United States Government Abandons Veterans and Soldiers

Sunday, March 11, 2007
United States Government Abandons Veterans and Soldiers
The Government of these United States has abandoned our veterans. The soldiers returning today face many obstacles and hardships. But they are not the only ones. What about the Vietnam veterans who continue to have health problems? The numbers with long-term health issues are astronomical. The continued denial of claims by the VA is utterly unbelievable. There are far too many veterans that have been left behind, disability claims denied, and healthcare withheld, all because of either bureaucratic red tape or just blatant denial. For example: my brother-in-law Marvin. He is a Vietnam veteran that was in Cambodia before we were in Cambodia. His platoon took baths in the ponds, unbeknownst to them that Agent Orange had been sprayed and or of the potential consequences. He has numerous health and psychological issues since leaving the military. The VA refuses to approve certain benefits (including disability) attributed to Agent Orange. Their reasoning: “Denied because there were no missions in that region at the time he claims.” Except, his commander has been contacted and has verified dates and locations of their missions and has copies of their original orders. It is heart breaking to see the struggles he goes through. His skin sloughs off continually. He has numerous other health related problems and it is difficult just to keep his utilities turned on let alone a roof over his head. We see the horrible conditions at Walter Reed and the problems that the current soldiers are having when they return, and not to discount these soldiers at all, but what about the forgotten Vets from the Vietnam era? What can we do for them? How can we assure that all of our soldiers past and present are taken care of? It is a down right shame that we (the United States) have turned our backs on those who were first in line to defend us. I am asking everyone that reads this, to please make suggestions, and contact your congressman to demand that we step up to the plate and take care of all of our veterans and soldiers. They should be treated as the heroes they are and not second-class citizens.