Three days ago, a young soldier I know said it would be easier to go get killed in Iraq than to struggle with challenges facing him as a civilian disabled veteran of America’s Army. He was honorably discharged from the Army about a year ago. Since then, he has been unable to get any (ANY) assistance from the Army or VA. He got reams of paperwork and a bunch of excuses. He says now, he’s going to reenlist if they’ll take him, in the hopes that he’ll get killed and die a hero. Does that sound normal? Can you hear PTSD in there somewhere?
Thankfully, this guy isn’t going anywhere, since management at a car dealership (Harbor Honda in Merrilleville, IN) says they can help him get a position with an area police department that believes in hiring Vets first.
I know a bunch of soldiers who returned from Iraq to Ft. Carson, CO, after a 15 month deployment, about a year and a half ago. These are men and women who fought for our country. Many were post traumatic shock victims - medically diagnosed. Some had severe brain trauma,diagnosed . Most still have not receive a single payment for their disabilities from the VA or the Army.
There is a task force is Washington, I’ve read, that was generated after a committee studied the response of the Army at Ft. Carson, in particular, when this same group of soldiers returned, with honors, having done their job more than well.
Men and women who had non-visible injuries, including one soldier I know personally who came back nearly deaf, were harrassed by supervisors and officers. They were punished, ostracized and ridiculed because they were suffering. You can find verification of this information without much problem.
The VA, composed of field reps who are poorly trained, completely unconcerned and unmotivated, shuffles paper back and forth between offices endlessly, seldom actually concluding a case and providing assistance.
Local Veteran’s Assistance offices actually chastise Vets who ask for help, admonishing them to get out there and start their life. They come home broke, having been encouraged to spend thier money on alcohol and toys while deployed. They can’t get a job because of injuries suffered while deployed. They can’t afford transportation because they can’t get a job. So they sink into dark depression.
Vets everywhere are losing home, family, and self-esteem because they volunteered to serve. Employers are unsympathetic. HR departments couldn’t care less if a person is a Vet. America can take no pride in how we receive our soldiers back into society once they have given up their spot in life, risked their safety and lives, and did what they promised to do. What of our promises? I really thought we learned something from Viet Nam.
