I've just watched the CNN video with Ed and I have to say I am very impressed, I wish Ed could come to the UK and do the same for our people here as their facilities are equally bad.

Ian

Can anyone paraphrase what the interview was about? Thanks

This story is up on CNN right now:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/28/soldier.electrocutions/index.html

It's related to Ed's story so I hope it's OK to post here.

 Quote: Angela Burrell

Can anyone paraphrase what the interview was about? Thanks

http://leerburg.com/barracks.htm

Thanks, Connie. WOW.

I read an associated news story that Ed linked. (Heh, he even got President Bush's attention! way to go!)

What got me was this line: "Earnhardt said conditions at the barracks have 'vastly improved' since the video was taken and posted online." I can't believe it took someone doing what Ed has done in order to improve the conditions that should not have been anywhere close to that in the first place.

That video is sad. Shame on whoever let this happen, and Go Ed for bringing this issue to light.

I'm going to ask my brother (who has also been in Afghanistan and is going back this summer) if this is a problem in Canada also. Makes me mad.

My apologies for digging up a year and a half old thread. I feel it necessary to extend my thanks.

I am a soldier currently deployed to Iraq. Mr. Frawley, I can say with all honesty that your actions did in fact effect the lives of many soldiers. When I graduated from BASIC, I went to my first duty station, Schofield Barracks, in Hawaii. The barracks there were in the middle of massive remodeling that was initiated by the inspection of all Military billeting that was a direct result of your actions. I was part of a detail that helped to move my unit from the old barracks into the newly remodeled barracks. The difference was remarkable. It was hard for me to believe the living conditions that some single soldiers had to deal with at home.

It is one thing to be deployed to a small fire base and deal with the living conditions there, because that is understandable. I spent over 6 months in this type of situation, with no showers and few modern living conveniences. We were some of the first soldiers to live where we were placed, so that was to be expected.

When we come home, we should enjoy our lives and have the opportunity to live to a standard comparable to the rest of society. To be forced to live in squalor would offend me. Home is supposed to be the safe place, the nice place. We live in garbage over here. We walk through things you would call hazardous waste. Home is clean. Home smells like home. I can't imagine it any other way. Your actions have made a nice home happen for a lot of soldiers. The barracks at Schofield are now a very nice place to live. They afford single soldiers a nice sized room, as well as a common kitchen and latrine. They are well furnished, clean, and safe.

Ed, I thank you for your help. You are a remarkable man. Thank your son for me. You should be very proud of him, as I know you are. He has endured what few in the Military go through, let alone civilians. For every soldier with a Combat Infantry Badge, or Combat Action Badge, there are 100 without one. Combat troops endure things you can't understand, that you will never see in a movie, that you can't extract from a book, and they will gladly do it again tomorrow. It's just what we do.

Thank you fellow board users for your unrelenting support for the troops. It is unbelievably heart warming for me to see such support from you. It means a lot to us to see that people care. It means I did the right thing. You make me proud to be an American and a soldier.

David