Homelessness a threat for Iraq vets: AP story

[Jeffersons Ghost]

"I'm just an ordinary person who served. I'm not embarrassed about my homelessness, because the circumstances that created it were not my fault," says Beckford, 30, who was a military-supply specialist at a U.S. base in Iraq - a sitting duck for around-the-clock attacks "where hell was your home."

By VERENA DOBNIK
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER


NEW YORK -- Herold Noel had nowhere to call home after returning from military service in Iraq. He slept in his Jeep, taking care to find a parking space where he wouldn't get a ticket.

"Then the nightmares would start," says the 26-year-old former Army private first class, who drove a fuel truck in Iraq. "I saw a baby decapitated when it was run over by a truck - I relived that every night."

Across America on any given evening, hundreds of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan like Noel are homeless, according to government estimates.

The reasons for their plight are many. For some, residual stress from daily insurgent attacks and roadside bombs makes it tough to adjust to civilian life; some can't navigate government assistance programs; others simply can't afford a house or apartment.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Homeless_After_Iraq.html

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Recommended. Get this up there people!

:cry:

[Jeffersons Ghost]

8. thanks for all the votes and kicks n/t

[robertt]

19. WV Enlistment Proportion by Population

Attracting kids from an impoverished state where there are few career options is easy. They often return home to nothing.

Robert Eggleton
"Rarity from the Hollow"

[nam78_two]

2. That is just so sad

The vets deserve so much better than this. These stories of homeless vets are just so depressing :(.
There have been so many of them of late too.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

9. media hides the news, just exactly like DU just did. check how few votes..

DU has become much like media in general and even a bit like FOX lately.

[KalicoKitty]

13. Only in America...

could you find a homeless combat veteran living in a cardboard box, while a wartime deserter is fraudulently living in the White House!

[Monkeyman]

3. Its getting worst

Let me share a story with you. I am a vet plus run the Veterans for Progress in IL. So alot of my brothers from other states email or call me. Here's the story A brother in KC runs a PTSD clinic and works out of VVA in KC. One night he locking up the post,see a VW Rabbit in the parking lot with sheets covering the window. Walks up knock on the windows. A weak voice come out of the car.Randy said you know this is the VVA parking lot. Door opens a four foot woman gets out wearing a sandbox cover. Randy finds out she left Iraq four weeks ago. Her Husband could not stand the nightdreams she had. And left her with the kids. She lost the Apt. waiting for care at the VA an was sleeping in her car.Randy walk her over to VA District office right then an there she got the help she needed. She is one of the lucky ones most don't recieve help and stay on the streets where anything can happen to them

[MadMaddie]

5. This is ridiculous....the richest country in the world

sends it's soldiers to a unwarrented war...and then doesn't take care of them...

We need to press Congress to stop the millions of dollars going to the fake faith based initives and send the money to the VA hospitals and other organizations that take care of our vets....

[Jeffersons Ghost]

10. when JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME...

When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a card-board bed right then,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will jeer, the boys will shout,
Ladies will watch land-lords throw them out,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

The old church bells will peal with joy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our disabled boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
Mommie why do they dress that way?
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give the hero a plastic knee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The yawning grave is ready now
He dodged it but it waits somehow,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.


Let no one even care that day,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Their abject poverty on display,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
And let each one perform for coins
Our female vets can service loins,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

[TheDebbieDee]

4. Kick........

for Bold Eagle, Winter Warrior and REFORGER!

[Dr.Phool]

6. There's a lot of them out there.

My friend, who's running for Congress in Florida, is a Acute Care Nurse Practitioner by trade. Last month, they had an event in a VA clinic parking lot, for vets who couldn't get care, and were homeless.

A few doctors and nurses donated their day, to give them some of the care they needed, for free. All without media attention or fanfare.

www.johnrussellforcongress.com

[Monkeyman]

7. We got one too John Laesch

He runing on a shoestring budget. This vet found out that we where putting a Midwest Veterans Homeless Shelter in the works. Out of his own pocket gave 3000.00. This vet then held a fund raiser just for the Shelter rised over 50,000. The kid could used the money to run agaist Hastert but cared more for the vets.His brother is in Iraq right now John fighting to get them all home an taken care of. Hastert would not let a bill come to the floor that would of gave a billion to the homeless shelters a ruond the country ,all because a Democrat wrote it.Republicans send people off to War then don't give a dam when they come home. Just a vet letting off some steam .I work with these kids when they come home most are not missing body parts. But their minds are shot.

www.john06.com

[alfredo]

11. Kick and Recommend this for our vets.

a friend of mine has been diagnosed with Parkinson's, most likely from exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Vietnam.

He was sent to Vietnam without any combat training, was sent behind enemy lines with some Rangers(he could send and receive morse code), got separated but somehow survived. He lost 40 lbs during his ordeal.

The story remains the same. Nobody wanted to hire Vietnam era vets. Nobody wants to hire Iraq vets. The same economic pressures that push kids to join are now denying them employment once they return.


BTW, our chickenhawk governor removed the veterans preferences in hiring.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

12. I want to thank each of you who voted this to the "greatest page"...

as a Vietnam Era Vet, this issue means a great deal to me. I didn't hunt for the news story in the OP, Veterans For Peace emailed it to me because I recently joined VVAW.

[alfredo]

15. The veterans issues has changed the minds

of many former bush supporters. They could understand having to make cuts when necessary, but not the open hostility of the bush gang.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

16. exactly alfredo, which is why I often share valid stories on the topic n/t

[alfredo]

18. Truth is our weapon of choice.

[AuntPatsy]

14. Well when they are screaming one should support the troops,

you know such rhetoric is only good for when these troops are actually on the front lines, when they come home, these same ones screaming this is the patritotic thing to do are the very same ones at home believing you must make your own way and NOT rely on any assistance from government and the like, its pretty simple to understand why they don't care about them once they are no longer in actually service, thats where the mindset is that I have heard.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

17. aunt patsy... you should post more often at DU, even though you lack...

the gift of eloquent writing. I HAVE A DREAM... I dream of a day when DU will not judge a post by the color of it's journalism but instead judge each entry by the content of a writers' heart.

I also dream of a day, when no one will judge another for ANYTHING!

Like a truly great Christian who was murdered before he reached the "promised land," I will likely never see my dream become reality.

Patsy, you surely must have a beautiful heart. thanks for your comments

[McCamy Taylor]

20. How about when they try to vote?

[AusGail]

21. Homelessness is only one problem that has been created

What about the homicidal maniacs and the suicidal misfits that the military has created?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

22. right now both crime and suicide is skyrocketing...

and it's not a result of the war because the vast majority of our troops are still in country. As more oppressive laws are passed in a country that tends to ignore social issues and problems, increases in the suicide/ crime rate are inevitable.

[Monkeyman]

23. They are on meds

DOD statement we have to see how Combat troops react on meds. Hartford Courant did six news stories on how troops with mental problems are being sent back to Iraq on meds. Again the Dems in the leadership role did not use this to debate the war. That is a shame the veterans issues alone can hurt the Replugs

[OhioBlue]

24. kick

tried to recommend - but it's past 24 hours. This issue definitely needs more attention. It is appalling that our veterans are not getting what they need.