Rest in Peace: Marine Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez

The 8 minute segment (below) from CBS News documents the incredible loss and frustration that many military families experience.

The story focuses on Marine Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez (pictured right) and the military's 10 year-long failure to treat his melanoma. I know that's not a very attractive picture - but Sgt. Rodriguez wanted us to see what happened to him in just 18 months.

You see, kids - Rodriguez was understandably pissed with the military.

They told him he had "a wart" even though records show they detected his cancer in 1997.

What motivated them not to treat him?

We'll never know - laws protect the military for being sued for malpractice and negligence of care.

It saddens me that indifference and a failed health care system are killing the young men and women who have served this country in peacetime and in war.

While they have served their tours of duty, we have failed in our duty to provide them even the slightest modicum of care.

It is also important to note that soliders are not only dying from inadequate health care - they're increasingly taking their own lives.

Soldier Suicides at Record Level - [Link]
Last year, about 2,100 soldiers injured themselves or attempted suicide, compared with about 350 in 2002, according to the U.S. Army Medical Command Suicide Prevention Action Plan.