The FReeper Foxhole - One Vietnam Vets Battle with the VA - Dec.17th, 2002

[SAMWolf]

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

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The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

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One P.O.ed Viet Nam Vet

Perhaps I should call this The Not So Great American Novel by Jim K. Except I did not author this work. I was only the observer who wrote it down. It was authored by thousands of people throughout my life. Some of those were / are very good people. Others were complete shit-heads. Many were just lazy, and paid to do a job that was way above their abilities. Perhaps that is the real tragedy of The Not So Great American Novel. I will try to retell this story with as little personal slant as possible. I do not want to color this merely due to my views. It should be seen in a harsh but white light to bring forth the flaws in the system. But I can only say as I recall I saw it. And obviously I had a single view point, so obviously my view point was some what slanted. To those that I wrong I am sorry. Show me where I am wrong and I will change it.

Hi, I am a disabled Viet-Nam Veteran. For physical disability I am considered 60%, but because I am unemployable due to my condition, I am considered 100% disabled for unemployability. To be truthful this page is going to be hard to write, since when I think of how the V.A. has treated me, it gets me so enraged that it tends to ruin my whole week. I must state here that I really have little problem with most V.A. Medical Facilities. Most are very slow, but very good. My problems tends to be with many of the staff of the non-medical facilities.

The next section tells about my long time battle with the V.A. If you are a Disabled Veteran and do not want to read about my problems thats OK. Go to the end of these pages for information to help you fight your battle against the V.A. Do Not feel badly that you can not handle my problems. I know how you feel. There has been many times when listening to how the V.A. screwed up other Vets, would have driven me over the edge, and very close to homicidal.

While reading this do not get the idea that there was anything unusual about the Viet Nam Veteran when compared to other War Veterans. Post Viet Nam Stress Syndrom was not new. Many Veterans from WWII and Korea suffered a similar fate. I recall Miss Tamblyn a Medical Technology Professor at Cal State LA. She once told me thst prior to WWII she had been so in love with a wonderful man. He went off to war, and when he came back he had changed completely. In the European Theater my uncle had to eat some of his meals sitting on dead bodies, because "There was no place else to sit". Do not expect people to go through such things without serious mental stress. And never expect them to be the same again. My uncle is a wonderful man, but that is only in spite of WWII. I know Korean Veterans that are the same, as are some of the Viet Nam Refugees. It is just a matter of time before the Bosnia Refugees come to the US, and many of them will also have been over-stressed. Occasionally I see a person on the streets, and I can just tell that they have gone through a horrible situation. Maybe it was war maybe not, but the scares are in their eyes.

After completing 2 year of junior college, with a A.A. in General Sciences. I had joined the Navy Reserve because I though that I could help fight the Viet Nam War. We were to be on active duty for 2 years. I volunteered for 4 months more to go to Gun Fire Radar Repair School during the summer of 1969.

In January 1970 I went active for real, and was assigned to the U.S.S. Regulus - AF-57 a refrigeration supply ship. In the summer we went to Viet Nam, returning in the fall. We went again in 1971 about the same time. But this time when we left San Francisco, I had a sore throat (later I was to find out that this was Strep Throat).

For the next 3 months I got sicker and sicker. I would go to the Corpsman office and be told "Yes we know that you are sick, but we are undermanned. Can you keep working?" I figured that Hell Yes, they need me. So in those 3 months I lost 30 pounds. For the last month I had numerous problems. I threw up after every meal (later I figured out that it was just too cold). I was constantly tired. And for the last 2 weeks I was throwing bacterial embolisms.

Finally I was put in the Naval Hospital in Subic Bay, Philippines (the home of Olongapo). I was diagnosed to have bacterial endocardidis (a bacterial infection of the heart lining). This became apparent when I quickly developed a heart murmur, and I was found to have Streptococcus Viridian bacteria in my blood. For the next 3 months I was under treatment, and sent back to the states.

The Navy said that I was fit for duty and was going to send me back out to sea. I figured that they really did not know what they were doing, and since my time was up I left the Navy in January 1972. A couple of months later it was confirmed that the Navy did not know what they were doing because the Navy Doctors said I had mitral valve damage, and a V.A. doctor told me no it was the aortic valve (considerably more dangerous.)

I really do not have a problem with the Corpsmen. They do what they were trained to do. They tend to be very good with large gapping wounds with lots of blood, and VD They just never received the training required for other serious illness. I do not even have a problem with this disease being allowed to go so far. After all "We were in the combat zone, and undermanned".

This is where the problems started. The non-medical V.A. personnel kept saying "We can find no evidence that you have a problem". I figured that they were there to help the Vets so they must be going by the books. This was such a error in judgment on my part that it is unbelievable.

I had a hint something was wrong when I went to college. I figured that it would be a good idea to become a Medical Technologist, since I could keep a eye on my heart condition better. But I also thought that the V.A. has specialist in employment, and it would be foolish if I did not have them help me.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning to "Big Sky" Country, Cate.

[Jen]

This is a Good Resource if you are fighting VA!

Title 38 - Code of Federal Regulations -- Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief

[MistyCA]

So true. What's worse than the vets who don't get help, are the vets who are so damaged that they don't realize they need help. but it's my great fear that a lot of the guys who are homeless or disfigured or roaming aimlessly may have tried to get help at some point and gave up because they were not treated well.

One of the biggest problems in the so called system is the fact that a vet has to be energetic, persistent and determined in order to get what is coming to them. There are so many who can't do those things! The VA should automatically be there to walk them through the system and make sure they are cared for, but instead they further frustrate and humiliate them! This has GOT TO STOP!

[Jen]

Good morning to you! It's always a pleasure to have a "Duchess" visit our Foxhole! hehehe

My morning is going OK. I'm procrastinating though... I must study for a math test and complete some Perl projects! Sooooo... I'm outta here for awhile.

[MistyCA]

Don't get me started on the inequities and politicians! I still say, give the Congress NO MORE then what we give our active duty and vets! How dare they think they deserve more then our military! How dare they!

[MistyCA]

My husband just came back to Minnesota from California. He couldn't wait to get here to warm up! LOL! He was freezing his butt off in Santa Barbara!

[Jen]

Our vets deserve much better than this.

Yes, they sure do. I know the law changed not too long ago, and now VA has a "duty to assist" veterans in developing VA claims rather than dismissing claims that previously were determined to be "not well grounded".

But, I haven't had any dealings with the VA since then, so I don't know if VA has actually started helping vets with claims.

[MistyCA]

I hope it improves, but I doubt it. And I hope the DAV continues to chew them up and spit them out for breakfast!

[Jen]

VVA's Guide on VA CLAIMS and APPEALS

Note: This guide was prepared by the Vietnam Veterans Association, but applies to claims by any Veteran. It has suggestions for veterans and their families seeking VA benefits.

[SevenofNine]

Good morning Foxholers

Well there another report off BBC wire US got a-okay to have Brit spy station up in Northern England keep eye on Saddam when smackdown happen

Jeff Spocoli aka Sean Penn being praise over his comments about US Govt pushing war by Iraqi paper according to sources

And another report off World Tribune this morning is reporting that Britain is very vulunable to terror attack reason is they not prepare of anything

[Jen]

Veterans Resources Network

Good collection of links to regulations, veterans news, attorneys and service groups that represent veterans for VA claims, VA's 'Duty to Assist', court decisions, discussion board, etc.

[Jen]

Hi there! Glad you appreciate the ping to the Foxhole thread. I bet you are Army, right? Are you still on active duty?

[Aura Of The Blade]

Hi Misty - There was a thread on FR recently where some folks thought that homeless people are losers, alcholics and drug addicts. It's not true. In San Diego, years ago, the military set up tents off Balboa Ave behind the community college (right before you reach the Naval Hospital). It filled up with homeless vets. Most of them had dropped out of society for a variety of reasons amd my bet is that a lot of it was medical or family related.

Rather than dumping billions into foreign aid, I would rather see it go toward veteran issues and benefits. This extends to the People's Republic of Canada.

[MistyCA]

Oh, yes. It is also because some of them can't assimilate back into a society they learned not to trust. Some of them really don't feel comfortable anymore sleeping in confined quarters or not being "free". A lot of them are abandoned by families who don't understand their "weirdness." Thanks for you input. It's all a very sad part of our culture.

[katze]

Thanks, Misty, I've downloaded to Winamp.

SAM, I was just out shopping, and it was going through my head again. ;-)

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, USS Juneau (CL-119)

Juneau class light cruiser
Displacement. 6,000
Lenght. 541'6"
Beam. 53'2"
Draft. 16'4"
Speed. 32 k.
Complement. 623
Armament. 12 5", 2 3-pdrs., 24 40mm., 4 20mm.

The USS Juneau (CL-119) was laid down by Federal Shiphuilding Co., Kearny, N.J., 16 September 1944; launched 15 July 1945, sponsored by Mrs. E. L. Bartlett; and commissioned 15 February 1946, Captain Rufus E. Rose in command.

Juneau spent her first year of commissioned service in operations along the Atlantic seaboard and Caribbean. Prior to the Korean War, she deployed three times in the Mediterranean. The ship cleared New York 16 April 1947, and joined the 6th Fleet at Trieste 2 May where she aided in stabilizing the unresolved question of territorial ownership between Italy and Yugoslavia. During an extended tour of Greece, she provided ample warning to the communists that aggression would not go unchallenged. The ship returned to Norfolk 15 November for training, and was back on duty with the 6th Fleet from 14 June to 3 October 1948 and again from 3 May to 26 September 1949. As on her first cruise, she ranged the Mediterranean to assure Europeans and Africans of our intention to guard world peace and freedom.

Having been reclassified CLAA-119 on 18 March 1949, Juneau departed Norfolk 29 November for the Pacific. She arrived Bremerton, Wash., 15 January 1950 and took part in operations along the Pacific coast. On 22 April she became flagship for Rear Admiral J. M. Higgins, Commander CruDiv 5, and reported for duty in Yokosuka, Japan, 1 June where she began surveillance patrols in the Tsushima Straits. When the Korean War broke out on 25 June, Juneau was one of the few ships immediately available to Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy, Commander of Naval Forces, Far East. Juneau became the first U.S. warship to enter combat against the invading North Korean forces. She patrolled south of the 38th parallel to prevent enemy landings, conducted the first shore bombardments 29 June at Bokuko Ko, destroyed enemy shore installations, engaged in the first naval action 2 July when she sank three enemy torpedo boats near Chumonchin Chan, and supported raiding parties along the coast. On 18 July Juneau's force, which included British units, laid down a deadly barrage on enemy troop concentrations near Yongdok which slowed down the North Korean advance southward.

The ship departed Sasebo Harbor 28 July and made a sweep through Formosa Straits before reporting for duty with the 7th Fleet at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 2 August. She became flagship of the Formosa Patrol Force 4 August, remaining until 29 October when she joined the Fast Carrier Task Force operating off the east coast of Korea. The ship conducted daily plane guard for the attack carriers, and returned to Long Beach, Calif., 1 May 1951 for overhaul and a period of operations off the Pacific coast and in Hawaii. She returned to Yokosuka 19 April 1952 and conducted strikes along the Korean coast in coordination with carrier planes until returning to Long Beach 5 November.

Juneau engaged in training maneuvers and operations until 7 April 1953 when she arrived Norfolk to rejoin the Atlantic Fleet. On 13 May the cruiser departed for duty with the 6th Fleet once again, and returned home 23 October. She operated in the Atlantic and Caribbean until 18 November 1954, then returned to the Mediterranean for her last tour of duty. After her return to the East Coast 23 February 1955, she was placed in reserve at Philadelphia 23 March 1956, and remained inactive until decommissioned 23 July 1956. The ship was then attached to the Philadelphia Group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until 1 November 1959 when she was struck from the Navy List. Juneau was sold for scrapping to Union Metal & Alloys Corp., New York, in 1962.

Juneau received five battle stars for Korean War service.

[firewalk]

Hello AntiJen....thanks for the ping

[PsyOp]

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." - George Washington.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/688686/posts

It is my personal opinion that the majority of American's (including many who claim to patriotic and wave the flag), don't really care what happens to vets after they come home from war unless they have one in the family. They not only have difficulty getting medical treatment, they often as not are shunned by employers (at least in California).

[Darksheare]

Afternoon everyone.

I'd put in what the VA hospitals here in N.Y. did, but that'd just get everyone angry at the VA again. Besides, a minor internet search will bring the pertinant info up in a jiffy....

Oddly, even coming back to 'civilian' life like I did.. it's hard to be a civilian. I let my hair grow, and let the goat-tee grow but I still can't 'be' a civilian.

Then I imagine it multiplied a hundred fold and that's where the 'Nam vets are at.