~ Flash: see news link below! (04/06/02) ~
* The following letter was sent out on March 18 , 2002, to over 200 major media concerns--with a response from only one: Bob Keeton, at Living Successfully, a popular radio talk show out of Richmond, Virginia. 48 of the emails were sent back. Today, April 03, 2002, I called the Waco office of the U.S. VA Administration--to inquire as to what has happened to my monthly benefit check. I was told, in a tape recorded interview (which I taped) that my account had been, "terminated," due to me not filling out and sending back to the VA, a form 21-0516, which I did receive on March 30, 2002. But something was terribly wrong: the postage date was 'March 27, 2002,' with the note that unless I filled out this form and send it in by March 1, 2002: my benefits would be terminated--and so they were. Please note that the letter was sent out 29 days AFTER the deadline--and I was told by the VA representative, that myself--and all Veterans had gotten a warning that this was a new 'law' that went into effect on December, 2001. I did not receive such a notice--nor did thousands of other Veterans. How many other Veterans have now lost their direly needed benefits, due to the VA's on-going incompetence? Thousands nationwide--but the VA isn't talking about this issue. They blame the loss of the benefits on the Veteran. They NEVER accept the responsibility themselves. 'Stay tuned to the major media. This story will not go unheard of--I can promise you that. JL (4/3/02).
click here To see the VA form
click here To see the dated envelope
click here To see the Texas Veterans Commission's response to this issue!
On Thursday afternoon, March 7, 2002,
I found myself at the Emergency room of our local hospital suffering from a
tightness in the center of my chest and being very weak and dizzy.
Only one hour beforehand, I was at my
primary care doctor’s office – who insisted that they call an ambulance to
take me to the hospital. Being a
poor man, and somewhat brave in an abstract manner – as a direct result of
poverty, I drove myself there.
Once at Walls hospital, I saw a
cardiologist who told me I was dying and in need of heart surgery if my life was
to be saved.
I was then taken by ambulance to the
Plaza Medical Center in Fort Worth where over the next three days –three
arteries blocked 98 to 99%, would be opened by means of angioplasty and stints
would be implanted, which saved my life.
Now for the bad news:
Two months earlier, my girlfriend,
Maria Page, who works with cancer patients, had driven me to the VA hospital’s
Emergency Room, as I had the very same aforementioned symptoms.
Upon entering the VA hospital, a callused, aloof doctor eventually saw
me, a dubious EKG was performed – and ultimately, he sent me to the clinic
section of this massive hospital to be checked out for asthma.
It should be noted that I do not
suffer from asthma. My breathing was labored to state the very least.
The tightness in the center of my chest was very painful and I was
feeling so weak I could hardly walk the great distance to the VA clinic.
The medical people offered no wheelchair to me on that day.
The VA clinic doctor’s assistant
(called a PA) finally saw me some 4 hours later – only to tell me to take
three Rx’s, which would be mailed to my home, as I couldn’t wait the
projected 3 hours at the pharmacy downstairs.
Recall – I was near death.
The medications were sent to my
attorney in Los Angeles, by some queer mistake. Realizing this mistake, my attorney sent them on to me –
Fed Ex. A total of 4 weeks had gone
by—and the symptoms continued. The
VA knows of my home address, as medications have been sent to me there in the
recent past with no problems.
This is not the first time that the
VA hospital has exuded incompetence in my case. I have heard (and I am certain that you have as well) from a
host of other Veterans who have suffered the very same (and yet worse)
indignities (as well as death) at the hands of the VA’s incompetent medical
staff – who are also very rude for the most part – but certainly not all of
them. Hidden cameras and
microphones could easily prove this point.
* I have All the needed paper work
and documents to prove the dates and times – names and places – to satisfy
anyone – or any office, which can be VERY condemning for the VA and the U.S.
Officials who publicly resound how important our concerns over Veterans and
Veteran issues should be. Should
they be worried? Yes they should.
** Something must be done to protect
our Veterans. The U.S. Government
vainly proclaims at the VA web site that they are, “Putting Veterans first!”
This is another national disgrace that the public
must be made aware
of!
*** My life is questionable at this
point (although I remain optimistic with great faith in God).
My ‘private’ doctor has informed me that should I require open heart
surgery, I may not survive the rigors of the operation, therefore, I plead –
no --- I BEG you all to help to bring this factual story of atrocities at VA
hospitals (and the VA programs in general) to the American public and to our
government officials – and most certainly to President Bush who has been
outspoken about such high concerns of regard for all U.S. Veterans.
But we ALL must address this problem as a Nation—undivided.
If those words were uttered by the
President strictly for fanfare and popularity and nothing more, then we, as a
Nation, are in deep trouble. Our
wars are fought by soldiers who go on to become the next generation of Veterans
– and this is what they shall inherit.
T’would be better that they inherit
the wind, given to such disgraceful, widespread National apathy.
This is not just a story about me and
the
plight of other U.S. Veterans, but it is also a story of and for all Americans – and
of the major mass media whose job it is to inform the public of such a disgrace.
I urge you to act upon this
information. My time on Earth may be short, as any of yours may well be.
We cannot tarry while our fallen heroes are caused to suffer.
I am quite willing to lay down my life for this effort – just as I was
willing to do so in uniform when I had hoped to live the American Dream upon
returning home from a war nobody wanted called—Vietnam.
In closing: if you choose to do
nothing in this serious regard, then you are part of the problem.
I have not pulled any punches Ladies and Gentlemen, for I have found in
this issue, something good enough to live for – and yet – great enough to
die for.
My brother and sister veterans need
our help and understanding so these atrocities are addressed
immediately
before new Veterans fall into the ranks of the dejected: from
valor--to victim.
1,500 U.S. Veterans die each day in
America. Through incompetence; the
numbers will grow?
I await your hopeful reply and stand
willing to aid in any manner I can.
Sincerely, in truth,
Jason Leigh
(Honorably Discharged U.S. Veteran)
P.O. Box 377
Cleburne, Texas 76033
(Jason Leigh is an active member in good standing with The American Legion and his name is inscribed on the Special Member Rolls of Honored Veterans).
Read 107th Congress' Policy report of programs for Homeless Veterans click here
