Ellison: Soldiers in West Africa Need More Pay

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison says the 700 Minnesota National Guard soldiers being deployed to West Africa to help stop the spread of the deadly Ebola disease deserve more than $5 a day extra in hardship pay.

The Democratic congressman has written Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel asking for an increase in hardship pay commensurate with the guard members' sacrifice. Ellison's letter says "providing training and equipment in Ebola hot zones and building infrastructure in remote areas during the rainy season carry manageable, but high-stakes risks."

Maj. Gen. Neal Loidolt has said the 698 soldiers with the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division being sent to Monrovia, Liberia, will receive proper training and equipment before their April deployment and will not be involved in treating Ebola patients.