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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/03/veterans-post-war-stories-va-health-care

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US veterans: share your post-war tales of a hero's welcome and healthcare fails US veterans: share your post-war tales of a hero's welcome and healthcare fails
(about 1 hour later)
Veteran’s Day usually serves as a reminder of those who served our country – and sometimes paid the ultimate price for doing so. But this year it needs to be a reminder of our failure to serve them and a call to do better. Veterans Day usually serves as a reminder of those who served the United States – and sometimes paid the ultimate price for doing so. But this year it needs to be a reminder of our failure to serve them. Veterans Day should be a call to do better.
America has failed its veterans in many way – they face higher-than-average unemployment rates, they face higher-than-average suicide rates they face high rates of homelessness and they face astonishing rates of sexual harassment and assault, just for starters. But nothing is more disgraceful than that, when they return home from fighting our wars, many of them wait and wait – and sometimes die as they wait – for medical care. America has failed its veterans in many ways – they face higher-than-average unemployment rates, higher-than-average suicide rates, high rates of homelessness and astonishing rates of sexual harassment and assault, just for starters. But maybe nothing is worse than when veterans return home from fighting our wars, when many of them wait and wait – and sometimes die as they wait – for medical care.
President Obama was “madder than hell” when allegations surfaced in April 2014 that over 40 veterans had died waiting for medical treatment at the VA hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Within one month, first Top Veterans Affairs doctor, Robert Petzel resigned, shortly followed by Secretary Eric Shinseki. The new Veterans Administration secretary, Robert MacDonald, announced a review of current policies in September under the Road to Veteran’s Day initiative. President Obama was “madder than hell” when allegations surfaced in April 2014 that more than 40 veterans had died waiting for medical treatment at the VA hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Within one month, under secretary for health in the Department of Veterans Affairs Robert Petzel resigned, followed by Secretary Eric Shinseki. The new Veterans Affairs secretary, Robert MacDonald, announced a review of current policies in September under the Road to Veterans Day initiative.
Well, Veteran’s Day is almost here, and we want to know what, if anything has changed for our veterans. Well, Veterans Day is almost here, and we want to know what, if anything, has changed for our veterans. We will publish a selection of the responses in a feature for Veterans Day.
Tell us: what has your experience been within the the VA health system? Has the Department of Veteran Affairs helped you access the support – like the GI Bill – that our politicians promised? Tell us:
What has your experience been within the the VA health system? Has the Department of Veteran Affairs helped you access the support – like the GI Bill – that our politicians promised?
But we know it’s not just about the government. How do you respond to people who “thank you for your service”? Do you feel the public supports you and your work – and if not, does that matter much to you?But we know it’s not just about the government. How do you respond to people who “thank you for your service”? Do you feel the public supports you and your work – and if not, does that matter much to you?
Share your stories in the form below.