Fairness to POW Questioned; Lynch given 80% disability; black POW Johnson awarded 30%

[Guest guest]

> October 25, 2003

> Fairness to POW Questioned

> 33969b.jpg Shoshana Johnson deserves benefits comparable to Jessica

> Lynch's, supporters say.

> From Associated Press

>

> EL PASO The father of former prisoner of war Shoshana Johnson on Friday

> accused the Army of shortchanging his daughter of disability benefits

after

> she was offered a smaller paycheck than fellow POW Jessica Lynch.

>

> " She is not getting what she deserves, " Claude Johnson said.

> Family members confirmed that Lynch, a private first class who was

snatched

> from her Iraqi captors on April 1 in a rescue by Special Forces, is

> receiving an 80% disability. Johnson, a specialist who was released on

> April 13 with four other American POWs, has been offered 30%, Claude

> Johnson said.

>

> The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who consulted the Johnson family, said race was

> playing a part in Army's decision. Lynch is white; Johnson is black.

>

> " There's a long history of blacks not receiving fair and adequate

> recognition in the military, " said Jackson. " The first black female POW

who

> survived is about to be discharged and suffers the trauma, the emotional

> injury and has a 3-year-old daughter to raise. She deserves more. "

>

> Army spokesman Maj. Steve Stover said Johnson's payment can be appealed.

>

> Stover said the two cases are different and race is not an issue.

>

> Stover disputed reports that Lynch had been medically discharged this

> summer, even though she has been allowed to reach a $1-million book deal.

>

> He said Lynch is on the Temporary Disability Retired List and has not

> technically been discharged. She will be reevaluated periodically, and if

> recovered sufficiently she could go back on active duty or request an

> official discharge.

>

> Johnson will be discharged soon.

>

> " The disability compensation is based on each individual soldier's

> condition, " Stover said.

>

> Officials said Lynch was hurt after her Humvee utility vehicle was hit by

a

> rocket-propelled grenade and crashed into another vehicle. She suffered

> multiple broken bones and other injuries, and it was four months before

she

> could walk again.

>

> Johnson was shot in both ankles and was held by Iraqi captors for 22 days.

> She still periodically uses a walking cast, has a hard time staying on her

> feet for any period of time and is not sleeping well, her father said.

>

> She was shown in an Iraqi video fearfully watching her captors as they

> peppered her and the other POWs with questions.

>

> The disability and discharge status of the other former POWs could not

> immediately be determined.

>

> Claude Johnson said Lynch and his daughter, who were both stationed at Ft.

> Bliss near El Paso, have become friends.

>

> In a statement released Friday by her attorney, Lynch said she was

> " disappointed for Shoshana. "

>

> " When she visited me in West Virginia last month, we discussed the extent

> of our injuries and the long road back to health, including a lifetime

> commitment to physical therapy and rehabilitation, " Lynch said. " I support

> her efforts 100% and wish her a continued & recovery. "

>

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-pow25oct25,1,92262.stor

y?coll=la-headlines-nation

>