Government Property

November 13, 2007, CBS News did and investigation on the rising number of suicides amongst military veterans. They listed countless quotes from family members who were in disbelief of this notable epidemic:

"I just felt like this silent scream inside of me," said Jessica Harrell, the sister of a soldier who took his own life.

"I opened up the door and there he was," recalled Mike Bowman, the father of an Army reservist.

"I saw the hose double looped around his neck," said Kevin Lucey, another military father.

"He was gone," said Mia Sagahon, whose soldier boyfriend committed suicide.

I can't even begin to speculate what took these soldiers over the edge. Being a veteran of Desert Shield/Storm, I know only a small portion of the fear and isolation that goes with being in a foreign country; especially one plagued by war.

Not just the presence of being there. But simply being in a place, waiting patiently for the unknown. Our current conflict is filled with people just sitting and waiting to die.

As I read accounts of the military's response to the allegations from family members that our government is not doing enough to get better healthcare for veteran's, I recall a rant that was barked at us daily during basic training. It still rings in my ears - - YOU ARE NOW GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AIRMAN!!!!!! As my tech sergeant in the Air Force yelled those words in my face I realized that I was expendable. I never knew on what level. Just, expendable.

During basic training we were told to make sure we reported any issues that may complicate our mission. One of my bunk mates explained that there was something going on at home with her baby who was several months old and if she could get permission to call to check on that issue. "The Air Force didn't issue you a baby airman! Get back in line!!!" Needless to say this young mother stood in line at attention almost choking on the lump in her throat; trying furiously not to cry.

While in country during Desert Storm one of the guys in my camp was threatened with a court marital for getting a really bad sun burn. I thought making him wear an "idiot" hat would have been more apropos. After all, who in their right mind lies on hot concrete at high noon in the middle of Saudi Arabia!!! It's fricken hot as hell over there. But, this nut did, and was quickly told he had damaged "government property" and would, at the very least, receive a letter of reprimand.

The healthcare issue amongst veterans is not new nor will it get better until more people tell their stories and continue to find ways to hold this organization accountable. Many private insurance companies are working more like the military in denying American's adequate healthcare under the pretense of "pre-existing" issues.

I recently dropped BlueCross/BlueSheild as a healthcare provider. 1. They were constantly in the news for denying health claims based on their "pre-existing" rule. 2. They denied my claim for an allergy test by stating I had been tested previously. I never had (and still haven't) been tested for allergy's. And at $300 a pop, I never will.

The sad truth of many military veterans is that once out of the military they realize they are no longer an asset. When I got out of the military I had several health issues that I did not have when I entered. I was told to file a claim in order to get compensation. All of my claims were denied. I was told by a few older vets that, "If you ain't crazy they ain't gonna help." How sad that I can get isotropic drugs quicker than I can get a mammogram.

My last duty station was Shemya, Alaska - - second to the last island on the Aleutian chain. Actually, on a clear day (there wasn't that many) you could see Russia.

While at this last station I got my last annual exam several months prior to out processing. The doctor told me that she saw something on my uterus that looked like a bruise. At the time I was a seemingly healthy, 27 year old. Now I was scared to death. I have no history of uterine cancer in my family. But I was still a bit scared.

When I asked this (supposedly) medical doctor what could it be? She shrugged and, with her back to me, said, "I have no idea. You can get it checked out when you get back to the lower 48. Just stop having rough sex."

I was floored!!! I still get pissed off when I think that this person would look at me and as a medical professional think for one second that saying something like that to ANYONE was appropriate!!!! Not to mention that I couldn't cuss her out. Not without it resulting in me getting a reprimand for being insubordinate.

I had been on that island for 7 months at that point and hadn't seen my long distance boyfriend for at least 9 months prior to that. She did not attempt to reassure me it was not cancer. She did not tell me to call home and get comfort from family and friends. She just assumed because (and I'm just speculating here) she was having rough sex that the rest of the base had to be having it as well. I guess telling everyone she was a veterinary doctor was very immature on my part. But my story of her credentials was not going to linger on her mind and cause her sleepless nights in the manner of her telling me I potentially had something wrong with my uterus!

I'm certain there are some outstanding doctors in the military that are capable of helping active duty and veterans. I am sure there are officials in the military who think that after serving your country you should be treated with more respect than what is being given to America's veterans today. Am I the only person on this planet who feels this has and strange similarity to Vietnam?

I would love to know if someone within the confines of the military actually thought by ignoring veteran claims that they all would potentially kill themselves off and then it would no longer be a problem for the military. Has our military actually decided that suicide is the solution to long term health issues that will exist after our troops return home?

What I'm hoping is that someone (military, civilian, academia . . . someone) has conducted a study to exam what could have been done better to assist previous war veterans and is applying those methods for these soldiers returning home.

- What is the mental capacity of a solider after war?
- What are the affects on their families after returning from war?
- What birth risks are female soldiers facing having been exposed to foreign climates?
- Do male and female soldiers handle depression and the effects of war differently?
- What must children of war veteran expect when mom/dad return home?

Dallas, Texas' veteran medical center (rated the worst Veteran's hospital in 1995) closed its psychiatric facility April 15th, 2008, after the fourth patient within this year successfully committed suicide. So, as "government property" you can expect to be tossed aside to lie in wait for deterioration. As "government property" you can expect to be dumped somewhere until someone does trash removal. As "government property" you're expendable and as soon as the newest, brightest, faster and most costly machine makes it to the front line, your ass is history.

God bless America - - PLEASE!