Veteran Fury. Listen to Their Voices

The young veteran looked at me carefully. He was dealing with PTSD, mental illness, depression, brain trauma and substance abuse issues. His life, he repeatedly told me, had been saved by our Hot Springs VA. He had rejoined society with a "can do" attitude, taking care of himself and, subsequently, helping many other members of the community through his work.

"Would you be willing to go to jail to save our VA?" he asked me seriously. He was in earnest and waited briefly for my response. It took me less than a second to respond to his question.

"Of course I would. It is that important for our veterans - present and future. There are so many reasons"

My thoughts flew swiftly to some of the many reasons the veterans who have used our VA have given me in their passionate hope to keep our VA open and growing. There are the many homeless veterans. Our VA has the room to house them, treat their issues that have cut them off from their families and society, and train them for jobs that will benefit them and society.

As this veteran who stood before me said, "We should not look at cost when discussing this issue. Buying a hamburger is a cost. Treating veterans is an investment. It is an investment in the returning soldiers and an investment in their future as a contributing member of our society."

The latest statistics from the US Department of Veteran Affairs is that 22 veterans a day are committing suicide. The ones who have received treatment for their PTSD, brain trauma, substance abuse, toxic chemical exposure or other emotional issues are less likely to take their lives.

Many of the veterans who arrive at our Domiciliary from all over the country (the latest count was from 26 states) have failed their treatment at the large, impersonal facilities in which they were treated like a number and were surrounded by many triggers for relapse. In fact, several have said that the drug dealers come right into the Doms, taking advantage of the returning soldiers still vulnerable to any substances that will temporarily alleviate their pain. This could not happen in our VA in which everyone is know on a first-name basis.

We know that it will cost the taxpayers more to move the Dom to Rapid City than it will be to make minor updates to this made-to-last facility in Hot Springs. Veterans choose to come to this peaceful, rural setting to aid in their recovery. They remain for a month to six months, sometimes longer, and the distance they travel is of no consequence when they want treatment. For those veterans seeking medical care only, travel is of importance. Those who travel from western Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming and the Pine Ridge reservation do not want to travel the extra miles to Rapid City.

What about our South Dakota State Home for veterans? Those retirees from all over the state do not want to even think about travelling to Rapid for their medical care. Also all of the veterans prefer receiving care from VA personnel trained to recognize PTSD, Agent Orange and other chemical exposures, as well as the issues facing all veterans.

"We are treated as a veteran and an individual first at this VA. In most facilities we are treated as a patient and a number. We are comfortable in this VA. They also have plans to close Fort Meade, another rural, caring VA. They  have been systematically closing the smaller VA hospitals, with plans to outsource us all to public facilities in the end. This will cost the taxpayers more. The VA can treat veterans at a far lower cost than other hospitals, and with better results."

"We veterans are not being heard in Washington. Washington does not care about what we want or need. They continue to close the rural facilities and diminish our benefits. We veterans have served our country and we want to receive the health care promised us. We want to get what the politicians get for their service....health care for life."

 Veterans are angry, hurt and feel betrayed! How many more suicides will there be before the government gets the message? Will the civilians in our country speak out and add to their protest voices?

There is more, but I leave it at this for now. In answer to the veteran, "Of course I would go to jail if it comes to that. That is the least I could do for you men and women who have served our country. You once fought, or were ready to fight. I can serve now by my writing and, if necessary, by standing up to the authority that is letting you veterans down. I would be proud to stand with you in your battle. In your betrayal, we are all betrayed."