IF THIS STORY turns out to be true, it’s pretty disgraceful:

FORT STEWART, Ga., Oct. 17 (UPI) — Hundreds of sick and wounded U.S. soldiers including many who served in the Iraq war are languishing in hot cement barracks here while they wait — sometimes for months — to see doctors.

The National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers’ living conditions are so substandard, and the medical care so poor, that many of them believe the Army is trying push them out with reduced benefits for their ailments. One document shown to UPI states that no more doctor appointments are available from Oct. 14 through Nov. 11 — Veterans Day. . . .

Most soldiers in medical hold at Fort Stewart stay in rows of rectangular, gray, single-story cinder block barracks without bathrooms or air conditioning. They are dark and sweltering in the southern Georgia heat and humidity. Around 60 soldiers cram in the bunk beds in each barrack.

I’m not sure, but I think the guy to talk to is Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Dr. William Winkenwerder. If this story is in error, perhaps he can let me know. If it’s not, perhaps he can do something about it.

The DoD pages for his section don’t seem to provide any useful contact information, but perhaps someone out there will be able to find some.

UPDATE: That didn’t take long. Somebody sent me his email address, and I emailed him with a few questions.