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Posted on 11/04/2001 5:54:46 AM PST by B4Ranch
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.
For ten years Thomas has been the street ambassador of Solana Beach.
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.
SOURCE: Jaffe & Co., Inc., Strategic Media and Crisis Management
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011030/latu141_1.html
My brother was in the facility in Palo Alto and it was distinctly different! It is a beautiful, well kept facility that surprised me. And I have to add that there have been some improvements at Wadsworth in LA that make it much better than it had been. However, the point is that this should not be an issue.
My cousin, 6' with blue eyes and black curly hair had to fight the girls off with a stick. He had his jaw shot away and was a social isolate for 20 years.
My two friends were in special forces, and one of them is always armed, with other guns hidden in his vehicle. You don't ever aproach him from the rear. The other is certain that the feds are after him and hides out in north Idaho.
Some wounds show, others don't.
Me? Too young for Korea, too old for 'Nam.
BTW, thank you for your service.
He really doesn't have any other close friends so when we are together he really opens up and vents about his job and anything else that bothers him. He never discussed Viet Nam until about the last year and when he did it really surprised me.
I believe that his stories are accurate and true because he is NEVER the, or even a hero. He was just a guy that was there. When he does talk about himself it is just matter of fact "stuff".
Enough background. First I understand that a horror story about wisdom teeth extraction is nothing compared to the real extraction. Being told stories about making love do not give the actual act any credit at all. So when he tells me of the horror that he has witnessed I am taken back with awe that he was able to go back into the bush time after time. You guys that were there are the ONLY ones who can tell these stories and I respect you for being the heros that I know my friend is.
Finally, about three weeks before his tour was over his mother died and he was allowed to leave early. Guess what?? Yep, he was spat upon in the Calif. airport upon disembarking the plane.
I sent numerous E-mails supporting Mr. Northcut and if he is indeed a veteran, then he deserves our support.
Sorry about the LONG rant.
Eaker
This is only one of the sentences but it apply's to what you said about some VA hospitals are good....
...."OK now take a look at the Vietnam veteran going to the VA hospital....OK.... some are good ones BUT many are bad!!! ".......
All the men in my family have served , Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force and some have had good experiences with VA hopsitals and some bad. But the bad ones are so outrages that it is UNAmerican how they are treated.
Also I have visited VA hospitals across Ameirca just to visit the veterans in them that cannot go home ,or are too sick to leave. Mostly just being a listener, holding their hand, earning their trust and showing them someone cares in a true whole hearted way with no strings attached. They slowly open up and share things that stay in my heart in their confidence of trust.
Many, most of the Vietnam vets have lived accompolished lives . I agree with you, but this thread is about a man, a veteran, a hero , that needs our help in anyway we can . I could never turn my back on a veteran of any war if there was something I could do. There is no mention of what you posted about 'frying their brains with drugs' about this man, this hero. To bring other factors into the equation that have not been written about is wrong, but that is my opinion and feeling about this.
I cannot count how many vets I have met. Thousands and thousands and each is an individual person and yet all brothers.For me a brother reaches out to another brother before condeming him as a drug addict or having a fried brain especially when it is not mentioned.
People need to remember something, war is to break things and many times it breaks the inner souls of certain kinds of men and women, some it strengthens others.Just as in life away from war, some people are the poets the sensitive that see a blade of grass as it gently sways in the breeze, others see only a yard that needs mowing. Some live by facts and numbers and others write the love songs and paint the glorious sunsets across a deep blue ocean.
Take these different kinds of lives, different sensitivies and put them in a war, in battle and add to that turning each of them into a killing machine to keep America free and to defend themselves and their brothers in battle.
Some will handle it better then others, some will have nightmares and others will just have a beer.Some will come back almost untouched and only made stronger in knowing who they are as a man, others come back and need more to know others care and to be allowed to live a more quiet life.
I have a gardner , a Vietnam Vet, Marine. He is very brillant, but he cannot stand the thought of working inside a building.His job in the Vietnam war was one that kept him in situations that were crapped and inside the earth in tight tunnels. Is he mentally ill?? Heavens no, he took a deep look into himself and saw how he could survive when he came home. It was outdoors.for years he would sleep on the patio of his apt. just to be outside. He is a hero and gets treated like a king when he comes to our home every week.He is humble and sweet and quiet and a very hard worker.To me he is just as accompolished as a man that is CEO of a company.
Brothers, veterans do not end being brothers when a war ends. The brotherhood of veterans goes beyond a war ending,it crosses the miles between the States across the vast land of America. It is in the hearts of every Veteran to reach out and help his brother.
This man needs his brothers now and any of us that are supportive of our miitary and our veterans. He has not even asked for our help,he is fighting a battle and is surrounded and all we have to do is answer the call of our hearts for a brother that has fought the good fight.
I am proud and honored that he will relate his past with me, especially when he, and most Vet's, will not share their nightmares with anyone else.
He IS a real buddy.
Eaker
I just got a call back from a very overwhelmed Lucy from the City of Solano Beach. We had quite a long and nice conversation which included her giving me more insight into her feelings about the situation with Mr Northcut and TJ.
Lucy seemed very nice and was trying to explain to me that there was another side of the story that had not been talked about in the press story we are all responding to. She said that the dog did demonstrate a very protective nature that could represent a threat to others who approached him. She also said that Mr. Northcut kept the dog tied up at all times, even when he slept, at which time he would link the leash to his own leg or arm.
I suggested to Lucy that maybe she could take the opportunity to contact the VFW (the town is VERY pro Veteran) and try to turn the situation into something beneficial. I even suggested that they might get some positive publicity by hiring Mr. Northcut (assuming he is capable) to take care of the flags or clean the grounds, etc. She seemed very willing to consider that there might be something here that could work out, although the town's main objective was to get Mr. Northcut and TJ to move on.
Lucy also said that what ever was to happen to TJ is out of her hands. The Animal Control people have complete jurisdiction over that aspect of the situation. Anyhow, we got their attention and the thing to do next might be to contact animal control.
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