Letters

Reading the recollections of Hector Ramos in your last issue reminded me vividly of my memories of that amazing date. I was a British nurse working at the Minh Quy hospital in Kontum. Dr. Patricia Smith had ministered to the local Montagnard and Vietnamese population for some eighteen years.

Cut off from daily news, we relied on the GIs in the area to keep us in the loop of what was going on in The World—though news was late reaching us. One day some aviators from the 57th Assault Helicopter base nearby brought us a copy of Life magazine to show us the now-iconic pictures of Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moon, then Buzz Aldrin, plus the photograph of Earth from space.

As we marveled at the clarity of those pictures, our Montagnard staff asked us what we were looking at. We explained that these were astronauts stepping on the moon for the first time. As I listened, I could barely believe it myself. Next day no one came to work.

This only happened if the area was on red alert. No one had informed us, which would have been normal procedure. That evening two tribal elders came to the hospital and told Dr. Pat that if she and her foreign nurses continued to fill their young men’s heads with wild stories of men stepping on the moon, then we would not be welcome any more.

Nothing like a reality check. Much as we would like this to be one world, we are a long way from being that.

Anne Watts
Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

The May/June Government Affairs column was a somewhat informational piece about outside influences being imposed on VA health care. The problem was it was too little too late in this veteran’s opinion. The influence of the Mar-a-Lago crowd was first brought to light in an investigative report in ProPublica by Isaac Arnsdorf in August 2018. I read it and was very concerned.

At that time, I contacted all my congressional representatives, as well as all four of the veterans organizations that I belong to by phone and email about my concerns and to notify them of this in case they had not heard about it. I even contacted the author of the article, thanked him for his investigation, and asked him to keep me informed of additional reports he might publish. He wrote several articles following this initial report.

The Mar-a-Lago crowd are Ike Perlmutter, CEO of Marvel Entertainment; Bruce Moscowitz, a West Palm Beach physician; and Marc Sherman, a West Palm Beach attorney. As the VVA article noted, these individuals are not veterans, nor are they government employees—just friends of Trump. Very few top VA officials knew that they met several times at the Florida resort. This group influenced policy that resulted in VA making a contract for VA medical software; they had an influence in the VA MISSION Act of 2018, and who knows what else.

Former VA Secretary Shulkin was opposed to this outside group, did not want VA privatized, and wanted further study on the implementation of the software contract. That is why I believe he was replaced. My question had always been: What are private citizens and non-veterans doing influencing and proposing VA policy?

My point and concern is this: Why was this not reported in all the veterans magazines back in late 2018? This would have allowed veterans to be informed of this intrusion, and allowed them to do further research and form their own opinions. Instead, they were left in the dark. Many friends—veterans I know through the VA and those to whom I spoke at VA clinics—had no idea of this happening.

As stated in the first two paragraphs of your article, the various veterans organizations represent the voices of millions of veterans who could have made their voices heard had they only been presented with the information. Then perhaps our voices would not have been drowned out by the trio.

Bob Fitzthum
By Email

Claudia Gary’s article, “Navigating the VA Widow’s Benefits Maze,” in the last issue was great. Bill Bradley, associated with North Adams, Mass., Chapter 54, and Becky Litchfield for many years have done a great job aiding widows and survivors in filing for these benefits. Everything in this article is so true about the maze that survivors have to go through to get their benefits.

Chapter 54, the Massachusetts State Council, and Vietnam Veterans of Massachusetts, Inc., have provided Bill Bradley with funding to upgrade his computer and purchase the supplies he needs to continue his work.

A big thank-you for the hard work, Bill Bradley and Becky Litchfield.

Edward Denault
President, Chapter 54
North Adams, Massachusetts

What an eye opening, but not surprising, letter reported by Paul Rogers in “Psychiatric Breakdown at West LA VA” on the disruption in crucial and critical care for West LA VA veterans. What’s even more astonishing is the letter was written by former caregivers at the West LA VA who “had a lot of allegiance and found it a deep honor to be allowed to serve our nation’s veterans.”

It seems this group of professionals apparently wanted to truly help veterans and refused to be intimidated by the negative leadership at the West LA VA and in the Veterans Benefits Administration. This disruption is no surprise to most veterans as we’ve been dealing with the delay, deny, hope-we-die attitude of the VA for decades. And as powerful and informing as this letter is, no change will probably take place. Instead this will be yet another communication dismissed by the VA as written by disgruntled employees.

However, this is also an opportunity for VVA chairs Frank Barry, Sandy Miller, Gumersindo Gomez, Thomas C. Hall, and Dennis Howland to gain an audience with VA Secretary Robert Wilke, U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Mark Takano and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Johnny Isakson to address VA’s apparent inability to provide appropriate and honest care for our veterans on an ongoing basis.

Jeff Smith
Acworth, Georgia

In Skip Nelson’s “B-52 Project Welcome Home Dedication in Seattle,” he states, “These huge eight-engine bombers… dropped indiscriminate and uncontrolled death and destruction on both military targets and civilian neighborhoods.”

That sentence suggests that civilian targets were selected as targets or, at least, their location in the vicinity of industrial targets was not seriously considered in determining targets. That would contradict what I saw in the rules of engagement on F-4 missions.

The B-52 crews had very tough missions, made more hazardous by the need to fly common target routes to be successful in target destruction, making the B-52s more susceptible to surface-to-air missiles, and bringing the need for Wild Weasel anti-missile support. It is fitting that the ceremony at Seattle focused to a great degree on appreciation for B-52 aircrew and all servicemembers who served in the Vietnam Conflict.

Roger A Knopf
Norton Shores, Michigan

Skip Nelson did an excellent job photographing and reporting the dedication ceremony and the honor it bestowed on B-52 crews and American servicemembers who served during the Vietnam War. There may be hyperbole in the sentence cited. It was not the article’s intent to claim that Vietnamese civilian communities were intentionally targeted. At the same time, it is difficult to underestimate the destruction wrought by B-52s “from nearly invisible heights of 40,000 feet.” —Editor

Thank you for “The Smithsonian’s Big Vietnam War Art Exhibit.” First, I congratulate Marc Leepson for having the courage to deal with the underlying reality of Vietnam War art and, second, for being able to keep a sense of perspective about such art and the possible driving forces behind the artists’ work.

Most of the art on exhibit speaks to me only as poster drawings, designed as propaganda. It’s neither inspiring nor empathetic. I spent thirteen months in country (1966-67, with the 1st Cav), and I can fully understand the feelings of those artists who served in country and needed to exorcise the demons in their lives.

But one gets the impression from this exhibit that there was no moral undertone to our participation in the war, that our mission there was to kill as many Vietnamese as possible, and somehow we are all war criminals for being there. This impression is made all the stronger by the fact there is little to no art showing the savagery of the VC and some units of the NVA. While this type of exhibit may be billed as “healing,” the underlying message is that in-country soldiers were terrible savages.

Thank you for bringing a different perspective to Vietnam War art and helping validate my feelings.

George Knoll
By Email

The number one responsibility of VVA should be to put all of our political clout into a single goal. That goal is to get the President of the United States to ensure that all in-country vets are prioritized for Agent Orange health issues. We average 73 years of age and it’s shameful we are being denied. It’s the same kind of treatment the U.S. gave to American Indians.

A committee has investigated presumptive conditions, reached a conclusion, made a recommendation, and has been ignored for several years. I expect VVA to rise up and roar!

The 2020 presidential election gives us an opportunity that may never come again. If we can just come together as a group and communicate to President Trump that he will not have our votes unless he gets this mess straightened out and shows that he cares for us, we might get movement on these issues.

Where is our leadership?  Why isn’t this the primary goal of VVA? I have no interest in being a member of a generic veterans group, and I am sick and tired of the continued disrespect shown to us.

Mike Barber
By Email

As a Vietnam veteran and bladder cancer survivor, I am deeply disappointed with the VA and VVA with the continual wait for a decision on the March 2016 report from the HMD/Institute of Health by the Secretary. Correct me if I’m wrong: The Secretary is to make a decision within six months of the release. The law requires this; if not, the spirit of the law requires it.

Since the law’s enactment, has there ever been a delay this long? A change of secretaries is a lame excuse. This is a sure example of a dual set of laws. In 1969 when my draft number came up, I stepped forward, obeyed the law, and served. What would have happened had I told my Draft Board I needed two to three years to make my decision?

VVA has handled this travesty with kid gloves too long, not wanting to tarnish your relations with your contacts within the VA; and not caring for us whom you serve. It’s time to force the issue. Gather as many elected officials as you can and veterans service organizations such as the VFW, Legion, and DAV, then call a joint news conference. Give the Secretary a short finite time to act or go to court. Make him decide.

We all suspect it’s about the money. Make them tell us that. It is time for a full court press. Let’s get it over with, one way or another.

Dave Pasco
By Email

I am a Desert Shield/Desert Storm veteran, honorably discharged in 1993. I am writing this letter to ask my fellow veterans to consider an idea that I strongly feel will benefit every member of our military and their families.

This idea that I have is called the Veteran Earned Income Tax Credit. The VETC will have numerous great purposes. It will help improve the U.S. economy by putting more money into the hands of veterans and their families; it will provide an incentive for those in the military to re-enlist; and it will also provide an incentive for those men and women who are eligible to enlist.

The VETC will act like the Child Earned Income Tax Credit, as it will be based on the veterans’ yearly income. The men and women who are, or have, served our country deserve to be rewarded for their dedicated service.

This is just in the idea stage, but if it were acted upon aggressively it could become a reality and a great thing for those serving and those who have served in the military.

Frank J. Ford
Matteson, Illinois

It has been fifty years and we are still fighting that war. Our numbers grow fewer every day. Many still die due to that damn war. We are dying from the effects of Agent Orange and PTSD. Agent Orange causes cancers, heart disease, diabetes, skin diseases, and the list goes on. One only knows how many lives have been lost from the effects of PTSD, many by suicide, homelessness, and exposure. God only knows what effects these diseases had on marriages and the illnesses of our children and grandchildren.

Just like the war, these problems are hush-hush and swept under the rug. Not many of our citizens are aware of these issues. Even if they knew, they wouldn’t understand, because many were too young to remember the war and they don’t give a damn.

I know they erected a plaque at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated to those who have died from the effects of the war. That was a great gesture. But wouldn’t it be nice if those of us who are affected by these war-related diseases received some sort of personal recognition—perhaps a medal or even a certificate of recognition that we are not forgotten?

Many of us are casualties of that war, just as our brothers who never came home were. It just took us fifty years longer.

J.J. Zielinski
Livonia, Michigan

I cannot understand why VVA must either change names or fade away. My brothers and sisters have experienced more than enough fading away in the public eye. The prime example has been and always will be our wonderful welcome home from the citizens of this country.

If a name change must be the only way to proceed in order to keep our name in front of this country, then so be it. But the name change must reflect our original precept. Any name change must retain “Vietnam Veterans.” We can then continue to protect our values and our brothers and sisters.

I proudly have a VVA license plate on my vehicle. I recently became a life member and do not wish to be ignored as VVA. We must fight to ensure that, “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.” Whatever it takes, let’s make it happen.

Dale R. Haule
Greer, South Carolina

It is time to claim a new name: Veterans of War. We have stood the test of time, and we have been faithful to our VOW that “Never Again Will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another.”

Michael Ewing
Waco, Texas

I am a Vietnam veteran, 1968-69. l have lived with ischemic heart disease since 1983 when I had my first heart attack. I was thirty-five years old, fourteen years removed from Vietnam. Agent Orange, I thought, was a distant memory. In 1983 I did not know the consequences of that orange band for those who served. Today, as an old warrior, patriot, and veteran, I tell myself that knowing the consequences of Agent Orange would not have changed my commitment. As there is no cure for IHD, it is a battle I cannot win. Agent Orange will eventually destroy my life. At some point it will succeed, but not yet, not now. Recently, to sustain my life I had AICD implant surgery.

Two days later I questioned, “Will it start?”

When you turn the key in a car’s ignition, it throws a hot spark through wires that wind and weave in the dark. The hot spark jolts the motor to make it turn over. You ask: Will it start?

On Friday, a small flat box was inserted in my chest near my heart. Today, Sunday, the box is heavy, like a rock. I have a rock in my chest near my heart. A flat rock with three wires attached. Surely, it must be a mystical rock, magical, mechanical. Inside a cusp of skin near my heart, the rock bobs and sways in the dark. The rock in that cusp of skin near my heart holds a spark. The rock throws its hot spark through the three wires that wind and weave in the dark. With fearless determination the hot spark jolts my heart. The spark wants my heart to turn over.

I ask: Will it start?

Gary Pizzuto
By Email