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Sunday, May 13, 2007
Met with a reporter today for the local paper who had done an interview on a local boy who had gone to Iraq, and of his phone calls home and how he knew he would need help seeing his buddy die. When he got home, he talked as if nothing happened and he was fine, shutting down, blocking it out. That wasn't how he sounded on the phone. Those things that happen don't go away and they have an effect that time doesn't heal. It may dull it or glaze it over, but only the right type of help heals it. That is the very least I could do for them.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Met Chuck Norris (trail name) and Tag Along whose boy is now in Iraq and wants to be a counselor when he returns (he is now a medic). He has a year left. Met Leather Neck who went in the USMC in 1968 a Private and got out in 1988 a Lt. Colonel. I told him I went in 1970 a Polack and got out in 1972 a Polack He smiled and said he was Italian. I said most people are jealous of us, that why they make jokes about us. He asked how the effort was going, I said goo, we'll get the legislation, but still write, it makes a difference. right after him, I met a retired Sgt. Major who agrees with what we are doing and is writing.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Met Rambling Man, a Vet who proudly said, "I don't go to the V.A. for anything". It seems like they are made to beg for what they are supposed to get. No wonder they get angry. Met Lady Bug, a state nurse that resigned. She told me the mental hospital is getting over loaded with vets with PTSD from the V.A and can't handle the number. I feel if they did groups they would be able to handle more Vets with less doctors more effectively.
Lady Bug also told me 15 - 18% were women who have it harder because for a lot of the to fit in and be part of the troops, they are expected to have sex. So they are coerced into it; even the married one are expected to do the same. We talked about being civilized. I don't think we are morally; we are technologically. So it is like an 8yr old having a hand gun.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Met a father and son; the son is in the National Guard and will go the end of this year. I told him what we are doing - it kind of went over his head - but when I talked to the father, he thanked me. He knew what the trauma's of war can do, the effect it has on a person and the damage it can do if something isn't done soon enough.
I met some veterans who wished something like what we are trying to get was done for them so they wouldn't have had to spend so many years suffering.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Made it to Ken Corra at Dennis Cove and met John People who remembered me from 1998, and is retired military. We talked politics and how our word has lost its value in the world, for we seem not to honor it.
Before I arrived there, I met 2 good old boys going fishing who I told what I was doing. They thanked me serving them which makes me feel awkward because I was in, but never went to combat. I feel that most of the ones that should be thanked are homeless and diving in dumpsters for for dinner, or are too humble and quiet about it or just don't want to talk about it because it is painful.
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Someone told me about a new program I have to check out called "Shelter First", where they are housing the homeless (mostly Vets) and it is making a difference.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Got a ride back to Damascus to talk at Trail Days and talked to a paper in Erwin that will write about me when I get there. Arriving at Damascus, a lot of people came and talked to me because of the interview I had last week. They wished me luck. I said luck is your letter.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Did a radio spot in the morning on an FM station covering Trail Days, talked at the Hiker Talent show, and met Penny when I got back to Larry's. Vets were coming up to me shaking my hand; a hiker told me he came on the trail to meet me because he heard of me in Florida (Key Largo). I called my Dad (in Key Largo) and told him to keep up the good work.
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