By Charles Springer
This past Sunday, a member of the 101st Army Airborne Ranger unit died. I met him only in passing, speaking to him only a few times. He used to sleep in the bathroom around where I sleep. I found out that he was decorated for valor on the battle field a few times and used to work a lot with children in his off-time.
He was a nice person and never bothered anyone that I have heard on the streets. He seemed in good health too, from what I had observed of him, except for being a wheelchair-bound veteran of the Vietnam War. The cause of death, from what I have heard, was alcohol poisoning.
In the past 22 years since I completed the active duty portion of my first enlistment in the Marines, the federal government has cut more than 30 percent of the funds for the Veterans Administration. When I signed the contract to join the Marines out of high school, I read it and knew that I was guaranteed full medical coverage for any military-related injury. These injuries include psychological damage and emotional damage, which you suffer from being in combat.
This man could have been helped through the demons that plagued him to drink if the money hadn't been cut.
There are veterans all over the streets who want or need the help to move forward with their lives. There are also veterans who have not come completely home from the war. They wander around reliving some portion of the war that affected them the most.
Bush asked us to support our troops, which I do. But, because of the aforemen-tioned actions of the federal government toward the troops who fought for democracy in the past, I cannot side with this country’s decision to go to war.
I ask you this — if you were a veteran whose benefits were guaranteed free to you and have been taken away slowly over the years, what would your decision be?
And with all this money going to this war effort, where will the money come from to keep these benefits going for the new veterans who will be coming home?
The West Side V.A. Hospital is the largest on the west coast because of the donation of land by a local family 100 or so years ago. And within the last few years the hospital has rented or sold some of that land to generate funds.
This is what those brave young men and women have to look forward to in their future. This is how the government has “supported” the troops. There are many of us who have died on the street from this “support.” Many here in Santa Monaco. This is right in front of your eyes — the hypocrisy of the government’s propaganda.
Yes I support my active duty brothers and sisters over there and will welcome them home in my heart. And will try to support those who wind up out here in the future, to help make up for the “support” they get when they get out. (Charles Springer is homeless in Santa Monica.)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 7, 2003. Read the original PDF.