I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. I am not a war hero and did not see combat. I gave up a scholarship to college to join the Marines and did my job until the day I was honorably discharged. Until the semi truck accident, the only veteran related thing I did was get some money for college from the VA Bill. It wasn't that much, but it paid for a couple years of college, so I'm thankful for that. Following the accident, when I was left penniless and deaf. If it wasn't for medical care from the VA, I wouldn't have had any medical care at all. I never gave being a veteran much thought, but now that I am a homeless veteran, I see the situation of American veterans in an entirely different light and feel an obligation to tell what I see.
The way most Americans view those who served the country and the way the American government treat veterans are two completely different things. Most American families have probably had a family member who served in America's military and know that it takes something out of you that will never be returned. American politicians see American veterans as used merchandise, a financial drain of funds that could be better used for government pensions and perks.
The federal and state governments hand out hundreds of millions of dollars to organizations that claim to help veterans, to help homeless veterans, prevent veteran suicide. None of those millions of dollars actually reach any veterans, only veterans
organizations. If they gave the money directly to homeless veterans, every veteran in America would have more than enough money to live. All those millions, yet the small VA clinic I go to, that serves thousands of veterans, barely has enough funding to stay open. They can't pay the staff a living wage and I believe there is only one doctor. I no longer have a primary physician, but a physician's assistant. I've never met him/her, because in person clinic visits only happen every couple years, at best. Everyone at the VA has done a good job for me, all the people who work at that small clinic serve a lot of veterans. They just don't have the funding. Where's all those millions?
Everyone in America benefits from veterans except for veterans. When I had my
business in Carlsbad, CA, on Veterans Day, everybody had the day off. Post Office closed, city offices and most businesses closed. My shop was open, the only other guy working was the FedEx driver. Both of us were veterans, everybody else had the day off. He would drop off all the neighboring business's packages that were closed for Veterans Day.
Following the
accident on October 11, 2018, just about everyone I came in contact with in the US flag waving city of Klamath Falls, Oregon ripped me off. There were "We Support Veterans" on every light pole, yet not a single person, including the Klamath County Sheriffs, lifted a finger to "support a veteran". Seeing the guys with the American flag on their sleeve with their backs to you while they
support the other side is just more American hypocrisy.
Penske Trucks
Here is
Penske Leasing. "Honor Respect Gratitude" "Thank you veterans" says flag waving American hero Roger Penske.
Here is the real
Penske Leasing. Penske owns this truck that hit a law abiding American veteran who was stopped for a construction zone flagman.
A Klickitat County judge ruled that Penske had no responsibility for this accident.
Penske Leasing showed their respect for this veteran by leaving him on the side of the road for dead. Because of
Penske's "gratitude", another American veteran on the street.
How about
MB Global Logistics? The front page of their websites proclaim their support for POWs and MIAs, The Purple Heart Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project. Those all appear to be veteran related organizations.
This 40 ton semi truck operated by
MB Global Logistics hit a veteran from behind traveling fifty miles per hour. Following the accident, the MB Global Logistics driver assaulted and threatened to kill the badly injured veteran he had just run over with his semi truck.
MB Global Logistics insurance refused to pay for any medical expenses or damages, the veteran lost everything he worked for his whole life and wound up living on the side of the road. The same
Klickitat County judge ruled MB Global Logistics or their driver had any responsibility for the accident, sentencing an innocent veteran to spend the rest of his life on the street
Not only do some veterans have a tough time dealing with things most comfortable Americans have no concept of, veteran's "organizations" where no money or help actually reaches any veterans, now there are out and out criminals hiding behind veterans and these veteran "organizations".
Thanks to the Oregon State Police and the criminal organizations they support, suicide may be in my future, so I have a few things to say about it. If you are an American who has never been in the military, you may ask "Why should I care?" My response would be, if this is the way America treats it's "honored and respected heroes", imagine what's in store for you.
I believe veterans have a higher than normal suicide rate in America is because they have a higher than normal sense of betrayal. You understand the country you laid your life on the line for has no intention of fulfilling the promise to care for you should you need it and more likely to kick you to the curb to save money. On top of that, most veterans still alive today fought in wars that had nothing to do with national security, or defending the American way of life.
Veterans who have been mentally or physically injured suffer most of all. The next American war comes quickly and the veterans from the previous war are quickly forgotten. America wants these victims of senseless political and economic violence out of the public eye as quickly as possible. The veterans who need help the most are the most likely not to get it.
As a veteran, what are my first hand experiences? Until the accident on October 11, 2018, I never thought much about it. I was fortunate to not see combat and I was not critically injured or killed. I served my time and moved on. Because the accident has made me homeless for the rest of my life, my only medical care is from the VA. Taxpayers pay for everything. My rural VA "clinic" is a prefab structure outside a VA retirement home. They serve thousands of small town veterans in two states. I have nothing but good things to say about them. They are the only people that work for the American government that I trust. I believe that is because they are the only people that work for the American government that put their commitment to the veterans before the commitment for cash.
No matter how committed to veterans, the VA clinic did not have the resources to help me following the accident. The governor of my state and elected representatives, all claiming to support veterans, did not respond to a single message or plea for support.
I was left for dead on the side of the road because I obeyed the law and stopped for a stop sign. The semi truck that ran me over was most likely delivering drugs for a Mexican drug cartel, but all the government employees pledged to uphold the Constitution and serve Americans, gave their support to the cartels and organized crime.
Take away all your money, all your possessions. Be injured to the point that you can only sleep a couple hours at a time and never really be pain free. Take away your hearing so that you will not be able to carry on a normal conversation with another human being for nearly three years. You will be living in a truck. Your living space is 100 square feet. All your possessions must also occupy this space. You must live in the most remote parts of America, the hottest deserts, the most remote mountains. You will live off your Social Security income that is less than most American's monthly car payment. Since you have no money, you do nothing. Nothing about think about why you did the right thing when this is the result. Go on living? What the fuck for? More lies, more abuse, more betrayal? Why do veterans kill themselves? For the same reason other people do; stop the lies, stop the suffering. Everyone has their limits. With conditions like this, how many would go past those limits?
Many people are not able to take such punishment at the hands of their fellow citizens. Human life in America is only worth a few thousand dollars. Once you realize things like this, it's hard to see a future. I asked myself many times during this period; "Why go on? Nearly everything you've been told, everything you've come to believe, is a big fucking lie." When the government claims to be concerned about veteran suicide or veteran welfare, they're lying. I'm not claiming to be the world's greatest human, but these three years of non-stop, 24/7, physical and mental torture would have probably killed off more than a few who would have not been able to adapt.
Now, all I have to worry about is
the police or some other criminal in uniform putting a few bullets in my back and add a bogus veteran suicide report to the growing pile of false documents related to the accident. The government does not give, it takes. The betrayal is real.
Saddest and most disgraceful of all, there are veterans, through no fault of their own, are in worse shape than me. Far worse shape. It seems more likely the United States of America will end before the nation's promises to them.
