Charlie Anderson @ Congressional Forum on Iraq

House Democrats sponsored a forum on the war in Iraq in the Rayburn House Office Building.

Charlie Anderson served as a Navy Hospital Corpsman with the Marine Corps' Second Tank Battalion during the invasion of Iraq. He is the Southeast Regional Coordinator of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Charlie discussed his experience in the military during the war in Iraq on April 27, 2006 in Washington, DC.

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[iraqvet4peace]

4. What bases? OIF I was a constant advance for 2nd Tanks. The only bases we saw were captured Iraqi bases that we stayed at for a short time.

5. Problems in the military and VA mental health departments have been widely documented. I never said I didn't seek care. I was explaining that the system is broken and the government is falling short on its contract with us.

6. You are entitled to your own opinion. But not your own facts.

[iraqvet4peace]

1.  Sapi plates were DOD policy, but not in ready supply. (This issue has been addressed in many other sources.)

2. Likewise, the ammo shortage at that time was reported in a variety of places. Pistol bearers only carry 30 rounds. ANY contact could deplete this supply. In active combat nearly anyone would fire.

3. As late as 2005 there were examples of units welding steel onto their vehicles because up armor kits were not in ready supply. In 2003, no one had ever heard of an up armor kit.

[Lugachugger33]

I was with second tank battalion and deployed durning the same time as this scum bag remembered, that the sappy plates for body armor was even intergrated into dod policy. Nor the uparmor for humvee and soft skin videos. We all had a chance to state claims for mental health wheather you took them or not is on you. Being a medic I am pretty sure you would have a base to start from for help. And as a doc you don't really fire your weapon.

[sucrameldo]

Your a coward

[navydad31]

Completely "UNTRAINED"????? This guy was an FMF Corpsman? Give me a damn break! Stop your whining, you joined for all the wrong reason's. Glad this guy was not in my boy's platoon in Ramadi.

[corpsman89]

the military uses something called ORM, operational risk management, which means, is the mission worth the risk? thats really all i have to say to prove my point

[iraqvet4peace]

Training defficancies have been noted many other places. Pistol bearers were never considered a priority for training.

FYI I was always rated highly on my evaluations and was was my battalion's sailor of the quarter for 3rd qtr 2002.

[skamstr81]

I am appalled by his statements.  EVERYONE gets weapons training before deployment, if he didn't it would be by his own fault. Sounds like this guy is what we call a "shitbird".

[iraqvet4peace]

I have to admit that is a very original dodge to avoid debate. I have not resorting to weak tactics like name calling but have used facts to discuss my position.  If you don't want to debate the issue, fine. But don't accuse me of avoiding you when clearly it is you who would rather throw insults thatn have reasoned debate.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Anderson

HM2(FMF/SW) Ret.

[iraqvet4peace]

Boyle: I don't know what you are talking about. I have not banned you from anything. I welcome debate with anyone about anything.

Dissent is the highest form of patriotism- Thomas Jefferson.