Giffords meets with military families

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

By Sheryl Kornman
Tucson Citizen

More than a dozen local spouses with a husband deployed to Kuwait, Iraq or Afghanistan met with U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Monday to talk about challenges they face taking care of their families during war time.

Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, was part of a congressional delegation that visited Kabul, Kandahar and Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan for four days during the last week of April.

She told them it’s time for the U.S. to wind down in Iraq and gather more international support for a larger effort in Afghanistan.

Jacqueline Steinbacher told Giffords her husband is in his “fourth or fifth” war-time deployment.

The spouses – at least one on active duty herself and in uniform – spoke of problems getting timely medical care for sick children; finding child care for young children on short notice and not getting much understanding from her child’s school regarding attendance.

Steinbacher said she and her husband want to take a family vacation when he gets home from his current deployment, which will be during next school year.

But she said Vail School District officials told her that no child can miss more than 10 days of school. Vail officials were not available Monday afternoon.

Giffords said her office will work to get Tucson-area school districts together this summer to discuss the issue.

Col. Ken Laughbaum, commander of the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, who attended the meeting Monday, offered his support.

“We can help take this on. This (is something that) reflects on our broader society.”

He said he will assign part of his Community Initiatives Team to help military families on the issue of school absences by reaching out to school board members and district officials.

In response to one mother’s complaint about not being able to get her sick child a doctor visit at medical facilities at D-M, Laughbaum acknowledged an ongoing physician shortage at the base.

He said the shortage is gradually resolving as more doctors are being added to the roster. Still, some parents have had to seek medical care off the base at local hospitals, he said.

The meeting was held at the Miller Golf Links Public Library, 9640 E. Golf Links Road.

Giffords told the families about House Resolution 5229, which would allow veterans to transfer GI Bill educational assistance to spouses and children. The bill is pending in the House of Representatives.

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