I Vote

Today I am Remembering Aaron Merritt 12 years ago today, Aaron passed away at the VA hospital in Nashville, TN. He had been put on a medication that required regular blood work to monitor toxicity levels. Those tests were not done. By the time he arrived at the VA hospital on 27 October 2014, it was already too late. He died the next day of sepsis. Had those tests occurred regularly, he would still be alive. Merritt deployed multiple times in his Army Career, twice as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. He was decorated twice for Valor. He was my first team mate in EOD, and he taught me a lot. He kept me alive. When he finally exited the Army, we were all excited for him; Aaron was a magnet for combat. We were sure if he stuck around in the Army he would be killed in action. Instead his death happened in the States, alone in a VA hospital room. His family sued the VA. Although they never admitted to anything, they settled for 2.5 million dollars. Aaron was a great dude with quick wit and a sharpe sense of humor. He deserved better.