Veteran kills self after war tours.

[TheTman]

For those interested in Veterans affairs, the following link has some disturbing news, and not just about the one Vets suicide.
http://www.americans-working-together.com/together_we_can/id30.html

Towards the bottom of the page, there are some links about Vets suffering from PTSD and how they are getting screwed over.
Makes me sick to think how the Vets that fought for us get treated by the government. It's a disgrace.

[OldLincoln]

That is heart breaking! PTSD is very real and not welcome by anybody. It is not a tool for sympathy and a badge worn for glory. It is a devastating disease that lives inside and no amount of denial and good will can fix it.

For many, the painful and disturbing flashbacks and nightmares become normal fabric of their lives as they live with it daily over the years. It hits some early on and other decades after the events. No matter how long ago, the memories and pain are fresh every time they strike.

[TheTman]

At least they realize it's a disease now. I hate to think how many "shell-shocked" vets from WWI and II and Korea got very little if any help from the VA. It's tragic, sending these kids off to war, and then not providing any support for them when they bring their broken bodies and minds home and try and readjust to civilian life.

[bonjorno2]

it is very tragic! God bless our troops!

[johnatw]

I'm hoping we are going to see a new and improved VA. I was discharged from the Air Force in 1965 and had nothing but distain for the VA and the government until recently. The VA first acknowledged my hearing disability resulting from my service. Then last year I had pneumonia, and the local hospital thought they saw a spot on my lung. They decieded it was nothing, but the VA found out about it and ran me through 6 mos. of tests. The last test indicated lung cancer, and within a month they did surgery. Thankfully when the tumor was removed the pathology test showed non cancerous, and the three quarter by eight inch tumor was gone. I'm in my third week of recovery and very grateful to the great care and interest of the Memphis VA

[Dietrich]

johnatw,I`m very happy that things turned out so well for you.Get well soon.

[Chief Joseph]

For those interested in Veterans affairs, the following link has some disturbing news, and not just about the one Vets suicide.
http://www.americans-working-together.com/together_we_can/id30.html

Towards the bottom of the page, there are some links about Vets suffering from PTSD and how they are getting screwed over.
Makes me sick to think how the Vets that fought for us get treated by the government. It's a disgrace.

It makes me sick too. And to think more effort is made to give illegals all the free medical and welfare they can while our soldiers are left to fend for themselves, makes it a million times worse. We have people who work for my local school district who are paid full salaries to do nothing but drive the area looking for illegal kids, once found, then secure education, welfare, food stamps and whatever else they want. Like it or not, resources are SCARCE and should go to the deserving first.

[OldLincoln]

I'm hoping we are going to see a new and improved VA. I was discharged from the Air Force in 1965 and had nothing but distain for the VA and the government until recently. The VA first acknowledged my hearing disability resulting from my service. Then last year I had pneumonia, and the local hospital thought they saw a spot on my lung. They decieded it was nothing, but the VA found out about it and ran me through 6 mos. of tests. The last test indicated lung cancer, and within a month they did surgery. Thankfully when the tumor was removed the pathology test showed non cancerous, and the three quarter by eight inch tumor was gone. I'm in my third week of recovery and very grateful to the great care and interest of the Memphis VA
Ditto, John. I too was discharged from the AF in 1965. My ears failed 10 years later (KC-135) but the technology hadn't caught up yet. A couple years ago i applied not expecting much and they recognized the loss was engine related so covered me. Now I have hearing aids and can hear better. My local VA is super good and they treat me better than the civilian hospital.

[Willieboy]

A tragic story. The brother of a lady friend of mine took his life after returning from the sandbox.

[rholmes69]

Why does this country seem to shove aside our troops? It is the most disheartening thing in the world. My father served in Vietnam from '67-'69, and has medical issues as a result of his service. Getting help from the VA at times is like pulling teeth. He used to hold the end of a spray hose discharging Agent Orange, yet he gets denied extended coverage and benefits pay because of a "lack of evidence" that his conditions are a result of it, despite the fact side effects of AO are listed as what he has. Further more, he spent 4 years total in the military, yet his pension now he started getting at 65 is $22 a month. WTH!!!

I recently sold a leaf blower to gentleman on craigslist locally. We chatted for 30 mins when we met as is my problem as my wife says. He told me that he was in 'Nam and I thanked him for his service. He got a little choked for a second there and said I was the first person who had ever done that. I couldn't believe it; it made me embarassed of what has happened to us...

off the soapbox now...

[Bawanna]

Good post rholmes. I couldn't agree more. It's a sad state of affairs.

The recent thought of not paying the troops ticked me off to no end. Their families doing without while they are off in some third world sandbox.