HERO HOMELESS - Welcome Home Soldier

[clem_c_rock]

http://www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/38215.htm


<snippit>

Not long ago, Pfc. Herold Noel proudly rumbled through the Iraqi desert with the first wave of American troops.

Today, he rambles through the streets of Brooklyn in an SUV looking for a place to sleep.

The 25-year-old father of four, who suffers from posttraumatic stress disorder and has been homeless for the better part of six months, may represent the beginning of a wave of troops returning from battle with no place to go.

"When I was in Iraq, I was fighting a war for the American dream," Noel told The Post. "Now, I'm fighting a different kind of war, but it's still a war for survival."

His wife and toddler son may join him on the streets. They are living with Noel's sister-in-law, but she is moving to a smaller apartment and can't take them in.


</snippit>

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bigtree]

2. He served his country

He served to defend us here at home, despite the illegal, manufactured mission that this fascist administration sent him out on. If, or when, we face a legitimate threat to our nation, I, and many others, will be proud to recognize the service of these proud men and women who dedicate their lives to the defense and safety of our country, our citizens, and our allies around the world.

We should not abandon these excellent individuals and subject them to uninformed, biased, and slanderous criticisms just because WE failed to unseat our current dictator in chief who is bent on world dominance and imperialistic expansionism. Those who put their lives on the line to defend our country are heros, from the moment they put on the uniform. I suggest that the soldier in question should be judged on his own conduct rather than attaching all of the sins and aggressions of those who order them into needless and immoral combat. These men and women need and deserve out support, on and off of the battlefield.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[clem_c_rock]

7. Ultimately - this is completely true

Unfortunately-a giant percentage of this volunteer army were poor and saw this as the only way to get ahead.

The rich's army will always prey on these people.

I'm torn what to think.

[el_gato]

8. I feel sorry for people who buy into the propaganda

and they may think they are serving their country but they are not protecting American by killing people in Iraq.

[Jack_Dawson]

3. Ummm...that's fucked

He didn't make policy. Save your anger for those who deserve it.

[el_gato]

6. not really, just truthful

Being a stooge for Halliburton does not make you a hero.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[el_gato]

10. apparently you are since you seem unable to understand english

He went off to fight a genocidal war on behalf of corporate fascists and now comes home only to be fucked up the ass by the very same people who sent him there. It's time both he and you realize that being played for a sucker by corporate scumbags is not helping your country.

You know the Nuremberg Trials already covered most of the ground this discussion is heading towards.

[AngryOldDem]

11. So what do we do for him in the meantime?

Let him wander the streets?

Good God.

[el_gato]

13. hell, he should at least be given a house

he did what they wanted him to do and now he gets shit on.
that's the type of ingrates he's working for.
I just hope one day he realizes he got played.

[AngryOldDem]

17. And some cake to go with it, too?

You really have no clue what it's like to be homeless, do you?

I don't give a damn what the "ingrates" did to him. Nobody deserves to be living on the streets. Nobody. It is just basic human dignity, and if you can't comprehend that then there's nothing more that can be said.

No wonder some veterans come back angry. They get shit on by their government, and then shit on again by people like you.

Whatever your situation, I hope you NEVER find yourself in such a spot that this man is in.

[clem_c_rock]

4. Part of me almost agrees

My Uncle was a draft dodger in Vietnam and I'm proud to tell everyone that he is.

Ultimately, dodging the draft was the most admirable actions someone can take during an illegal/unjust war. On the other hand, as Seymore Hersch pointed out in the Mai Lay incident, he realized that the soldiers were also the victims.

The real enemy is governments who lie to us to get stupid people to fight their wars (IE. Gulf of Tonkin, 911 perpetrated by cave dwellers).

Public opinion scares these folks more than anything. They no when the crowd reaches critical mass, their gonners. Look what happened when Bechtel tried to steal the Bolivians water. They will stop at nothing to keep public opinion from tipping away from them.

[clem_c_rock]

12. sorry spelling errors - typing too fast

Really - I do know the difference between no and know.

[superconnected]

14. I feel bad for him and hope he gets on his feet

but another part of me wants more and more of these stories to hit the news to show people how the gov reciprocates blind following.

[0007]

16. It should be six o'clock news tonight and every night until the

morans in this country wake up!

[superconnected]

15. uh, suppose he gets depressed and out of control

"Eventually, Noel took his family to the Emergency Assistance Unit in The Bronx, where he was told there was no more government-subsidized housing available.

"That's when my PTSD started to really kick in," he said.

He began suffering symptoms ranging from cold sweats to hearing voices.

He's now regularly seeing a psychiatrist at the Fort Hamilton VA "Hospital and has been prescribed three different medications, including trazodone, an antidepressant, and risperidone, an anti-psychotic.

But that's all the Army has provided. Noel said it takes up to a year for the Army to verify his claims of PTSD and begin sending him disability checks.

Hank Minitrez, of the Army's "well-being" division, said there were "countless" private, nonprofit programs available to help vets like Noel, but admitted there is a problem relaying the information to ex-GIs in need.

Last month, Noel sent his 7-year-old, Stephon, and his twin 6-year-olds, Judy and Julian, to Florida to live with their maternal grandmother. Two-year-old Anthony has stayed with Noel and his wife.

"I'm not looking for a handout," Noel said. "I just want what I deserve for fighting for my country."
"



------

You know, eventually these people are going to start shooting up Mcdonalds'.