Decorated Vietnam Vet Arrested Guarding War Memorial and American Flag in San Diego(#2)

Robert Thomas Northcut is a decorated Vietnam Veteran. In the years that have passed since he was blown up in a delta ambush he spent his time in and out of Veteran's hospitals.

Ten years ago he walked out of the VA hospital never to look back. He found his way to Solana Beach, California where he has lived outside, as a homeless man, never panhandling a dime.

Each day he walks the streets with his trusty German Shepherd, ``TJ,'' given to him by caring townfolks. He always stops to greet people and pat children on their heads as they pet his dog and look in wonderment at this shell of a man, forever wounded serving his country in the war in Vietnam. His Purple Heart went the way of all his belongings when he decided to stop living in a VA hospital and get out and enjoy the beauty of the California coastline with ``TJ.''

His long shaggy Australian bush coat and Crocodile Dundee hat distinguish him for the hero he is as he is seen searching in the morning shadows looking for food.

When he heard the tragedy of ``9/11'' on his little portable radio he was instantly moved to action. He now had a purpose, a mission, a reason to reestablish his identity. He went to the little traffic island of the City which houses the stone war memorial next to the large American flag pole. He took up residence next to the Memorial, resting his head each night on it to protect it from what he felt was a possible terrorist attack. Each night he lowered the flag and each day raised it to half mast.

Neighbors brought food for him and his dog and brought him newspapers to keep up to date.

It had all come back to him....a purpose, a vision, an identity. He was now back in the line of duty. Every small part helped. His was to raise the flag and to protect the Monument.

Early one morning after he raised the flag, the workmen arrived. As he saluted, they pounded into the ground the two foot square No Trespassing sign. Moments later they called the Sheriff's department and held Thomas there until they arrived.

The city code enforcer ordered a citation to be issued for Thomas Northcut for trespassing. Thomas crumpled it into his pocket and went back to his duties, guarding the monument.

The code enforcer patiently waited for the court appearance date to pass then asked that the arrest warrant be issued.

Thomas and his dog awoke to the angry sounds of deputies as they pulled him from the ground, his hat falling by the side of the Monument and dragged him away in one direction screaming for his dog as they dragged ``TJ'' away to an animal control truck.

Thomas was handcuffed and taken to jail to await arraignment. ``TJ'' was taken to the pound where if unclaimed, he will be put to death in a matter of weeks.

This story did not take place in 1975. It was Thursday, October 26, 2001. Thomas, unable to post the bond, waited in the lockup and had to be sedated because of panic attacks which resulted from his incarceration. Meanwhile, his dog, ``TJ'' has lost his appetite longing for his owner. And the flag just sits at half mast.

``How soon we forget,'' said Sam Georges, an attorney, U.S. Air Force veteran and friend of Northcut's who is trying to get people to help for the jailed vet get released and see that he's reunited with his dog, and in the process sensitize the city. Georges is also president of the internationally famous Anthony Robbins Companies.

``It's pretty obvious that a time like this, we need to show our respect to patriotic Americans to those who have fought to protect our freedoms. Especially those who have worn the uniform of our armed forces and sacrificed for our country,'' said Stephen Jaffe, president Jaffe & Company, a crisis management communications firm in based in Los Angeles.

This morning, Jennifer Lynch, Esq., an attorney living in Vista who heard about the Northcut case from friends, appeared, pro bono, on his behalf in Superior Court. She noted that Northcut has served several days in jail for essentially protecting a Monument to those who had died defending our country during a former war. Northcut remained silent but the Judge, a distinguished veteran himself, saw the sad irony of the case and dismissed it for ``time served.''

``Now there remains only one more injustice to be corrected,'' Lynch stated, ``and that's for Thomas to be reunited with his dog, 'TJ.''' Friends of Northcut have agreed to take him to the pound where ``TJ'' is being held tomorrow. ``If the city officials and the system doesn't get in the way, Thomas and 'TJ' will be together again, greeting the folks in Solana Beach and enjoying the freedom he gave so much of himself to protect,'' Lynch added.

For further information, please contact Jennifer Lynch, Esq., +1-760-643-4113; or Sam Georges, Esq., +1-619-417-1408; or Stephen Jaffe of Jaffe & Co., Inc., +1-310-275-7327.

Speaking of vets having to wait hours for an appointment, let me tell you a quick story about my brother's most recent open heart surgery.

He was sent down to Wadsworth in West Los Angeles because of a blood infection which had attacked his heart valve for the 3rd time. He was airlifted to Palo Alto and was very lucky to have a world class surgeon (finally) perform a replacement of his valve and a massive re-section of his heart which had been eaten away by infection. I need to mention that the facilities in Palo Alto are wonderful! I was very impressed. The rooms were like normal hospital rooms, not at all like the old dreary facilities in Los Angeles or Long Beach.

This surgery, although it was done by a better doctor in a better facility, was not like the others inasmuch as my brother was not coming around and seemed to be deteriorating. We would try to talk to him and could barely hear him. Days after the surgery he was unable to get up and had to be on oxygen. But the surgeons were talking about sending him home. I had flashbacks of my uncle who was sent home 10 days after open heart surgery in spite of the fact that he had pneumonia and no one at home to help him. Sure enough, 10 days lapsed and Palo Alto loaded my brother onto a commercial plane and sent him back to Wadsworth (w/o oxygen) to be released to home from there.

I was worried sick because there was no way my brother was well. I called Wadsworth to make sure he had arrived ok and was told they had no record of him. I was frantic and called and worked my way from one department to another until someone finally went out and found my brother in a wheelchair in the hallway! he had been there for hours! He was then transferred into intensive care where they discovered a massive infection that had been overlooked before his release from Palo Alto. He was once again loaded on a plane (this time a private jet with a nurse to accompany him) and sent back to Palo Alto. This was done at the request of the surgeon in Palo Alto who had apparently done the surgery and then more or less turned my brother's care over to the interns.

My brother was given top notch priority care when he returned to Palo Alto and he began to respond and do well after that. But the fact is it took a major screw up on their part before they were willing to give him the time his illness required. I think the VA tries to go by the same B.S. guidelines that the HMO's are using. If you don't fit the scenario established by the book, forget it.

My brother has always been able to be his own advocate but it often took every ounce of energy that he had to do it. He has alot of medical/chemistry knowledge. Most people are not armed with adequate knowledge to be their own advocate, and if they do not have another intelligent person who can keep up with the doctors, they can very often be at a severe disadvantage. This is unfortunately true with HMO care that many of us are forced to have as well. It is pathetic! A disabled vet or a person who works their entire life and pays for medical insurance should be secure in the knowledge that they will be well cared for. It simply doesn't happen that way, and especially not in California!

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