The latest in the case of First Lt. William "Eddie" Rebrook and the $650 mess

For those of you who don't know the story, Rebrook, the son of local Charleston lawyer Ed Rebrook and a graduate of George Washington High School was bill $650 by he Army for 18 items that he was issued before going to Iraq. Rebrook was wounded and the equipment was damaged. Stories that ran in the Charleston Gazette made their way to Washington and the issue was raised to to question top military leaders, including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.by Sen. Robert Byrd.

Now the $650 paid by Rebrook for the items will be refunded to Rebrook, the Army said yesterday. They also said he would have not have been billed for the items if he has filled out a couple of forms.

But Rebrook will not get all his money back:

“We’re not sure what led him to the decision to pay for it as opposed to going back and getting things documented,” said Lt. Col. Scott R. Bleichwehl, a public affairs officer with the 17,000-soldier First Calvary Division at Fort Hood. “But regardless, we’re still going to do what’s right by him and rectify the situation.”

Accounting for depreciation, the Army plans to send Rebrook a $410 check to reimburse him for a Kevlar vest, plus additional money for a canteen pouch that was attached to the vest.

Tags: Charleston, WV, West Virginia