My Opinion About the Treatment of Our Veterans

Are our veterans getting fair treatment? Absolutely, 100% no way are they getting anywhere near fair treatment.

These men and women go to war or into danger zones putting their lives on the line just to get sent back and get nothing.

Oh, sure, a Purple Heart is something to be extremely proud of. But a piece of medal will not buy them a house or food or other necessities.

In our surrounding counties in East Tennessee the majority of homeless are Veterans. What does that tell you?

Some people (who have never fought for this country) can walk in somewhere and get everything they need and want, from free housing to free food to free health care. This is all while our Veterans have to beg and plead for any kind of help.

I know one Gulf War Veteran who had taken retirement and a few years ago had a stroke. The government (U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs) would not even buy him a motorized vehicle because they said he had the use of one arm and could use a manual one. Yes, maybe he could, if all he wanted to do is go in circles.

One lady spent a few years in the Air Force and had to leave because of health reasons. Her job while in the service was painting airplanes. Now if you have never been around the paint they use, it has some extremely toxic fumes. She ended up with Asthma, C.O.P.D., and other breathing and bronchial problems. They gave her disability, but only 10% disability. They then increased it to 80% and finally to 100% (over a period of about ten years). But then, they dropped it back down to 80% saying that she was able to work. Now since I personally know this lady, let me tell you the truth, there is no way on this Earth she could work. There are days she cannot get out of bed and days her breathing is so bad that she says she feels as if she is going to die.

I really do not want to get started on the Veteran's Hospitals in this area (of which there are two right now). So people from our part of the state have to drive 60 miles one way or 200 miles another. Now that is very hard to do when you do not have a vehicle. Sure there are services that will take them, but guess what, some of them cost money and then they have to wait on them after they are done.

So, I ask you, do you believe our Veterans are getting fair treatment? These are the men and women who have fought for your and my freedom. They come home with missing limbs, blind, or have mental problems. But what do they come home to, a government that does not seem to care, hospitals that are miles and miles away (and again, do not care), and persecution from some people. Oh yes, that is completely fair treatment. (Very sarcastic remark there!)