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Placido Salazar psalazar9@satx.rr.

com
Today The Military Establishment and the Department of Veterans Affairs, not just in San Antonio, but world-wide, were sent another very tragic WAKE-UP call regarding the dangerous game of turning their back on the on-going, but still ignored crises of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). We have no real hope that the tragic events of just a few hours ago RIGHT HERE in Military City USA affecting a young military family, with the death of the young husband and the critical wounding of his wife, with their four young children present in their own home, will hit our Nations Capitol and those who go to sleep there. WHAT MORE WILL IT TAKE, HOW MANY MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE WILL DIE, to get the attention of those who are responsible for the well-being of our military personnel and their families and to take long-overdue corrective action? This problem has been festering too long. The military is doing a great disservice not only to the military personnel who have been deployed, even once let alone those who have been sent back into the combat zone four or more times, but to the loved ones and to the general public. Congress needs to address the issue head-on, to stop the military services from playing games with the lives of our Warriors, by intentionally misdiagnosing them with Social Readjustment conditions, when they know full-well that these dedicated military personnel are in fact returning from the war zone suffering very serious psychological conditions of PTSD and/or TBI. These military heroes do not deserve to be ignored who were seriously affected by the effects of senseless wars, to suffer with dangerous bouts of depression or chemically-related cases of schizophrenia by themselves or in the company of their spouses, who are usually unaware of what the situation is, much less how to cope with it.

WHY do they prefer to misdiagnose these combat warriors? Because, as social readjustment problems, they can discharge them administratively, or through a simple court-martial, instead of providing them with the medical or psychological treatment they need and which they deserve, after serving our country honorably. They want to avoid at all cost, the real solution, which could result in rightfully medically discharging them, or with disability-retirement. ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY.. and apparently, they do not give a darn, who suffers, or who gets killed in the process. Military and Veterans Affairs officials know that a proper diagnosis of PTSD or TBI would enable our Combat Warriors with the psychological or medical illnesses or invisible wounds to get the proper medical care, so why is this dirty practice continuing? Im sure a long-overdue Congressional Investigation, with a thorough review of all past Less Than Honorable and even Honorable separations from service since the Gulf War and Afghanistan. It would also be a great idea to review the Discharge documentation of Immigrant Warriors who were promised U.S. CITIZENSHIP, BUT WERE THEN DEPORTED for Social Readjustment or any other lame excuse and deported to their home country as a terrible reward for risking their lives, in service to our country. The military still has a tendency to intentionally misdiagnose these psychiatric conditions which might warrant medical discharge or disability retirement, to save not only money, but to save face. At what cost to our military families and to our Veterans does our government want to keep saving money? There is plenty of documented evidence, even from the National Center for PTSD, that PTSD, while not curable, is treatable. But, ignoring a problem or sweeping it under the rug, has never been the right answer. How many of our Brave Warriors are now in prison, because military and VA failed to listen to them?

A couple of years back, I had a conversation with VAs Chief Mental Care official, Dr. Ira Katz from DC who was in San Antonio on a dubious mission (to say the least), doing his best to pull a fast one over hundreds of young combat Veterans. We had met before in DC during PTSD hearings, and he has not changed at all. Has anybody thought of replacing him as well as getting honest with our troops?
This Wednesday morning, I heard that DOD/VA were holding Suicide Prevention hearings at the most luxurious hotel (Grand Hyatt) in downtown San Antonio. I was able to get there for the afternoon session. I read through the agenda and heard some briefings, with all the talk focused on seeking help or helping your buddy if he feels suicidal. Dr. Ira Katz, the VA top-doc for mental health was the last speaker. When he finished, he was trying to rush out the door without taking questions. I yelled out, Just a minute, I have a question, specifically for Dr Katz. There were several hundred GIs from Ft Sam present in the auditorium, from PFC to Generals. You could hear a pin drop. I then took the mic and started real soft and mellow You know, Dr. Katz, three days ago, I woke up with a high fever, hard cough and severe pain below my rib cage. I went to see my doctor who did the routine and then ordered X-rays, informing me that I have pneumonia and placed me on antibiotics. Katz asked, What is your point? I replied, The point is that, in order to treat my cough, the doctor first checked to determine what the root of the illness was. Once he determined the presence of pneumonia, he put me on antibiotics, to treat the cause and the symptoms. I have checked the agenda for these hearings and I find FOUR very important words missing entirely. Dr. Katz, why dont you tell these young soldiers who just returned from Iraq THE TRUTH. Why dont you tell them that THE REASON behind their suicidal tendencies, after risking their lives in combat, is a VA-recognized illness called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder known as PTSD, and not a READJUSTMENT PROBLEM. Tell them that PTSD is treatable, but not curable. And that if they returned with serious PTSD problems from Iraq or Afghanistan, that they should fight for DISABILITY RETIREMENT, instead of allowing the military to kick them out the Base Gate, perhaps to possibly commit suicide or to live on the streets. Tell them that if their PTSD (or mental problem) was pre-existing, they would not have made it past the recruiter. I added, Approximately two years ago, I was allowed to speak at the Congressional PTSD Committee in DC and Representative Bob Filner (House Veterans Affairs

Committee Chair) chastised you on this same subject, but apparently NOTHING has changed. VA is still trying to evade the truth. At that point, Dr. Katz dismissed the audience and came and sat face to face with me and asked, What do you suggest? Again, I insisted, why not try THE TRUTH. He suggested that, More advocates as yourself need to come to DC to light a fire under us. I reminded him that when he comes to San Antonio, the government pays for him to fly first-class, to stay at the most luxurious hotel, with a generous per diem to pay for his meals. When other Veterans and I travel to Washington, to fight for all our Veterans medical care and other needs, which should not be necessary, we have to travel AT OUR OWN EXPENSE and stay in visitors quarters at a military base, five to a room, if we are lucky to find vacancy. I departed by saying, Besides, why should we have to travel to DC to get a Government employees to do your job, when you guys get paid a couple of hundred thousand dollars a year? Dr. Katz told me, I have my lap-top computer with me and as soon as I get on the plane (back to DC) I will send you an email. Good thing I am not waiting for the good doctors email. Placido Salazar, USAF Retired Vietnam Veteran (210) 422-0378 Veterans Legislation Liaison Dr. Hector P. Garcia American GI Forum Org of TX

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