Archive for Wounded Warrior Project

Wounded Warrior Project, why is it necessary?

For decades America has had an all volunteer military force. Without conscripts and with a massive pentagon budget, it would seem reasonable that the Federal Government take care of its employees both in regard to retirement benefits and long term medical care.

Why do we need organizations such as the Wounded Warrior Project to supplement government benefits? In 2012, the Wounded Warrior Project, a 501 (c) 3 charity, raised over $230 million dollars. In 2012, the IRS Form 990 reveals that the total compensation for their two highest paid employees exceeded $400,000 and the net assets of the organization were $166,000,000.  Because we are overdosed with highly emotional appeals for donations to the Project, we can only conjecture how much they spend on TV and prime time media advertizing.

As a veteran of the Vietnam War where I was a combat surgeon, I am very sympathetic to the needs of our wounded soldiers. However, I question the need for private sector funding for medical care for our disabled veterans. Unfortunately, this need may be an indictment of our entire Governmental military system. Or it may represent an opportunistic approach to raising money through empathy so as to create jobs and pads the pockets of the founders of charities such as the Wounded Warrior Project.

– Richard G. Wendel MD, MBA