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A VETERAN AND WOUNDED WARRIOR'S REQUEST
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Today at 4:17pm
A VETERAN AND WOUNDED WARRIOR’S REQUEST
By DR. JAMES POLLOCK, MAJ., WOUNDED WARRIOR, & VETERAN
I am a two tour Veteran of Iraq, a physician (Critical Care) and have both the emotional and physical scars of the Iraq war but am trying to put my experiences and passion to work FOR Veterans now. I have seen many US troops die (several in my arms) and have seen the worst of the Iraq war up close during my two deployments. It is sad to see ANYONE on either side of the political spectrum utilize a war's wounded or victims of a war for debates of political purposes. There have been wars for thousands of years and will be many wars until the end of time and return of Christ. Jesus spoke of wars as sometimes necessary but sad. Folks on both sides of the political road should realize that without wars, we would not have our freedoms, Facebook, fancy clothes, fancy cars, advancing healthcare, etc.... War is horrible and not always justified but should NEVER be used to advance either political cause concerning the topic of suicide, PTSD, Depression, physical wounds or suffering families. The leaders of both parties and the folks arguing in this realm should PLEASE think about what I am trying to say.
Conservatives should never hide the horrors of war and Liberals should never use the horrors as a drum beat for ideological movements. It is ok to debate the reasons that we are in Iraq or the reasons for going to war, but please NEVER debate the political ramifications of suicides, coffins, homeless Vets, or suffering families. Both Obama and Rush Limbaugh should hug on this topic and agree to NOT argue the political angles of Wounded Warrior needs in public. Both Obama and the Conservative leaders should ONLY work together to solve the problems leading to PTSD, Depression, Suicide, injuries, etc..... This should NEVER be a political, divisive topic on TV, in the newspapers, the radio or elsewhere. Whether you are for or against war, you should always do all that you can at your local, non-political area to support the troops that come back needing emotional support, legal support, bills paid, and understanding. Yes...they need legal and financial support and have few places to turn after a short period of time.
There are several major areas of deep problems leading to the high emotional toll in Iraq and elsewhere within the DOD. Much of this stress, PTSD, depression and suicide stems from the war but much more of it stems from a beaucratic, herd mentality within the DOD that needs quicker repair than what the "committee process" can fix. People with battlefield emotional/physical experience should be in charge of the DOD programs concerning these areas but, instead, it is career military/civilian "ivory tower" folks who THINK they understand the situation but have never actually been to the level of the pain and suffering that needs their understanding.
A cocktail of Paxil and other meds combined with a "rest period" may help but is NOT the total answer. A broken VA system that treats the vet as one of the herd is NOT the answer. The answer lies within the ideas of men with true experience in the lower levels of the war theater and away from the "Government knows best” or “Generals know best” mentality. There are great Generals; that is NOT the point.
I am requesting that those reading this 'NOTE' copy it, share it and request that your Congressman spend time talking with me and folks like me about how to fix the 'broken' system that Wounded Warriors face at times. The high suicide rate is NOT the root problem ; it is the lack of social backstops that meet VETS; especially post dd214 dates (discharge dates). If you are "liberal" and hear other liberals trying to use suicide rates to make a liberal point, you should stand up, tell everyone that you are liberal and then scold them for playing on this point. If you are conservative and see another conservative downplaying the horrors of war in order to justify a war political point, you should stand up...announce that you are conservative and then scold those who use the wounds of our Warriors as a political talking point.
Please help me to present several solutions to the problems that Vets face to the Congressional Committees that should hear my story. For example, Wounded Warrior Vets need free legal assistance for up to 4 years after getting out of the military with a dd214. All Vets need both their military pay if considered retired PLUS any VA monies EARNED from a war. If a Veteran has a VA rating from a war zone, they should NOT have that money offset by any branch (without hassel) pay. Vets should be able to use their GI Bill monies to pay off bills if they desire…why does it HAVE to go towards a degree if a person served in a War Zone?…the Veteran should get to decide. War Vets need more people to come to their house and sit with them to hug them…not just phone calls from 3 states away once every couple months. Vets need the pride of respect because, for many of them, this is what keeps them going. Vets need more ground level folks leading their causes and less “ivory tower” folks. Vets need other Vets to step in and take them by the reins when they start heading down the path of alcoholism or drug abuse; this “capturing” mechanism is deeply lacking right now. Vets need Vets running/working the VA system at all levels because a typical “government employee” can never have the passion to help Vets like another Vet can. Active duty personnel need to SHARE the deployment load much more so that one person goes much more often than others; RANK SHOULD NOT BE A “GET OUT OF WAR” CARD. Active duty medical commanders should make MANY changes both in the field and back home…..a long discussion in itself. Discrimination against Vets should NEVER be tolerated. If anyone in this country has earned the right for an easier path in employment/services….it is a war Vet. The VA rating system should be GREATLY simplified. School students should be taught about the sacrifices that Veterans have made through time. Veterans, Senior Citizens, handicapped, the injured and those from horrible occurrences should be nurtured by EVERY community monthly with a “call to action”. I would like for every community to adopt one of the folks in these groups to sit at EVERY chamber of commerce meeting and have a say at every meeting ….their needs should come before ANY ideology (right or left).
Did you know that the Army and AF “Wounded Warrior” programs do NOT have free legal counselors or lawyers to help them with their needs (unless their needs are narrowly defined while still on AD status in certain appeals processes)??? This is a travesty.
Did you know that the Air Force and other Wounded Warrior commanders are NOT allowed a budget even close to what they need to handle necessary tasks? (Such as providing lawyers to WWs)
Did you know that MANY of the largest organizations for “Wounded Warriors” only fund trips and fundraisers but DO NOT (rarely) pay common bills like car payments, rent, etc…..for Wounded Warriors when needed????
Did you know that the “Peter Principle” along with many other principles is slowly killing the US Military Medical Corps???? (#’s diminishing at an alarming rate every year due to issues that the Ivory Towers fail to see)
Did you know that the main source of monetary aid for Wounded Warriors if branch charities such as AF Aid or Army Aid…..yet they only approve up to $3-5K max for WW families in need of grants? ; despite the $250,000,000 that the Wounded Warrior program channels get for designed financial support….this is not only pathetic but a disgrace.
Did you know that most Wounded Warriors are put into a program called “TDRL” where they are legally ‘retirees’ for up to 5 years but only receive ½ of their RANK salaries????? THIS IS A DISGRACE!!
I have many more questions that I could pose to Congress if only given a chance.
There are certain issues which should NEVER be political and should ALWAYS be non-political; unless a person has no heart or hates the country or is simply trying to advance a cause over the suffering of others. I would encourage everyone reading this to go to your nearest VFW to see the pride in Vet's hearts; go to the nearest VA hospital to see this pride and to sit quietly in the middle of a Veteran cemetery for at least an hour......simply to think. People are quick to adopt a pet but rarely adopt a person in need (handicapped, Wounded Warriors, senior citizens, etc....). Please act on this issue and don't simply debate. If a person has not spent time in a Veteran cemetery, VFW hall, Veteran's hospital, etc....to see all angles of the Wounded Warrior dilemmas....they should refrain from speaking out (both ideologies).
I played a role on the ground twice in Iraq to help those needing medical care. I am asking everyone who reads this ‘note’ to help me now by encouraging your Congressman to allow me(and others like me) to speak under oath about the needs of the Veteran, the Wounded Warrior and the DOD changes needed to improve our Nation and its’ finest. I have the experience, the ideas and the drive to make a great difference for all ideologies in this area; but need people to request this of their Congressman. Please read this note in your churches and request that folks help me get before Congress to help change many of these problems. If you know folks on TV, please tell them to consider letting me tell my story , not in a narcissistic way but in a way that leads to REAL change for the good of both Veterans and other folks in need .
I love God, my family, my country and the Veterans who shed blood for the U.S. dreams.
I am more proud of my title as “Major, Wounded Warrior, and Veteran” than my career under the title of “Dr.”
Please help me to make a difference at the Congressional Level. Please request folks like Pastor Hagee, Joel Osteen, Glenn Beck, Bill Oreily,Huckabee (fellow Arkansan) ……and YES , even the liberal commentators to read my letter/NOTE to their followers. I am speaking for thousands of Vets with this note.
God Bless America, our Vets and those suffering from both war and the horrors of any bad situation. If a person reads that last sentence and does not feel a flutter in the heart.....just maybe the heart is in the wrong place to begin with…..”Liberal” or “Conservative”.
{please request newspaper and TV editors to post this note as a letter to their readers/viewers…you have my permission……JP}
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4 hours ago • Comment •LikeUnlike • Report Note
Brenda Pollock-Smith and 2 others like this.
Shane Clarke
your compassion and humanity are beyond a doubt a blessing. To help those that give everything for the freedom of others that are selfish, greedy and uncaring is what makes vets stand with pride, why because they know that they have the guts to do that others wont. I do hope that wheels turn in your favour with offers of help coming from the most ... See Moreunlikely sources, so I say America please help Major Pollock in this great cause.
As a after note today Australia buried the last of its MIA from the battlefield of Fromelles in France on the western front 90 years ago.
We will never forget them.
about an hour ago • LikeUnlike • Flag
Colleen O'Grady
Ok Major Pollock...will do what I can as well as share it on Facebook
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