What does America Owe People Who Fight for their Country?

That is the name of the article I wrote for the "Streetwise newspaper" in Chicago for Veterans' Day. It was from the perspective of a Vietnam veteran. Following is the article.

WHAT DOES AMERICA OWE PEOPLE WHO FIGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY? FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A VIETNAM VETERAN

Thomas R. Jones

I am a Vietnam Veteran. I am a survivor. I made it home. Vietnam veterans’ families, their friends, and even the government that sent us to war, did not know what to do with us when we came back home. So we took our medals and our memories, and retreated into ourselves. We didn’t talk, and we didn’t join groups nor were we asked to join. We were heroes lost in our own country. Some said we were psychologically devastated, bitter, homeless, drug-addicted people. There was no public or institutional support for us. Our veterans’ benefits were dramatically less than those enjoyed by veterans in previous wars, like World War II.

Vietnam veterans suffered from a variety of psychological problems and experienced life-adjustment troubles, such as marital problems and work difficulties. Their depression, anxiety, alcohol and violence contributed to these difficulties. Any one of these problems would overwhelm a person, but Vietnam veterans tended to have multiple problems simultaneously which produced posttraumatic stress disorder.

In previous wars combat veterans had shell shock or suffered from combat fatigue. For the Vietnam combat veteran it was more than just the combat, it was what happened after they came home. It took me a long time to be able to walk down the street at home and not search building roofs for snipers that could take a shot at me.

I served as Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affair from 1980 to 1987 and I know that during that time only a small number of Vietnam veterans actually sought treatment from mental health providers. I counseled many combat veterans. They talked to me because I had been in combat, I was a Corpsman (“Doc” to them), and had a Purple Heart for wounds I received in battle. In my book, “Lost Survivor”, I write about surviving the brutal and violent Vietnam War. Then realizing what you gave up to survive, you needed to live when you come home.


Now America is in another war. Many feel there are similarities to the Vietnam War. As in the jungles of Vietnam there are no front lines in the cities of Iraq and Afghanistan. It is difficult to know who the enemy is until after they attack. Women and children are used as weapons of war. The war is unpopular with a majority of Americans. And we are not sure what winning the war means.

Today we understand the soldiers are serving our country. They are not the target of people’s strong negative feelings about the war. I think there are several reasons. The Iraq war is being fought by a large number of National Guard units. Many young men and women are from the same community, attended the same high schools, played on sport teams together, went to the same churches, and participated with each other in community and social affairs. Their families know each other. Family and friends hold fundraisers to help their kids get body armor and helmets. Parades are held to welcome them home and community-wide funerals are held for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The young men and women joining the military to defend this country are the children and grandchildren of Vietnam veterans who know the effects of war.

What does America owe people who fight for their country? All levels of government, federal, state, and local, should make sure veterans receive the maximum benefits promised. All veterans, their spouses and children (dependents) are owed the benefits of any and all services needed to assist them to regain the life they lost due to the veterans’ service to the country. Government should not disgrace them by instituting bureaucratic barriers that make it harder for them to receive their benefits. In spite of government’s watered down response to its veterans, amazingly, it has been reported that 91% of combat veterans would serve again, if called upon.

Everyone should realize that veterans have been fighting wars in countries whose cultures are very different than ours. They had to survive terrible, brutal, and violent events. To survive the pressure of “adapt or die,” change was forced on them.

War veterans need help to come home. Understand that there are reasons that cause them to be changed which many veterans may not be able to talk about. It takes time and patience. After experiencing combat violence, family, old and new friends, co-workers, strangers, business, medical providers, and especially our government, all play critical roles in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.

October Media Activities

October has been filled with swirls of activities.

Friday the 6th I was an invited guest to the American Library Association Author's Luncheon at their annual conference at Navy Pier in Chicago.

Monday the 9th, the local tv station (Channel 20) in Springfield, Illinois did a special segment on "Lost Survivor". During the show I learned that one of the local anchors, Jerry Lambert had served in Vietnam.

Tuesday the 10th, I was a guest on the Sam Madiona-Radio Talk Show. A woman called in who had bought the book at the local Barnes and Noble book store. She raved about the book, talked about how it helped her understand what her love one had went through and recommended that everyone buy the book. It was great. I wanted her name to take her on tour.

Wednesday the 11th I was a guest on the Pam Furr radio talk show in Springfield. We were in the radio's downtown studio on 5th street. It is in a room with a large window facing the street. People would pass, wave, make faces and give thumbs up. Very interactive.

Saturday the 21st I was one of the 30 accomplished Illinois Authors at the Illinois Woman's Press Association Book Fair at the Chicago Cultural Center.

The smells of war

Smells evoke memories out of the mind, bring forth visions and sounds of times past. Makes us smile, laugh, or cry as the memories raise from their deep hiding places within us. The smell of war never leaves your nose or your mind. It is not just the lingering smell of gunpowder or explosions. More than the stomach turning residue of spilled body fluids mixed with blood after a firefight. For Vietnam veterans something as simple as cooking rice can bring fear. The smell of decay or burning shit can cause your body to break out in an instant sweat. The smell of fear is the the most difficult, yours and other men around you, to forget. The memory covers your body like wet tissue flooding every cell of your body. Twisting your stomach into knots as you relive the reason for the fear.

Lost years

I was talking to a Vietnam veteran about what he felt he had lost serving in Vietnam. Ten years. That one year he felt took ten years out of his life. That was how long he took to catch up to where his life was before he left home. Instead of his children going to school, he felt he should be seeing his grandchildren gong to school. It was more than the lost of the man, it was the lost of future possibilities. Ten years out of a life narrows the number of choices. Those years can not be replaced, they are lost forever. The other sad fact, he felt that very little in those ten years had meaning that last beyond them. He felt he was living in a fog during those times, swirling events pulling and pushing memories in and out of his head. That was the effect of surviving combat, defining who you were in your mind for years afterwards. Filling you with lingering doubts of what was real. Retaining the memories of what you had to endure to survive, delaying what you were living for.

"Lost Survivor" National Release September 2006

31 days. The month of August. September national release of "Lost Survivor". You will be able to order book at any book store and most on-line book web sites. The excitement is building. It has been a long time coming. Started after I returned from Vietnam. the desire to share the true experience of surival in a combat zone. About what you have to give up to survive is what you need to live back home. The scar tissue never completely covers the wounds in your soul and it doesn't seem to heal. You carry the pain deep inside until it becomes one with you. The book is pubished. For some it has become a journey of healing, for others the ripping off of scar tissue laying open their wounds.

Old Veterans/Young Soldiers

This past weekend I went to a pig roast at a friend's house. He is a Vietnam veteran with Purple Heart and Silver Star. I consider him a brother. There was great food and lots of drinks. But what make it special was the mixture of old vetnam veterans and young National Guard soldiers. We old guys shared the experiences of survival with laughed and drinks. Rememberances of days past when we were young and crazy. Events only shared with someone who has been through it. Has walked the walk. The young men and women in the National Guard listen, mostly quietly, with a question here and there. A few didn't see how we (the old guys) lived through our war experiences, the constant killing, the constant dying, the unknown, the always present stress of survival. In many cases we didn't know how we did. The only thing for sure we knew was that some how we did.

Watching the young folks energy playing games, laughing at their own silliness gave a glow to my heart. reenforced the appreication of survivial, and like our parents realization its our kids who go to war.

Father's Day 2006

Father's day 2006, I'm up at 6 am as I am everyday. Coffee, looking outside my kitchen window at the birds begin their day. It rained yesterday, the gound is soft under the trees and robins peck at it looking for breakfast. It's a quiet time. I think about being a father and what that means to me, to my two daughters, and two sons. Life passed on from my father which I gave to them. Which they have passed on to my six grandkids. A good life? Sometimes. Most of the time struggle, hopes and prayers. A real life that gives cause to get up in the morning, have a day and look for tomorrows.