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This has been on my mind recently!
A childhood friend spent two tours in Vietnam as a door gunner on a chopper.His younger brother was killed there.
A post on RP reminded me of his difficulty dealing with the VA system .
He committed suicide a few years ago after his claim was denied . I am not a counselor or a psychiatrist,but with his background in combat plus the loss of his sibling,anger issues,alcohol abuse and periods of isolation,spells trauma to me.
How could he be denied?
A childhood friend spent two tours in Vietnam as a door gunner on a chopper.His younger brother was killed there.
A post on RP reminded me of his difficulty dealing with the VA system .
He committed suicide a few years ago after his claim was denied . I am not a counselor or a psychiatrist,but with his background in combat plus the loss of his sibling,anger issues,alcohol abuse and periods of isolation,spells trauma to me.
How could he be denied?
Friends
Vietnam War
PTSD
Disabled Veterans
Door Gunner
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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SSgt Terry P.
PO1 H Gene Lawrence The doctor's and counselor's recommendations should carry some weight,Gene.Forging through the problems of combat,then the homecoming we received,managing our lives for decades,then when we can no longer depend on ourselves because of age or health, to be left with no recourse,but become a burden on our family or do what he did.Drafted or enlisted,he stepped up when he was asked and deserved the care and respect he had earned.
(8)
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PO1 H Gene Lawrence
SSgt Terry P. - there is not one word that you so eloquently stated that I can disagree with.
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PO1 H Gene Lawrence
SSgt Terry P. - my brother-in-law died of cirrhosis of the liver because of the alcohol he turned to, to ease the pain and nightmares of his experiences as a door gunner in Nam. I fully understand the pain of the loss you experienced because of the lack of care for those that needed it the most. I have been fortunate because of the excellent medical I have because of my Law Enforcement career. I have only used the VA medical twice and won’t use them any further.
(3)
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15
15
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Not so much now, but at one time VA counselors denied all initial claims. Especially from Vietnam Vets. There we just too many of us and we were bankrupting the system.
(15)
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14
14
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I think of stories like this every time I hear someone say, "The government oughta do somethin'"
(14)
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