Stryker Brigade News

Scott was removed from the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) and placed on the Permanent Disability Retirement List (PDRL) on May 28, 2008. His evaluation at Madigan Army Medical Center at Ft. Lewis, WA this past January showed continued improvement in some areas, but little to none in others. For example, the right visual field blindness has not improved at all and Scott is considered legally blind as a result. On the positive side, he was found to be fit for duty by the psychiatrist. This is remarkable, considering all he's been through since he was wounded.

Scott recently attended the Blind School at the VA facility at Palo Alto, California. There was some delay in getting Scott to this facility because he is raising his daughter, Alyson. The VA was not prepared to include her in the program and that was unsatisfactory to Scott. No offense to the VA, but the new veterans often come with families and the responsibilities that go with that. The VA is aware of the problem, but they're used to a much older population and the conversion is taking longer than they would like, I'm sure. Long story short: Cooler heads prevailed and his daughter was allowed to come along and participate with him in the program. Aly and her grandmother stayed at the Fisher House on the campus there.

Again, if you're looking to support a charity that actually benefits our wounded and their families, I cannot emphasize enough the Fisher House Foundation (www.fisherhouse.org) and the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org). On a smaller scale yet more personally (since Scott was one of the soldiers that inspired its creation), Operation Second Chance (www.operationsecondchance.org) has also been wonderful to us and other soldiers recovering from their wounds.

I think it's safe to say the staff and other veterans at Palo Alto will not soon forget Alyson's involvement. I personally observed at least one game of pool temporarily disrupted by her very strong desire to move the balls around herself. By the time she left, everyone knew her name (and moved a little faster, too). She wasn't exactly a USO tour, but her bright smile was returned every time.

On the legal front, there are still restrictions on what I can report (which has been and remains tiresome) but Scott still has sole decision-making authority (Washington State speak for sole legal custody) for Aly and visits with someone have been suspended pending further hearing on July 9, 2008. This is too bad because where I work we sincerely want children to have a meaningful relationship with their parents, but that relationship has to be free from risks to the child. This one, sadly, is not free enough. We're working the problem, as usual.

Long term "fans" of these updates at www.strykernews.com (and you may consider making a contribution there as well) may be pleased to learn that, yes, I am thinking of putting all this stuff into a book. I'm waiting for legal events to settle down and certainly the outcome of the TDRL/PDRL saga needed to be known before that project could begin. Without going into too much detail here, I already have the title for one chapter: The Hole in Rolling Stone Magazine Where Its Credibility Used to Be. Suing them in court over their treatment of Scott would have been an expensive waste of time, but bringing to the "court of public opinion" what was done should be most satisfying. (Not as satisfying as being within arm's reach of the author, but hey...)

Anyhow, I look forward to seeing you on the Glorious Fourth and if you can't make it, think of all the veterans and service members out there who have made and are still making you and your family safe. Enjoy the day wherever you are.

ST