Hmmm... Yes, he should have had a home. Studies show that at any given time, about 10% of the adult population in the U.S. is homeless. However, as much as 40 to 45% of that population are veterans.

Many homeless veterans are dealing with addiction to drugs or alcohol, as a way of self-medicating subconscious mental health issues.

The VA is doing everything they can to help, and all of the states have a department of veterans affairs. However, many of the homeless veterans do not believe they need any help. Many of them end up living in cars or camping, or living on the streets in a larger city.

There ought to be a better way; but so far, no one has been able to come up with a plan that works to reach all of the veterans who need a helping hand up out of a bad situation.

The VA does NOT try to help us veterans. They put a band aid on a bullet wound and hope that we die as we wait months, sometimes years for help. It costs them less money to bury us then for them to help us. I'm glad that this homeless vet got a proper burial.

This is a great story that made me smile and realize that some good does happen once in a blue moon. But, for me and many other combat veterans out here who are not getting help even though we are jumping through their hoops, we know that this hardly ever happens. I could die tonight or tomorrow and there would be absolutely nobody to bury me or even care what I have done for this country.

We shouldn't have to live every day knowing that our country which we fought for is working hard to not give us help. Sad thing is that I know that it wouldn't take much at all to solve the problems of homeless vets and the massive amounts of PTSD veterans. I've done the math and I know that I could help thousands of us with less than a million dollars. And the VA spends billions to hide us in files that will never be opened.

Another duped American who thought he was fighting for God and Country when in reality the Men of Power used him up and spit him out having advanced and enhanced their power and wealth. The Men of Power gives trillions to FatCats, nothing to a former soldier in need. Veterans are treated like trash: discarded, avoided, and quickly buried.

Decades ago, this veteran was brainwashed into believing a lie that America is government by the people, of the people, for the people. As the bailing out of WallSt FatCats demonstrated, the Men of Power serve themselves and their cohorts of WallSt at the expense of the working stiff. They expediently send patriots to wage war on foreign land in the name of 'Liberty, Freedom, and the American Way." What a crock of crap when thousands of these veterans can't live with a roof over their head and two square meals per day.

The Men of Power fabricate lies and issue propaganda to motivate naive Americans into sign-on to wage wars in foreign land. From the pages of history, The Gulf of Tonkin Iccident, Iraqi WMD, Taliban's housing Osama Bin Laden, and War on Terrorism have cost nearly 100,000 of America's son and daughters -- not counting the millions of women, children and men killed by American war machines.

Every four years, the Men of Power nominate their favorite candidates for the masses to elect to government office. And the gullible American voters actually think they've had a choice in deciding the future of America just as the thousands of homeless, impovished, and desperate veterans thought they had waged war to secure a better future for all Americans.

All of them. Fools. Except the FatCats, who are laughing and rolling on the cushy carpets at the morons' suffering and dying for them.

I have to say that I was designated 4F my senior year of high school when Nixon stopped the draft. I was releaved that I wouldn't have to fight a war that meant nothing to anyone in this country except the people in power positions that were ignorant of what was important to ALL AMERICANS.

I almost cry to hear how so many have been forgotten and left behind when they fought in war that was the most miserable and hateful war ever!

Tommy, FatCat, I feel for you guys! You guys gave the most of all!

US Military!!! Get on the stick! Treat the American Veterans like the heros THEY ARE AND WERE! SHAME ON THE USA FOR STANDING BEHIND THEM WITH HONOR AND DIGNITY! THEY DESERVED MOST OF ALL!

I for one was helped off the street by the Veterans Stand down program,given shelter and some new work skills and medical attention.I fell sad that this vet fell threw the crakes i just hope some vets out there now reading this know that the veterans help is their go to your veteran VA in your area and ask for the help.Good luck to you all and don't give up on your VA.

It breaks my heart to read about a story like that...but living on the street ...It may seem ignorant on my part ...but don't these HEROS have some kind of a pension when they retire out of the military ?

Also , it should be mandatory that when these men & women return from action, they should be required to follow some kind of therapy...to help them get back in the mainstream of everyday life...and retired or not ...WITH FULL PAY for the time it takes...

This morning I stand at attention and salute all these brave men and women who so bravely served.

Leave it to our Backwards Guberment - puttin on the dog for your burial and forgettin ya when you're alive and troubled from being in the military.

They say he died of natural causes. I see nothing natural about being homeless.

It's generally the result of the US governments policy of treating its veterans like dog **** when it's done using them for combat operations. Sadly, the US is more concerned with taking care of all the career politicians and greasing the corporate wheels of democracy than it is to see that our veterans social and mental needs are taken care of after they have served our country. It's BS

When Reagan gutted the VA and cancelled most of the old GI Bill, he claimed that Vietnam vets deserved nothing since it was their cowardice and criminal acts that allowed the Viet Cong to beat them. Republicans hate that particular speech in front of the VFW (which was mostly WWII and Korean War vets at the time) and was applauded loudly. They also hated that it is where Reagan claimed to have been at both the D-Day landing at Normandy and at Guadalcanal.

I am a Vietnam vet (USAF 67-68 Tuy Hoa Purple Heart, Bronze Star with V device.) I watched as my peers were denied treatment for PTSD and Agent Orange poisoning. I watched as the VA opposed even studying the huge number of birth defects in the children of vets exposed to Agent Orange. PTSD is a major reason why so many vets are homeless. It makes it almost impossible for them to function in sitations that require them to be in contact with people and normal human activity.

I used to live in Roankoe, VA and was a volunteer at the local VA hospital. There were over a hundred homeless vets living in a national forest near the VA. Once a month I would spend a weekend carrying supplies to these guys. I had a power of attorney that would allow me to cash their checks and they would leave me lists of what they needed. Many lived in tents or dugouts. I would talk to them and mostly they seemed pretty normal, the circumstances excepted. But they were there because they simply could not handle the interaction with other people that is required these days. Most drank heavily (I did not deliver alcohol, thouge some volunteers did.) And none ever got meaningful treatment at the VA. They had to submit to weekly blood tests and be completely drug, alcohol, and cigarette free to even be eligible to be put on a two-year waiting list for treatment.

Out vets have always gotten a rotten deal. Our troops risk all for incredibly low pay. About half of all married military members are eligible for food stamps. And even that the GOP wants to slash. The Republicans since the mid-1970's have tried and tried to make it against the law for active duty or active reserve military personnel or their spouses to apply for food stamps. About 60 times the GOP has voted down legislation that would forbid a military member's superiors from punishing them if they draw food stamps.

But sadly, this country has become a military power that does not value its service members. The public has no "skin in the game" and no stake at all. I have long suggested that when this country is at war to the point that it has committed more than 5,000 troops (total, cumulative) in a foreign country that there be a 10% surcharge on federal income tax. Hopefully such a "war surcharge" would cause our leaders to think twice before indulging their penchant for military adventurism. And it would help pay for the military. And it would give the public some measure of sacrifice instead of letting the youth of this country die or be wounded and then kicked aside.

My father and aunt knew people who served in Vietnam, and I know a couple people who served in Iraq. I've unfortunately heard that Vets being homeless is a problem. I hate it because they defended our country, and what are we doing for them?

I don't support war but I support our troops, so while I'm glad this veteran got a proper burial it saddens me he wasn't helped out in life.

I thank and salute the Vets here, and everywhere, for defending this country.

Today, in this country, on this continent, many Spiritual workers are working to Heal the dead that have gone many years before. Those of us doing the "final call" where we gather the Spirit ancestors and helpers that take these Souls home, know that there is no religious, government or other anything that is helping these lost Souls even after they have passed over, hoping to find the "next station".

Because these Souls carry War and Life memories, they will go through a Healing process which essentially takes away the War memories so their Spirit is not clinging to this as the "last memory" of their Life here on Mother Earth.

I am now in a place where the wars go back to the 1700s and some the 1600s as do my ancestors from both Europe and Native America. I have stories that are still in the mountains, hills and valleys of these places that the Souls that died tragic deaths are still here, some hiding because they are afraid to "be seen" in case they are going to be killed, not knowing they are already dead. Aside from myself I have met others who are also doing some of this Healing work. We find these Souls and many do not know that they have died. Some are still crying because they witnessed others die (family, friends and even the foes of whatever time they were in).

Do not be ashamed of anything, be proud that you can help, even if they are long since dead. Many Spirit Healers from around the world know that N. America is one of the places that is the most populated with these deaths of the men, women and children who are "stuck" after they have died.

If we do not help them, they will be joined again by the others. Because this is typically by location of where they have died, imagine where all the Soldiers from around the world are right now that have not crossed into the final Light.

If you do nothing else, light a candle, welcome them, using a rattle (even a bottle of aspirin) call the ancestors of this person from the 4 directions, then from above and below and welcome them to come and take this Soul back to where they could have gone, had they not died in trauma. Close this most sacred space by putting out the candle [NOT using the Human Breath (only a hand, snuffer, .. )] and giving thanks to these ancestors for coming. It's that simple. How many of us can do this to help? If you feel the presence of something like this and do not feel comfortable with this most sacred of activities, contact a shaman or other healer that would know how to do this with respect and honor.

Forget the government, forget the church, you are a Human Being having this experience called Life. It is this Life, that is being used to create the new and becoming Universe.

Adanvdo (heart of all that is)

whitecrow -

ps I have a son who does not practice these things but he is a Christian, like most young

people he needed proof to know IF these Spirit helpers and others exist. We were on a walk

of a few miles one day and I just happened to have my rattle with me. I rattled in the 4 directions

and the above and below and asked simply if our Spirit ancestors would be able to provide a sign

for my son so he too could know of their presence. After about 12 minutes of mildly quiet rattling

near my Heart with this question in my Heart, my son opened his eyes and in the middle of a hot

summer day, we had a 20 foot diameter ring of bright crimson red leaves in a circle around us, with

the two of us in the Heart of the circle.

Remember the intention if from the Heart,

the honor is from the Spirit and Soul.

Beyond this, there are many Native American practices

that work to Heal a person's Spirit, Soul and Heart so

they do not remain broken from the trauma of war or

death in their own hands. Learn, create community,

bless both yourself and others when you help.

well said CHEROKEE........

Would someone please be so kind as to explain to me WHY so many of the men and women who gave their service to America are HOMELESS? I just don't get that.

Here's part of it. Many of them were damaged by Traumatic Brain Injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or both of these. Often they would've liked to have continued on active duty but were judged unable to do so; many were said to be "malingering" due to inability to concentrate, having difficulty focusing on the task at hand, etc. (Of course, some were in fact just "shamming", it's hard to tell who is who without really getting to know the person, something military and VA psychologists and psychiatrists usually lack the time to do.)

Remember, those who only serve one, two or three enlistments and are then discharged do not get a pension unless classified by the VA as "disabled"; this is not usually granted without serious visible wounds and not usually granted to those whose damage is exclusively or primarily mental, although there are certainly exceptions to this. Otherwise, pensions are usually for those who serve at least twenty years. Also, unless one is rated at 100% disabled, the benefit granted is not enough to live off of in and of itself, although it can be of great help; in the real world many of those rated as partially disabled are not employable in any meaningful sense. Furthermore, realize that the VA generally considered alcoholism to be "willful misconduct", as somewhat addressed by Chris in his post above; while some of these guys had a fairly serious drinking and/or drug problem even before ever enlisting, in some instances it is an attempt at "self-medication" for what they've seen and experienced.

A cousin of mine with whom I am particularly close (essentially my younger sister) has gotten involved with a homeless ministry and was stunned to find what a high percentage of the men they served were veterans. So many of them have seen and done things that no one who wasn't there truly relates to, many feel betrayed and become paranoid, which doesn't help their employment prospects for anything beyond day labor. What is really tragic is that many develop behavior patterns which estrange them from their families; some voluntarily leave their families for fear of what they might do if they ever "went off".

So there are lots of hard questions and no easy answers. Don't get the idea that everyone at the VA is an unfeeling, unsympathetic bureaucrat; this is far from true and many of them care deeply about all of us, they are often fellow-victims of the system; twice in some cases as so many VA employees are themselves veterans. I'm pleased that at least this man got in death what he had deserved to get out of life; respect and special treatment.

I feel like some of us aren't very understanding and we need to show more sympathy becuse someone out there just lost their son. I can't say that I know what happened to make this man become homeless but no matter the cause, show some sympathy for those who pass away...

The GOP has ALWAYS been a friend to the military.

Liberals always seek to tear us down.

Only the suppliers.

Viewer Ready---See my post #9. First thing, both my husband and I are STARK RAVING LIBERALS. Yet it is he who has gone to the time and expense to become an Authorized Claims Agent and volunteers his time to helping these guys and gals who are too messed up to claim the benefits afforded them through their service. So don't you dare say that "If you were homeless it was probably your own doing" Hogwash! The very service that gives them an avenue to help just as often sets up a roadblock that stops them from getting what is due them. Goody goody for you, you have been in for 33 yrs. Maybe you like it too much. You must, you want to have people look down on themselves. "You just failed to take advantage of what was out there for you" my ass. The one's who haven't are most likely the ones who need it most, and they can't. Get off YOUR duff and go down to the VA or any organization for vets and help make sure everyone is getting the help they need.

And as far as your feel-good simpleton comment that the GOP is such a friend of the military, you are wrong. The GOP likes war and all the grandstanding, but they don't want to fund the aftermath of war. Keep your BS at home, don't spew it here.

They have been downgrading what little help they offer for years. Just too expensive.

The GOP likes warriors but not veterans. Veterans are just another group trying to screw the government over by looking for entitlements.

God rest his soul and the souls of all the forgotten veterans.

Viewer, As a retired combat veteran of both Korea and Vietnam, I take issue with your self-gradizing remarks.

Want to stop many future wars? Simple, all the government has to do is re-instate the draft with no deferrments and you'd see the Chicken Hawks like GW Bush (wartime deserter) and Dork Cheney cringe. Mitt Romney might also have a problem with his 5 patriotic sons. Save your garbabe for your Republiclone buddies and church.

Oh, and I am also life-long Liberal as a result of having grown up during the Great Depression where I saw what three consecutive Republican presidents; Harding, Cooledge, and Hoover could do to try to destroy our Great Nation. Ronnie Raygun and George W. (Warmonger) Bush also did a pretty good job. By the way my friend, what was it that you did in the service for 33 years?

Viewerready, guess what POTUS has funded the VA to unpresidented amounts....OBAMA

They have been downgrading what little help they offer for years. Just too expensive.

Then maybe "they" should stop sending people to fight wars for "their" own profit.

sandan how ture your words are I have always said we don't live long enought to remember but those of us who do it is sad because we see the same things we though were done and gone.

Hitler had storm troopers marching in the streets, he also required an oath, and many called him the second coming, he believe that all the problems that Germany faced were caused by the jews, liberals, socialists, and communists. See any similarities there?

In the Portland area recently, because of greedy landlords, credit checks and laws that allow a background check to go back basically to birth (I had a criminal history from 30 years ago, not even a speeding ticket since) I and my son were homeless for two months in 2010. I am physically disabled; we were lucky to have friends who allowed us to stay in their home during this rough time. I DID NOT "CHOOSE" TO BE HOMELESS! I DOUBT ANYBODY DOES! Get a clue.

Thanks for your service Pam, and please excuse this Blow-Hard Republiclone who really doesn't have a clue. But notice how he back tracked after his first very insensitive post. Typical of his kind. Sort of like the current Olympic Republican Debate clowns. But they're Con-Servitive!This also reminds me again of Ronnie Raygun during WWll. His then wife Jane Wyman made numerous trips to wartime europe to entertain our troops while Ronnie (an Army captain) made short military movies to boost the morale of our troops, but he never set foot out of California. When asked several times , when talking to heads of state as our president, what he did durinjg the war, Ronnie fibbed a bit and said that he was a combat photographer in Europe.

Viewer_Ready, IF you did 33 years, then your are a VERY HIGH ranking retired Officer or NCO. I can easily see you getting about $5,000 to $8,000 or more dollars a month in RETIREMENT!

YOU have not the slightest idea of what a person that put in years of service BUT DID NOT RETIRE goes through when they get out. When I retired after 21 years, it was very hard for me to adjust. I at least got $1200 a month AND THAT IS NO WHERE NEAR what you are getting. Hell, if you WERE in for 33 years, you probably are getting some type of disability, even though you were fit to be in the military...kind of strange how that works...go from fit to fight one day to cripple the next....

Lots of people were good troops, but not the best of the best and were not asked to stay in. What did WE do to help them? Instead of sending them to training to help them prepare for civilian life, we sent them to sweep the motor pool, because they were not worthy of respect because they were getting out. AND DON'T TELL ME THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

No question that some troops were just not going to make it anywhere and were destined to be homeless, but you need to come down from you high horse and think about OTHER people. Unemployment benefits...really? Do you even know how long that lasts and how little it is? Do you even realize that back in the Vietnam Era, troops worked for $360 a month, GROSS?

Wow Dude, you are so far removed from reality....you need to get out and go spend some time and money at the local shelter.

The government'S shelters are horrifying & prison-like; they actually drive homeless veterans INSANE!

Hate, You might want to check with your closest VA hospital to see what benefits you can get. A good friend of mine who served in the Air Force 4 years, has had at least two major surgeries heart surgery and a knee replacement also received regular check-ups and medication with a co-pay. Check it out! Super-Liberal.

You are correct about this. My brother served 6 months in the army, and was discharged because he was a concientious objector because of his religion. He was told by the recruiter he could serve in the hospital medics and that is where he wanted to go, but no, no, they tried to put him into some kind of artillary unit. He would not take up a gun even under severe threats from his major, he was honorably discharged and didn't know for many years that he was entitled to receive health care from the VA. Lucky he found out and has been taken care of by the VA in California for many illnesses he has had. If you serve any time at all, you have benefits that most of you worked and endured for, try and change your attitude and go and check out everything possible, act stupid and dumb, make them think they know so much, you would be suprised at how much help you can get and cut the red tape. Doesn't hurt either to know someone who works there and can really help you. It is how this government works, anyone knows that.

suzanne-1584585....."Served" 6 months, most of it refusing orders and trying to get out.....and he got an Honorable Discharge and lifetime VA benefits ???......Something is wrong with that picture....the money would have been better spent on Veterans that actually SERVED.....

You wrote "Doesn't hurt either to know someone who works there"......What does that mean ?? A few keystrokes on a computer to "Authorize" his benefits ???

Even the low-lifes in Congress have to serve 5 years before they qualify for pension/benefits....

Suzanne

I had a friend who was a conscientious objector who served (more than honorably, if you ask me) as an unarmed combat medic; where would the warriors be without those guys? They should've let your brother do this if those were his true convictions and he would've freed up someone else for combat; what I could never stand were people who suddenly "found religion" and CO status just prior to deployment when they didn't have those sentiments before. When I think of Objectors I can't help but think of my old WWII-vet uncle who said that if one were truly opposed to all forms of violence then he would willing stand by while being robbed of the shirt off of his back; while there might be such men somewhere he had never actually met one.

Back then if you served at least 180 days on active duty and were discharged honorably you were considered to be a veteran; don't know how it is now. My brother-in-law pulled some strings and was able to join the National Guard (no, he wasn't Dan Quayle, they just shared the same story); most of the guys he trained with were thrilled when they found out they were only going to be on active duty for 120 days, not 180; as an accountant and a pretty intelligent guy he understood what it was they were losing.

Many, if not most, homeless people won't accept the structure/rules required to make life in an old barracks-type setting acceptable. In the military you had no choice but to accept them or face discharge, perhaps under "general conditions" hurting your future employability, or even court-martial; if you tell the homeless that you have to mind or else leave, many will just say "else" and leave, even if it means going back to living in a car, the woods, whatever.

Yes, many SRO- (single-room occupancy) type hotels, old residential YMCAs, and the like have been bulldozed for things that make a higher return on investment or just in the name of "urban renewal" and this has aggrivated the problem of homelessness. And while it is indisputable that defense plant jobs spur the economies of the areas where they are located, and military bases do the same, modern armed conflict itself actually seems to be, besides a horrible waste of "human resources", a net negative on the economy rather than the stimulus it undoubtedly used to be shown to be.

The VA MANDATES all homeless veterans facilities be PRISON-LIKE, the veterans must be DISRESPECTED 24/7, and UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE are the homeless veterans ever to be listened to or believed!

the tea party would rather we quit wasteful spending say...I dunno, giving Pakistan and Egypt billions and spend it on our vets.

When it comes to honoring our veterans, Teabaggers talk the talk and wave the American flag as though it were theirs exclusively, but they won't walk the walk—taxing and spending on veterans—no way!

You have ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE what you are talking about.....The VA is doing a GREAT job, and thanks to Obama has more money than ever before....

I just LOL'd at Dan's ignorant comment.

So says the uberliberal female who has never been to war, who has never known the cost to a man's soul.

The VA's labeling of the homeless veterans as drug addicts & alcoholics is a LIE! The VA labels "ANY" drinking by a homeless veterans as street-gutter alcoholism; a couple beers after a ten-hour day-labor job by a homeless veterans is considered "Substance Abuse", but a couple beers by a state road crew employees after work IS NOT street-gutter alcoholism....

It's not mental illness; IT'S POVERTY!

what you going to call the cops and have him arrested?

Nope, just brow beat him and remind his dittohead minions of what he says every chance I get.

Maybe mic check or heckle him if I ever get the chance.

Obama has gotten more in his 3 years than any REPUBLICANT has done in the last 5. Nice Try Luv. Maybe if you spent a little less time on bashing obama and looked at facts, you'd see that as well.

As a DISABLED VETERAN, President Obama has set aside more for Veterans and Disabled Veterans than any of his predecessors, and has launched several programs aimed at combating homelessness and unemployment among Veterans. Maybe you should do some research before shooting off invalid political talking points.

That's an error in the article. 21 gun salutes are for heads of state (of differing forms and fashions) - a "3 volley salute" is fired at a military (and police, etc.) funeral. Search for the term in quote marks on Wikipedia (can't link here).

RobF-5074847, you obviously did not serve in our armed forces. Every man or woman can have a 21 Gun Salute at their funerals. And I agree, these individuals are presidently like people. Don't get your drift on the 3 shots each,being saracastic isn't american like when it comes to our vets.

Sorry, but 21 guns are reserved for the President. 19 guns for deputy heads of state, the Vice President, 17for Governors and Under Secretaries, and it decreases proportionally to rank and status.

There is a protocol.

Retired USAF-USN

From Wikipedia "Thus those early regulations stated that although a ship would fire only seven guns, the forts ashore would fire three shots to each one shot afloat, hence the number 21."

My Great, great, great uncle died in 1977 and fought in the Spanish American War. He was over 100 years old at his passing and I was only 14 at the time. I was living with my grand parents at the time and he was staying with us. I helped to feed and dress him, and helped him to the bathroom when he needed to go. He passed away on the sofa, watching tv, and I was the one who saw that the was with us no more...

At his funeral, 7 men in uniform with rifles fired 3 shots each. I have always considered that was a 21 gun salute and was told that it was by several people who attended, because at first I didn't know who would be shooting at my uncle's funeral, so I asked around.

The tradition is older than any of you, and it has been passed down for centuries...I still have the flag from his funeral...R.I.P Uncle Joe Fletcher.

Looks like Presidents get more than that on the day of burial... "Also on the day of burial, those installations will fire a 50-gun salute—one round for each state—at five-second intervals immediately following lowering of the flag." Upon further research, the "21 guns" in a 21 gun salute are usually artillery or battery pieces, so in that strict sense as to the type of weapon used, it is not a 21 gun salute that this vet, or my great uncle received. But it doesn't diminish the gesture either.

Very touching story just curious, yes that is considered a 21 gun salute, just so you know, Presidents get artillery salutes, all 21 historic pieces.

Rob - it's a 21 gun salute - or were you being sarcastic?

Those specific gents are members of the Patriot Guard. They're motorcycle riders (mostly Harley-Davidsons, but not all) who have taken it upon themselves to assist with military burials (at least at the beginning of their charter). The majority of the Patriot Guard are vets and a large percentage of motorcycle "gang" members are Vietnam era vets. (I don't use the word "gang" with any negative connotations - simply an organized group of motorcycle riders who ride together, sometimes performing civic duties as well)

A member of the Patriot Guard might be able to provide more clarification, but there's absolutely no lawless-ness intended by their membership, and an intended benefit of their appearance might be along the same lines of the "Toys for Tots" campaign that the Hell's Angels are very involved with; the juxtaposition of the image of these big, tough motorcycle "gang" members, doing important charity and volunteer work to force bystanders to examine personally held stereotypes.