TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Military officials acknowledge that Oregon National Guard soldiers returning from Iraq received poor treatment as they were processed through Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
The News Tribune of Tacoma used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain memos about an investigation requested by Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon.
In a letter this week to Wyden, Defense Undersecretary Clifford Stanley said an investigation found “training failures, benefits counseling errors and systemic deficiencies” last May when the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team came home.
The National Guard soldiers complained they were treated as second-rate soldiers and referred to as “weekend warriors.”