2019-04-18 00:16:32
‘Milkshake Man’
I’m writing about your article on Jim Mayer in the [March/April] issue. My “Alive Day” is Aug. 22, 2003. On that day in Iraq, by a miracle, a flight medic noticed the body bag I was in on the Blackhawk was moving, and that saved my life. I was at Walter Reed when I met Jim, who we all knew as the Milkshake Man. As a combat-injured veteran himself and fellow amputee, Jim was an incredible source of inspiration for those of us whose lives had been forever changed by war. By introducing us to the concept of an Alive Day, he taught us that our worst day on earth was actually a new beginning—an anniversary when we could celebrate our victories. He showed us, by example, that the future is what we make of it. I’m in business school now and continue moving forward, in part thanks to the example Jim set for all of us. Tyler Hall, Wasilla, Alaska
H.R. 4556: VA dental care
This is long overdue. There are a lot veterans with poor dental health care. The VA won’t do anything, because the problems are not service-connected or the veteran does not have a 100 percent rating. If the VA is the only health care provider for a veteran, comprehensive dental care should be provided, regardless of the disability rating. Christopher T. Parker, via email
VA privatization
I worked in municipal government for 30-plus years. I’m also a service-connected veteran, and I’m telling you that the outsourcing of services into the private sector doesn’t work. It doesn’t matter if it’s medical, municipal or whatever; the service levels drop off because of bureaucratic red tape. Bill Potter
I am a retired director of surgery and a cardiovascular open-heart registered nurse. The private sector of providers is broken worse than the VA. You wait months for appointments with privatesector providers, and this has caused a very large backup in the emergency rooms and quick cares around the nation. Overall, the VA is doing a better job than the private-sector providers. Please fix the problems at the VA and stop trying to push us veterans out and into an already overcrowded public system. Bill Dolan
I’ve been getting 100 percent of my health care from the VA for many years. I receive excellent care in Minneapolis and, at times, in Phoenix. I do know clinics and doctors are sometimes overwhelmed, and veterans need outside access to doctors. By no means should the VA be privatized. The VA serves veterans from every era. Proper VA funding is critical to give veterans the care they deserve. Dale Foss
After working in Navy medicine for 20 years, nearly 10 years of VA medical care afterward and then experiencing civilian health care, I would be extremely afraid to have to get medical care from a civilian medical facility. They are overwhelmed. Stephen Way
Gary Sinise’s ‘Grateful American’
I was privileged to see Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band in a free concert he gave for airmen and their families at Beale Air Force Base last year. The performance was amazing, but what impressed me most was his heartfelt message as he spoke to the crowd. His patriotism and love of this country runs deep, and he is dedicating himself to our troops and veterans. God bless him! Rae Burtis
Burn pits
DAV [was] on the Hill talking to Congress about this issue and stating that our servicemen and women need to have their health concerns addressed, and they need proper medical care. We are well aware of the health issues of our veterans due to exposure to herbicides. We do not want to wait 40 years for our comrades to get the care they need. We are here to support and fight for you. Deb Olson
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (H.R. 299)
Agent Orange affects not only these brave Navy veterans but also their children and grandchildren. I was a combat medic and worked on an oncology floor for several years. I always read the charts, histories, symptoms and whether they were Vietnam veterans. Dozens of Vietnam veterans were my patients. Many had cancers and illnesses even though they weren’t directly on the ground. Give them the benefits they deserve! Ann McGillicuddy
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