By Cheryl Strong United States Navy Colorado City, Colo.
I wish to respond to Stewart Resmer’s characterization that a local homeless and “bewildered” veteran is somehow disingenuous about his motive to resist a service center on the West LA VA campus for non-vets. (SMDP, June 16 page 4).
Resmer exhibited a classic example of sophistry and use of text out of proper context — which is always error. I’ve known the “bewildered vet” — Jimbo, as I like to call him — for almost 10 years and he is one of my closest pals. I met him back in ‘96 at the VA while he was a volunteer there, and I can tell you that notwithstanding his self-deprecation for labeling himself a “stinkin’ good for nothin’ bum,” when it comes to his motives concerning God, country, and veteran affairs he’s as pure-of-heart as a sweet sleeping baby Jesus in a feathery soft Christmas scene manger.
Resmer allows that my friend isn’t “bewildered” because his thoughts, as Resmer states, “were well researched outlined, and reported.” What — because Jimbo has a faculty for articulation and syntax he can’t have bewilderment? The context of his being “bewildered” was simply as to why some of your city officials voiced an idea for a homeless vet service center on the VA campus in such a way that made it seem no such services existed. Resmer could have understood that had he spent more time reading Jimbo’s paragraphs instead of counting them — which, by the way, totaled 18 and not 16 as Mr. Resmer said in his seven paragraph critique — but I digress. During the past 10 years or so, when not out-flanked by his archenemy, Jimbo has continued to be of service behind the scenes, which is why it’s contemptible for Resmer to insinuate my friend is out to fool or somehow deny benefits to vets and our current returning warriors and their dependents. I remember when he used to come to my home when I lived in the Los Angeles area to borrow my typewriter. He would sit for hours transcribing traumatic combat events experienced by Vietnam vets who had trouble with their PTSD claims. I would watch him listen to tape recordings the men made for him, and though I never found out what was said on those tapes, Jimbo didn’t want me to hear or read of the horrors — his ashen face, quiet tears and deep-breathed pauses spoke volumes. His work enabled vets to receive compensation that totaled into six figures — my friend refused every penny offered him by these men. Every damn penny. Jimbo doesn’t like to openly discuss his efforts in trying to help vets, but I would be remiss to not mention at least that one.
Yes, Jimbo’s no angel — but he’s no devil in disguise either. God Bless ya, J.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 24, 2005. Read the original PDF.