[TJforlife]

My co-worker tonight told me his grandpa is a WW2 veteran who was injury in battle. He was hospitalized for several weeks but returned to his unit before he was healed. He received a purple heart, and I believe a bronze star. After the war he was granted a 50% disabilty retirement for the remainder of his life. He was recently notified that they converted his disability (after all these years) to a pension and then that was cancelled. Then they told him he has been overpaid by $8800, and he needed to come up w/ the money, even though they took away his retirement money. Is this how we honor our veterans? I am so sick of this government and the priorities in which our politicians place themselves above the rest of the country. When are we going to hold politicians accountable...we are merely sheep that stand by and watch.

I am so fed up w/ the way veterans are treated. From the quality of the hospitals to the long waiting lists for services. Here in Illinois they cut back on Licensed and Registered nurses and used cna type assistance to lower the cost. Our veterans give all they have, and are treated like second class citizens. A politician makes bank, and could not fathom the sacrifice and dedication it takes to serve our government in the manor that our veterans have done. Yet they continually let our veterans down. I guess our politicians would have to have a spine to qualify in the US Armed Forces wouldn't they? When do we as citizens say it is enough? I want to start a web site or do something to help our veterans get all they deserve. Does anyone know of any activists groups that fight for these rights? I would like to start something like that here in Illinois. I served 10 years and most of my buddies are prior service. We would like to do something for the people that sacrifice the most. It makes me wonder why we fight for a government who doesn't really care about us. Many of my prior service buddies are bitter w/ the way our veterans are treated. We owe our veterans the best and we have let them down. Not just the prior service soldiers but us as citizens, we need to hold politicians accountable for this injustice.

[mud]

Got a buddy that is dealing with the same issue. He was a Marine serving in Afghanistan. On a night patrol he lost his footing and fell down the side of a mountain. Major disabilities. His one leg is now shorter and he has to go for more surgeries. After all this he is also involved in trying to get his disability pay. Imaging being 24 and for the rest of your life you have to deal with this. And our government is worried more about the dollar then the well being of the men and women who served them?
My brother is on his second tour in Iraq. Heading over he was told the standard 12 month tour. Well a few weeks ago, he made a phone call to me and told me that he was getting extended another 3 months. So now instead of coming home in September, he will be home in December. The worst part of it? Well the news was leaked by CNN and was reported the night before my brother was even told. So basically he learned that he was being extended by watching tv.

[kairo]

Originally Posted by TJforlife

My co-worker tonight told me his grandpa is a WW2 veteran who was injury in battle. He was hospitalized for several weeks but returned to his unit before he was healed. He received a purple heart, and I believe a bronze star. After the war he was granted a 50% disabilty retirement for the remainder of his life. He was recently notified that they converted his disability (after all these years) to a pension and then that was cancelled. Then they told him he has been overpaid by $8800, and he needed to come up w/ the money, even though they took away his retirement money. Is this how we honor our veterans? I am so sick of this government and the priorities in which our politicians place themselves above the rest of the country. When are we going to hold politicians accountable...we are merely sheep that stand by and watch.

I am so fed up w/ the way veterans are treated. From the quality of the hospitals to the long waiting lists for services. Here in Illinois they cut back on Licensed and Registered nurses and used cna type assistance to lower the cost. Our veterans give all they have, and are treated like second class citizens. A politician makes bank, and could not fathom the sacrifice and dedication it takes to serve our government in the manor that our veterans have done. Yet they continually let our veterans down. I guess our politicians would have to have a spine to qualify in the US Armed Forces wouldn't they? When do we as citizens say it is enough? I want to start a web site or do something to help our veterans get all they deserve. Does anyone know of any activists groups that fight for these rights? I would like to start something like that here in Illinois. I served 10 years and most of my buddies are prior service. We would like to do something for the people that sacrifice the most. It makes me wonder why we fight for a government who doesn't really care about us. Many of my prior service buddies are bitter w/ the way our veterans are treated. We owe our veterans the best and we have let them down. Not just the prior service soldiers but us as citizens, we need to hold politicians accountable for this injustice.

the government is actually asking for $ back? That's pretty ****ed up right there

[175MM BULLDOG]

Yeah! They "assist" you in finding the door.

[ludinator]

Amen brother

[TJforlife]

The reason this is allowed to happen is the same as the 35 people that have viewed this thread and only 4 replied. We as a society have lost control of our government. We have become lazy and indifferent to what our government does. When it comes down to it, we don't care what they do, as long as it doesn't disrupt our daily lives. We have become a large hurd of blind sheep just going w/ the flow. No wonder our country is such a mess. It is easy to blame the government, if we don't regulate them then we become a link in that problem.

[DestructoJr]

Originally Posted by TJforlife

The reason this is allowed to happen is the same as the 35 people that have viewed this thread and only 4 replied. We as a society have lost control of our government. We have become lazy and indifferent to what our government does. When it comes down to it, we don't care what they do, as long as it doesn't disrupt our daily lives. We have become a large hurd of blind sheep just going w/ the flow. No wonder our country is such a mess. It is easy to blame the government, if we don't regulate them then we become a link in that problem.

I think the opposite, we do infact have control of our government however the populous priorities are way off the mark. Today we honor and glorify the clebrities and athletes who contribute very little to society, mere entertainment value and get paid, and get legislation passed to protect them from everything. How many DUI's has Paris gotten out of now??? While we throw the people under the carpet who need and deserve so much more, Police, Fire, Military, Teachers. America has gotten out of touch with what makes America great. Its not Hollywood, its not the Media, its not any professional athletic team. Its hard working average joe, mostly living paycheck to paycheck but working hard to provide food and shelter for their families. We search for ways, passively and actively to reward little to no work, and punish people who have worked hard to reach their goals and have earned their achievements.

No, I dont think that its America that doesnt care, its just that the "care" America has, is skewed and focused in the wrong direction.

[shunt]

Alot of this stuff has been going on for years..The government screwing Vets isn't something new....

[UTAH]

I've seen both sides of the medical issues for Veterans.

Personally, I received excellent medical care while I was in the service as well as after I left. And, some of that medical service entailed hospital care and rehabilitation.

But, I also have friends who were in the military with me who had horrible experiences both in and out of the military. So, I know there're some problems.

Bill

[TJforlife]

My whole point is as not only former service members ourselves, but as citizens we need to do what it takes to make sure these guys are taken care of. NO ONE deserves it more. I am just tired of hearing these stories and not doing anything. If politicians heard a couple 100,000 vets going to the media, maybe we could make a difference. Politicians are self absorbed, but know they have to get the vote to continue to fill thier pockets. There initial concern is image and keeping the votes. If you tarnish that they may take heed.

Glad America "voted for change" this last election.

It makes me sick to my stomach every time I see some scum use food stamps or cash a welfare check. While the men and women who have served and protected them are getting second rate care in the VA hospitals and be denied benefits they were told they would have for the rest of their lives. Mean while the land and the rights they fought for our diminishing daily. All the while thousands of illegals come to the USA everyday so they can leech of it and continue you the downward spiral of this great democracy.

The sad fact is no organized government can last forever and with the 2 party system the way it is we are started on the downward spiral to the end of the USA.

[Awshux]

Originally Posted by TJforlife

I am just tired of hearing these stories and not doing anything.

You can definitely do something. Politicians are elected. As a citizen, you have 3 choices: vote for them, vote against them, or run against them.

In the meantime, quick Google searches for "veterans advocate" and "veterans advocacy" turned up some links you may be interested in. Good luck.

[ChewyXJ]

Sadly this has been going on since the Revolutionary War. Every major war we've been in has had some sort of vet treatment scandal.

In the '20s or '30s mistreated WW1 vets setup a tent city in DC to protest and demand payment of promised benefits they never recieved. The Feds used national guard troops to break up the protest and dismantle the tent city. The vets never did get their promised benefits. I don't have time to google the exact details but I'm sure there are several people on this forum familiar with this situation.

I've met several vets that were denied benefits or had to pay back money because they didn't dot an I or cross a T. Bureacrats will be bureacrats.

The recent vet health care scandal should help for a while. But, I have little faith that Americans will focus on this issue for long.

When I think of the amount of airtime Anna Nicole and other trivial crap get compared to the airtime this issue recieves I get really disgusted.

[lbrty9]

We veterans aren't getting treated just that badly. I'd suggest that the cases you are discussing are anomalies that could be fixed by just passing the info to you elected representative. I imagine that an aged vet would get looked after if the rep asked the VA for an accounting.

There's also the slim possibility that the guy was overpaid and just never made it right. In any event, if it's worth complaining about, it's worth doing something about...

[TJforlife]

Maybe you havn't heard of the guy that got back from Iraq recently and couldn't get any help. He contacted the VA saying that he was having serious mental issues and wanted to be admitted. They did not have room so they put him on a waiting list. The sad thing is they asked him if he was suicidal and he stated yes several times. He was emphatic that he could hurt himself, but the VA was too crowded to deal w/ him right away. The Vet killed himself while waiting to get in. Does it sound like they were taking care of him? That's not soooo bad, just another dead soldier. Now they don't have to pay him anymore. I think the long term support for our troops is what suffers the most. I think the initial service is decent but progressively gets worse over time. Let's face it, you are useless to the government once you're disabled and already done the job. Now you are a burden.

It's easy to say they take care of you because you are still in the Navy.....they are still using you. Wait and see what happens to guys that get injured and need help 10-15 years from now.