A Salute to Vietnam Veterans

Rusty was a Marine in Vietnam. I worked for his brother while I was in the Air Force. He was born and raised in Texas but decided to live in an area where there were less people. He was a strong man that never would ask for help, but you could tell there was something not quite right about his demeanor. He was a good man but grumpy most of the time. He never had children and had been married several times. He owned his own business so he could stay away from people and crowds. No one fully understood him except his brother, Sammy. Sammy was also a Vietnam veteran, Sammy’s job was an aircraft mechanic at Ton Son Nhut Air Base Vietnam, and was occasionally sent out to the jungle to retrieve parts and remains from downed aircraft. There were times Sammy had to remove pilots he knew while being shot at. The Viet Cong were known to sit on downed aircraft or bodies of Americans because they knew we would return for their brothers.  

Rusty’s job was to re-supply troops on the front line and forward operating units. These missions were usually done in a convoy, but that didn't make it any easier. These convoys were under consistent fire from the Vietcong day in and day out as they drove back and forth from their supply missions. It was a stressful job, during one of these missions Rusty was the lead truck. While Rusty was the lead truck on a mission a woman stepped out into the road and tried to get Rusty to stop. His orders were to stop for no one. Rusty had to run over that woman standing in the road. What people struggle to understand, often there would be a sniper ready to shoot the driver and take the supplies. When Rusty returned to the United States, like most Vietnam veterans, he was not met with open arms.

Many Vietnam veterans struggle with the way they were treated when they returned home. I know when I returned from Desert Storm the Vietnam veterans made sure we were treated well upon our homecoming. There are still Vietnam veterans today that struggle with the way they were treated by society when they returned, and how the new veterans are being treated by society. I had one Vietnam veteran make the statement that “when we returned home we were spit on and threatened, now all of today's veterans are considered a hero and treated with respect”. I have talked to several people, both civilian and veterans, who feel today's veterans are treated well out of guilt for the way Vietnam veterans were treated when they came home. Many older veterans feel they have been overlooked. The reality is they have. It pains me to see Vietnam veterans struggle because they can't get the medical care, benefits, pay, and college that the newer generation veterans are receiving because of the work put in by the Vietnam era veterans.

The question is how does society help the Vietnam veterans get what they have earned. Vietnam veterans have been used to establish the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I have heard that some Vietnam veterans have not been diagnosis for PTSD because it did not exist when they completed their service. The Veterans Administration (VA) will be struggling for a very long time dealing with our Vietnam veterans as they get older. As the Vietnam veterans get older some of the hidden issues they've buried for 40+ years are going to surface. The VA has been, and still is ill-prepared for the number of combat veterans in the United States. It is possible that it will be years before the VA can catch up to the need, if ever. Many of these brave men and women have not received the benefits they deserve from the VA; the question is, who will help them if the VA is not able to?

There are places in the civilian sector where veterans can go for help. It is my suggestion that veterans who are struggling get the help, not give up and contact their local Veterans Service Organization to get the help they have earned. If it wasn't for veterans the United States might not have the rights and freedoms we so cherish in our country. To all veterans I would like to say, thank you. To the Vietnam veterans I would like to say that I respect you more than you can ever know. You have earned that respect and always will have my respect because of the way you carried yourself after the way you were treated upon your return. You are my brothers and sisters. Rusty and Sammy are both gone now, but they are a big reason I have chosen to do what I am doing, trying to help veterans and their families get the respect and benefits they deserve and have earned. 

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro. 

Brown Water Veterans Can Get Benefits

I was contacted by a Vietnam Navy veteran and encouraged me to write about brown water veterans and the Veterans Administration (VA). Brown water veterans are Vietnam War veterans that served on vessels and never officially set foot on Vietnamese soil. They served on ships that operated on the coast or inland deltas of Vietnam. To most of society brown water veterans service in Vietnam is a no brainer and deserve their benefits. It took until 1991 for congress to passed a law requiring the VA to cover all illnesses directly related to Agent orange exposure in Vietnam, this included brown water veterans. This allowed brown water veterans to finally file for compensation for disabilities connected to Agent Orange.

In 2002 the George W. Bush administration changed the rules for military veterans concerning Agent Orange and their brown water service. It required veterans who filed for Agent Orange compensation to meet the “boots on the ground” rule established by the administration and passed by congress. With the change in the rule a veteran had to step foot in Vietnam in order to meet the Agent Orange requirement. This was problematic for some veterans because the never “officially” set foot on Vietnamese soil. Because of this ruling the George W. Bush administration stripped Navy personnel who had been receiving compensation unless they could prove they met the boots on the ground requirement.

In August 2006 The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims decided the Veterans Affairs requirement for “boots on the ground” as the definition of “service in the Republic of Vietnam” is unreasonable, and does not align with Congress's intent. This meant that any “brown water veteran” who served in Vietnam may be eligible for benefits. Many brown water veterans have given up on applying for benefits. Its time they rethink their strategies and reapply if they are eligible.  

There are ways to prove you served in a brown water area. One of those is the deck logs of the vessels you served on. Once Senator Akaka from Hawaii found out about the brown water veteran’s situation and summoned his staff to investigate the denial of their claims. Senator Akaka’s staff’s research found from 150 to 170 Navy vessels that were presumed to be exposed to Agent Orange because they operated off the coast or in Vietnamese waters. This list was sent to the veteran’s affairs office for review. Senator Akaka’s staff also found many cases in which the VA regional offices did not request the deck logs from the National Archives of those filing an Agent Orange claim. These deck logs would have produced the needed information to accept the claim of these veterans.

Senator Akaka who was serving as the chairman of the Senate Affairs Committee asked the VA to take another look at the Navy Veterans claims who served in Vietnams rivers, inland waterways, or docked in Vietnam. According to the information Senator Akaka’s staff found these veterans should be presumed to have Agent Orange exposure entitling them to compensation if they met the medical criteria set by the VA.  The US Navy confirmed Navy veterans who submitted deck logs with their claims should see faster results. With proof of service in Vietnam’s inland waters or time on shore, “the only issue is, ‘What disability do you have?’ and ‘What’s the current level of (that) disability?”

With the VA backlog it will speed up the process if the veterans advocate or the veteran themselves comb the deck logs of the ships to find the needed information. The easiest way to support your Agent Orange claim is to show you were on a ship that meets the criteria. It is crucial that there is proof in your VA Claims File (C-File) that you were on that vessel during the time in question. Make sure you get a copy of your C-File for your records (the VA has been known to lose paperwork in their bureaucracy). If your ship is not on the DOD list, you can request the deck logs of your ship from the Naval or National Archives. These logs should be able to confirm the dates and times of the missions of that ship. From those deck logs brown water veterans should be able to find information that will validate your claim.     

Some veterans feel it is not worth the time to dig through the paperwork needed to support their claim. My question is, can you use an extra $133.00 at 10% disability up to $3000.00 at 100% disability per month. One major reason for you to research your own deck log information is according to my sources, the personnel at the claims department have little or no medical experience and don’t spend the time needed to help you with your claim. They are just overwhelmed.   

If the military caused your disability you have earned the right to receive disability compensation. Brown water veterans have been left out of the Agent Orange conversation for years. It took a US Army veteran congressman to work toward getting Naval brown water veterans Agent Orange compensation approved. If you are a veteran and having medical issues centered around Agent Orange I challenge you to file a claim for what your government did to you without your knowledge.

The Following is a list of medical issues caused by Agent Orange exposure 

AL Amyloidosis

Chronic B-cell Leukemias

Chloracne (or similar acneform disease)

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

Hodgkin's Disease

Ischemic Heart Disease
Multiple Myeloma

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Parkinson's Disease

Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

Prostate Cancer

Respiratory Cancers (includes lung cancer)

Soft Tissue Sarcomas

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

The Trauma of Following Orders

A colleague and I were discussing one of his veteran clients.  My colleague is a Vietnam Era veteran and I am a Desert Storm veteran and we often consult with each other about our cases. His client William, is a Vietnam Veteran in failing health. I had met William through another veterans program and referred him to my colleague because I felt he would be a better fit. Due to his failing health William is starting to look back at his life and psychologically preparing for his passing. Like many Vietnam veterans William is struggling with what he had to do in Vietnam to survive. The Vietnam battlefield used civilians, women and children to carry out some of their attacks. As a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine you had no idea who your enemy was. All you could do is make instant life or death decisions, follow orders, and hope you are doing the right thing.  

When William’s unit entered a village in Vietnam, they were ordered to destroy the village and kill or capture anyone who was there, including women and children. Military intelligence had informed his commanding officer (CO) that the village was a haven for Viet-Cong and needed to be destroyed. Williams platoon completed their mission and proceeded to kill those who refused to surrender, and burned the village to the ground. What was ordered and accepted by his superior’s is something William would live with the rest of his life. Since the age of 19 he has spent most of his life self-medicating with drugs and alcohol trying to forget the action he had to take in that village. He wonders how he could go to heaven after killing so many people.

William is suffering from what is called moral injury. Moral injury is a relatively new term, but its pain is as old as war. It is a negative self-judgment based on having transgressed core moral beliefs, values or on feeling they possess. The term is described as “the psychological burden of killing and the betrayal of leaders”. Moral Injury appears to be a slow burn that takes time to sink in. The victim of moral injury needs to accept moral reasoning, evaluate behavior, experience empathy, and create a coherent memory narrative. Many times, soldiers are placed in no win situations by their leadership and told they must betray there since of “what’s right”. These actions cause confusion concerning one’s morality because they knew it was wrong, but were told by your superiors its ok. For some it takes minutes, for others it takes years to feel the sadness or sorrow of not following your moral beliefs. Veterans try to suppress their moral injury and some succeed through the use of drugs and alcohol. Others work hard to support their families and place their moral injury on the back burner, they are doing what is moral, providing for their family and working.  

A common theme is veterans feel nothing can prepare you for what war is really like. To some when they return home it feels like they have lost their soul. It is tough when society states, thou shall not kill, and military states thou better kill, be killed, or suffer the shame of not trying. Many have endured the moral pain of driving past wounded women and children and not stopping for help because of orders, having to shoot civilians because you don’t know who your enemies are, killing families because of one enemy sympathizer, or killing someone over anger because they killed or shot your comrade. There appears to be no end, the symptoms include shame, survivor guilt, depression, despair, addiction, distrust, anger, a need to make amends and the loss of a desire to live. In war military members have to follow orders without question, and at times those orders shake our moral beliefs.

Moral injury is not something that can be cured by medication. The restructuring of their moral identify and meaning is the key. Seeking help from clinicians and chaplains is the first step. What it takes is the support of a caring non-judgmental community who can find a way for veterans to forgive themselves. Our communities need to understand the war doesn’t end when our troops return home, it is just the beginning of their battles. Some Vietnam veterans are still dealing with this issue 40 plus years later. We now have a new generation of troops who will be facing the same issues. In the future moral injury is going to explain why some veterans suffer. Some feel moral injury is one of the primary factors in military suicide rates. The key is for friends and families to be on the lookout and get them the help they deserve. There is hope, the VA is funding a 4 year study on moral injury in Marines and there are numerous counseling options for veterans and their families.  

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

It’s Time for an Emotional Reset for Vietnam Veterans

While in the store yesterday wearing my Veteran’s hat I was approached by a gentleman and told “thanks for your service and fighting for our freedoms”. It’s always great to hear from those that thank me and it happens quite frequently. What happened about five minutes later caught me off guard. A gentleman named Larry walked up and said, I saw the guy thank you, man have times changed. Larry was right, times have changed. Larry went in the Army in 1974 and retired after 22 years. He had seen the ups and downs of the military. He told me stories about his time in and how they were treated when he first went in the military, it was not good. He did not serve in Vietnam but served with many who did and like me was upset by the way they were treated when they returned home.

The Vietnam veterans were spit on, called baby killers, murders, rapist, and other things that can’t be published upon their returned home. Larry had never seen Vietnam but was treated the same because he wore the uniform. The Vietnam era veterans have been treated with little respect over the years. It feels to me that times have changed and a thank you is long overdue.

The Vietnam Veterans are a great bunch of people who continue to be treated questionably by the system.  Most of the Vietnam veterans have spent their lives working and providing for their families with little or no fanfare. Some delved into their work to mask their problems and emotions. Others fought the system working with organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Legion, and American Veterans (AMVETS) and other veteran organizations. Vietnam veterans are at or getting to retirement age, as they retire they are starting to struggle. From what I have seen as they retire they have more time to look back and question what they had to do during war. It appears that Vietnam veterans are finally finding it acceptable to get mental health help and are seeking that help. It also appears they are coming out of the woodwork to get help because the post 9-11 veterans have made it ok for them to seek mental health treatment.

Vietnam Veterans are a major part of why today’s veterans are treated with respect like they are. After Desert Storm Vietnam veterans are the ones who made sure we were welcomed home. One Vietnam veteran told me when I returned from Desert Storm “there was no way you were going to be treated like us”. We were not going to let it happen! They are the ones that go to the airports and welcome home todays soldiers returning from deployment. They are the reason there is a diagnosis for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and made sure Gulf war syndrome was recognized by the Veterans Administration (VA) after they spent over 20 years fighting over Agent Orange. They are responsible for many of veteran’s benefits today. The Vietnam veterans fought for the recent veterans and the future of all veterans, as recent veterans it is our time to take care of and support them.

My challenge to all veterans is to purchase a veterans hat or shirt and wear it with pride so people can let you know that they appreciate your service to our country. You have earned it! All of those who took the oath are veterans and deserve the accolades, so this Veterans Day wear your veteran items with pride, and continue to wear it, you have earned the thank you. From a Desert Storm veteran to all veterans, thank you for your service. I challenge everyone to take time to thank those who have worn the uniform and fought for your freedoms when you see them.  It is time for an emotional reset for our Vietnam veterans. Show them times have changed and they are appreciated.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Today’s Veterans Owe Allot to our Predecessors

Kevin walked up to me one day and started talking about his time during the Vietnam War. As he continued to talk his demeanor changed when he started discussing his health and the Veterans Administration (VA).  He had been drafted into the military and started having problems as he got older. Like many Vietnam veterans he suffers from diabetes, a presumptive illness for Vietnam Veterans caused by Agent Orange. A presumptive disease is where the VA assumes there are certain diseases that can be directly related to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and Chemical weapons, oil smoke, and vaccines in Gulf War veterans.  He believes his exposure to Agent Orange is the cause of his diabetes, but after numerous attempts the VA has failed to give him his benefits. According to the VA, veterans who develop type 2 diabetes mellitus and were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service do not have to prove a connection between their diabetes and military service to be eligible to receive disability compensation. You would think Kevin would qualify for this disability according to the VA’s own words. The only problem is Kevin was never sent to Vietnam. He was in the Air Force stationed at one of the six air bases in Thailand where he handled Agent Orange while loading it onto aircraft to be dispersed, but the VA denies his claims. According to the VA those that served in Thailand on or near the perimeters of military bases between 2/28/61 to 5/7/75 may qualify for VA benefits, may being the key word. Kevin falls into the category, but the VA is attributing his diabetes to age, not the presumptive of Agent Orange exposure.

This is not the first I have heard of this type of situation. It seems to be the person with the best advocate, not the claim that helps get benefits. Multiple veteran groups like the American Legion, VFW, and the DAV have advocates on staff.  It appears to be the luck of the draw if you go it alone. As I was researching this situation I read a story about two Navy buddies that were on the same ship at the same time off the coast of Vietnam. Both filed a claim for diabetes, one received the benefits and one was denied. The problem seems to not be with the people of the VA but the inconsistency of the VA system and training. As long as humans are handling these claims, there will be inconsistency.

Another case that seems to not make since is the VA is not accepting some claims from Vietnam veterans with PTSD because it did not exist. According to some in the VA it is not possible for a Vietnam veteran to have PTSD because it was not in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) at the time. Instead of PTSD they used either combat neurosis or Post-Vietnam Syndrome which was not compensable. What is disturbing is Vietnam veterans were used to provide information for the establishment of the PTSD criteria in the DSM. If not for the Vietnam veterans it is possible the advancements we have today on PTSD would not exist. Even though the VA used them to establish PTSD guidelines some claims are still being denied because the diagnosis was not established until 1980.

This era of veterans owe allot to our predecessors. As a Desert Storm veteran I am well aware of who made sure we were treated with respect when we returned home. They are the main force behind the respect veteran’s receive today. They have laid the groundwork for us to follow and the ones used to prove PTSD existed.  They continue to fight for veteran’s rights every day. They made sure there are presumptive diseases with the VA. Our era of veterans has presumptive diseases because the Vietnam era veterans fought and continue to fight for our rights.

We must remember the Korean War veterans were generally ignored, and the Vietnam veterans were treated poorly and are still fighting for what is right. Peacetime veterans are totally overlooked by the VA and many in the community. Most did not get free school, some are getting denied for Agent Orange and PTSD claims. It is because of their fights and sacrifices that veterans have what we have today. As a recent veteran I remind myself every day of what our veterans have had to endure for us to have what we have. When you see a WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Peace time, or Granada veteran be sure and thank them for the benefits you have, and will continue to have. They are still fighting for veteran’s rights! It’s our turn to pick up the flag and move forward!  

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.