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Being a veteran in America today
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Don Potter, Gene Cunial, both World War II veterans with the Navy and Jerry Williams shoot the breeze over stew and fry bread at the VFW Monday following a ceremony at the Klamath County Courthouse. |
May 29, 2007
Dan Williams said things were different when his father retired from the military.
Williams and his father both served in the Vietnam War. Williams' father was awarded the Medal of Honor for helping to save members of his Army special operations unit when it was attacked by Viet Cong. When he returned to the United States after his tour, though, he met scorn for his role in the military.
For today's veterans
That's not how it is today according Williams. Veterans differed in opinion on what it's like to be a veteran in America today. Regardless of each view, veterans said that more could be done to involve communities in veteran's activities and remind people of the sacrifices they have given.
“These guys are the real superstars,” said Jesse Cole, a Navy veteran.
Williams served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years before he retired a master sergeant in 1994. He was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War and
in the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s. He said that people's appreciation of veterans has come a long way since the post-Vietnam era. But, he is bothered by the fact that Memorial Day is now just considered part of a three-day holiday. It's a view shared Cole, who also served during the 1970s.
Cole said he'd never seen anyone degrade a veteran before and that media coverage of service members, including returns from tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, keep them in the public spotlight.
Art Massey, incoming president of American Legion Post 8 and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, disagreed with Williams and Cole, saying that support for veterans and the military isn't as high as it was during World War I and World War II. He pointed out that there was no Memorial Day parade and that county and city officials did not arrange any observances for the day.
Treatment of veterans by the federal government also had varying responses. Massey said he thought the situation would improve after the problems exposed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center earlier this year.
Williams also said he's been treated well by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, who helped with a disability acquired during his service and also helping go to Eastern Oregon University, from which he'll graduate in a little over two weeks on his way to becoming a history teacher.
“The wheels of the system do grind slowly but they do grind along,” Williams said.
Cole, on the other hand, said the government could do more for its service members, such as providing better pensions and other benefits.
All three agreed that they were proud of their service and that they want to make sure they and other veterans stay involved in their communities. Williams brought up the essay contests the Veterans of Foreign Wars hold each year where children and adolescents can win scholarships. Massey said the American Legion baseball teams provide athletic opportunities and veterans organizations provide a network for service members overall.
The key, they said, is to keep informing the public of how veterans can help and support the community, and continue to recruit recent veterans to their organizations.
Massey said he himself shied from the American Legion at first because he thought it was just a place for veterans to go drink and gamble. It wasn't until he became involved that he said he saw the organization for what it really is.
“We've always been community involved,” he said.
- By Ty Beaver
Dan Williams said things were different when his father retired from the military.
Williams and his father both served in the Vietnam War. Williams' father was awarded the Medal of Honor for helping to save members of his Army special operations unit when it was attacked by Viet Cong. When he returned to the United States after his tour, though, he met scorn for his role in the military.
For today's veterans
That's not how it is today according Williams. Veterans differed in opinion on what it's like to be a veteran in America today. Regardless of each view, veterans said that more could be done to involve communities in veteran's activities and remind people of the sacrifices they have given.
“These guys are the real superstars,” said Jesse Cole, a Navy veteran.
Williams served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years before he retired a master sergeant in 1994. He was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War and
in the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s. He said that people's appreciation of veterans has come a long way since the post-Vietnam era. But, he is bothered by the fact that Memorial Day is now just considered part of a three-day holiday. It's a view shared Cole, who also served during the 1970s.
Cole said he'd never seen anyone degrade a veteran before and that media coverage of service members, including returns from tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, keep them in the public spotlight.
Art Massey, incoming president of American Legion Post 8 and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, disagreed with Williams and Cole, saying that support for veterans and the military isn't as high as it was during World War I and World War II. He pointed out that there was no Memorial Day parade and that county and city officials did not arrange any observances for the day.
Treatment of veterans by the federal government also had varying responses. Massey said he thought the situation would improve after the problems exposed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center earlier this year.
Williams also said he's been treated well by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, who helped with a disability acquired during his service and also helping go to Eastern Oregon University, from which he'll graduate in a little over two weeks on his way to becoming a history teacher.
“The wheels of the system do grind slowly but they do grind along,” Williams said.
Cole, on the other hand, said the government could do more for its service members, such as providing better pensions and other benefits.
All three agreed that they were proud of their service and that they want to make sure they and other veterans stay involved in their communities. Williams brought up the essay contests the Veterans of Foreign Wars hold each year where children and adolescents can win scholarships. Massey said the American Legion baseball teams provide athletic opportunities and veterans organizations provide a network for service members overall.
The key, they said, is to keep informing the public of how veterans can help and support the community, and continue to recruit recent veterans to their organizations.
Massey said he himself shied from the American Legion at first because he thought it was just a place for veterans to go drink and gamble. It wasn't until he became involved that he said he saw the organization for what it really is.
“We've always been community involved,” he said.
- By Ty Beaver
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