Mr. SHAYS. Thank you, Specialist Ramsey. We will be helping. Mrs. Ramsey. Mrs. RAMSEY. I would like to thank the committee for the honor and privilege to testify from a wife's perspective regarding Reserve military family life. My husband, Specialist John A. Ramsey, comes from a family with a proud history of serving the U.S. military. His grandfather, Charles J. Bondley, Jr., a graduate of West Point, was a two star general in the Air Force who served during World War II alongside General MacArthur and General LeMay. His father, Thomas W. Ramsey, Sr., also served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War in the Army. His brother and half sister are currently in the military. While John was a Reserve, he has been called to active duty to support the firefighters during the wildfires in central and west Florida, Operational Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom and also Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his deployment of Operation Iraqi Freedom, John was injured while loading heavy equipment overhead. At no time was I notified of his injury, medical treatment or progress of his recovery, either by the U.S. military or his unit. The family residence program did e-mail a couple of times, but nothing newsworthy concerning John. I received no phone calls or personal visits from any military personnel. On the other hand, the Orange County Sheriffs Office, John's civilian employer, called me monthly. John was deployed for 5 months in Kuwait and Iraq. This period was very stressful on our two children, Chris, age 7, and Sarah, age 2. Chris received counseling at his school and my daughter was also having a difficult time with John's absence. Our children had a hard time with it. Even now our family struggles with the emotions due to John's absence. We supported and continue to support the efforts in Iraq. However, if it hadn't been for mine and John's family, as well as the Orange County Sheriffs Office, during his deployment things would have probably been emotionally and physically devastating, especially since I felt completely isolated from the military. John contacted me upon arriving in Benning, GA, saying that he would be receiving medical treatment and be staying there. He was given an LOD and referral for medical treatment. The U.S. military released him to his unit to have his medical care administered through them. Approximately 2 weeks after returning home, he was discharged from active duty. His unit assured him that this deactivation was a mistake and that they were taking action to reinstate him. His unit and the Florida National Guard fought with the Florida National Guard Bureau and the U.S. Army to place him back on active duty. In that 8 months that they fought, John had two military authorized surgeries and was going through physical therapy. His civilian doctors discontinued medical treatment and physical therapy in February due to non-payment of his medical bills by the military. As of today, the military still has not paid all his medical bills resulting in our receiving collection calls and notices on a regular basis. These 8 months from the time John returned home to the end of June 2003 through March 2004 have been extremely stressful, emotionally exhausting and financially devastating. We did finally receive payment in December from June to December, only after the help of Florida Congressman Ric Keller and WFTB Channel 9's Josh Einiger being involved in the negotiations. But in that 8 months, we had completely depleted our savings account, had to borrow money from our parents and children's savings accounts to pay our monthly expenses. It then took the military another 3 months to issue John's check for December to February, which has started the debt cycle all over again. It's extremely difficult to budget for monthly payments when the military is only paying ever 3 to 6 months, if at all. The military is demanding copies of our 2002 and 2003 tax returns with no explanation of why they need them. John has started smoking due to all the stress the military has caused him. And Sarah, our daughter, doesn't understand why her father can't play with her. As my husband was saying now, the military is going to send him back to Benning, GA, to continue his medical treatment, other than being treated by the civilian doctors who initiated his initial treatment, however, they seem to want him to report on a voluntary basis, since they are not wiling to restate him back to active duty. In his absence, I will have to resume all the household responsibilities alone again, with no projected date of his return, while comforting two children for the third time the military has taken their father from them. After considering my past experience with the military, I have serious doubts as to John receiving proper medical treatment and am skeptical whether he will be paid. I also have massive concerns as to the treatment he will receive by the active military personnel who he will be reporting to. Thank you. [The prepared statement of Mrs. Ramsey follows:] Congressional Testimony Laura Ramsey Wife of John A. Ramsey SPC. Submitted Before the Subcommittee on National Security, "Does the "Total Force' Add Up? - The Impact of Health Protection Programs on Guard and Reserve Units March 30, 2004 I would like to thank the committee, and I am honored for the privilege to testify on a wife's perspective regarding reserve military family life. My husband, Specialist John A. Ramsey, is a member of the 32nd Army Air Missile Defense Command. He comes from a family with a proud history of serving in the United States Military. His grandfather, Charles J. Bondley, Jr., a graduate of West Point, was a two star general in the Air Force who served during WWII alongside General McCarthy and General Lamay. His father, Thomas W. Ramsey, Sr., served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War in the army. His brother and half sister are currently in the military. John enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1989 serving two years before being honorably discharged on a family hardship due to his grandmother's, for whom he was the guardian, deteriorating health. After acquiring her much-needed medical treatment and establishing a safe home environment, he wished to continue serving his country. In 1995, he reenlisted in the military through the Florida Army National Guard as a reservist. Since then he has been called to active duty, to support the firefighters during the wildfires in Central and West Florida (1998 & 2000), Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-2002), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003). During his deployment of Operation Iraqi Freedom, John was injured while loading heavy equipment overhead. He reported his injury to his First Sergeant and was sent to the Troop Medical Clinic in Kuwait for treatment. He informed me of his injury by email stating that he was being treated for a strained or pulled muscle in the right shoulder but was in enormous pain. Though I was concerned for his well being, my mind was put at ease because he assured me he was receiving medical care and treatment. Meanwhile, the war with Iraq had begun and John stayed with his unit to help |