WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey resigned Friday amid charges of poor conditions for patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
The resignation followed an announcement by President George Bush that he was creating a commission to assess conditions at Walter Reed and other veteran's hospitals around the country. On Thursday, Harvey fired Maj. Gen. George Weightman as commander of Walter Reed.
The Washington Post ran a recent series describing how some patients are living with mice, mold and cockroaches at what is supposed to be the military's premier hospital, and reported soldiers and their families said Army commanders had ignored their complaints.
Harvey became Army secretary in 2004. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the resignation.
