U.S. Army Staff Sergeant John Shannon, Mrs. Annette McLeod, and U.S. Army Specialist Jeremy Duncan testify before the House of Representative's Oversight and Government Reform Committee about their experiences and the conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The House conducted its hearing in response to a series of Washington Post articles describing inadequate health care treatment at Walter Reed.

Discussion Questions

1. What does Ms. Annette McLeod, wife of wounded Corporal Wendell McLeod, mean when she says she “worked the chain”? What was the result?
2. What is Army Staff Sergeant John Shannon’s view of Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness David Chu’s statement in January 2005?
3. According to Rep. Waxman (D-CA), how do the conditions at Walter Reed conflict with the Army’s military tradition of “leaving no wounded soldier behind”? Why does Rep. Waxman view the situation at Walter Reed as “the tip of the iceberg”?
4. Explain how this clip illustrates the role of the press as a watchdog. Do you feel Congress acted appropriately in response to the Washington Post articles? Explain your answer.