# If this is true, I pit the Military, the phone companies and the entire US government **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 29, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192 "2004-11-29T19:09:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/1 "2004-11-29T19:09:17Z")
If it isn’t true, I pit the sadistic schmuck who created the letter and myself for falling for it. (I did try Snopes, didn’t find anything.) ``` -=-=-=-=- ``` I just got one of those ‘pass it on to everybody’ mailings, the kind of thing I normally wouldn’t even read before deleting it, but this one makes me see red. Can it possibly be true that the soldiers in our military hospitals, the ones who have been sent home wounded from the Iraq war, have to pay for phone calls to their families??? According to the mailing (I’m tempted to post the whole thing, but I suspect that’s against the rules) the ‘Family Assistance Center’ at Walter Reed Hospital has put out an appeal for prepaid phone cards in any denomination. It says that many of their patients are too poor to cover the cost of long distance phone calls to their families, and there is no Military/government/telephone charity/whatever fund or assistance available. Unless people are charitable enough to send these cards (it requests no cash be sent, just the cards) many soldiers will be unable to even talk to their families over this holiday season. As I said, if this is true, it sickens me. I will definitely send some cards myself, but I find it absolutely appalling that our government will send soldiers to fight and be wounded, and then not even allow them to call their families for free from the hospital. Bury the charges under ‘mental therapy’ or something if you have to, but for god’s sakes, let them talk to their famiies. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/2 "2004-11-29T19:19:49Z")
I do not know anything about Walter Reed specifically but I do know through personnel experience that phone cards are needed by the troops. Generally “morale calls” are free. That gets you a line to the states. However, if your family does not live on a base you have to pay for the toll call. The portion of the call from overseas is free but you have to pay the toll from Fort Bragg (or Norfolk etc) to where you are calling. I would not start sending random phone cards or sending them to where an anonymous email says to. If you want to help, try [Operation Uplink.](http://www.operationuplink.org/) It is a program run by the VFW and it works. I have used many of their free phonecards. Each one is about 100 minutes of call time. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/3 "2004-11-29T19:20:34Z")
I find it appalling that the don’t send them _into_ battle with the gear they need. Perhaps we would have less wounded if they were properly equipped. Also less guys getting screwed over (if it’s true) by this stupid policy. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/4 "2004-11-29T19:21:05Z")
With a grain of salt, here’s an article from the [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18816-2004Nov28.html) > [@](#): > > When I discovered that our wounded GIs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center needed certain simple things to help make their recovery easier – snap-on pants for use when legs are put in metal “cages,” with rods holding the bones in place; zippered hooded sweatshirts; phone cards; postage stamps; carry-on luggage for when they are transferred or discharged – I appealed to friends to help me provide some of these things by Thanksgiving. > > -snipage- > > During World War II, our military got free postage. Why can’t the Pentagon provide phones for free calls in every hospital ward? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/5 "2004-11-29T19:22:38Z")
It’s all over the blogs, But I can’t find a news source for it… > [@](#): > > Calling cards > > I got this from Julia of Sisyphus Shrugged, who says she got it from Steve Gilliard’s News Blog, who says he got it from Democratic Underground: > > ``` > The number ONE request at Walter Reed hospital is phone cards. Because the priority of our government is to continue tax cuts for the likes of Paris Hilton, the government doesn’t pay LD phone charges and these guys, many of them amputees, are rationing their calls home. > > Many will be there throughout the holidays. > > Remember that most are from poor families. It is disgusting that they cannot keep in touch with family after what they have been asked to sacrifice for BushCo; especially this time of year. > Support the troops—cuz BushCo doesn’t. Send phone cards of any amount to: > > Medical Family Assistance Center > Walter Reed Medical Center > 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW > Washington, DC 20307-5001 > > They say they need an “endless” supply of these—any amount even $5 is greatly appreciated. > > ``` [http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/005762.html](http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/005762.html) ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/6 "2004-11-29T19:27:11Z")
Great, untold bazillions going to the Iraqis, yet we can’t pick up the dime on our boys calling home. Nice one Pentagon. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/7 "2004-11-29T19:31:06Z")
Take this with a grain of salt. From Walter Reed’s [website](http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/) : > [@](#): > > Telephone and Internet: Family members and OIF/OEF patients can obtain calling cards at the MEDFAC. In addition, the MEDFAC has Internet access, worldwide DSN and local telephone service. Doesn’t say where they get the phone cards from but I bet they are pretty easy to come by there. I stand by what I said in post #2. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/8 "2004-11-29T19:36:46Z")
Yes, calling cards are commonly distributed on a charity basis, although it seems to be mostly covered by corporate community outreach programs. According to the [Walter Reed Army Medical Center FAQ](http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/): > [@](#): > > Family members and OIF/OEF patients can obtain calling cards at the MEDFAC. In addition, the MEDFAC has Internet access, worldwide DSN and local telephone service. From [an article published last summer](http://www.dcmilitary.com/army/stripe/9_25/local_news/29790-1.html): > [@](#): > > Global War on Terrorism patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center can stay in touch with distant friends and loved ones for free, thanks to Verizon officials giving them prepaid calling cards. […] The company is distributing 5,000 of the 60-minute calling cards through the United Services Organization. […] > > “One of the most critical services we provide is communications between U.S. soldiers and their loved ones worldwide,” said John Hanson, senior vice president of the USO, which serves over 5 million service members and their families annually at 121 worldwide operations centers. > > “As a not-for-profit organization chartered by Congress, the USO relies on volunteers and donations from conscientious industry partners to provide such services to families across the nation. We applaud and thank Verizon for its significant contribution to this effort.” [Operation Uplink](http://www.operationuplink.org/) > [@](#): > > Operation Uplink is a unique program that keeps military personnel and hospitalized veterans in touch with their families and loved ones by providing them with a free phone card. Using contributions from supporters like you, Operation Uplink purchases phone cards and distributes them to servicemen and women who are separated from those they care about. Personally, I don’t think this is pitworthy. Why would you want to see personal telecommunications costs fall under the budget of a _military hospital?_ That would almost certainly have a negative impact on the quality of care, somewhere down the line. I would be skeptical about a “desperate plea” from WRAMC that is only manifesting through chain e-mails and blogs, but makes no appearance on their website. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/9 "2004-11-29T19:37:49Z")
At work they just had a small fundraiser where you could donate 15 bucks to buy a servicemember in Iraq (and maybe elsewhere overseas, not sure) a 1 hour phone card. I work for a pretty major company (Philanthropy could be their middle name), so I’m fairly confident that there’s some truth to this. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/10 "2004-11-29T19:37:58Z")
Well, lookee at all the replies up there! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/11 "2004-11-29T19:40:29Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Well, lookee at all the replies up there! :smack: I’m used to being ignored. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/12 "2004-11-29T19:53:04Z")
Your concern is touching, **Reeder**. Of course, I didn’t notice that anybody volunteered to pay for my phone calls when I was in boot camp. I was given a call when I got there to tell my family that I was safe. Any other calls I had to pay for, and I had to make them when the training schedule allowed. Likewise, when I was stationed in Sicily for two years. I could call from base, but I had to use my own calling card to do so. When I was on a South American deployment onboard ship, I got one free call to my family - a shortwave connection to a MARS station. My mom didn’t quite get the hang of saying “over” after each turn, and she spoke too softly for the static. Any other calls I made on that trip I paid for. When we were doing workups for another deployment, I was unreachable every time we got underway. Once, my fiancee at the time got so fed up with this that she actually sent a telegram to the ship. Have anyone else on the boards actually recieved a telegram in the last ten years? Bet it’s rare. Never once in all of this time did I encounter anyone willing to help me keep in touch with my family, apart from the few times mentioned. It was assumed that, as an adult with an income, I could figure this out for myself. I’m happy that these soldiers are being helped in this way during their recuperation. They, too, have technology available to them that I didn’t have while I was in. SailorPhone and email became widely available on ship right as I got out, and soldiers are able to use email to keep in touch with their families from the war zones in iraq and Afghanistan. I think blaming “Bushco” for this is supremely misguided, and ignorant of recent improvements in this area. But what do I know. I’m just a veteran who continues to work with the military every single day. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/13 "2004-11-29T19:54:35Z")
It’s true, phone cards are in great demand. But, to take the military establishment’s side for just a second, I have heard anecdotes of certain troops ringing up phone bills of thousands upon thousands of dollars. It seems like a few bad apples – who I hesitate to call “bad” because they are most likely in very dire straights themselves – mean that unlimited free phone calls just might not be possible. Fortunately, John McCain is working on this, and has a bill to provide each deployed soldier with a $40 phone card each month. My understanding is that the bill has stalled in the House, but I’ll have to check on that. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/14 "2004-11-29T23:24:18Z")
When I was in Nam we would call on a radio phone to Ft Huachuca Arizona and they would call our homes for us and connect us. I believe they were collect calls but I don’t really remember. Remember we aren’t talking every member of the armed forces just those wounded bad enough to get sent back to Walter Reed. These didn’t get scratches you know. How much would it cost the military to give these guys a 10 to15 minute call home once or twice a week? The military couldn’t bargain for a great rate from the phone companies? Hell I have 5 cents a minute. You’ll never convince me they couldn’t beat that. The monet spent would be a pittance in the whole scheme of things. Money well spent. But some disagree though. Hell…just one less tomahawk and they could all talk for hours. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/15 "2004-11-30T02:47:54Z")
One less Tomahawk and there could be a lot more of them wounded or dead. Trust me on this. I happen to know a bit about the Tomahawk missile, seeing as how I’ve been working with them for about nine years. I don’t begrudge the wounded their phone cards. I just believe providing them is a job best left to extramilitary organizations. The Red Cross and the USO seem well suited for this. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/16 "2004-11-30T02:54:17Z")
My gunclub contributes (rather heavily) to the [Adopt-a-Sniper](http://www.adoptasniper.org/) program. Gets me warm and fuzzy to know that my money is going to a good cause! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/17 "2004-11-30T04:01:13Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Of course, I didn’t notice that anybody volunteered to pay for my phone calls when I was in boot camp. I was given a call when I got there to tell my family that I was safe. Any other calls I had to pay for, and I had to make them when the training schedule allowed. I think there’s a difference between an able-bodied soldier who can walk into a store and get some change (even if it is a couple of thousand lire) and walk to a pay phone. When I’ve been in the hospital, the nurses don’t let you wander the corridors, asking people for change and then hop to a payphone. Being cut off from your friends/family while in the service sucks. Being cut off from your friends/family while in the hospital sucks a little more. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/18 "2004-11-30T15:25:14Z")
> [@The Devil's Grandmother](#): > > I think there’s a difference between an able-bodied soldier who can walk into a store and get some change (even if it is a couple of thousand lire) and walk to a pay phone. When I’ve been in the hospital, the nurses don’t let you wander the corridors, asking people for change and then hop to a payphone. > Being cut off from your friends/family while in the service sucks. Being cut off from your friends/family while in the hospital sucks a little more. No one in the hospital is being cut off from their families. They are being provided phone service, internet access and family members are being flown to Walter Reed. Whatever is not covered by the government is being provided by those organizations which have been looking out for the soldiers well being for decades, the USO, VFW, Red Cross and American Legion. The email in the OP is bogus. If you wish to help these organizations with their mission of supporting the troops they all have websites with information about contributions. If you want to help get phone cards for troops go to the Operation Uplink link provided above. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/19 "2004-11-30T15:27:12Z")
Agreed. But I don’t see why the military is being pitted when they’re obviously doing something about it. They’re working with the USO (an organization chartered to aid servicemembers) to get these soldiers phone cards. The system seems to be working, so I don’t see what the fuss is about. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192/20 "2004-11-30T16:52:01Z")
My last post was addressed to **The Devil’s Grandmother**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-this-is-true-i-pit-the-military-the-phone-companies-and-the-entire-us-government/277192.md?page=2)