One person’s opinion

Veterans deserve
good care

By Verl Ringgenberg

I was shocked and appalled at The Times Herald Record headline of Sunday, June 9, 2002, “Deadly Discharge.” If the facts are as reported, and I have every reason to believe they are, then every citizen of this great state and country should be screaming to high heaven.

The two-page story following the headline describes in detail the events leading to the death of three vets allegedly discharged before adequately being treated at the Montrose Veteran’s Administration (VA) hospital. A fourth vet, after being denied admittance for mental illness, went home and killed his girlfriend and is now in prison. Hospital administrators claim that early releases are in response to criticism from Washington and the lack of adequate funding. An administrative committee to identify those who could be moved to the community was established three years ago, called the Designated Discharge Team, now called The Community Transition Team.

The law prohibits throwing your old sick dog or cat out on the street to die. Why in the name of God can the VA get away with throwing sick vets out on the street to die? Someone must be held accountable for this criminal neglect. “We don’t have the money” is no excuse, and is an old tired song heard too often in the past by vets.

More money is not all that is needed. The VA must get its priorities in order from the top down. The Congress and the inept VA system are both to blame, Congress for not appropriating sufficient funds and overseeing its expenditure, which they must do now, not in the future after more studies.

On November 8, 2001, at a reception held at the VA headquarters in Washington to announce a new museum with members of Congress present, VA Secretary Andrew Principi said, “Our nation’s veterans have made tremendous contributions to our country and its history. This new museum will tell that story to generations of Americans, both born and unborn.” The story that fellow vets and I heard was “shafted again.” We sure as hell don’t need another museum.

We need health care that we were promised when we enlisted or were drafted.

The lack of priorities on the VA’s part is illustrated in the following.

An increase from $2.00 to $7.00 for all 30-day prescriptions took effect on February 4, 2002. On February 10, 2002, it was revealed that VA was proposing a $1,500 deductible for Category 7 Vets—those who make in excess of $28,000 a year, if married, and have no service connected disability. This was rescinded as a result of a massive outcry from vets and their organizations.

Money is being shifted from the Northeast to the West and South because retiring vets are moving to warmer climates. Are the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Vets getting early retirements? I think not! All this and many more examples of skewed priorities were announced just two months after announcing a multi-million dollar museum to be paid for with funds that should have been dedicated to health care.

When I read the “Deadly Discharge” article, I was waiting to participate in the dedication of a flagpole in memory of the 9-11 victims, which was paid for with donations from local Callicoon residents. I couldn’t help but think of the millions of dollars raised for the families of the deceased and missing, all from the pockets of ordinary citizens of this country. This means to me that it’s not the citizens of this country, but the Congress and inept VA system, who are to blame.

Later Sunday morning, as the National Anthem was sung and Old Glory rose to the top of the pole, my eyes teared as they usually do. The flag that we raised that morning had flown on a bombing mission over Afghanistan that originated at Diego Garcia. My mind was on the young men and women ensuring our continued freedom and the article that I had read. It wasn’t a very good example of how we take care of them if they are crippled or injured. Was it?

Most of my fellow comrades and I have fought long and hard for our entitlements, as have all our veterans organizations have fought on our behalf. It is apparent to me that it is time to ask for help from every citizen of this great country to ensure vets, both old and those now serving, get the health care they deserve. To that end I am asking you to contact your Congressman and Representative and demand that they provide the funding needed and ensure it’s used for health care and not be used for museums.

[Verl Ringgenberg is a retired Master Chief, United States Navy. He lives in Hortonville, NY.]