I'll Have the Eggs Over Easy and Some Back Surgery, Please

Some wounded soldiers in medical holdover in Fort Knox, KY have been waiting over 18 months for surgery.

Eighteen months after hurting his back while unloading a truck at Fort Campbell, Staff Sgt. Christopher Goodin is still assigned to medical holdover status at Fort Knox.

Sgt. Terry Underwood is still waiting for surgery to repair an Achilles' tendon he ruptured in 2003 while deployed to Bosnia by the National Guard.

They are among nearly 150 sick and injured soldiers at Fort Knox who are lingering in a medical limbo created when the military found itself unprepared for fallout from the war with Iraq.

But wait, there's more:

More recently, Army officials have suggested a court-martial for a soldier because he checked himself into a civilian mental hospital after being denied treatment at Fort Knox.

Members of Congress are investigating whether the soldier, 1st Lt. Jullian P. Goodrum, of Knoxville, Tenn., was placed in isolation at Walter Reed Army hospital because he complained to reporters about his treatment at Fort Knox. Army officials said that a "misunderstanding" caused Goodrum, suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, to be denied mental health treatment at Fort Knox.

But at least our brave soldiers that made these sacrifices can get their eggs to order.

Quality of life for soldiers in medical hold status is becoming a priority at Fort Knox, Jerry Meredith said. In addition to living in a renovated building within walking distance of recreational facilities, soldiers are offered a menu that includes eggs cooked to order, he said.