There is much talk in the news of lost or stolen veteran files.  The mainstream media began flooding the airwaves with justifiable concerns for identity theft in May.  At the time, citizens were told only veterans were affected.  This week we learn millions of active duty soldiers are also impacted.

This initial report was released on May 22.  The robbery occurred on May 3, 2006.  A Veterans Affairs employee’s home was burglarized.  Among the items taken was a computer disk.  Supposedly, pertinent and personal records of millions of military veterans were imprinted on the compact disk.  Now we know that was not true, there was more.

Much of what was revealed in May was inaccurate. Information was withheld and incomplete. No reason was given for the delay in reporting.  Apparently, officials were hoping for a speedy recovery; however, that did not happen.

A reprimand was promised, though, the practice of taking files home had been going on for years.  According to George J. Opfer, the Veterans Affairs Department Inspector General, the employee involved “routinely took such data home to work on it, and had been doing so since 2003.”

The story entered the public’s sphere and seemed to again disappear.  I trust those not affected were not worried, all would be resolved satisfactorily.  Those uncertain whether their files were among the stolen, likely sat, awaiting any special event.  Perhaps, the bill Senator Tom Harkin proposed will help, until then wonder and worry are daily deeds. Comfortably, most of America went on without regard for the breath and scope of this situation.

Then it occurred.  For me it came in an electronic mailing, for others the news came quietly.  Last weekend, on a day of relaxation and little news, Veterans Affairs Secretary, Jim Nicholson said, the May disclosure was incomplete.  

Nicholson offered this correction, “up to 50,000 Navy and National Guard personnel were among the 26.5 million veterans whose names, birthdates, and Social Security numbers were stolen on May 3.”  Their personal files are now available, somewhere to sources that are still unknown.

Days later, the public discovered, this too proved inaccurate.  On June 6, 2006, the agency reluctantly announced

In fact, names, birth dates and Social Security numbers of as many as 1.1 million active-duty personnel from all the armed forces, along with 430,000 members of the National Guard, and 645,000 members of the Reserves, may have been included.

The number of stolen records first reported was erroneous.  The pilfering was greater than what was initially revealed.  The correction was also wrong.  Apparently, millions of active and inactive military personnel are effected by an agency’s policy and the practices of  single employee.  The affect on their lives may be physically and emotionally devastating.

Military men and women fighting on the fields in distant lands, have little means for monitoring their records.  ‘No worries,’ they are told.  Rest assured “The VA remains committed to providing updates on this incident as new information is learned,” or so says Secretary Nicholson.  

I feel certain I am not alone in wondering, how do our soldiers or we trust an agency, or an administration, that lies and has done so on multiple occasions?

Joe Davis, a spokesman for Veterans of Foreign Wars, ponders the same.  Outraged by this latest revelation, Davis declared the Veterans Affairs agency must be more transparent.  He proclaimed “this debacle” as troubling, to say the least.  

Men and women in battle, separate from their families and any sense of stability, now discover their personal information has been confiscated and compromised by persons unknown.  Officials living in safety, with thanks to these soldiers, reassure the troops all will be well.  How can that be?

With disgust Veteran Davis offered, “This confirms the Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW’s] worst fear from day one, that the loss of data encompasses every single person who did wear the uniform and does wear the uniform today.”

Davis is not alone in expressing his concerns or contempt.  Five veterans groups filed a lawsuit this Tuesday, June 6, 2006.  They are demanding full disclosure.  The veterans insist that the Veterans Affairs agency reveal which military personnel are effected by the theft.  They want damages to be paid in the amount of $1,000 per person.  These complainants are requesting a court order prohibiting any Veterans Affairs employees from using sensitive data until independent experts determine proper safeguards have been put in place.

A representative for the veterans stated, the “VA arrogantly compounded its disregard for veterans’ privacy rights by recklessly failing to make even the most rudimentary effort to safeguard this trove of the personally identifiable information from unauthorized disclosure.”

This situation is dire.  The lives of soldiers are threatened in the fields and now, on the home front.  For many of us, this is merely a story, separate from our selves.  For the troops, active and discharged, this is their life.  There is more to fear than mortars.  This reported event, a burglary, in the suburbs of America has hurt many a soldier.  These wounds are less visible; however, no less painful.

I wish to extend my thanks to Paul Rieckhoff and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.  Were it not for their service and active commitment to sharing, much would be lost and no, I am not speaking specifically of physical battles.  I offer an email I received.  This message caused me to take note of this ever-expanding story.


June 7, 2006

Statement from Paul Rieckhoff on the
Theft of Active-Duty Troops’ Personal Data

NEW YORK – The executive director of the nation’s largest organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan released the following statement today on the newly disclosed theft of millions of active-duty Troops’ personal information.

“We’ve known for weeks that millions of veterans have had their personal information stolen, so why has the VA hidden the fact that millions of active-duty service members have also had their information compromised,” asked Paul Rieckhoff, an Iraq War veteran and the executive director of IAVA, the nation’s largest organization representing veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. (www.iava.org)

“In a time of war, our men and women in uniform don’t have the time or ability to monitor their credit and protect themselves from fraud. Therefore the VA must fully disclose what information was lost, and how it plans to protect those members of the military who are now vulnerable to identity theft fraud,” Rieckhoff said. “We need immediate action from the President to demonstrate a real commitment to those Troops and Veterans who selflessly answered the call to serve.”

“It is an unfortunate irony that the agency tasked with protecting our veterans is now responsible for having put so many of them, and also so many active Troops, at risk,” Rieckhoff said. “The agency must now redeem itself by releasing a comprehensive plan to both protect those who’ve had their information stolen, and also ensure that such a breach in security never happens again.”

I concur.  Why is this massive identity theft not more than a moment in the news?  Why was the information not released in a timely manner; nor was the disclosure complete or accurate?  Why is an investigation not moving more rapidly, and pray tell, what are we doing to protect those that protect us?  I can only assume.  Conjecture is your option, dear reader.  I offer reports.  Please share your thoughts, opinions, and beliefs.  Our discussion can only help to clear the air.

The Truth About Veterans Affairs . . .

Betsy L. Angert Be-Think

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