Private Larry Michaelis: A Vietnam veteran’s story

NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT

Private Larry Michaelis: A Vietnam Veteran’s Story - Our Homeless Veterans

Today, there are more than 67,000 homeless veterans in America.

Almost half of all homeless veterans in America fought in Vietnam, but there are as many as 20,000 vets who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan and become homeless in the past five years, including women veterans with children. This number is increasing.

Private Larry Michaelis was 18 years old when he was flown into Vietnam in 1968, just after the siege of Khe Sanh began. Like other Vietnam veterans who defended the U.S., Larry did not receive a warm welcome when he returned home. And, after battling PTSD without treatment for years, Larry lost everything and became homeless.

On the 2012 “National Memorial Day Concert,” four-time Emmy award-winning star of “NYPD Blue” and Vietnam vet, Dennis Franz, will share Private Larry Michaelis’ incredible story.

Click title, the link above, or here for article and video.

http://www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/features/homeless-veterans.html

Rock,

I suppose back then the 'help' to reintegrate troops returning from traumatic combat wasn't so widely available, or even recognised as being necessary. I would hope recognition of such trauma is there now, and that more professional counsel/assistance is available if needed.

1.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

Rudyard Kipling

2.
TO WHOM EVER,

I've come to the stark realization, that even our country is guilty of
this.
We aren't treated well unless the cowardly populations are afraid.

R.P.Balfour
U.S.N. (ret.)
August 21, 2000 9:52 AM http://wonderingminstrels.blogspot.co.uk/1999/03/tommy-rudyard-kipling.html

Rock

This is one of those subjects that can make one simultaneously sad, angry and frustrated.

I haven't got much else to say about it.

There will be no change in the treatment of War Veterans until - - - - UNTIL the politicos and other assorted wind-up merchants have them selves, to wear camoflage, carry a burghan and weapons whilst wearing unsuitable footwear.

See the differences in treatment given to returning officers and that given to enlisted men, it stands out a mile

Since the Norman Conquest, the "Ruling Classes" have ever thought of the populace's bodies as fodder to fertilise the the mud of another country

Pitt the elder had a chance to put this right, but failed to recognise a problem.

RoC quote

I have this to say about it. Both your representative democracy and my representative democracy owe our war veterans more than we can ever repay.
Amen to that.