VETERANS: Where's help they deserve?

There are a lot of comments as to why we do not need health care reform or insurance that will cover everyone.

I have a son who has made a career out of the Army. He was recently diagnosed with post traumatic stress after his third 16-month deployment to Iraq. A brother-in-law, who served 20 years in the Army and then 20 years with the V.A., told my son that he needed to keep copies of all his contacts with different doctors, hospitals, etc., if he might ever need to use the V.A. after he retires.

We recently went to Ft. Carson to take care of our granddaughter while he was in the hospital at Pueblo and while there I saw a sign, on base, that read “Leave no man behind.” I told my son they should take that sign down as it appears they do not honor that statement. He said he was left behind as were other soldiers while in Iraq and many of those at the hospital in Pueblo felt they were now outcasts by the Army because now they are broken.

My question would be how many of these kids came back, were discharged, then diagnosed with whatever problems and now can receive no help as they did not have the paperwork that the V.A. insists on in order to give help? Is this health care issue just for the un-patriotic welfare bums? Isn’t it possible that some of the “left behinders” will receive help they desperately need?

PHILLIP RICHARDSON

Post Falls