Supporting the Troops, SOP

This comes to me from my Veteran student, the one who came back from Iraq over a year ago. He says the vets in question are, in fact, disabled, and that the auto companies that repossessed the cars contacted the families of the wounded men, who told the companies that -- that the men were in Walter Reed, that they were recovering from combat wounds, and that these injuries were why they were not able to make their payments: and that the companies repossessed the vehicles anyway.

Cause, you know: it's the American Way.

Wounded troops may have had cars repossessed

By Rick MazeTimes staff writer

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee is investigating a tip that some wounded combat veterans being treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington had their cars repossessed for falling behind on payments.

The tip came from a volunteer group that is trying to help the four soldiers get back the cars, said Jeff Schrade, a spokesman for the committee.

In a statement, Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, said it appeared to him that the companies were not complying with financial protections available to military personnel. The repossessions were unacceptable and may be in violation of federal law, he said.

Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, deployed active-duty personnel, mobilized members of the National Guard and reserve and military families members are protected from foreclosure, eviction and civil action. Schrade said the law would shield troops from foreclosure on property or repossession of a privately owned automobile without a court order.