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Difficult life awaits returning American soldiers
Published: 24 August, 2010, 00:49
Edited: 24 August, 2010, 22:46
TAGS: Military, Scandal, Human rights, Drugs, USA
As thousands of American troops prepare to return from a war zone, there could be many ugly and unexpected consequences. Multiple deployments and insufficient treatment has led some recent vets to end up on the street.
In San Diego, California, thousands of vets from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are sleeping on the streets.
“F-ed by the government and still no treason,” said Navy veteran Brian Little. “I don’t think they show enough respect to their local veterans.”
Little has been suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome since his discharge. He wasn’t able to find work after leaving the military, and hasn’t been able to get proper treatment for his condition. Little has been suicidal at times. His pleas for help have been ignored.
It’s a common theme at Stand Down, an annual non-profit event that helps homeless vets get off the streets. Volunteers are helping these veterans become better adjusted to civilian life, filling in the gaps left by military services.
“A lot of people really don’t know what to expect or where to go to get the help they need,” said Navy veteran Pamela Brisson.
She served in Afghanistan and has been homeless for two years.
The largest growing population of homeless women in San Diego is veterans returning from current combats, according to Catholic Charities, which operates shelters around the city.
While on the street, Brisson has been taking care of her 9-year-old son, Chris.
He’s been able to maintain straight A’s even while bouncing around from shelter to shelter and sleeping at times on a sidewalk.
Many veterans want help, but Brisson admits it is easy to get discouraged when the government doesn’t want to help.
“It only takes one or two people to say 'I don’t know' or, 'no, we can’t help you,' for them to walk away and think that there’s no help for them,” said Brisson. “You get hooked on drugs, alcohol and they’re not aware enough to take advantage of the programs.”
Dr. Jon Nachison, the founder of Stand Down, is very familiar with San Diego’s population. He started Stand Down 23 years ago because he saw a huge number of homeless veterans that no one was helping.
He says that over the past few years, the number of more recent veterans has begun to outnumber the homeless Vietnam veterans.
The problem will likely get worse as current service members who are dealing with extended and frequent redeployments get out of the military. Still, many homeless veterans remain very patriotic.
“I would go back if the opportunity arose to do that I think I would go back,” said Brisson.
It's a sentiment echoed by many homeless veterans who still have an undying loyalty to the military and their country.
21.08.2010, 08:44
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24.08.2010, 01:14
1 comment
US troop withdraw does not change situation in Iraq – Iraq veteranUS combat troops have withdrawn from Iraq, a step in the right direction toward concluding the war in Iraq, said Vice President Joe Biden to a group of US veterans. This comes as a US soldier was killed near Basra. |
Hey you Tony, how about you consider the people who took the oath to protect their country against all foes both foreign and domestic. The global elites are the domestic and foreign foes. Don't run your trap about you not having any pity for veterans who took up a career of killing. They took up a career to kill any enemy that threatens the U.S or her citizens. The elites have infiltrated the U.S fully now, and so they have begun a soft war against the people of the U.S, the U.S military, and other countries and citizens of the world including Brazil Russia India and China and dozens of other "free" countries. The veterans do not wish for you pity.
I'm sorry but I can't sympathize with people who chose to embark on a career of killing. 1.5 million Iraqis dead, over 4 million displaced. Only God knows how many maimed! The country's infrastructure destroyed. Thousands tortured and 'disappeared'. DU pollution that will last for ever. and it goes on and on. Should I even mention Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, Yugoslavia, S. American countries that have been tortured for centuries, Korea, Japan and I'm sure you can add to this list. These are the people who do the shooting, bombing, torturing, stealing, raping, murdering and polluting. They deserve no sympathy for their situation at all. And some of them even say they would go back and do it again!
Hey Goldenrice Don't run your trap about taking oaths to kill and maim on behalf of 'global elites' against 'foes both foreign and domestic'. Are children herding Goats in Afghan mountains 'foes'? Are women huddled with their children in mud/grass huts 'foes'? Are people in villages and building struck from the air by hi-tech weapons 'foes'? Are people attending weddings and funerals 'foes'? Are these people enemies 'that threatens the U.S or her citizens'? No, they are not, they are simply target practice for people like the ones in the article above. People who volunteered to go to another country and attack and kill, not 'defend'. Americans and their sympathizers can get angry and plead all they want that they are the victims, but there are a few million dead people and a few billion living that say they are WRONG! As long as millions of Americans join the military and do the bidding of your so called 'Global Elites', America and it's people will find themselves more and more isolated from the rest of the world. The real American heroes are the people who have the courage to refuse to fight on behalf of your so called 'Global Elites'. As for not wanting my sympathy... No problem. I reserve my sympathy for soldiers killed or wounded while defending their country from people like you 'Goldenrice'.