“…to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan…”
- Abraham Lincoln –
On March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln, then President of the United States, made a pledge during his second inaugural speech, wherein he pledged to care for those who served our nation in uniform. The imfamous words “...to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan” gave birth to what is now known as the Veterans Affairs Department of our government. With these simple words, he pledged the United States of America and its government’s obligation to care for those who served, were injured during a time of war, and to provide for the families of those who perished on the battlefield. What happened to that pledge?
In typical Washington, DC fashion, it would take sixty-five years before Congress would become organized and present President Hoover with a program outlining and establishing the Veterans Administration. When President Hoover signed the executive order, mandating the governments’ responsibility to provide these necessary medical services for our veterans, he should have left instructions to never abandon its original intent and obligation.
As with many programs established by our government, the original intent of this program has been lost. Over the years, the VA has gone through many changes, growing pains, the majority of them related to a change of administrations. As I look at the system today, I can clearly see how President Lincoln’s pledge has been lost between the cracks of political mismanagement.
Veterans who have served since the establishment of this program have encountered blatant disrespect by those who work within the hollow walls of this agency. Feeling as though they have been reduced to beggar status, many shy away from obtaining these benefits due them for their service. Therefore, it is exhausting when trying to obtain these benefits. Benefits that were considered a special thank you, to those who put on the uniform in the defense of a grateful nation. Where is this grateful nation?
These are the same men and women, who served with honor and dignity, who now need to be defended and taken care of as promised. In today’s world, the constant battle for these veterans has become a sea of political red tape. They have been subjected to undue stress during the remaining days of their life; never being able to live out those days with dignity and peace with family and loved ones.
Far too many cases have been embroiled in battle over proof of service, or establishing presumptive service connection to a medical injury or illness. Yet, their condition is obviously related as is evidenced by previous cases that have been proven combat or military related illnesses. The question remains why they are continuing to use the case-by-case scenario when they know these issues are related to military service. Does the Veterans Affairs want these members to die before ever receiving benefits? Is it because the funds once earmarked for them, could be allocated to newer programs to help make the VA look good – educational programs, public service announcements, kinder more softer type of programs that are all about improving the image of the VA and not helping the veteran.
Case in Point for my argument: In 2006, I was brought into a fight and educated regarding an issue currently before Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the United States Navy; known as Blue Water.
The Blue Water Navy are those individuals who served off-shore during the Vietnam War, providing gunfire support, search and rescue, supply delivery, aircraft carrier-based jets, and numerous other direct combat support activities in support of land based troops. Even though their vessels were often only 50 or 100 feet from the shore line, and traveled miles up some of the larger rivers, these sailors are being denied medical care and compensations for disabilities caused by dioxin, the carcinogenic component of Agent Orange. This denial is despite the fact that all medical studies have shown Blue Water Navy personnel have a higher incidence of cancers and other illnesses than the land-based soldiers, who do receive VA health care and disability compensation because they had boots on the ground. {The Blue Water Navy includes Coast Guard and Marine personnel stationed offshore Vietnam during the period of the Vietnam War.}
My argument is this: no matter what, these service members served during a time of war in the uniform of the United States military. Agent Orange fumes were in the same air they breathed as well as those on the ground. Many have endured life long damage from breathing in fumes, or drank tainted water; poisoned by the toxins from dioxins [Agents Orange, Blue, or White]. There are cases of sailors receiving wounds while on deck, others with ailments associated with asbestos and the list goes on. For many of these veterans, the benefits will never be paid according to the VA; they were not considered “Combat Related.” They never had “boots on the ground” in Vietnam. As stated before, Blue Water Navy vessels were close enough to shore, to see and hear the explosions of bombs being dropped from planes, see the glow of tracer fire and hear the cries of their fellow Americans, or the enemy, as the wounds of war took hold of them. If not considered combat veterans, then what should they be considered - active bystanders?
One would say these Sailors were fortunate to have never stepped foot on the ground of a country in the midst of war. Those in charge of disbursing these benefits promised have penalized them for never having that opportunity. The authorities do not consider them as “Combat Veterans,” just a veteran of Vietnam. This to me is an injustice and play on words. This use on words is their escape hatch so they do not have to pay out benefits for serving their country honorably. They have been abandoned by their own country. This is not only a travesty but also a disgrace.
If we were to compare who gets more respect in this country – those who serve with honor and dignity in uniform, or those within the entertainment industry and criminal world who earn tens of thousands of dollars – society will choose the later. Society has chosen the entertainer because they live in a fantasy world where the hero makes millions of dollars and has lost their values, dignity, and understanding of what it is to be an American.
Many of our current soldiers are feeling the same pain their predecessors are feeling. In today’s environment, they are being subjected to the same case-by-case scenario when they request treatment, services, and benefits promised to them upon entering the military. Like their fathers before them, they feel abandoned for answering the call “Serve your Country.”
Therefore, the main questions posed by this writer are this: Why does the U.S. Government not fulfill their obligation to those who have served? Is it right that this government neglect the wishes of a previous President and defy his own pledge? On the other hand, is it simply poor fiscal planning responsibility, or was it they never intended to fulfill their end of this once honorable pledge in the first place?
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