Veterans and this country
One man was missing an eye. Another had no left arm. Others had extreme coughs and limps. All appeared poor, wearing stained sweat pants and old shirts and out-of-style tattered shoes. They were Veterans. The heart and soul of America. And there they sat at the Milwaukee Veteran’s Hospital awaiting treatment. What they’ve seen and been through could only be understood by somebody else who’d lived through it. Many probably held their buddies as his final breath left his lungs. Yet, they are poor and take the Metro bus for their medical treatment; they can’t afford cars.
As I stood in the lobby of the hospital awaiting to register with the VA, my heart was filled with agony. It hurt to see these men. Not because they were a sight for sore eyes, but because they sacrificed so much for their country and “shabby” medical treatment hardly seems like a just reward. Why is it this country will dish out millions to pay the salary of an NBA player, but only pay its police officers and soldiers an average of $30,000? What’s more is an injured Veteran receives disability, but the most you can receive off of full disability is less than my yearly salary.
I very badly wanted to walk up to one man in particular and say “I’m sorry.” He was a black man and could not stop shaking. He stuttered and had a limp in his right leg. He still wore his old issued field jacket; no doubt the same one he wore in Vietnam. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, other than the obvious. Unlike the others I saw, he didn’t take the bus or drive. He had a backpack and after his appointment, he walked away from the hospital. I assume he was homeless.
I’m sure at one point in his life he was an up and comer. A kid with dreams to be a baseball player or a store owner. But his life was changed after his country asked a favor. He may not have wanted to serve, but he selflessly dodged bullets and chased the enemy through tunnels and slept at night praying he wakes up in the morning. And now he needs a favor from his country, and all “We the People” can offer is pro-rated medical care and a discount on a loan. It hardly seems fair. Even still, I think respect is probably what he desires most or a simple thank you from the same generation who once spat on him. Rather, he’s looked at as a bum.
It’s easy for people to say… “the war was a long time ago. People need to just get over it.” No doubt, these naysayers are the same people who would rather read about latest updates on Michael Jackson’s trial rather than a short bio of a deceased soldier. I wonder sometimes if our country has its priorities right. Then, I open the newspaper and Martha Stewart is on the front page while the war is under “international” news buried inside. To say the least, it’s just frustrating.
posted by Sminklemeyer @ 6:17 PM
13 Comments:
I have never understood, so I thought it best to just do what I could on a personal level. You havg in there Smink and just remember! Remember you said the,"thank you" meant so much. Good to hear from you, glad you made it safe.
Yes...and the saddest thing is the fact that veterans benefits are on the chopping block with the 06 budget proposals. Further, there is a proposal to have a $250 deductable and co-pays on visits/medications obtained through the VA.
The VA system is and has been stressed for many years...as evidenced by the consolidation of services in many major cities. The average "wait" time for disability benefits is currently 180 days....and that is an improvement.
ditto on the FUBAR ! just remember, that's generalizing. on a personal level, it's different. maybe someday the world will be "personal" again.
Veterans of Foreign Wars is one of the service organizations that is really trying to make a difference. I don't know how the VA hospital is in Milwaukee, but I've been to Madison and it breaks your heart.
I'd like to leave you my email address, because I think at some point, you may want more information on how VFW acts as the Veterans' advocate. It's available in the white pages at AKO.
Marty Fay
You know, Sminky... after having been there, and with your writing skills, YOU could be the one to make a difference for those people. I know you've got what it takes to be heard... maybe you can help make some changes!
You tell it, Smink. This isn't about politics... this is about keeping faith with people who are giving their lives for this country.
Here! Here! For far too long in this country our children, seniors and veterans have suffered in the hands of partisan politics.
Budgets cuts and lack of funding have provided sub standard health care to all three of these groups.
We have asked young men and women to fight for our country. Then we leave them homeless because they can't work and cannot get proper medical care or afford a home or place to live on their disability income.
The country's ideals and priorities are sadly screwed up. It really is depressing. I don't even watch the news much anymore.
Michael Jackson is the headline for 5 minutes. Terri Schiavo is a 15 second blurb.
Not to disagree...because trust me if any veteran with a real need is living like you describe...than that is criminal. But you should read a book called Stolen Valour first. It highlights the many, many abuses of the VA system by the baby boomer generation.
After that you'll have a better idea of where all of this fits in. Don't get me wrong...the real veterans are very deserving and should get everything promised...but those that fake it destroy faith in the system for all of us.
Alcohol and drugs are responsible for more death and injury to myself and other Vietnam era vets. It is still at the root of the hopelessness you see in many of the wraiths observed drifting in and out of the VA. By the Grace of God I got sober when I was 35 years old. I came home from the Navy Feb. 1967 having served three tours in the Tonkin gulf yacht club. I came home unscathed and never faced what many others faced in country. Some of the men you see suffered thier injuries in those jungles, some did not. For many of them what is killing them is an entirely different battle. A billion dollars a patient won't cure them. FUBAR? True. SNAFU? True. This is nothing new for vets, here's somthing that was written from memory of an inscription on a grave stone outside Winchester Cathederal.
"Here lies a Hampshire Grenadier
Who caught his death
Drinking cold small beer.
A good soldier is ne'er forgot
Whether he dieth by musket
Or by pot."
By the way, I thank God that I did serve in Vietnam, now that I'm older and wiser, errr older, I consider myself blessed that I was given the chance to serve in any way with those vets. As for those that are living and dieing and all that have died because of booze, they are my brothers and I honor thier service.
I've had a problem with the way the media handles things for years. Too many talking heads yelling at each other. And I vever have cared whether a celebrity like Paris Hilton had cell phone problems or not.
Since my return from Iraq, my indifference to celebrity cell phone problems has been magnified.
I have always had a deep amount of respect for those who saw combat, whether it's this war or WW1, 2, Korea, Vietnam, or the first Gulf War.
And I have always been pretty much disgusted by the way the government, for the most part, has tossed these troops aside. Not the individuals who work with them day to day.
But the United States government.
On June 5th, I'm scheduled to read the list of fallen Wisconsin military personnel from this war.
It's at a ceremony at a war memorial in Plover, WI.
When I get some time and get on my feet, I'd like to do more than that. I've given thought to volunteering some time to VA hospitals to help out. Don't know what I would do, but I would think they would have use for me somewhere.
SSG J
I remember spending many a Thanksgiving weekend in LA, away from my family back in Canada, and along with an actress client of mine, we went to serve Thanksgiving lunch to the homeless before returning to her place for our meal with her family and mutual friends.
One time, a group of four vets, came by, filled their plates, and gathered at a table to enjoy their meal. I was serving food, finished my shift, and decided to sit with them, and to engage them in conversation. I was deeply saddened and filled with anger that bordered on rage at the horrible treatment by the US gov't and by most Americans, that these Vietnam Vets had received and continued to receive.
Vietnam was a mistake...a horrendour mistake..but these men were drafted and served honourably..and I still cry as I write this today as I reflect on how wonderful, genteel, smart, kind, open hearted, loving souls these men were...in spite of everything they had been through.
Here they were living in Los Angeles, a city that is home to the wealthiest overpaid overpampered celebrities that Americans idolize to the brink of stupidity, and these men were living in shelters.
That experience helped to reshape my perspective..and resonated so deeply within me..that I can honestly say it was the reason I was compelled to send care packages and email/letters to our deployed troups.
I have the utmost respect for those that serve this country. As soneone who spent years in Hollywood surrounded by extreme wealth - it sickens me to know that baseball player are paid millions of dollars to cheat and lie( are you listening Mark Mcguire, Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds and the team owners), that actors, writers, directors, are paid millions of dollars and more perks you can ever imagine, to create mediocre work, and are idolized and worshipped as if they were gods, and that basketball players who can't string two words together can beat up fans and suffer little consequence for their actions, while being paid huge salaries and huge endorsement deals, Mwhile brave courageous young men and women choose to put themselves in harms way( or maybe its not their choice but they HONOUR their commitment), serve this country, protect our ideals, spread democracy, freedom and hope around the globe; are barely compensated more than $30K...the salary a secretary earns in corporate america.
You're right Sminky..these naysayers inhale every bit of news on that freak show called Michael Jackson,or on "poor Martha Stewart's" incaration at Camp Cupcake,( for lying and cheating,a common theme amoung athletes, the Hollywood elite and the MSM elite i.e.Dan Rather), profess a passion for injustices visted on death row inmates, believe that terrrorists are entitled to "due process rights" available under the constitution to AMERICAN CITIZENS, believe illegal immigrants should be allowed to live in the US and not pay taxes while draining our Medicaid system, and think Castro is a really kewl guy and that Saddam was just a benign harmless dictator.
However, Sminky, try to remember that the MSM doesnt just LEAN left..its IS left.... and therefore frames all its stories and makes its editorial decisions..from that liberal left perspective.
They do not represent mainstream America even if they THINK they do( delusions run rampant among liberals) and your voice is being heard by people who are sick of the pervasive blantant liberal agenda.
Why do you think Milblogs are so widely read..and Fox News is so widely viewed.
Keep speaking the truth...and use the gift of writing that you possess to reshape the minds and hearts of people.
Our vets cannot and should not be forgotten or treated in this shameful manner.
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