:: Help Jared - An Autistic 18 yr old that was recruited ::

An Army of one wrong recruit
The signing of a disabled Portland man despite warnings reflects problems nationally for military enlistment
Sunday, May 07, 2006
MICHELLE ROBERTS
The Oregonian

Jared Guinther is 18. Tall and lanky, he will graduate from Marshall High School in June. Girls think he's cute, until they try to talk to him and he stammers or just stands there -- silent.

Diagnosed with autism at age 3, Jared is polite but won't talk to people unless they address him first. It's hard for him to make friends. He lives in his own private world.

Jared didn't know there was a war raging in Iraq until his parents told him last fall -- shortly after a military recruiter stopped him outside a Southeast Portland strip mall and complimented him on his black Converse All Stars.

"When Jared first started talking about joining the Army, I thought, 'Well, that isn't going to happen,' " said Paul Guinther, Jared's father. "I told my wife not to worry about it. They're not going to take anybody in the service who's autistic."

But they did. Last month, Jared came home with papers showing that he not only had enlisted, but also had signed up for the Army's most dangerous job: cavalry scout. He is scheduled to leave for basic training Aug. 16.

http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1146882329307730.xml&coll=7

What you can do right now:

Write an email to:
Douglas Smith - US Army Recruiting Command National Spokesman
S.Douglas.Smith@usarec.army.mil
Make your subject line: Jared Guinther

He's moderately to severely autistic and is a possible danger to himself and to anyone he serves with. Write this email and try to include these three things:

1. That you want Jared Guinther to be released from any commitment to the U.S. military.
2. That he should receive the funds fraudulently promised him for signing that contract. $4,000 for education.
3. That disciplinary action be taken against Cpl. Ronald Ansley and Sgt. Alejandro Velasco in Portland Oregon for their disservice to a disabled young man still in high school, for their disservice to our country and for wasting taxpayer dollars.