Dr David Chu and military retiree abuse - another objection

Since 01-31-05

From: Waspscpo@aol.com  [mailto:Waspscpo@aol.com] 
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 4:11 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Fw: Dr David Chu and military retiree abuse

Subj: Dr David Chu and military retiree abuse
Date: 1/31/2005 2:02:04 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: p38bob@deepwell.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)

This is correspondence I have received from Vice Admiral Harold Koenig, USN retired, the former United States Navy Surgeon General.... Admiral Koenig is known and respected for standing up and telling it the way it is. When it comes to protecting the rights and entitlements of military retirees, he has always been out in front leading the fight. You can count on that... I enclose his letter for your consumption and hope that each of us can follow the Admiral's example and let Congress and the Administration know that we are not going to stand for the abuse of those who keep, and have kept, this country free since the first representative assembly in the New World convened in the Jamestown church on July 30, 1619.

The article in the Wall Street Journal did not happen by accident. We do not need any erosion of, or need to give any impression, implied or otherwise, to members of Congress, or the Administration, that we, as military retirees, will tolerate anyone even thinking about or diminishing those hard earned entitlements.. It is my fervent hope each of you will follow the Admiral's example and write to your members of Congress and also the Administration..... Iris and I certainly intend to do so and will follow the Admiral's example.... It is the Right Thing To Do! chk6 bob
..............................................
I've had it with Chu. I finally wrote my representatives and asked them all to demand his resignation. I have known the guy since 1989 and he has not changed his stripes. We need to get him out of government before he does some real and lasting damage. HMK

Admiral Koenig's letter


4933 Marlborough Drive San Diego, CA 92116

January 30, 2005 Congresswoman Susan Davis
1224 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Congresswoman Davis,

Thank you for meeting with Doug Burke, CEO of Defense Web and me last week to discuss support for our efforts to assist service men and women with the problems associated with combat stress. I do think Defense Web can be a great help as it has been with so many other military family support programs.

On another subject that affects military families, I am deeply disturbed by an article by Greg Jaffe that appeared in the January 25th Wall Street Journal. The article featured comments by Under Secretary of Defense David Chu. Dr Chu said that benefits for retired military members and military widows are harming defense and that they take away from our nation's ability to defend itself.

This is not the first time that Dr Chu has made such remarks about the retired community. In 2004, in congressional testimony he stated, "We are concerned with those who serve, we are not concerned with those who no longer serve." I don't believe Mr. Chu appreciates the sacrifice made by those who serve in the military once they leave active service.

Dr Chu should issue an apology to all retirees who gave the better years of their lives to the defense of their country, and for those who are no longer with us, to their survivors. He should do this in his final remarks when he leaves office.

For clarification on this, contact the office of Rep. Chet. Edwards of Texas. If you were not present in the house chamber when Rep. Edwards made his remarks, I am sure he can provide them to you.

 Dr Chu should not be allowed to voice opinions in public that can easily be construed as policies and views of the President and his administration. I sincerely hope you and other members of congress will call for his immediate removal from office.

Sincerely,



Harold M. Koenig, MD Vice Admiral, Medical Corps United States Navy, Retired