PTSD Vets Montana: Oncoming Disaster

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - The Oregonian Newspaper published an article by Chris Adams of McClatchy Newspapers on December 30th. I read this with utmost disgust. Isn't the VA paying any attention? Isn't Congress paying any attention?

Is anyone other than McClatchy Newspapers paying any heed to this impending disaster for not only our homecoming veterans but also the future enlistees of the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force? The Armed Services and Congress had made a pledge to take care of wounded veterans. Are these servicemen and servicewomen totally expendable?

Its bad enough to be shot at buy one's enemies in battle but to be punitively ignored by one's own country is obscene beyond any rationale.

As a World War II surviving combat veteran of General "Blood & Guts" Patton's Third Army and an equally lucky survivor of VA hospital mistreatment, I am disgusted beyond words.

It is too much for a battle veteran broken physically or psychologically to expect but not get even a modicum of adequate post-service care?

Does anybody with half a brain think or believe that enlistees in the regular service or the national guard are going to volunteer to be required to fight the enemy abroad but then have to fight the more dangerous VA system at home?

It appears that more veterans are dying from VA neglect than are killed overseas fighting jihadists who seem to welcome death.

The "chest beating" by VA psychologists that "they" are taking "good" care of these veterans is a travesty above and beyond the comprehension of me and probably any and all combat survivors and especially those with mind and soul destroying PTSD.

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer is totally correct. If the services can convert a citizen to a warrior/killer why can't they do the reverse or even try to? The U.S. Senate had a hearing about this and nothing good has happened.

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Got a question or comment for Dr. Leveque?
Email him: Newsroom@Salem-News.com

More information on the history of Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of Phil Leveque about his experiences in WWII.
Order the book by mail by following this link: Dogface Soldier.
If you are a World War II history buff, you don't want to miss it.

Watch for more streaming video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King Dr. Phil Leveque.

Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana on Salem-News.com: Dr. Leveque INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES

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Jefferson January 3, 2008 12:01 pm (Pacific time)

People I will tell you from considerable experience the VA has done a horrible job going back to LBJ's Administration. In fact this was literally the worst period for returning combat veterans and why the "Post" of PTSD began it's long and painful sloth before treatment programs started to begin [earnestly] on a national level in the early 80's (during the Reagan Administration by the way). By that time the PTSD had so ingrained itself that treatment has been rather ineffective, and for most of these hero's, it will be a painful and lifetime malady (These are the veterans I personally spend the most time with, I am one, and I know what they are dealing with!). Suffice, the returning combat veteran's during the current conflict in both Afghanistan/Iraq are getting at least some recognition for the demons they bring back home with them. To affix current blame as Henry/TFI does at this time is simply his skewed ideology at work, the people with experience in this horrible condition are at least trying to find solutions. It's terrible when we hear of those who have fallen through the cracks, but at least we know much better now what is going on than we did with the Vietnam veterans who have truely paid a heavy price. I find it so disgusting when non-combatant shills of the far left use this for political reasons...do they really care about these Americans? I know the answer to that question, as do the large percentage of those who have served in combat. Shame on those who use this horrible by-product of war for furtherance of a twisted agenda.

Henry Ruark January 3, 2008 6:48 am (Pacific time)

To all: Dr. Levegue's striking personal and professional testimony is easily verified by anyone using simple "see with own eyes" methods via Internet search, and of course also by direct observation in any community with any group of vets. Dismal, dismaying record also exists in the published data covering Bush II slashes in every possible way on the budgets, at every level, set up for what was once fairly decent and fair care for the heros still in our midst. Striking fact also emerges in any dialog with neocons, with strong avoidance of this and similar issues from the realit of our national status on this very revealing segment of what society should be doing for itself and its coming generations.

Steve Real January 2, 2008 5:53 am (Pacific time)

Amen brother.

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