Pentagon withholds promised bonuses to state guard members who re-enlisted

11/5/2005, 12:39 p.m. PT
The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — At least 15 soldiers with the Washington State National Guard have been denied bonuses they were promised by the Pentagon if they re-enlisted, and at least one has hired an attorney.

The soldiers, many stationed in Iraq at the time, signed re-enlistment forms promising them a tax-free $15,000 bonus in return for their service, said Maj. Phil Osterli, a state Guard spokesman.

But the Department of Defense has since withdrawn the offer, saying the bonuses were canceled because they duplicated other programs and were prohibited.

A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment for a Seattle Post-Intelligencer report Saturday.

"I'm to the point now where I want to get out," said Sgt. 1st Class Carl Latson, a guardsmen who has hired Seattle attorney Mark Clausen to fight the decision.

Clausen this past week mailed letters to local military officials seeking help before pursuing other legal options. The letters were sent to Col. Michael McCaffree of the 81st Brigade Combat Team at Camp Murray in Tacoma — Latson's unit — as well as 14 other officers in Seattle and Tacoma.

Latson, 35, of Spanaway, is a 13-year veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm and the current Iraq war — he returned from a yearlong tour in March. While stationed at the Balad Army base near Baghdad, he re-enlisted in January for another six-year term.

He said his incentive was the promised bonus, which he was counting on to buy a house and support his 11-year-old daughter.

"For them to offer a bonus when we're at war, when we're risking our lives, and then to turn around and not pay it when we return is the wrong message to send to me, to any soldier," said Latson, who served two years active duty with the Navy and the last 11 years with the National Guard.

The state Guard is also fighting the Pentagon decision. Maj. John Sharrett, the division's recruiting and retention commander traveled to Washington, D.C., to argue before National Guard and Pentagon officials that the reversal is unwise and unfair, said Osterli

"We're clearly concerned about this issue and want to make sure these soldiers get what they deserve," said Osterli.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., also has demanded further explanation from Pentagon officials on the issue.

___

Information from: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, http://www.seattle-pi.com/

Link Here