[Right Winged American]

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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.

[MNnice]

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

[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.

[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.

[ex-snook]

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

[SuziQ]

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.

Instead of continuing to keep VA medical centers open, why not let the Vets use their medical benefits at the medical center closest to them? Seems like a much less expensive and much more convenient alternative for them.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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In honor of Lifesaver Battle of IA DRANG-1965 Heroes:

http://www.ArmchairGeneral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=133

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[FreedomCalls]

Tommy

I went into a public-’ouse to get a pint o’beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:

O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,’’ when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,’’ when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-’alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!

For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.

Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.

Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy how’s yer soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.

We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;

While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind,”
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there’s trouble in the wind,
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there’s trouble in the wind.

You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.

For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country,” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
But Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

Rudyard Kipling
1892

[armymarinemom]

I like Joe Galloway as a person. I spent an afternoon with him as he covered troop greeting in Bangor. I watched him interview our troops and was impressed how he went straight to the Joes instead of talking to the brass.
That being said, he does a big injustice when he covers stories on a partisan basis. He got very anti- Rumsfeld after his trip to Iraq in 2005 and hasn't reported well since.
I would like to see him drop the political garbage and go back to reporting from a broad spectrum instead of being a mouth peace for the Wesley Clark crowd.
He does make a lot of points in this piece but his past rants put a tarnish on the whole thing.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

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.
~~~
Maybe this is why the Army is holding troops returning to
the states at their home base for 60 days before being able
to take a leave home for the holidays,,,
This started in Sept. from what I have learned,,,

Good Luck tryin’ to get the Truth out of the VA/Military
about Agent Orange and the rest of the Chemical-Weapons we were sprayed with,,,
Get a copy of your military records and look to see if you
were put in/under Project PACE,,,This means that they have
followed your health,,,What did they know and when did they know it ?,,,
The date on my records shows that my health
started being followed TWO MONTHS BEFORE I ROTATED IN 1968!!