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West Virginia's congressional delegation wants a federal commission to look into
the closing of some veterans hospitals and to keep inpatient care at the Beckley
VA Medical Center.
Veterans groups expressed concern last week over the disparity in giving bonuses
to some soldiers, in addition to cutting other veterans programs.
Some of the groups have complained the Bush administration has managed to
prevent the photographing of draped caskets returning from the Iraqi war.
Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller and Rep. Nick Rahall, all D-W.Va. want to
keep in-patient care at the Beckley VA Medical Center, saying it will force southern
West Virginia veterans to travel five hours to Richmond, Va. to receive care.
Rockefeller, who is chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said the
letter was important to make sure the commission "understands how critical this
hospital is to southern West Virginia."
The father of former prisoner of war Shoshana Johnson has accused the Army of
shortchanging his daughter of disability benefits after she was offered a much
smaller disability check than fellow POW Jessica Lynch.
Shoshana Johnson was shot in both ankles and was held by Iraqi captors for 22
days. She still periodically uses a walking cast, has a hard time staying on her feet
for any period of time, Her father said she does not sleep well.
Lynch is receiving an 80 percent disability. Johnson has been offered 30
percent.
Army spokesman Maj. Steve Stover said Shoshana said the two cases are different
and race is not an issue.
Jessica Lynch, a friend to the black woman, said she was "disappointed for
Shoshana."
"When she visited me in West Virginia last month, we discussed the extent of our
injuries and the long road back to health, including a lifetime commitment to
physical therapy and rehabilitation," Lynch said. "I support her efforts 100 percent
and wish her a continued recovery."
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