National Veterans Foundation

In the past I have written about the dis-service given to veterans by the VA while our elected officials sit back and do nothing, or even worse they do something, like deactivating a Minnesota National Guard unit one day before the required time needed for them to receive education benefits.

Here is another example of the callous treatment veterans face everyday all over the country, and how elected officials who claim to be on their side disgrace and mockingly treat us as expendables.

The other day the NVF received a call from Senior Master Sgt. Noel Sepulveda, an Air Force veteran and hero at the Pentagon terrorist attack site. He called to ask if there was anything the NVF could do to help him get his VA claim expedited and possibly help him get a clerical error on his pension paperwork corrected. The NVF takes hundreds of calls a month like this, so we asked the typical questions. At the time we had not heard of SMSGT Sepulveda, and I could tell in his voice it was difficult for this humble man to tell us his story. By the end of the call we could not believe what we were hearing. Even though we hear stories similar to this all day, the extent of the disrespect given to this hero made our jaws drop.

Steve Clark, Outreach Staff member of the National Veterans Foundation, called the West Los Angeles VA Hospital to check up on a 42 y/o Post Vietnam War Era veteran he and Greg Spencer, another NVF Staff member, had recently placed there for medical detox from alcoholism. The veteran was found living on Venice Beach in a severe state of alcoholism, and after being assessed by the outreach team was taken to the West LA VA hospital for medical detoxification prior to being admitted in to New Directions, Inc. a long-term drug and alcohol treatment center for veterans.

The veteran reported to us that while we were Angels for “pulling him out of the life he was living on the beach, we had REALLY saved his life”. In fact, the National Veterans Foundation did indeed prevent the premature death of another veteran. Our client was evaluated by emergency room doctors at the West LA VA, and immediately the doctors admitted him to the Intensive Care Unit for observation stemming from a life-threatening irregular heartbeat unbeknownst to the client. Medications and electrolytic treatments were used, unsuccessfully, to reverse his fatal heart condition. The medical staff was in the process of planning an electro-cardio reversion, which entailed precise electroshock therapy to his heart in order to re-establish a normal cardiac rhythm. The physicians of the VA Medical Center said that "if he had been living on the beach for another week, he would be dead." His heart condition would have proved to be fatal, and another veteran of these United States would have died unnoticed, forgotten, without any dignity. With the help of the NVF another veteran has a chance to get the medical treatment he rightfully deserves and, in this case, the care he absolutely needed.

North Carolina, January 2007:  An Iraq War Veteran who was struggling with PTSD related issues called the NVF Lifeline in a panic upon learning he was soon to be re-deployed to Iraq. NVF Staff connected the veteran with an area Mental Health counselor who performed a complete psychological assessment. The veteran was subsequently diagnosed with severe depression, began regular counseling sessions, and was medically discharged from the military. He has since landed a job as a part-time welder and is attending school.

Colorado, March, 2007: An Iraq Veteran who married just two months prior to deployment returned home to find his wife had left him, depleted the couple’s savings and checking accounts, and failed to pay the rent. The veteran was extremely distraught, needed a job, was running out of food, money and depression medication, and said “he wasn’t comfortable” asking for help. After counseling the veteran regarding his options, NVF staff began making calls on the veteran’s behalf, and upon following up the next day., also learned the veteran had been served with divorce papers, and was “within days” of losing his apartment. NVF staff eventually connected the client with a counselor in Denver, who provided the veteran with gas money to Denver, a loan to cover his housing needs, a refill on his depression medication, and helped him get a job. In doing so, the counselor noted that had the veteran not contacted NVF, he might have been lost forever. Now, this veteran has a fresh start, and a chance to rebuild a life forever changed by war.

Virginia, May 2007: The wife of a soldier deployed to Iraq called the Lifeline distraught. Herself a veteran, the woman confessed that during active duty training three years ago, she was raped twice on base by three different men in Virginia. She tried to report the incident and asked for help, but received none. A year later, she was raped twice more on the same base, and subsequently left the military. She also reported having been sexually abused as a child, and attempting suicide. She had recently overcome an addiction to alcohol, and was 7 months pregnant. Under the weight of her traumatic events, she had recently lost her job, and had confessed being suicidal in the days leading up to her call to the NVF. She was also concerned about the toll her condition was having on her baby, and her husband in a war zone. A female call center representative counseled the woman, lending an emotionally supportive ear, telling her how strong she had been to come this far, and encouraging her to seek treatment for her rape trauma. After nearly an hour of counsel, the woman’s breathing calmed, she began talking about how much she wanted to live, and agreed to begin attending a local counseling group for rape victims. Two days later, the client called back. Her demeanor was entirely different. She had resumed working with a local trauma professional, was attending support group meetings for rape victims, and said that the night after her call to NVF, she had the first good night’s sleep she could remember. She continues to check in with NVF staff for support, and reports that she, her husband, and her unborn child are all doing much better thanks to the support and guidance offered by the NVF Lifeline.

California, June, 2007:  A 22 year old Iraq War veteran from San Diego called the NVF from his cell phone, requesting immediate treatment for alcoholism. He stated that he had been to a 30-day inpatient rehab when he was in the service, but was discharged because of his addiction. The client had recently been sober for 7 months, but a broken relationship got him drinking again, and this had continued for 5 months. In the week prior to his call, the client found himself homeless and ready for help, saying “I need something long term. It has to be more than a few months”. NVF staff immediately connected him with New Directions, a long-term residential treatment facility for veterans located on the West Los Angeles VA grounds. Unfortunately, the client had no way to get there, with no money and no familiarity with the area. NVF staff was able to connect with the Alcoholics Anonymous Regional District Office in Orange County, who provided one of their own clients in recovery to pick him up and take him to New Directions. The client is currently at New Directions, and doing well.

California, March-August, 2006:  A Los Angeles based Iraq veteran who had become unemployed called the NVF Lifeline looking for help. Lifeline staff told the veteran that they would send him job leads everyday, Monday through Friday, and kept the promise for four months. Crediting NVF’s assistance in providing leads, and counseling regarding the interview process, the veteran found a job with U-Haul in July. He commented that most of the leads sent by the NVF had turned into interviews.

Minnesota, May 2006:  A recently discharged Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran called the NVF Lifeline stating he did not have enough money to pay his rent or buy food. NVF called the local Rescue Mission and located a case worker who was willing to provide the veteran with groceries. The Veteran was staying at a local Navy Lodge with his wife and 5 year old son, and stated the lodge manager was looking for money. The Veteran stated he would be re-enlisting in the Army and would soon have funds to pay the lodge manager. NVF worked out an arrangement whereby the lodge manager allowed the Veteran and his family to stay rent free until he received his re-enlistment bonus.

California, July, 2006:  The NVF Lifeline was contacted by a case worker at the Veterans residential treatment center New Directions regarding a 75 year old Alzheimer’s client (formerly homeless), who could not produce his DD-214 or other proof of service. Other veterans rehabilitation agencies were not able to help this man without this discharge paperwork. NVF Lifeline staff was able to locate an Alzheimer’s assisted living facility in Beverly Hills willing to take the veteran in as a client. They continue to assist him with his medical problems.