PALESTINE — When Kristopher Penland joined the Texas National Guard three years ago he was prepared to serve his country and make some money for college. Today, he’s getting ready for a garage sale to raise money to put gas in the car so he can travel to Tyler to see a doctor.
“We have $2 and an empty gas tank,” he said.
Penland has been without a paycheck from the Guard for more than a month thanks to a glitch in the Texas National Guard accounting system. But while the software glitch has been repaired, it could be another week before Penland sees any of this money.
“The bills are piling up,” Penland, of College Station, said Tuesday afternoon. “Everything is late, we can’t pay our bills.
“I’m just glad we’re in Palestine and not in College Station or we’d be living under a bridge,” he said as he sat next to his wife Lauren. “If we didn’t have her parents here, we’d be on the streets.”
The young couple, who married in May, have been staying with her family in Palestine. Lauren moved back to her parent’s house in Westwood after her husband got deployed in May. They had just moved into a nice duplex in College Station when he got his orders to report for training in Paris, Texas.
Penland is not the only Guard member who has not received a paycheck. Some have been without pay for as long as two months. Television stations in the Metroplex recently have featured families who, because of the same software glitch, are struggling to put food on the table and pay bills while their loved ones are serving in Iraq.
For weeks Penland has been making calls trying to find someone to give him some answers as to why he hasn’t gotten paid and when can he expect a check. His last paycheck was on July 10.
“We’ve tried every outlet,” Lauren said about their futile efforts for answers.
“We’re luckier than most,” she said quietly. “I feel bad for people with kids, especially with school starting soon.”
The Penland’s finances are not the only thing in limbo now. During training in Paris, Penland injured his left shoulder and needs surgery.
“Now we don’t know if you can have your surgery,” Lauren said to her husband. Had Penland not injured his shoulder he would be in Georgia awaiting deployment to an Air Force base in Iraq.
“If I don’t get paid, I can’t have my surgery,” he said. “I can’t even get a job (with my shoulder) like this.”
The Guard considers Penland disabled but on duty. They have to approve any surgery before he has it. Penland has until Oct. 23 to have surgery or he said he’ll get a medical discharge.
“I can’t afford to have surgery, so I guess I’ll have to wait until it heals or just bear the pain,” Penland said.
“Basically our life is on hold,” he said. “They need to approve the surgery. If I get the surgery, I may not get paid for the six months I’m off.”
The frustration Penland feels about his situation and the uncertainty is evident on his face.
“I don’t want to get in more debt. Now we’re going to have bad credit,” he said. Recently, he let his truck go to his brother who gave him enough money to pay a bill and buy some groceries.
“I’m just glad we can eat,” he said. “We have it better than most.”
Col. William Meehan with the Texas National Guard Public Affairs Office in Austin said the initial problem with the software glitch has been rectified.
The mobilization of soldiers of the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has added to the delay in paychecks, according to Meehan. “It’s a major issue because of the complex process of bringing people on and off training,” Meehan explained.
“It appears things have run their course.”
Meehan advised that anyone still having problems not getting their paychecks should talk to their company commander.
Penland’s company commander is in Alabama or Georgia still training soldiers for deployment.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Penlands learned that they would be getting a partial payment of $200 on Aug. 28. Although not even close to the nearly $4,000 Penland said the Guard owes him, it is money they desperately need. After that, they will wait until the 15th of September to see if they get another check.
Asked what their long-term plans are, the newlyweds, both 19, said they both want to go to college but are not sure where yet. Penland would like to start his own business and Lauren wants to be a dental hygienist. But first, they just want to get a little money together to get to Tyler so that he can see a doctor.
“I’m going to go get a job,” Lauren said.
A concerned Penland quickly adds, “You can only not pay a bill so long.” Their electric, cable, phone and other bills from College Station remain unpaid.
Penland and his wife are thankful that they’re able to stay with her parents, Eddie and Sandy Walters, in Palestine.
“They’re feeding us, giving us shelter,” a grateful Penland said.
“But there’s only so much they can do, especially in this economy,” Lauren Penland added.
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Due to a “glich” in the Texas National Guard accounting system, Kristopher Penland and his wife Lauren, both 19, have been with out financial support for more than a month. The couple were forced to leave their home in College Station and live with Lauren’s parents in the Westwood area. BETH FOLEY
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