On Oct. 9, George W. Bush told National Guard troops and reservists that the U.S. was proud of their work in Iraq. Meanwhile, hundreds of the B-team soldiers were crammed into dingy barracks at Georgia's Fort Stewart to await medical care that simply isn't coming. The Army says the troops are on "medical hold," while politicos figure out how ill they are, and whether reservists deserve benefits at all. Some have waited months without even being diagnosed. Many believe the Army is hoping they'll give up and leave.

The Army's answer for most at Fort Stewart is that their conditions were "pre-existing," therefore not the Army's problem. A growing number of the ill suspect their problems stem from anthrax vaccines they'd received prior to deployment.

Though military officials have offered no comment, no changes seem to be in store. A document recently leaked to UPI announces to Fort Stewart residents that medical appointments have been suspended altogether until Nov. 11 - Veterans Day.

» Scott Saxon