[DaveB]

This is a hoax,

isn't it?

© St. Petersburg Times: September 11, 2003, By BILL ADAIR, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON - er a grenade exploded inside his Humvee in Iraq, Marine Staff Sgt. Bill Murwin was treated at a military hospital in Germany and spent four weeks at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Part of his left foot was amputated.

His medical care was free, but the government billed him $243 for the food.

Then, just three days after he received his first bill for the hospital food in Germany, he got a stern letter saying the bill was overdue. It warned that his account would be referred to a collection agency.

Murwin, like thousands of other military personnel hospitalized every year, is expected to reimburse the government $8.10 per day for food. That's standard procedure because of a law Congress passed in 1981. But it has angered many military families over the years.

db :cuss:

[DadOfThree]

Not a hoax. But there is something that the article doesn't tell is that he was probably receiving a "seperate rats" payment each month. If you are living off post or do not live in the barracks, they pay you a small amount for food each month. So essentially he had already been paid for those meals and was just paying it back. When you are receiving a seperate rats payment, you also have to pay each time you eat in the mess hall. Otherwise you would be getting paid for the meals and eating for free.

[Sean Smith]

That would be my guess too.

[Sergeant Bob]

Not a hoax. But there is something that the article doesn't tell is that he was probably receiving a "seperate rats" payment each month. If you are living off post or do not live in the barracks, they pay you a small amount for food each month. So essentially he had already been paid for those meals and was just paying it back.
It's "separate rations" ( just so nobody confuses it with, like, rat on a stick or something ) for those who don't know the lingo. However true it is though, I'd think the govt could make an exception for our good soldiers who get their legs blown off in war!!!.
I think that's the least they could do.

[DadOfThree]

It's "separate rations" ( just so nobody confuses it with, like, rat on a stick or something )
No, No, No, When I was in the Army, I was stationed in Panama, El Salvador, Honduras and Columbia. It was rat on a stick!! :D :D :D

[Sergeant Bob]

I was stationed in Panama It was rat on a stick!!
Where'd you here that? I used to stop at one of those little shops on the Causeway (I think that's what it was, right after you got off the Thatcher Ferry bridge?) and buy ceviche and chicken.....that was chicken...right?:uhoh:
Had a friend down there in the AF who was a Zonee, and he should have had a bumper sticker saying.."Iguana, the other white meat".

[UnknownSailor]

For Navy and Marines, it's called Basic Allowance for Sustinance. Those living out in town get it directly, and those living in barracks or onboard ship, the BAS payment goes to the base/ship, to pay for the food the mess hall uses.

So, I can easily see this.

[LostOneToo]

Separate rations or not, a wounded man deserves free meals in the hospital.:cuss:

[C.R.Sam]

IF...
He was drawing rations money.
And....
He was fed in the hospital.

I see no problem with deducting an amount equal to the rats as payment for the hospital food.

Otherwise, he would be getting paid for eating.

Sam

[C.R.Sam]

Re Thunk...
If he was in a combat zone and eating furnished chow....why would he still be drawing com rats. ?

Used to be that if you were posted to duty where food was furnished, your comrats stopped for the duration of that duty.

Sam

[bountyhunter]

I'm stunned.

They have the nerve to call that swill they serve on base "FOOD"?

[Sergeant Bob]

Used to be that if you were posted to duty where food was furnished, your comrats stopped for the duration of that duty.
Still true.
They have the nerve to call that swill they serve on base "FOOD"?
If you're talking about an Air Force base, the foods pretty decent. When I was stationed at Norton AFB, CA, I met quite a few Marines who would come up there from Pendelton for R&R! They loved our chow hall (I guess they had the swill).