Talk to me about disabled veterans...

balihaigirl

OK I'm a little naive about this.  There is a man in a wheelchair who has been hanging out on the corner of 2222/360 every morning for the past month or so (it trades off between him and this sweet older man).  Anyway, the man in the wheelchair looks like he lost his legs and he wears a camouflage hat and pants and salutes you - so it appears he is a disabled vet.  Doesn't our country take care of disabled vets?  It makes me sad to see this but I don't know whether he's just playing the "disabled vet" card or if it could be legit.  DH assures me that our country provides $ to these disabled vets.

Does anyone know the answer to this?

Sorry if this sounds really naive - it's just really been bothering me the past few weeks.

bobcatsteph

I wonder the same thing.

SaraLouiseBride08

How weird! I was just talking about this same guy to one of my girlfriends. The discussion was along the lines of ... how do you know he's really a vet? This girlfriend is very adamant about not giving money to the homeless because it's not really helping them.

If this guy is truly a vet, then help should be easy for him to get. The VA is so wonderful and helpful, he shouldn't have any problems. I don't know all the details of veteran assistance, so there may be some reason he can't get any that I don't know about. However, my dad's experience has been wonderful. He's not a disabled vet, but definitely a Vietnam vet and the VA has been good to him lately.

So I'm more inclinded to think this guy's either not willing to help himself by going to the VA, or he's not really a vet.

mlf625

No.  Our country sucks about taking care of our disabled vets.  Though our situation is TOTALLY different than some poor old man, here's an example.  DH signed up after high school for the USMC officer candidate school.  Committed to a career in the Marines, completed three summers of training while getting his degree in aviation.  Plan was to fly for the Marines.  Graduates college, leaves for Virginia to complete his training.  About 3 months before he'd be sent to flight school, he has a grand mal seizure at training.  Diagnosed with epilepsy at Walter Reed, likely somehow triggered by the rigorous training he was going through, deemed disabled by the military and was medically retired as "disabled" with benefits and a small monthly pay.  Did everything he could to be allowed back in some capacity, the answer was always "nope, you're disabled".  He was heartbroken but at least felt good about being respectfully retired.  Three years later, they decided he wasn't disabled enough and yanked all of his retirement benefits (no more benefits or pay).  He still can't be in the military because he's "disabled", he still has epilepsy (confirmed each year by a neurologist), he still has a worthless degree he pursued (and paid dearly for) because of the USMC promising a career in flight - but they just decided no more benefits.

So considering the kick in the face they dished out to my "disabled vet" I can only imagine little old men aren't getting any better treatment.

Totally not bitter about the benefits or pay, btw, because we're very fortunate that DH has a good job and we have benefits and AREN'T out on the street like the little old man ... I'm bitter that my husband was a dedicated and loyal Marine and was treated like garbage after being deemed disabled. 

Taytee

The VA system is kind of a clusterfuck sometimes. Even my Dad has problems getting proper services through them. Imagine if you've fallen off the grid and no longer have an address or transportation. Kind of hard to get good follow-ups etc. He also may not have been declared as disabled due to military service.

ali-1411

Ditto everyone else.

The gov't is really good at fcking over the vets who actually need the help.  Yet any jackass who went to Iraq can get benefits for PTS.  Its a mess and doesn't make any sense at all.

MrsHoyt

mlf625:

No.  Our country sucks about taking care of our disabled vets.  

 This.  Especially disabled vets with mental issues.  Its disgusting.

Taytee

(m_and_m posting as Taytee)

 

That's Sgt Cook! He does receive assistance, but it's not enough. He has an apartment, he's not homeless. He gets enough help to cover all his expenses except his rent, but he can't get a good job because hello! he has no legs. The job market is crappy enough that if a company has to make any special considerations for you they are likely to go with another candidate.

Anyway, he is a USMC veteran and he's a great guy. Always has a kind word and he's funny- he totally made me laugh on the 5th anniversary of my dad's funeral (coincidentally, my Dad was also a USMC vet and buried on Veteran's Day).

 

In short, the VA is kinda fukt up. My SIL has full benefits because she has frickin' scoliosis but my Dad couldn't get jack when he got sick nor does my mom get any of the benefits he should be entitled to.

balihaigirl

Taytee:

(m_and_m posting as Taytee)

 

That's Sgt Cook! He does receive assistance, but it's not enough. He has an apartment, he's not homeless. He gets enough help to cover all his expenses except his rent, but he can't get a good job because hello! he has no legs. The job market is crappy enough that if a company has to make any special considerations for you they are likely to go with another candidate.

Anyway, he is a USMC veteran and he's a great guy. Always has a kind word and he's funny- he totally made me laugh on the 5th anniversary of my dad's funeral (coincidentally, my Dad was also a USMC vet and buried on Veteran's Day).

 

In short, the VA is kinda fukt up. My SIL has full benefits because she has frickin' scoliosis but my Dad couldn't get jack when he got sick nor does my mom get any of the benefits he should be entitled to.

omg thank you!!  i have been wanting to give him $, just a few dollars here and there but dh was giving me a hard time about it.  

thanks for the info!

SaraLouiseBride08

Taytee:

(m_and_m posting as Taytee)

 

That's Sgt Cook! He does receive assistance, but it's not enough. He has an apartment, he's not homeless. He gets enough help to cover all his expenses except his rent, but he can't get a good job because hello! he has no legs. The job market is crappy enough that if a company has to make any special considerations for you they are likely to go with another candidate.

Anyway, he is a USMC veteran and he's a great guy. Always has a kind word and he's funny- he totally made me laugh on the 5th anniversary of my dad's funeral (coincidentally, my Dad was also a USMC vet and buried on Veteran's Day).

AWESOME, awesome update! Mind if I share?

m_and_m

Feel free to share with anybody who asks. I don't know what his actual rank is/was, but his last name is Cook (he told me, and it's tattooed in his back). I've been meaning to ask him what happened to his legs, but I haven't seen him there for awhile. Glad to hear he's back! He's been there off and on for a couple years.