Howard Johnson, Killeen

WE MADE A TRIP TO KILLEEN TO ATTEND THE CEREMONY FOR THE RETURN HOME OF OUR SON-IN-LAW AND 245 OTHER SOLDIERS FROM DUTY IN IRAQ. AT CHECK-IN WE WERE TOLD THERE WERE NO ROOMS AVAILABLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SUITES. HAVING TRAVELED ALL NIGHT AND THEN ATTENDING THE BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY WE WERE QUITE EXAUSTED. WE WERE HAPPY TO PAY EXTRA AND HAVE ONE OF THE SUITES AVAILABLE. AS WE WERE FINISHING OUR PAPERWORK, A YOUNG EXTREMLY NICE TIRED SOLDIER CAME IN TO INQUIRE ABOUT A ROOM. AFTER BEING TOLD THERE WERE NO AVAILABLE ROOMS, HE WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. HE THEN CONTINUED TO EXPLAIN THAT HE HAD 8 FAMILY MEMBERS STAYING AT THIS HOTEL IN 2 ROOMS. HE TOLD THEM HE HAD ALSO JUST RETURNED FROM A 1 YEAR TOUR OF DUTY IN IRAQ, AND HAD A 3 DAY FLIGHT WITH NO SLEEP. THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE CHECKING OUT AT THE TIME. HE ASK IF HE COULD JUST HAVE A "DIRTY" ROOM AND HE WOULD BE WILLING TO CHANGE THE LINENS HIMSELF. HE JUST NEEDED A HOT SHOWER AND A BED TO REST. A WOMAN CAME FROM THE BACK AND SCREAMED AT HIM THAT THEY WOULD NOT GIVE HIM A DIRTY ROOM AND HE NEEDED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE. I FOLLOWED THE WORN OUT YOUNG SOLDIER TO THE PARKING LOT AND EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT THEY HAD SUITES AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $16.00 OVER A REGULAR ROOM RATE AND THEY HAD JUST RENTED ME ONE. I SAID GO BACK IN AND ASK FOR A SUITE. THEY HAD JUST RENTED ME A SUITE FOR CHECK IN AT 7:30 A.M. AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. I WENT ON TO MY ROOM THINKING THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. AS I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW IN MY 6TH FLOOR SUITE, I SAW THIS YOUNG SOLDIER WAS ONCE AGAIN TURNED AWAY. HE RETURNED TO HIS TRUCK AND LEFT. HAD I BEEN ABLE TO GET DOWN THERE AND STOP HIM I WOULD HAVE GLADLY GIVEN HIM OUR ROOM. I ABSOLUTLY COULD NOT BELIEVE THE WAY THIS YOUNG SOLDIER WAS TREATED. I HAVE CALLED THE HOTEL TO REGISTAR A COMPLAINT, AND WILL WRITE LETTERS TO BOTH THE KILLEEN PAPER AND THE FORT HOOD PAPER TO REPORT THE TREATMENT AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS YOUNG SOLDIER. I WILL ALSO NEVER STAY AT THIS HOTEL AGAIN