02.26.07

The War, PTSD and Veterans Left to Die

Posted in General at 7:31 pm by MamaSaid

 I recently read a disturbing article about a young American man named Jonathan who served in the war in Iraq and returned suffering with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). I am always lured by these headlines because I am the loving wife of a Vietnam veteran who suffers with PTSD, Agent Orange exposure and neglect at the hands of the VA (Veterans Affairs) every day. It makes my heart ache to think this tragedy continues to repeat itself for more young men and their families.

Jonathan, a veteran with two Purple Hearts, was finally ready on January 11 to get the help he desperately needed since his return from Iraq. He packed his US Marine duffel bag with neatly folded clothes and a picture of his baby daughter and drove 75 miles to the VA Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota. To add personal commentary, VA medical centers are often many miles away from a veterans’ home (usually in a modest neighborhood where they can afford to survive) and it is encumbering to get there. Transportation is precariously available, with many weeks’ notice often required. Often this is unrealistic because the veteran requires immediate attention, as was Jonathan’s case.

Jonathan got to the VA hospital, haunted with the thoughts of his mental wounds that caused depression, violent outbursts and an uncontrollable desire to kill himself that made him drown in alcohol and prescribed anti-anxiety drugs. He was accompanied by his dad, a Vietnam War Veteran, and his stepmom as he told the intake counselor he was suicidal and wanted to be admitted to a psychiatric ward. According to his stepmother, they responded that the clinician who prescreened such cases was not available and he should go back home and wait for a call the following day. My husband has gotten this kind of treatment when he was clearly mentally and physically suffering on numerous occasions. He has been absolutely, understandably enraged when blown off in this manner.

A clinical social worker called Jonathan the next day and informed him he was 26th on a waiting list for one of 12 beds at the PTSD ward in the hospital, despite the fact he told the worker he had suicidal thoughts and other symptoms. On January 16, only four short days later, Jonathan hung himself from a beam in the basement with a household extension cord. Jonathan was from a family with a tradition of military service and his dad said, “My feeling is no veteran should be turned away, and definitely not a veteran who is openly saying he needs help and that he feels like taking his life.” My husband and other veterans we know have been turned away, canceled without notice, shuffled and ignored on countless occasions. Despite the fact this country failed to take care of veterans from previous wars, a war continues that creates more veterans the country is already failing to properly care for.

Jonathan wrote on May 13, 2004, the day after two of his close friends were killed, “My heart is filled with sadness. And I ask God why…I pray so much and ask God to keep me out of harm’s way and get me back in one piece.”

The sad fact is that there are 1.5 millions veterans already of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. One in five of these veterans are coming back with PTSD. A report by an Army panel of experts revealed that one in three veterans from the war in Iraq are seeking mental health services. Veterans advocates report that the systems is unprepared and lacks the funds the handle this onslaught of veterans and veterans fear being left out in the cold by the government they serve – such as Jonathan. Our country continues to protest continuing this war, but Bush and the good old boys relentlessly go on at the expense of so many lives. Democracy is actually nonexistent and obviously power, control and profit are the driving forces that keep this war going.

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3 Comments »

  1. Monica said,

    March 12, 2007 at 11:35 am

    I know Jonathan in my own way because PTSD lives with us. My son has been repeatedly ignored for nearly two years. There are THOUSANDS of veterans if not more coming back with physical and psychological injuries. But they just aren’t important to the government anymore so they’re thrown away…hidden like an embarrassing relative.

  2. chiron said,

    April 4, 2007 at 4:05 pm

    Unfortunately, those who suffer from PTSD aren’t often in a good position to speak for themselves or to get help. Part of the disease is that we withdraw into ourselves, as we begin to question our sanity and our right to live.

    How we treat out veterans is a national disgrace. We promise them benefits - none of which are really worth risking your life for. These people go to war, face the possibility of serious injury or death, to protect us, to fight our battles. They do their part of the bargain.

    When it comes time to make good on our side of the bargain - to pay for their injuries, to try to heal them - we renege. This is a crime.

  3. melrose said,

    April 8, 2007 at 12:45 pm

    im doing a project on war linked with ptsd and i was shocked with what i found out. everything that goes on in war is covered up so well that most of us dont even realise whats happening. Ptsd should be paid more attention to, and not make soldiers feel isolated or embarressed.

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