"Supporting The Troops" Hits New Low

Members of the Minnesota National Guard were deployed longer than any other ground combat unit, 22 months, boosted by the Bush Administration's Surge. When they got home, they found the government refusing to pay benefits the soldiers believe they earned

in all, 2,600 soldiers from this group served a grueling tour that lasted almost a full two years. Now all they want is the benefits they feel they earned under the provisions of the G.I. Bill.

"It's pretty much a slap in the face,"

1st Lieutenant told WSCH Channel 6 in Portland

"I think it was a scheme to save money, personally. I think it was a leadership failure by the senior Washington leadership... once again failing the soldiers."

At the root of the problem is that the group's orders were written for 729 days. Had the orders been written for just one day more, the Soldiers would receive benefits that would total an extra $500 to $800 a month towards tuition. Another affected soldier, platoon leader Jon Hobot told WCSH that

"I would assume, and I would hope, that when I get back from a deployment of 22 months, my senior leadership in Washington, the leadership that extended us in the first place, would take care of us once we got home,"

Both of the Soldiers believe the Pentagon deliberately wrote the orders for a day short, in order to avoid paying out the money. Now Congress has gotten involved, as six representatives from the House, as well as Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman have filed inquiries with the Secretary of the Army. This is just another in a long line of sad stories about how this administration, and this government "rewards" those who put their lives on the line for the safety of others. When is the rest of America going to wake up to what is going on here?