Letter to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld

February 6, 2004

The Honorable Donald Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense
The Pentagon, Room 3E880
Washington, DC 20301

Dear Secretary Rumsfeld:

I am writing to ask for your urgent help to ensure that our soldiers being deployed to Iraq have the life-saving equipment and supplies they need to complete their missions safely and successfully.

As you know, about 5,000 members of the 81st Armor Brigade at Fort Lewis, Washington will be deployed to Iraq next month. I continue to hear of Guard and Reserve units from across the country being deployed without critical equipment and supplies.

I am especially concerned about the apparent lack of Interceptor body armor. One of the reasons I voted for the President's $87 billion supplement for Iraq and Afghanistan in October was to ensure that our troops get the equipment they need and that the Pentagon has promised. In November, Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Army would have the new Interceptor body armor on every soldier in Operation Iraqi Freedom by the end of December. However, it is my understanding that the 81st Brigade has not yet received this critical, life-saving equipment.

In addition to body armor, I understand that other supplies have still not been received - from new "web gear" to insect repellant and camouflage. When I visited the 81st Brigade last month, I was shocked to hear that their desert camouflage had not arrived. They were planning to deploy with their standard GORE-TEX camouflage.

Our country's Guard and Reserve soldiers are sacrificing on the front lines, but they continue to be treated as second class-citizens. They are told to pay for equipment that is routinely provided to members of our regular armed forces. Our Guard and Reserve troops deserve the full support of our government, including the tools necessary to accomplish their mission.

I am writing with two requests. First, please give me your personal assurance that all members of the 81st Brigade will be provided with Interceptor body armor prior to their deployment to Iraq. Second, please update me on the status of the 81st Brigade's requisition orders.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Patty Murray
United States Senator