Until Now
Today I finished the review of another fellow veteran’s medical records. It was an almost 700-page slog through his history of treatment and evaluation at the VA. It was very informative as to how I can help him get the treatment he needs and the benefits he deserves. As I do it, it made me feel good to help this fellow veteran. It also made me a little angry that in the records I saw not bad health care, just an indifferent system that seemed to limit its effort to the bare minimum. Not a surprise. I’ve seen it too many times before. But still a little frustrating and a lot irritating.
I’ve lost count of the number of veterans I’ve helped. Some in big ways, some in simple ways. Sometimes it’s rewarding. Sometimes it’s life-changing for the veteran and thus life-changing for me. Sometimes it’s so frustrating and time-consuming I just want to bury my head in the sand. But most times I am remembered what is at stake.
The biggest reminders are the ones whose lives I’ve got to see dramatically changed. In some cases, the veteran was facing economic hardship, family crisis, and major health issues. In some of those cases, I was able to be part of their transformation into a better and more sane and secure, and healthy life. Of course, I blame God, my mother, my wife, and the veterans who came before me for all the good I’ve been part of.
I am especially encouraged by one veteran who I met by accident (divine I’m sure) in a Lowe’s parking lot. I still can’t remember how it all started, but the three-year journey to get this older Vietnam vet whole in benefits was one of the greatest thrills of this accidental life. Now friends for a few years, we talk about other vets who need help and we seek to help them together, one way or another. We also keep each other’s spirits up no matter what is going on in life and in the world. After all, that is what we as vets do for each other every day. We just don’t know any better. It comes from serving.
But back to my latest veteran case. His story is very similar. He has a lot of issues. The most major is PTSD and fortunately for him the VA has at least taken some recognition of his problems in that area. However, the VA has done little more than medicate and given some compensation to ease his life a little. Yet they have also ignored a number of other physical and mental issues. They have also never addressed whether this veteran is even capable of handling himself in the world. His issues are that serious.
But I don’t blame the people who work in the VA. I’ve known a number of them. I’ve worked with them on other veterans’ cases. And all I can tell you is that they are doing what they can within a broken system with an ever-changing focus on what is or isn’t important politically.
Because of that, I blame politicians. They are the ones who send veterans to wars. They are the ones who mismanage the wars. They are the ones who mismanage the troops that are entrusted with guarding this country (and fighting other countries’ wars). They are the ones who say, “Thank you for your service,” while cutting their lives off after they return home. In other words, politicians are the problem. Who would have thought?
For now, I will continue to help this new vet friend find his care and wholeness of life if it is possible. I will continue to resist running for the hills and hang around to help in whatever little way I can. In other words, I will continue to be a vet to a vet.
I just ask everyone who reads this to do myself and all vets a favor. This is an election year. When you vote, please consider the plight of the military and the veterans when you vote. If you are looking for an easy bellwether of whom to vote against, just pull up the Burn Pit bill, officially known as Honoring our PACT Act of 2022. It was a simple and straightforward bill to take care of the numerous veterans who have had toxic exposure while serving this country. It was a bill that should have gotten 100% support from both parties. Instead, it took a fight in the Senate along with public and veteran outrage to get it passed.
So use this bellwether when you consider your vote. In my humble opinion, the 88 congressmen and 11 Senators need to be shown the door. They have no right to represent a country if that country wants to truly thank them for their service.