino]

102. Unless a powerful gov't official intervenes

That what needs to happen in this case. Then we need to give the Iraqis their country back, get the hell out of their, and get our soldiers and sailors back to the job they are supposed to be doing: Protecting our collective interests instead of the BFEE's.

[NecessaryOnslaught]

143. You are a piece of shit.

[DemWitch]

105. I'll get ahold of Hillary and Chuck Schumer...

someone PM with the info I need to know...

Last name, hometown, etc...

[DaveSZ]

106. All my heart goes out to you

Take care.

[DemWitch]

115. Got ahold of Hillary and Schumer

via e-mail. Will call offices first thing Monday morning...

Candle still burning...

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

107. Kick

:kick:

[Mari333]

108. I had Michael read all these posts

He came home quite disoriented, said he has seen a lot, and said "those people at Abu Ghraib are all innocent", meaning the prisoners. In other words, they are being held for nothing. Which, of course, is what we all knew.
I called my counselor, and she said to let Michael make the ultimate decision about what to do. I gave him all the options you all so kindly posted on here, now its just a matter of him making the decision.
Grief, and pain, really screw up your neurons, and mess your thinking up. Michael is reeling, this is so insane for him. He never got to see his dad dead, (which helps with the grief process, gives it some reality), but he also didnt get to say goodbye for good..the last time he saw his daddy was when he left for Iraq in Feb. He had just gotten an email from his dad before he came home. He said he read it, and will keep it forever.
His dad and I used to dance together to "The Universe song" by Monty Python..we thought it was so true and made us smile.
So, last night Michael and I danced to that song.
then we cried, a lot.
Michael will now have to decide for himself what route to take.
I have a psychiatrist and doctor ready if he wants.
In the meantime, Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow, Fred Upton..whatever persons you know and can get a hold of to keep him here...
I told Michael you called Levins office and he said wow..I hope I can stay here.
Even his buddies in Iraq said "stay home dude...dont come back".
(((to my friends at DU)))

[nostamj]

109. thanks for the report

I will send the 'condolences' thread later today. it's very long.

best to you and michael

[Mari333]

112. The condolences will mean a lot to his kids

because his daughter his taking this badly also, and someday they will need to look over those words of love and see how much their dad meant to them, and see how much he was loved. I will print it out for Scotts kids, and they can have them for the rest of their lives to remember and show their own kids what a wonderful man he was, and how hard he fought in his life to end this war, and stop the madness.
Scott was a true patriot. His kids need to know that.
They need to see how loved he was.

[nostamj]

116. the file has been sent

over 100 pages! containing over 700 individual messages from DU.

[Misunderestimator]

114. I don't often pray, but I'll be praying for your son to stay with you...

So terribly sorry for all you're going through. At least it looks like you have about 700 friends here to support you. :hug:

[Boredtodeath]

111. Questions and some comments....helpful, I hope

I'm a little confused about the familial relationship here, so I may be making false assumptions, but.....

1. There's a minor child (a sister) involved whose parents are now deceased, correct?

2. If this child is Michael's blood relative (sister, half sister), he becomes the closest living blood relative and can claim hardship.

3. While a hardship may not keep him from serving his time, it should keep him out of a combat zone.

4. These are the issues we need to look at - how to keep Michael safe and out of the combat zone in Iraq and Afghanistan if not out of the service.

[Mari333]

113. His sister lives with his biological mom, shes 15, in another state

He lived here with me and his dad. He came here when he found out his dad died, and they let him leave Iraq . He wanted to be with me, and his stepbrothers, my 3 sons, who all are surrounding him with love. They lost their dad in 1989, so they understand what this is like for him.
This is the second time I have been widowed.
edit to add: 2 weeks is not enough at all...his sister needs him now, very much..to get to her he has to drive 5 hours...she lives a long ways from us...
he is disoriented and could be home stateside and continue in the reserves..lets face it, he should have never been sent, none of them should have been sent...his father had been hospitalized for clinical depression since his son was deployed and I know that his fathers death occured as a direct result of his clinical depression..he shouldnt have even been driving that day.
I dont give a rats ass what the top brass military does or thinks at the top levels about death and grieving and all their other macho horseshit. The grunts on the ground told Michael not to come back.
All this "buck up and be a man" crap is horseshit. A son lost his dad, and I blame this war for turning his dad into a crying mess, and I point my finger at the white house for his dads death, a dad who would NOT have been so depressed and afraid had Michael not been sent to that fraudulent bloodbath for nothing.
My husband was a casualty of this war, period.
Our whole family has been, as have all the other military families, casualties of this war in one way or another.
If Rummy flies back from Iraq, he gets to come back in a presidential plane with champagne
Michael had to get back on his own, with no help, no one with him, nothing, and face his dads death.
I showed Michael the Iraq Vets against the war site.
Michael knows this war is bullshit, and he should have never been sent.
None of them should have. The grunts on the ground know its bullshit too.

[Blue Gardener]

117. Keeping this kicked

Let's give Mari and Michael all the help we can.

[nostamj]

119. EVERYONE who is writing/calling...

you need to read Mari's post #110.

THAT is the info that can make a difference. medical records 'lost' regarding his back condition and then, one week later, off to Iraq.

[vetwife]

120. The lost medical records should be in every letter and the contribution

that has been made to Marie is hard to pinpoint at this time due to snail mail, but it looks like we are hovering at about 1100.00. It is is also difficult to pinpoint as the electronic transfers are pending on some, that is just the way it works. Especially when there is a lot of activity on an account. I am monitoring very closely as I want to make sure every contribution is accounted for. We at United Veterans have to do this for Bookkeeping purposes. I am so proud of this community for chipping in. After all is received I will post the Tally.

It is so strange to me that 5 dollar, ten dollars, 15, dollars all adds up so quickly. This should tell us how badly the politicans are sticking it to us regarding taxing a plastic before it is made into a product (for example) then taxing the product, then taxing us again after the product is sold to us. ESPECIALLY OIL ! Pennies and dimes over millions of people and the special interests and Big Corporations have a chunk of Change. like all of that tax and FCC tax we pay for telephones and such. It has really blown me away. To see how these thoughtful and small amounts added up so quickly and then when I protrayed that analagy in my mind with Big oil and Communications, I got really mad ! There is no help for the average Joe, just Big George and Big Dick !

[Mari333]

121. another thing about the scoliosis

he was sent there with it, as I said..I tried to get his medical records, to see if there was anything on file..they told me only Michael could demand access to those...but he was already IN Iraq, and was working all day..at that point I was dealing with his dads depression and it was hell on earth here so I couldnt do everything..
Nonetheless, I do have it ON FILE at Levins office that Michael was told at FT DIX that he was diagnosed with scoliosis of the spine, and that they TOLD HIM THEY LOST HIS X RAYS.
So, Levins office has a letter from me ON FILE that this kid has scoliosis of the spine, had been told he had it by the army doctors at Ft Dix, and the military affairs person there should have it.
In the meantime, I am going to fight the military tooth and nail , and if they dont like it, too bad. all this macho crapola is macho crapola.
This war should have never happened, and no one should have been sent.
It was, and still is, for nothing.

[Occulus]

123. Mari, here's something else

you mentioned that his X rays had been "lost". I'm wondering... would it be feasible for him to see a doctor and get some taken of his spine before he goes back?

My deepest condolences, Mari, to you and Michael. Nobody should have to deal with this...

[nostamj]

124. .

[Mari333]

125. Heres some more info that I find amusing

the top brass where Michael was stationed "didnt like me or Scott very much" . They checked his emails because they didnt like my anti war activities. Well, la dee dah. Tough shite. Maybe they need to read THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

[nostamj]

126. .

[nostamj]

127. post-march coverage kick

[ronnykmarshall]

128. My god this is insane.

Mari,

I will call and/or write Sen. Levin and my senators. They'll have to drag Michael back over my dead body.

This is madness.

[DemWitch]

129. kick-a-roo

:kick:

[nostamj]

130. please read #110

and other posts regarding medical condition, lost x-rays, etc. before contacting your representatives.

thanks. it's not just about sympathy. at all.

[mzmolly]

131. Mari can he file as an objector now that he's been there and back?

My heart goes out to you. I simply can not imagine your pain.

[nostamj]

133. some people are getting back from a weekend away...

so.... :kick:

[Scout]

134. sunday night kick

[rocksforme]

135. VFW

:wtf: :wtf:

This is my first post on this forum, but I know some of the other DU posters personally - I am on the planning committee for Seattle Thunder, have been a 2004 Washington State Democratic Delegate for Howard Dean and am involved with many local activists. I am also the mother of a disabled Gulf War I veteran.

Our family has been through very tough times because of my son's brain disorders from damage to his nervous system from being in Iraq and Kuwait. I won't go into all the intricacies of his condition, but we found the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) very helpful. My son was honorably discharged and became disabled 10 months later, but it took almost 3 years to get him into the VA medical system and get awarded disability benefits. It finally happened because the VFW has access to advocate lawyers who help veterans with the bureaucracy. Once we met him and outlined the problems we were having, a wonderful man, Wayne Simoneaux, got my son's case out of military purgatory.

I'm wondering if there is a VFW somewhere near your location, that you could call about your son's situation. Granted, he's active duty and not yet a discharged veteran, but, if you can locate the local VFW advocate, he/she might be able to give you some REAL advice or at least contact information for starting a process to intervene on your son's behalf. It's worth a try.

Beyond that, if you provide your son's name, etc, I'll write a letter to whomever you wish. You sound like a strong and persistent person - you need to be, to deal with the military. I've found from my experiences, that knowing what questions to ask, can open avenues that are closed off otherwise - and no one in the system will advise you, unless you ask the right questions. This is true of HUD, DSHS and every government agency, I've dealt with.

Stay tough.


Brando

[nomatrix]

144. Welcome To DU Brando, and thanks for the info

Mari stay with it. There will be some way.

Get the doctor and x-rays ASAP be sure to let them know what you need it for before Michael goes in.

[Citizen Daryl]

136. Kicking it to the top, where it belongs. n/t

[laylah]

137. keepin' this kicked! n/t

[peacefreak]

138. Monday morning kick

for Mari & Michael.

[Skidmore]

139. kick

[mrboba1]

140. kicking for Tuesday

[Chovexani]

145. Kick for Michael

:kick:

[Lisa]

146. and another kick

...

[mwdem]

147. Kick

:kick:

[noamnety]

149. Draft message to give to Max tomorrow

I'm going to see Max Cleland tomorrow. My plan is to print a few of these off on postcards, to hand to him, Debbie Stabenow, Carl and/or Sandy Levin, Governor Granholm, and anyone else I recognize there. Is this okay? I'm more of a graphics person than a letter writer.

http://www.ideamouth.com/politics/formax.htm

(I shamelessly borrowed some talking points from above.)

[noamnety]

150. (kick)

I did what I could. I got some face time with Jennifer Granholm today, so I talked to her about Michael, and gave the postcard I made with his info.

And Max was eating ice cream - no free hands, but the postcard made it into the front pocket of the guy pushing his wheelchair (assistant?).

I also passed the info along to the peace club at our high school, with a request for them to make some phone calls also.

[slutticus]

151. Looks good!

Let us know how it goes!