Romney details plan for military

ALTON, N.H. -- As governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney spent last Memorial Day on the phone, calling the families of 93 soldiers from his state he had met during a trip to Iraq.

As a presidential hopeful, he spent this Memorial Day on the campaign trail, describing his plans to increase the military's size, its budget, and the services it offers for those who make it home.

Speaking at an American Legion hall yesterday, Romney said none of the families he called a year earlier complained about the war's toll.

"It was really inspiring. I didn't hear a single complaint. Didn't hear a single family say 'Why can't you bring my son or my daughter or my loved one home?' " he said. "The people of America are a very special people and recognize the great price associated with freedom."

That wasn't quite the case yesterday, when a Laconia man complained that he hasn't been able to get adequate medical care since returning from Iraq in January 2005 because he is neither an active-duty soldier nor a veteran.

"His foot has been broken since last July and he can't get it fixed," said Denis Joyal of Belmont, a friend who spoke on behalf of Army National Guard Sergeant Brian Roy. "No veteran, no person, deserves to walk around with three tendons holding his foot together for over a year."

Romney questioned the man's status, wondering why the military wouldn't help him if he is active duty.

"He's in the window," Joyal said, before Romney cut him off.

"Don't give me, 'he's in the window,' " Romney said. "He's either active duty or not."

Romney said the story illustrated his argument that Washington is broken. But the only solution he offered was urging Roy to contact one of his US senators.

That answer appeared to frustrate Roy and his wife, Darlene, who said she already had contacted numerous state and federal officials.

On Iraq, Romney repeated his support for President Bush's plan to send more troops, saying he predicts signs of success by the end of the year.

"If it's working well, we'll be able to start bringing back our troops because the surge will have worked and established the ability of the government to provide security for themselves," he said.

Beyond Iraq, Romney said he would increase the size of the US military by 100,000 troops and increase funding for them by about $40 billion a year.