Bluestem posted last week in Common ground: Kline and Walz on Red Bulls' bonuses that the veteran marine and soldier were both working to expedite a delayed payment to members of the Minnesota National Guard who had yet to receive payments due them for a long and extended deployment in Iraq.
Minnpost's Derek Wallbank reported today in Pentagon authorizes overtime pay for Minnesota's Red Bulls:
Three years ago, members of the 34th Infantry Division of Minnesota's Army National Guard were asked by their country to stay in Iraq as part of a troop surge designed to secure the fragile nation. Less than two weeks ago, Reps. John Kline and Tim Walz (both retired service members) took aim at Pentagon commanders over the estimated $10 million in overtime pay from that operation that the Red Bulls (as the 34th is known) still have yet to receive. . . .
. . . But while the check isn't yet in the mail, it may be soon.
In a memo (PDF) issued Friday, the Pentagon authorized the payment of the Post-Deployment Mobilization Respite Absence funds. . . .
Congressman Walz's office issued the following press release about this positive development:
Washington, DC: Rep. Walz announced today that Minnesota soldiers who have been waiting three years for payments they earned will finally receive them.
"This is wonderful news for the men and women who have served our country so bravely," said Walz. "I want to thank the Department of Defense for taking the necessary steps this past week to correct this injustice and get this soldiers and their families the payments they were promised."
At issue are payments to thousands of soldiers who were stationed overseas beyond their normal rotation between January 19 and August 18, 2007, called Post Deployment/Mobilization Respite Leave or PDMRA.
Congressman Walz and his colleagues have been working for the past three years to make sure these payments were delivered. Two weeks ago, Congressman Walz spoke with White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel asked him to directly address the issue. Mr. Emanuel promised to directly contact the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates.
Monday afternoon, the Assistant Secretary of the Army issued guidance to begin the processing of payments.
Congressman Walz has a call scheduled tomorrow with the National Guard Bureau to discuss the next steps to ensuring Minnesota soldiers get their checks as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Several friends took part in the long deployment, and I'm happy to see things getting back on track. Like many Americans these day, they could use the money due them--along with our repeated thanks.
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