Friday June 1, 2007, 6:37 pm
Veterans Affairs Care &
by Mike Totten | Thu, 05/31/2007 - 1:45pm
To all who have been discharged with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and all who are concerned for our combat veterans returning home. I am an Iraq veteran who was discharged in September 2004 for PTSD. After following through with the VA system I was awarded a 30% rating for my injuries that following May (2005). I was told by the VA that this rating was for life, and would not be challenged or questioned.

On May 15, 2007 I received a letter from the VA requiring me to report to their medical center for a re-evaluation of my claim. This means that the resources at the VA are being used not to treat recently returning veterans, but rather to challenge the integrity of those who have already gone through this system and re-open any old wounds which may be present.

Not only is this indicative of the lack of support that the American Veteran is receiving, however this too indicates that the VA does not support the previous work of its fellow colleagues done in years past. Is this the kind of treatment that we are to expect? Is the work of the VA so inadequate that they need to be so redundant? Seems to me that they do not trust the work of the past employees and that comes at the sacrifice of the veterans...again.

Now in all fairness I have spoken to a man who is savvy with the VA system and he informed me that this re-evaluation is standard. My question for the VA now is 'Does the VA take the stance that psychological wounds leave no scars?' So maybe it is necessary to resubmit our veteran population who suffer from psychological trauma to relive their experiences. I think not, and many of the Vietnam era veterans may agree...after all how many people are seen carrying signs which read 'homeless veteran'? They are homeless because of the failures of the VA system to treat them properly when returning home. This country's track record is not too good when it comes to caring for the needs of the people who have served.

In closing I challenge any person who feels this to be a disservice to their nation's veterans, to the integrity of the mental health profession or to their tax dollars, to call, write or visit their political representative. Be heard. Show that your yellow ribbon on your car is not just lip service and put some fire behind your convictions. Support your troops. Even after they come home.

Friday June 1, 2007, 10:53 pm
Veterans have to drive sometimes hundreds of miles just to get care. We help so many, why are those who serve so easily ignored? I am a Veteran, yet I am firmly against this war, yet that does not mean any Veteran, a lifer like me, or someone who only served briefly and lost a limb or almost died should ever be marginalized and forgotten. The broken and destroyed Veterans from now need help and right now. Those who were forgotten even from WWII should also never be left out in the cold. In the world of Veterans, we in that tight fraternity all love each other, so why can't our government, once, just once, love us as much as we love it?

Friday June 1, 2007, 10:56 pm
Actually it the nation we love, we cannot stand Politicians and liars, and especially, This Government and Regime. We love the United States and the People we served, not the government itself. That piece of paper is what we take an oath to defend-that pesky Constitution that Bush and Company seem to forget still exists....

Friday June 1, 2007, 11:02 pm
Sorry, No More Individual Memorial Services for Killed Soldiers So many Fort Lewis soldiers are being killed in Iraq that the Army base will no longer hold individual memorial services. Starting next month, Fort Lewis will hold one memorial a month for all the dead soldiers.

Friday June 1, 2007, 11:03 pm
On the Iraq War:

"Military men are dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns for foreign policy."

-- Henry A. Kissinger, quoted by Monika Jensen-Stevenson, Kiss the Boys Goodbye, Dutton, 1990, Page 97, citing The Final Days, Woodward and Bernstein (Simon & Schuster, 1976)

Friday June 1, 2007, 11:04 pm
“The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer.”

---Henry Kissinger, New York Times, October 28, 1973

Friday June 1, 2007, 11:04 pm
"Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world. "
Henry Kissinger

Friday June 1, 2007, 11:04 pm
"OIL IS MUCH TOO IMPORTANT A COMMODITY TO BE LEFT IN THE HANDS OF THE ARABS."
Henry Kissinger

Saturday June 2, 2007, 11:34 am
Greetings Lauren, Daniel, and Blue . . . First, thank you so much for posting this story Lauren! And I know that it tears at your heart to have to read such things as this. And Daniel, after reading your intial post I was about to ask "didn't you mean the Nation???" *smile* Blue . . . as always, you find the additional information that adds so much more to the initial story and helps to expand others perceptions on the issue . . . rather than being left with the singular focus! Thank you all and bless you!

As to the Ft. Lewis story . . . let me just say that I flipped out when I read this in the local paper!!! We lost 22 men in May alone, the highest! And this is why they are having to cease individual services for the troops lost at this particular post; I would imagine that there is a firestorm brewing here over that as so many support our troops here! There are volunteers that go daily to the freeway overpass at the Main Gate of Ft. Lewis to ensure that those passing under "honk to show your support for the troops;" they are wonderful people and always warm my heart whenever we've gone to post. And they give and make sure that they are there each and every day; thus, I cannot imagine that they won't step in to help with this, though I am unsure what they--or we--can do.

The treatment of our veterans in this manner is absolutely abhorrent; and as to the regulations that require "review" of one's case, I can attest as one with a disability that it depends entirely upon WHAT the original ruling states. If it's a "permanent" ruling, then there should be no review!!! Even for those who are on SS . . . so why should our Veterans be any different??? The answer is: THEY SHOULDN'T!!! In fact, they should be PRIORITY . . . rather than marginalised as you point out Daniel.

I, for one, plan to do something about this!!! It makes me so angry that I can hardly see straight! Anyone care to join me? =D Thanks again Daniel!

Saturday June 2, 2007, 11:55 am
Why do these soldiers continue to fight for a Pre$idunce who lied to them, betrayed the, cuts their benefits, cuts housing and education benefits for their families ... and

NOW wants them to remain in Iraq for 50+ year$????

Saturday June 2, 2007, 2:14 pm
I have come to the conclusion that the uphill fight all Vetreans fight with the VA to gain the small benefits that we do obtain from the VA is purely for the purpose of discouraging us who have become disabled from applying for disability. I personally have been fighting the fight since 2001 and am STILL turning over paperwork, being tested and evaluated. I have been unemployed since 2002 because of injuries sustained while on duty and have yet to recieve any compensation from the military that I served with for 22 years. Write, call and dare to piss off your representatives, congress people, presidents and the like. If we maintain our outrage we will enentually be heard. Vote! Protest! Continue the fight for the ones that have yet to come home and begin thier battle.

Saturday June 2, 2007, 3:04 pm
Wayne ... the time has come for you to stage a "sit in" in the office of the Senator and/or Congre$$man/woman who repre$ent$ you ... and DO NOT MOVE OUT OF THAT OFFICE CHAIR until they do something to help you!

Oh yes, and call the media first, newspapers, TV stations, radio stations ... email them, fax them, tell them you are staging a SIT IN to get your disabilitiy benefits ...

Saturday June 2, 2007, 9:06 pm
I agree with blue bunting

Saturday June 2, 2007, 10:40 pm
Thank you, Sharon ... we have to empower our VETERANS ane make sure that they are bot afraid to ask for and get every resource aailable to them.

Sunday June 3, 2007, 12:20 am
Greetings Wayne and Others . . . OR, Wayne, if you have a GOOD representative, Senator preferred, I would contact them and they will launch a Congressional inquiry; I would also suggest that you contact Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)!!! The reason I say this is that Murray sits on the Armed Services Committee and Cantwell assisted me in getting my husband home from Aghanistan as I have a disability and went downhill after he deployed. It was a fight . . . however, I did call the media and let them know!!! And the Army kept lying to the media about "what the hold up was" and stating they were waiting on us to submit more paperwork. This was a complete and utter lie!

I submitted and routed EVERYTHING through my Senator's office and from there it went directly to the Pentagon; I am sure this is one of the reasons that they discharged him! They could have let him come home to get me situation and arrange for care (which the rear unit did NOTHING!!! So much for the support that they said would take place! HA HA HA!!! They don't care anymore for the families of those fighting than they do the troops!). However, because I was deemed a "trouble maker" (the General got upset on one phone call because he "heard me typing," and apparently was concerned that I was taking down every word!!! LOL), they kicked him out instead. *sigh*

As for your disability, KEEP ON FIGHTING!!! It took me 21 years to get mine primarily because I had a BA at the time; now I have a Mstrs. Certification and have completed my MACS (Mstrs. in Cross-Disciplinary Studies) and their view was that I couldn't possibly be disabiled! I did that one on my own the last time and that was it. However, with the VA . . . I wish I could give you more information; it's still administrative law and that's one that's a tough nut to crack. Of course, they don't want to shell out anymore . . . as it takes away from the war budget. Just don't give up!!!

Staging the sit in is a good idea as well . . . however I would give your Reps a head's up on that as well so that they can get in on the "free publicity" and advance their re-election campaign (particularly if you contact whichever Senator is up for re-election in this cycle!!!) hee hee You desever every penny and your retirement benefits and much, much more. From me, additionally, I just want to thank you for your service!!! And I am sorry that you were injured and are having to go through this continued hell; know that all of us here at Care2 DO CARE!!! Correct Blue? =D Take care and keep us posted! Also, let us know if there is anything that we can do!

Monday June 4, 2007, 1:11 pm
Correct, Maurren! The more they say "NO" the more you have to twist their arms!

Monday June 4, 2007, 6:11 pm
Iraq Vet Begins Vigil to Protest STOP-LOSS

Standing Tower Guard on a 6′ scaffold at the Federal Building in downtown Bellingham, Iraq Veteran Evan Knappenberger, 1st BDE, 4th Infantry Division, started a week-long vigil on June 1st to draw attention to the US military’s STOP-LOSS and INACTIVE RESERVE policies, which he submits are being used as a substitute for conscription in a political war.


Bush and neo-con advisers have pursued thei dreams of a neo-empire without requesting the reinstatement of the draft. Neither have they called on their loyal base to step forward and join the military.

What Bush and company have done is to use STOP-LOSS orders and recalls of INACTIVE RESERVES to keep the ranks filled. This careless policy is slowly destroying the U.S. military. Bush's callous, inhuman policies are exacting a terrible price from the Troops and their families.

Thursday June 14, 2007, 2:25 am
Noted, Thank you Lauren for the post.