American Angel and the ARMY

American Angel and the ARMY

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Born Angel Renee Carlisle, from Florence, South Carolina, Angel has been down many roads to come
to the place in which she now is. . Many have supported and followed her career and vigil efforts have
paid off in both her personal and professional life. Having lost a dear friend to the war, her new release "American Angel" has been dedicated to SSG Richard A. Blakely, killed in combat in Baghdad in 2006. She hopes this album will bring light to the families and loved ones of our armed forces.

http://angelbutler.com/

I can tell you a story of this country’s betrayal of an American Soldier in many facets. There are so many more that have or will not come forward out of fear. I am a single mother of 3 teen daughters that are having to deal with not only my injuries but with the fact that due to the system we are about to lose our home. There have been many traumatic events during my military career that have devastated my family and now being out, there are yet more travesties. There is no reason that any soldier should have to endure these pains and trials that I know I have had to and to ultimately be lead to financial devastation waiting on benefits promised that never seem to be there. With my ability and means to support my family ripped from me, they have taken away my very quality of life as well. I need immediate help. You may pass my contact information along to everyone that you can to include my phone number…no call will go unanswered as all I have now
is a hope and a prayer that the people of our country will hear my cries when our government is only trying to muffle them . I have spoken to local news stations and am going public hopefully this week. I need all the support and coverage I can get on both a local and national level. I was made a poster child while doing my music for the troops, but now that they have no further use for me, I have been abandoned to wither away. However, I WILL NOT BE UNHEARD, I WILL NOT BE PUSHED ASIDE ANY LONGER and I WILL NOT FAIL MY FAMILY AS MY OWN COMMANDER IN CHIEF HAS FAILED ME!
Just a touch of the whole story follows:
Doing music for the troops in Iraq via sat every night for about 6 months during 2004 prior to joining army
Joined army 12/04 reported in 06 Jan 05 for solely patriotic reasons
Excelled
Combat engineer several minor injuries reclassed
Combat medic minor injuries
Ft Bragg Jan 3rd 06 provided medical combat support and medical coverage
Raped by another soldier may 10 2006 acquitted on a tech due to release of info about invoking his rights to panel Jan 2007 Ft Bragg
Treatment by chain of command was bad after rape
Sgt MJR moved me to work for him at staff duty to keep me out of the unit due to the mistreatment by them
American Angel CD released March 2007 became member of CMA
Told by Jag I couldn’t use pic s in uniform for album cover but that I had to include clause in album that stated that the views and opinions were that of the artist and not DOD
Relocated on Threat to Life orders to Ft Lewis WA July 10 2007 after disposition of rape case
Worked Trauma ER
Oct 31 2007 Wounded: broke or fractured almost everything from my waist to my feet working on a marine
No help with daily care provided by the army even though I begged for help…I had a couple of battle buddies that came by to check on me knowing I wasn’t getting proper help or care
Placed in WTB…warriors transition battalion
Medical care substandard
Right leg broken June 15 2008 and not even casted left to walk on it for 6 months b4 threatening to write letter to Bush to get seen by ortho
Right leg reconstructed Nov 14 2008/foreign object left in leg during surgery (still not removed)/healing not successful didn’t walk on my own for over a year
VA claim started a year ago still not completed even though it was supposedly expedited
Complained about medical care at town hall meeting and got meb findings the following day Jan 09 that I had been waiting for a year for and got grief for doing so
Told not to show up at next town hall meeting
Was told that my terminal leave was to start Feb. 23 09 and I was to leave there to go home on that day
Didn’t ACAP was told to do it later
Was unaware of many procedures and programs and how to contact them upon discharge
Retirement effective April 23 2009 @80% with 70%payment
Mil ret just over 1100 per mo not enough to pay bills and provide food
Unemployment benefits filed got 49 a week due to ret pay
Told I do not qualify for public assistance due to ret pay
VA says I am not able to work and have been put on list for full and perm disability due to injuries and PTSD sustained during svc however VA claim still not processed
Local organizations that have helped VFW, DAV, VETS WELCOME HOME Center and local county VA office
Spoke with Lindsey grahams office for help with claim
Received letter from graham
Called office and told that they don’t make this happen overnight yet it had been 3 weeks and claim is still not processed or even on some ones desk as they said
Rent truck electric/utilities food fuel not able to be paid..Behind
Facing eviction repossession and losing utilities if something doesn’t happen now
I refuse to be the next one holding sign on road that reads homeless vet
Many like me but no one helped them its time this stops
This is not just about me
This is what many wounded soldiers come home to…no welcome homes , no thank you, no help, Nowhere to turn , I did join of my own accord, I did know what the risks were, I did do my job, I accept my injuries but I was also promised by the very government that employed me as a soldier until I was of no use to them anymore that I would be taken care of due to my injuries…NO soldier should EVER had to endure this not now, not then, and not ever. What am I supposed to do as a mother of 3 and a single parent…still wounded and governed as to what I can do to provide for my family, at this point they have not only taken away my means of supporting my family but my quality of life. Every day I am faced with the reality that I could be homeless very soon and if there is enough food to provide proper nourishment for my children or what is going to be turned off next…it is not fair and it is shameful
…I am proud to be an American soldier and I am thankful for the time I was able to serve my country and wish I could have done more….but I am not proud to say how I have been treated by the very country I fought to protect until I could do so no longer…where is my protection now…not a welcome home coming for anyone.
I want to challenge all local and state businesses and organizations on a national level to donate and support the Veterans welcome home center and disabled American veterans associations that are there to assist wounded soldiers having financial hardships and to give back to the community to those who have given so much for you.
I am but one story..There are many more. My situation is dire at this time and I do expect to lose my home and will have nowhere to turn by the end of this month. It is a shameful thing to have to say to my family that I have failed them as a provider because of the sacrifices I have made for my country. It is as if I put my country before my family…as all soldiers do while in service…but yet once out I am unable to regain control due to a failing system that was supposed to be in place for us so that this didn’t happen to anyone. Too much time has been spent wasting money trying to figure out a way to continue a war that is done, rather than to take care of the ones who have given all that they can to protect and serve this country.
My plea to you is to not look away and to see the truth and the realities that our wounded soldiers face and to do whatever you can to help to rectify the short comings of our governments system. As a nation of democracy we have to power to change anything. I will leave you with this; I am prepared to give my own life if necessary in the place of another, be it another troop or a stranger on the street. I have proven it and would do it all again. What are you willing to sacrifice to ensure that I or another does not have to be ashamed of having made the decision to protect the freedoms that our very own country was founded on? United we stand, divided we fall….are you with me?

Angel Butler
Retired US ARMY
Wounded Veteran
228-447-5900
449 West Perry Rd
Myrtle Beach, SC, 29579
Email: Angelbutler1@tmail.com
http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/butler__angel/artist.jhtml
http://www.angelbutler.com
http://www.myspace.com/angelbutler
Or simply Google Angel Butler

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Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Time: 7:00-9:00 PM Central

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