Turning the Corner on the "Short Shrift" episode.

I've blogged here and here about how Minnesota's Red Bulls, after serving a 22-month tour of combat duty in Iraq, got short-shrifted a day (yes, 24 hours), thus excluding them from full G.I benefits.

Well, I just received a call today from a staffer at Senator Norm Coleman's office, stating that the Red Bulls' orders should be amended by the end of this week! Although no guarantees were given, the staffer stated that it was "looking good" that the orders would be adjusted so that Doug and the rest of his Red Bull brothers- and sisters-in-arms would get full GI benefits. Also, I received assurances that those who have already or would apply for the lesser National Guard benefits would indeed be able to switch to Montgomery Chapter 30 benefits as soon as they are officially approved for same!

My thanks go out to the Minnesota Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Minneapolis office of the Federal Department of Veterans' affairs, Senator Norm Coleman, Minnesota Representative Bob Dettmer, U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, and U.S. Congressman Collin Peterson who all played a role in hopefully reversing this godawful injustice; and of course a huge thank you to those who took the time to contact their elected representatives after reading my posts.