Treto Garza

HARLINGEN, Aug. 30 – There is a passage in a book by Martin Schram titled 'Vets Under Siege' that seems to sum up the sentiment of many South Texas veterans.

“For decades, we have known at some level of consciousness that the men and women who serve in the military are too often dishonored and disserved by our government once they return home,” Schram writes.

It is as if the statement had been written to specifically identify Rio Grande Valley veterans. The region’s veterans have been asking for better health care benefits and a Veteran Affairs hospital for the area for the longest time. Their pleas have not been heard and remain unanswered.

South Texas veterans have been fighting a more savage war than the ones they served and fought in from World War II to the present War On Terror. They came home only to fight another war, and against the same government that had sent them off to war. And it is still happening. The career diplomats, employees of the VA, and our elected officials share in the blame for this type of treatment. And the American people must also share in the way that our soldiers and veterans are treated.

Our veterans are dishonored even though they went to war for the many families that did not send their loved ones to war. Did you know that many of the veterans that qualify for veterans’ benefits were drafted? Yes, drafted. Do not think that 100 percent of them volunteered and chose the military life as a career.

Many people seem to think that the veteran is out to bilk the government. And to top it off, even some veterans feel that way. Why? Because they do not understand that many of our veterans actually were sent into a combat zone. The horrors of war are so hellish that only one that has been through it knows what it is. Real war is not Hollywood; in real war people get killed, wounded, maimed for life, and suffer mental issues due to witnessing all those horrible scenes. War is hell, and many a veteran has seen hell in the eyes and yelled, "For God, and Country" and proudly represented our nation. They felt that if they did their duty, Americans back home would be proud of them. Not so, for when they returned home they were not treated with due care and respect.

Schram's statement easily identifies the veterans of South Texas. Our veterans have been fighting the Veterans Affairs for decades trying to get better health care and benefits. And even though many hated President George W. Bush, even he stated "we owe the wounded soldier the very best care

and the very best benefits possible." Other presidents before him have in one way or another shown concern for the plight of our soldiers and veterans. But all these fell on deaf ears at the Veterans Affairs, the agency mandated by law to provide and care for the veterans. Our president should issue a direct order to the VA to ensure that all the needs of our veterans are met. It must be simple and to the point order so that the bureaucrats do not weasel out of it and circumvent the intent.

23 Years Ago

Marine veteran Mike Escobedo recently reminded me of an article that appeared in The (McAllen) Monitor on October 12, 1987. In part, the article stated, "Bentsen and De La Garza, in recent interviews expressed frustration and even dismay at the VA's insistence that a Valley VA hospital has little or no merit. While the lawmakers are publicly cautious about their statements, one gets the sense that they believe their lack of progress is a direct result of the intransigence of the VA and the lawmakers’ inability to convince the bureaucrats of the growing veterans’ population.” This article written by Alan M. Schlein of the Washington Bureau got good coverage. Imagine, this article came out over 23 years ago. Schlein continued saying that Bentsen noted that “for over 10 years...I've never been able to get support from Congress” and the VA is “not friendly to the idea.”

To add insult to injury, a VA spokesman, speaking to Schlein on the condition he not be identified, stated that a hospital for McAllen or Cameron County is not being considered at this time. Also, another VA source added, “There is no way the VA would propose a new hospital for Texas.”

Veterans have been hearing these types of statements from the VA ever since then. It sounds like a broken record. It has even gotten to the point that many veterans believe that we are fighting a lost cause because the VA is not going to build a VA hospital in the area. Politicians change and new promises are made, but the ever powerful VA continues to run roughshod over them and does not budge on this decades-old decision. Why? Are we not worthy of these services? Schlein finishes his article with this: “A House Veterans Affairs Committee staff member explained unless the Texas delegation is united, or the Valley's veteran population increases significantly... chances for a facility might never improve.”

The story of our life. Imagine all that time since then and still our elected officials are not able to change that policy. Our local delegation to Congress is united in our efforts. But, their bills do not move. In the meantime, the VA has remained intransigent in their opposition to a VA hospital for the Valley.

General Shinseki

Veterans are asking to meet with Secretary of Veterans Affairs to tell him directly of the need for a VA hospital and our long battle with his agency. Veterans feel that since General Shinseki was not treated properly by the past administration that he knows the feeling of being rejected and ignored. Veterans feel that way and hope to relay that feeling to the Secretary. Veterans know that the VA is getting letters from our elected officials requesting he meet with veterans, whether here in the Valley or his office in D.C. State Rep. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen, has informed me that the VA indeed received the letter and that Deputy Under Secretary for Health For Operations and Management William Schoenhard answered on behalf of Secretary Shinseki.

Jerry Patterson

On another front, veterans are going to meet with Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson in the near future. He too will be asked to support the efforts to get the State of Texas behind the VA hospital for the valley. At this writing the date and time are tentative but it has been confirmed that he will meet here in the Valley with veterans. Homer Gallegos is optimistic about that meeting. It will be a topic of discussion at the next Veterans Alliance meeting.

Dolia Gonzalez

I had met Mrs. Dolia Gonzalez, mother of Vietnam War hero Freddy Gonzalez, before at a meeting of America's Last Patrol and she was quiet and attentive. She was genuinely interested in helping veterans. The Sunday before last we met with her and were able to talk to her for about 30 minutes. She still supports the efforts for a VA hospital. She told us, "you need it, you really need it' and promised to support our efforts and help us in any way she can. She is 81 years old and a proud woman. She is very proud of her son, Marine Sgt. Alfredo “Freddy” Gonzalez, who is the recipient of the Medal Of Honor posthumously for heroic actions in Vietnam.

The quest for a VA hospital for the Valley continues. We need everyone’s support on this. Do Not Forget the Veteran.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! SUPPORT OUR VETERANS! GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Treto Garza is co-chair of the Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley. A Vietnam War veteran and prolific writer on veterans' issues, Garza is a resident of Harlingen, Texas. His Veterans Voice column appears weekly in the Guardian.

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