Veterans Need to Look Out For Each Other

I never really knew that there was ever a rift between World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Veterans, but it appears there was. I am unsure if it still exists, I just know the harm it did to some Vietnam veterans who tried to get help once they returned home. I recently found out how bad it has been for some Vietnam era veterans, especially the treatment by other veterans in some cases. After meeting a couple of Vietnam veterans, they disclosed the way they were treated at group therapy sessions by WWII and Korean war Veterans years ago. The WWII & Korean war veterans felt the Vietnam War was not a war and did not accept the Vietnam veterans into their groups.

These WWII & Korean war veterans told Jimmy, a Vietnam veteran with a purple heart, that he did not earn the right to be in their group sessions because he was not in a war. Jimmy left the group therapy session and never set foot in another VA for some 40 years. I could not believe what I was hearing, the gist of the story was verified by another Vietnam veteran. What I find troublesome was some of these same Vietnam veterans who were treated badly by the WWII & Korean war veterans did the same thing to female combat veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. They said women did not belong in their combat group because women were not in combat, maybe not in their day, but they are now. Why are we doing that to each other, we need to band together? There are differences in generations of veterans with different rules and guidelines, but we all had the same goal, protect our country and defend the Constitution of the United States.

I understand there were differences in the service time between WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, their might be some animosity because of the way the military changed the deployment rules. In any case these actions were the decision of someone else, not the veteran. In WWII the soldiers were deployed for years in some cases, where in Vietnam they were in theatre for a year unless they volunteered for another tour, Vietnam veterans had a return date. Jimmy thought he would get respect from other veterans and not be treated with contempt like the civilian population had done, but he didn’t, Jimmy was treated disrespectfully by people he thought would understand. Because of the way Jimmy was treated he did not deal with the VA for over 40 years. He has no disability for his PTSD or Agent Orange issues because of his treatment. Until recently Jimmy never filed a claim and did not talk of the incident. He did not join any Veteran Service Organizations (VSO’s) like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Veterans (AMVETS) because of the way other veterans treated him as a young man returning from war, he does not trust veterans. The way this happened can’t happen in the future for the sake of all veterans, all veterans deserve to be treated better.

The newer veterans need to step up and start doing their part for the future of our veteran population. With the least amount of congressional representation in our nation’s history veterans need to support those who lobby for veteran’s benefits. Veterans need to be involved in veteran’s service organizations like the VFW, American Legion, DAV, AMVETS, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). These groups fight for the rights of veterans. Younger veterans need to step up and help secure the future of veteran’s issues and the VA. Getting involved with a veteran’s service organization is a way to give back to the veteran community.

I am hoping to help Jimmy look at things differently. Veterans need to stop comparing their wars to others, comparing decreases the value of people and only serves to inflate the ego of the one who is doing the comparing. Veterans need to support and become a part of their VSO’s to make a difference. And if you have tough skin, run for congress. Either way look out for our fellow veterans by using your talents to make veterans issues a priority.

For questions or comments, you can contact me at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit my website at www.afterdutyvets.com, and subscribe to my YouTube channel After Duty Vets or like us on Facebook at After Duty Vets.