Friday May 23rd, I appeared in a television advertisement on behalf of Vets for Freedom PAC, an organization committed to winning the war on terror. On Sunday, Senator Dick Durbin responded to the advertisement on CBS News by attacking both the organization and me with outright falsehoods that I believe need to be corrected.

While in Iraq, I lost my right arm and received multiple shrapnel wounds to my head and face. Since returning home, I have been steadily recovering while learning to use my new prosthetic arm. Unfortunately, I was having difficulty securing my benefits through the VA. So I turned to my state politicians, including Senator Barack Obama for assistance. But Senator Obama did not respond to my letters or offer his assistance until after my claim had been successfully resolved…and Senator Durbin should know this, because it was through his own staff that I was finally able to receive my benefits.

I have always been very vocal about Senator Durbin’s efforts made on my behalf and the fact that he and his office worked very diligently to ensure that the VA treated me fairly in reviewing my claim for disability benefits. Senator Durbin was correct that there was a second Illinois politician who worked very hard to see that I received a favorable outcome; however, that politician was State Representative Tim Johnson. I am very disappointed that Senator Durbin provided credit to Senator Obama, stating that they both worked very hard on my claim, when in fact, Senator Obama was never involved in resolving my claim with the VA.

My family is thankful for all of the assistance that Senator Durbin and his office provided to us at a time when we felt so overwhelmed by my injuries and the responses we were receiving from the VA. I extend this same gratitude to Representative Johnson and his staff for all of their efforts as well. But while I am truly grateful to Senator Durbin for his help, I cannot sit back and allow both my Senators from Illinois to issue these attacks.

I also wish Senator Durbin would be more honest and forthcoming when discussing Senator Obama’s failure to meet with Illinois veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. I wanted to make sure that I set the record state and just appeared on Fox Live Desk to correct Senator Durbin’s misstatements this past weekend. It is my hope that Senator Obama and other leaders will speak to those who have seen the success in Iraq first hand and meet with the commanders on the ground. Get the facts and be informed beyond pundit papers and political consults talk to the veterans, the troops on the ground and make informed policy from there.

Sergent Garrett Anderson is an Iraq War veteran and a Vets for Freedom member.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 29th, 2008 at 11:23 am and is filed under Politics .