Several million young Americans went off to serve their country in Vietnam. More than 55,000 never came home alive. Nearly 500,000 died back home from wounds and mental ailments.
A mistaken war. An erroneous report from a tugboat captain in the Gulf of Tonkin to the secretary of defense to the president and a rash order to bomb the hell out of the harbor. Orders given by politicians who failed to verify facts. Those who went, by draft or volunteer, to serve their country. We “had to stop the domino effect of the spread of communism.”
We veterans are family. Farmers with hunting muskets and little military training defeated the mighty British 250 years ago to gain our freedom. We remain free through 250 years because of our veterans.
I appreciate a personal letter I received from President Trump where he rightly says he has done more for veterans than recent presidents, but I see so much more that could be done. Many disabled veterans are dismissed by the VA because the veteran does not get the treatment he or she deserves. If the veteran rejects the treatment the VA suggests, he or she often shuts down and turns to drugs, alcohol and even suicide.
My suggestion is the VA must have on staff more caring personnel and must never give up on helping a veteran with mental problems resulting from serving his country in combat. Our veterans and other patriotic public servants will keep us free. They suffer consequences by doing combat and risking their lives on our behalf. We should place a higher priority on caring for our patriots.
Thomas Abraham
Unity