Disgraceful Treatment of Veterans Stains America's Honor. (Blue Water Navy)

VA WatchDog dot Org ^ | 12 / 14 / 07 | Joseph Galloway

[Right Winged American]

Galloway: Disgraceful treatment of veterans stains America's honor

Joseph Galloway  12 / 14 / 07

 

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As you do your holiday shopping this year and think about a big turkey dinner and piles of gifts and the good life that most Americans enjoy, please spare a thought for those who made it all possible: those who serve in our military and the veterans who've worn the uniform.

There are some new statistics that give us reason to be ashamed for the way that our country has treated those who've served and sacrificed for us. Those statistics damn the politicians who start every speech by thanking the troops and veterans and blessing them. They indict our national leaders who turn up at military bases and the annual conventions of veteran's organizations and use troops and veterans as a backdrop for their photo-ops.

Consider this:

• An average of 18 veterans commit suicide each and every day of the year, according to recent statistics from the Veterans Administration. That's 126 veterans who kill themselves every week. Or some 6,552 who take their own lives each year. Our veterans are killing themselves at twice the rate of other Americans.
• One quarter of the homeless people in America are military veterans. That's one in every four. Is that ragged man huddled on the steam grate in a brutal winter wind a Vietnam vet? Did that younger man panhandling for pocket change on the street corner fight in Kandahar or Fallujah?

For the past four years, the Department of Veterans Affairs has been insisting that it's doing everything it needs to for the nation's veterans. That's simply not true, particularly when it comes to the VA's treatment of mental health issues. As my McClatchy Newspapers colleague Chris Adams has reported in a series of groundbreaking stories this year, the VA mental health system - even by its own measures - wasn't prepared to give returning veterans the mental health care they need.

The experts say that between 20 and 30 percent of all troops returning from combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. But many of VA hospitals didn't have the special PTSD programs that experts say are vital. Soldiers returning from Iraq are allowed to slip unnoticed into their old lives, and neither the Department of Defense nor the VA does anything to monitor their mental health.

The VA keeps telling Congress that all is well. That's not true, either. As Adams reported, the VA has been using fudged or inflated numbers to do so. And after years of promising that it's getting a growing backlog of disability compensation applications under control, things actually got worse this year.

No matter whether they've been wounded and need follow-up care and support, or whether they're coming apart at the seams and feeling suicidal, they sometimes must wait months for an appointment to be evaluated and treated at VA medical centers.

The same people who don't blink at spending $3 billion a week on their war of choice in Iraq were the ones who cut the VA budget and privatized maintenance at Walter Reed Army Hospital and opposed every attempt to expand benefits for veterans old and young.
They're the same people who turned a blind eye as their corporate sponsors and private donors looted billions of dollars from the treasury with no-compete contracts and bloated bills for everything from food for the troops to fuel for their tanks and trucks.

As a wave of wounded troops suffering brain injuries from the blasts of roadside bombs and landmines poured into military hospitals, these people, posing as fiscally responsible budget makers, were cutting in half the money spent on research into brain injuries.

These frauds who love to pose as wartime leaders sat back and did nothing as a cruel bureaucracy sent bill collectors out to harass double-amputee veterans for thousands of dollars because they neglected to turn their armored vests and other gear in to the supply sergeant after they were blown apart on the battlefield.

They did nothing as the Army became ever more conservative, even stingy, in the number of injured and wounded soldiers it judged worthy of full disability pensions. Soldiers who suffered brain injuries and PTSD so severe that they couldn't function were put on the street with a 30 percent disability pension - $700 a month - to support a wife and three children.

Neglecting our war veterans and the widows and orphans that result from our wars is as American as apple pie. It's nothing new. But in the past we always waited until after the war's end to forget those who'd fought the war. This may be the first time in our history that we began to neglect and forget our troops during a war.

All of this is shameful - shameful for a people whose freedom and prosperity rests on the backs of those soldiers, but who've forgotten them so completely that they haven't held their Congress and their president responsible for this stain on our honor.

The next smarmy politician who shouts ''God bless our troops'' ought to be tarred and feathered and ridden out of Washington on a rail for sheer hypocrisy.

 

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BIO:  Joseph L. Galloway is the senior military correspondent for McClatchy Newspapers and a nationally syndicated columnist. One of America's preeminent war correspondents, with more than four decades as a reporter and writer, he recently concluded an assignment as a special consultant to Gen. Colin Powell at the State Department.

Galloway, a native of Refugio, Texas, spent 22 years as a foreign and war correspondent and bureau chief for United Press International, and nearly 20 years as a senior editor and senior writer for U.S. News & World Report magazine. His overseas postings include tours in Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Singapore and three years as UPI bureau chief in Moscow in the former Soviet Union. During the course of 15 years of foreign postings Galloway served four tours as a war correspondent in Vietnam and also covered the 1971 India-Pakistan War and half a dozen other combat operations.

In 1990-1991 Galloway covered Desert Shield/Desert Storm, riding with the 24th Infantry Division (Mech) in the assault into Iraq. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf has called Galloway "The finest combat correspondent of our generation -- a soldier's reporter and a soldier's friend."

[Right Winged American]

For more Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans/Agent Orange Info, go here:

http://bluewaternavy.org

Discussions/Forum about Blue Water Navy Vets, Here:

http://bluewaternavy.org/phpBB2/index.php

FreepMail me to join the Blue Water Navy ping list.

 

 

Blue Water Navy
Vietnam Veterans
of America

Once again the MSM discovers the dishonorable treatment of this nation's veterans. Search "Blue Water Navy" to see what I'm talking about. Believe me, I've just been scratching the surface to this point; I submit that with the number of veterans who are VOTERS, we are rapidly reaching the point that this kind of treatment is going to become a campaign issue that will show up at the polls.

Both administrations since Reagan and Bush the Elder have sought to separate and marginalize Vietnam Veterans or groups within them; viz 'Haas vs. Nicholson', the Dole - Shalala Commission, and most recently the appointment of Gen. James Peake, the official responsible for the Walter Reed debacle, as the new Secretary of the Veterans Administration.

This is further exacerbated by the willingness of the Veterans Service Organizations acquiescence to Gen. Peake's approval despite his connection to a multi-million dollar corporation doing business with the DVA.

I further submit that individual veterans are beginning to notice these shenanigans, and one might suspect that civilians who never served but who appreciate those who have will begin to make their displeasure known politically.

Or maybe not. (I wouldn't want to bet that way, though.)

[LdSentinal]

Joseph Galloway is anti-American, pro Al-Queda pig.

[Right Winged American]

Joseph Galloway is anti-American, pro Al-Queda pig.

And your point is?

When he's right, he's right. Just for fun, why not address the facts.

You dispute them?

[MNnice]

Galloway’s mission has always been to turn the troops against republican administrations.

[Emmett McCarthy]

Is this the same Joe Galloway who wrote “We Were Soldiers”? I can’t guess what you might know about him which would lead you to say what you did. I don’t know a whole lot about him but he appears to have been an honorable man.

[Don W]

A short look around this guy’s site told me everything I need to know about his veracity and any claim to a non-partisan stance.

[LdSentinal]

I have, especially when that anti-American pig went after General Petraeus.

[Right Winged American]

Thank you for your thoughtful and reasoned response.

If you read my note in #1 above, you might have noted that BOTH administrations bear responsibility for the points raised in the article. You did read the article, right?

Again, it would be nice for someone to notice the facts as they are stated, rather than comments on the author.

One would hope that the Republican candidates for president might consider addressing the problems with the DVA in a manner which will actually support veterans. ALL veterans.

I believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny, too.

[em2vn]

As a brown water sailor I have never figured out how a blue water sailor steaming on the gun line could be exposed to agent orange.
Could such claims be nothing more than a hustle to game the system?

[YOUGOTIT]

Joseph Galloway, as far as I know is anti-military. From Vietnam he like all of the MSM were for the Communist and not for the Americans or South Vietnamese.

However he does make some points but those points would not have been made if a Democrat were in the White House. As Democrats controlled Congress for over 50 years the results they rendered for all US veterans and active duty personnel were not good. As a matter of fact I remember when they cut off all travel money so we that were outside CONUS could not return. And they kept any military pay raise under that received by the Civilians and especially for travel.

So I agree with those that do not believe what Galloway says. And I personally do not support anything the Vietnam Veterans of American do or say. They started off as a pro left-wing, and if I remember correctly anti-War, organization and as far as I am concerned are even more left-wing today.

[Tammy8]

There is some truth to this, and we always need to be aware of which politicians really help veterans and which ones are simply BSing.

Galloway does have an agenda at times and I take what he says with a grain of salt.

The military did harrass soldiers that were blown up for gear that they didn’t account for- I heard that from more than one source. That was despiciple, first of all if you are medivaced to a hospital, then another, and another- how would you keep track of your things- especially if you are not aware of what is going on for medical reasons? When my husband was wounded in Vietam, he lost all of his things in that process- all of his military gear as well as his personal items. It all disappeared somewhere along the way- there is no way the wounded should be held accountable for loss of gear in cases like this.

The part about paltry PTSD payments has a grain of truth-usually the benefits start off at a lowball level when first approved, then through appeals process it is possible to get in the neighborhood of $3,000 per month at 100%. The problem I see with the current system is if a veteran knows how it works he can be persistant and get better benefits- others who don’t know how it works fall through the cracks, and those that truly suffer from PTSD may not be able to navigate the system due to their illness.

Hubby and I have been navigating the VA system since he was seriously wounded in Vietnam, we have always been able to deal with them and felt they have been fair- but you do have to have some awareness of how it all works and you have to remember it is a government agency you are dealing with.

The worst thing I see them doing to today’s wounded veterans,is the practice of wanting to “settle” with them for $X for their wounds and be done with them. This is a real disgrace and very unfair to the veteran. If further medical issues arise in later years due to their wounds they can’t go back to the VA if they accepted a settlement. Many people don’t realize the long-term health issues that can happen over a period of years after a traumatic injury. Anyone who wants to complain about treatment of veterans should think about this and let their representatives know it is an unacceptable practice- it is clear it is just simply a cost-cutting measure. Lowballing claims can be corrected if the veteran gets the right help with their claims- but if they settle it is a done deal, and I don’t see how that can be corrected in the future.

[Right Winged American]

As a brown water sailor I have never figured out how a blue water sailor steaming on the gun line could be exposed to agent orange. Could such claims be nothing more than a hustle to game the system?

On the off chance that you are serious about your question, I suggest that you follow this link:

http://bluewaternavy.org

Read the information relating to Water Distillation Issues and the Austrailian / New Zealand Navy Vietnam Veterans reports. Or, read or listen to the "Haas vs. Nicholson" Oral Arguments before the 12th Circuit Court.

Educate yourself on the subject, then get back to me.

[cva66snipe]

Since early 1989 our military and VA as well went on a rapid downward spiral. No president since Reagan nor congress has given a royal care as to the plight of vets nor that matter the troops either. Colin Powell was one of the biggest sellouts as well for not helping those under him obtain rightful compensation and help.

20 years ago when a veteran passes away there was an honor guard and taps if a bugler was available played at the graveside service and an American Flag presented the survivor. Today it's a Boom Box version of TAPS and VFW presents the flag to the family. This is true even an awarded vets passes.

The last congressman I can think of who was very outspoken on getting vets what they need is the now ex-congressman from Ohio still sitting in a federal prison.

All politicians DEM and GOP like to play the support the troops pipes. Very few if any actually do it. None have done it since Reagan in the White House. Where is the needed raise in End Troop Strengths? The needed equipment? Older proved equipment programs ended for promises of newer ones yet to even be produced much less actually developed all so some politicians contractor friend can draw a big fat R&D funding for doing nothing. Senior Commissioned Flag Officers in many cases are guilty as well placing their future plans sitting on the board of corporations ahead of the needs and welfare of their troops. Powell was one of them too.

VA care needs to go private with medical service available anywhere. We can do it for Medicare why can those who have service related disabilities receive no less help in a quick a manner? This is a national disgrace and ALL ELECTED leadership is guilty no matter their party. The GOP can not claim the moral high road as they are the biggest funders of nothing to deliver contracts money that troops and vets needed for then and now. But the DEMs do as much themselves too.

[Right Winged American]

Hubby and I have been navigating the VA system since he was seriously wounded in Vietnam, we have always been able to deal with them and felt they have been fair- but you do have to have some awareness of how it all works and you have to remember it is a government agency you are dealing with.

Ah, I see. I've only been dealing with them since 2005, when I was diagnosed with Leukemia which is "presumed" to be caused by Agent Orange if you were on land even for 1 minute, but not if you were serving on the gun line or on an carrier.

The cute part is that the Blue Water Navy has a much higher incidence of these "Presumed" diseases than those who served "in-country". (Something about sailors eating, washing in, and drinking TCDD contaminated water which was concentrated by the flash-distillers on shipboard.)

Check out the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine report on Agent Orange diseases as it relates to Navy veterans.

 

[ex-snook]

If uniform, you're a hero. When you are not you're a cost. The lesson of Walter Reed.

[Right Winged American]

All politicians DEM and GOP like to play the support the troops pipes. Very few if any actually do it. None have done it since Reagan in the White House. Where is the needed raise in End Troop Strengths? The needed equipment? Older proved equipment programs ended for promises of newer ones yet to even be produced much less actually developed all so some politicians contractor friend can draw a big fat R&D funding for doing nothing. Senior Commissioned Flag Officers in many cases are guilty as well placing their future plans sitting on the board of corporations ahead of the needs and welfare of their troops. Powell was one of them too.

VA care needs to go private with medical service available anywhere. We can do it for Medicare why can those who have service related disabilities receive no less help in a quick a manner? This is a national disgrace and ALL ELECTED leadership is guilty no matter their party. The GOP can not claim the moral high road as they are the biggest funders of nothing to deliver contracts money that troops and vets needed for then and now. But the DEMs do as much themselves too.

Abso-d*mn-lutely. From your keyboard to God's ear!

Thank you. I was afraid I would be fielding political apologists for this administration's treatment of veterans all day.

Welcome Aboard!

[Right Winged American]

If uniform, you're a hero. When you are not you're a cost. The lesson of Walter Reed.

Well said.

Thank you.

[Tammy8]

Agent Orange claims have been an uphill battle from the beginning- the claims criteria is strange to say the least- there were many in the military at different locations where it was used and stored that never were in Vietnam, so the criteria sure doesn’t work for them either. Some in the Air Force have the same issue you Navy people do- they handled the stuff, but were never in country so they don’t meet criteria either.

It will take a lot of pressure from somewhere for the VA to change their criteria about things like agent orange- someone will have to produce the research and the medical profession will have to line up, then records will have to be located that show where and when it was actually used, stored, etc. PTSD was impossible until the American Psychiatric Association changed their Diagnosis guidelines and VA had to use them in the claims process.

We have not had the hard times many have with the VA, but hubby’s deal was fairly straight forward- he was blown up by a mine, so it was obvious he had parts missing, and parts damaged. Really hard for them to argue about that; our only real issue was health issues that came later as a result of- we managed to get through, but I never said it was easy.

[cva66snipe]

Thanks. I worked at my local National Symmetry {on student contract} while going to school after my hitch was up. In the 1980's I saw a lot of honors services. The cut in End Troop Strengths to an unreasonable level means that no longer happens.

As a former snipe {Machinist Mate} I can tell you that you are right on the potable water. Distillers do not or at least back then take out chemical poisons. The protocol for that was no eating, drinking, or smoking, till safer conditions. I think all carrier vets can say we've had a taste or two of fuel tainted water as well. Even anchored in someplace like say Naples you knew you were there by the taste of the water.

The truth is though if a carrier was within strike distance to Nam it was also in downwind distance of Agent Orange and other chemicals. This has been known for quite a while. A lot of age mid 50's vets are dying. One of my neighbors was SF Army in Nam and a decorated vet. He died a couple years ago of COPD. I had a cousin who was an MP over there he died of Idiopathic Fibrosis a very cruel ending worse than even lung cancer. It's time for this nation to pay up and do what is right for all troops both past and present.

[Right Winged American]

Thanks, Snipe, Tammy; sometimes when I post here I wonder if anyone is really reading the posts.

Follow the links in #1 above to the Blue Water Navy sites and you will find that the data and science are available, the DVA has just managed to ignore them so far.

Examples:

• Since the beginning of the Bush administration, the DVA has attempted to destroy the medical data accumulated by the Institute of Medicine, the federal agency mandated by the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to track and evaluate veterans illnesses caused by Agent Orange. Their claim; the cost of maintaining those records and data was prohibitive.
• Also during this administration the DVA has sought to de-fund the Institute of Medicine's ongoing Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange study. The IOM keeps finding more evidence and diseases caused by Agent Orange.
• Most recently, the DVA managed to get the IOM to delete all references to the Royal Australian Navy's peer-reviewed report showing ships flash-distillers actually concentrated the TCDD contaminate in sea water, which was made even more toxic by picking up ions from steam heated copper tubing.

I'm always having to bring up this data in the face of people who can't believe Blue Water Navy sailors could be exposed to Agent Orange. Almost none ever investigate the information I post.

<Sigh!>