Sentinels of Freedom Founder Appeals to Congress To Help Wounded Vets

When Mike Conklin’s son, who was serving in the Army, was wounded in combat in 2003, the dad and his wife were contacted by their congressman, who offered support.

But Conklin, a San Ramon resident, soon found out that the much appreciated notification was a fluke – a wounded soldier’s family is usually not notified nor is help offered. Conklin is on a mission to change that.

“The congressional members are only notified if a soldier is killed in action,” said Conklin, who founded the veteran rights group, the . “So they send a letter of condolence [and] the family knows they can contact that congressman. In the case of a person wounded in the theatre of war … they are not notified.”

He contends that families should be notified if their loved one is injured in action, just as the families of a soldier killed in action are.

He said it’s a small request that would be a huge help to frightened families unsure who to turn to and what to do.

“The congressional members have the on-the-ground awareness of services and resources unique to their own districts that can assist the families and spouses in their time of need and when that member of the armed forces returns home,” Conklin said.

As it stands, when a soldier is killed in action the Department of Defense notifies the congressional representative of whatever district is home to the family of the dead soldier.

On April 8, 2003, Conklin and his wife, Peggy, were notified that their son had been wounded in action.

Within hours, Conklin received a call from Ellen Tauscher, who was then his congresswoman, telling him that she was aware of his son’s injuries and that she was available if he and his wife needed anything.

Conklin said he assumed this was standard but quickly learned it was not. He said he still doesn’t know why Tauscher called him.

Such a small action in a family’s time of need, Conklin argues, is “not only … a class thing to do, it is the right thing to do.”

Making this small change requires that a small bill be passed, Conklin said, but it is a bipartisan-supported item that would require no additional funding in such tight economic times.

Conklin originally worked with Tauscher to change the law but because it was toward the end of the congressional session and there was already so much on the armed services appropriations bill, it was not a priority.

“It was timing — it was toward the end of the congressional session,” he said. “That bill did not pass at the end of the year and if it doesn’t then it starts all over again in January.”

Conklin has written to Congressman Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, in hopes that he will champion the bill as Tauscher did.

“I’d like to see this supported and for him to lead the effort,” Conklin said. “He’s been a great supporter of veterans' issues and a leader in that field.”

Regardless of how it’s achieved, Conklin said he just wants proper support for soldiers and their families.

This bill is a no-brainer and the responsibility of Congress and the community at large, says Conklin.

“It's basic common sense, nothing more than that — it’s an offer that we’re here and we’re here to help you when you need it.”