My friend wrote a letter to his Congressman-- in behalf of me.

Here is the letter that my Christian brother/
warrior sent to his Congressman in GA concerning
 my recent problem with the Milwaukee VA Pharmacy.
Thank you, Dirk, for being a fighting American !

I urge my other readers and friends to follow
Dirk's fine support and example, please.

~Tom
**************************************************************************
Dear Mr. Gingrey:

I am continually appalled, upset, and irate at the way our veterans
are treated by the Veterans' Administration.  I have heard accounts
from different Vets about their dealings with the VA.  All have the
same theme - having to fight and wait extended periods of time for
medical treatment or medicines, abuses by staff, and the list goes on
and on. Here is an account that I am forwarding by permission.  Tom
Shuckman is a hero and a friend of mine who served our country in
Vietnam.  Here is his post in his blog, Heli-Gunner Tom
(http://heli-gunnertom.blogspot.com/) on the matter:

Milwaukee VA drops the ball again... Late Meds.

I am using red type this morning for a reason -- I am angry. The
Milwaukee VAMC -hospital pharmacy dropped the ball again [standard SOP
{standard operating procedure} ], and forgot to send my important
medication. The way it works is that some scripts need to be renewed
on a monthly basis and I call [phone] in that particular prescription
about 7 days ahead of time. I don't miss a beat and soldiers know how
to obey orders. What boils my hide is that the VA staff and Pharmacy
are NOT above lying, passing the buck or just passing you off on a
never ending [good old boys] goose chase to tire you out so that you
just want to quit the system.... and that costs the Gov't less money
when you quit or abandon the VA program! Well, today I was expecting
the meds even late as it was, to be delivered by Fed Ex, and when they
didn't come I called up the VA Pharmacy-- 5000 W. National Ave.,
Milwaukee, W|I 53295-1000 [888-469-6614 ext. 46765], and that is when
the goose chase began. Its an old story.... lol.

I got handed over to a female, Lindy W, who wanted to pass me on the
the head pharmacist, but I convinced her that my medications were
already late and I was out of them-- so that she PROMISED to have them
sent to me special over night delivery- tomorrow. Dealing with the VA
system for over 30 years, I have taken notes, recorded things and
surely know their system and tricks. Other Veterans have told me the
same story-- and I like to 'interview' them when I go tothe VA and
wait for my turn. I even give them my 'business card' in case they
want to get back with me and talk about the greand promises of God in
His Word- the bible, and also try to hand out small pocket bibles for
their encouragement --part of my small Christian ministry, as known by
my Journal readers and friends at church,
etc.

When someone gets pissed enough to contact their State or Federal Rep.
or Senator-- things go public and the VA goes into 'Damage Control'
and puts on a little 'floor show' to appease the public out cry, but
in a few weeks after it all dies down they are back to their old
screwed up, sloppy ways of mediocre medicine, service/ teatments. I
have heard that other countries take care of their disabled Vets a lot
better. Don't get me wrong-- there are still some very good doctors
and nurses that want to help the Vets.
Since this happens about every 2-3 months, I guess it's about time to
forward this blog post to my State Reps. Our two big time Lefty Dems
in Wisconsin [ Senators, Feingold, and Herb Kohl] won't even reply to
me as they prob. know that I lean conservative/ Republican, and in
their eyes perhaps that spells 'troublemaker', when in fact this old,
disabled, tired combat Vet of age 59 won't just turn over and die.
Don't worry, I don't think that i will live much longer...dear
Senators... lol. I am getting screwed enough by my own company,
Chrysler even in retirement, so that I will not be pushed around,
abused by the Gov't / VA !!

Your comments, support and help are very much appreciated! I hope that
some of you will take this opportunity to forward this post to your
OWN Gov't Reps.

Apocalypse Now - Helicopter Attack- Kilgore


Thank you.

Thomas G. Schuckman
Union Grove, WI 53182
tschuckman@aol.com


Mr. Gingrey, I think the time is long past where we see real reform in
the Veterans' Administration.  As Mr. Schuckman said, whenever this
issue becomes "newsworthy" to the press, and you and or colleagues
become involved, the VA will put on quite a show until after
everything dies down.  Then it's business as usual.

I realize that we are in a period of transition with the election of a
new President, but this matter is of the utmost urgency.  This segment
of our population, taken for granted and largely forgotten, deserve so
much more and so much better treatment than what they are receiving.
These people have served in our Armed Forces, protected us, sacrificed
for us, and kept America truly the "land of the free".  It is such a
very small price to pay to reform this agency and streamline services
to our veterans.  We all owe our veterans a debt that can never be
repaid.

Thank you in advance for your immediate attention to this urgent matter.

Respectfully Yours,

Dirk Whittemore
Cartersville, Georgia  30120
tsalagiman1@gmail.com
http://tsalagiman2.blogspot.com/

Milwaukee VA drops the ball again... Late Meds.

<<< This is a picture of me, Tom Schuckman, age 20, DoorGunner/ crew member Sp/4, with the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, in BearCat, RVN [Vietnam] 68-70.
********************************************
I am using red type this morning for a reason -- I am angry. The Milwaukee VAMC -hospital pharmacy dropped the ball again [standard SOP {standard operating procedure} ], and forgot to send my important medication. The way it works is that some scripts need to be renewed on a monthly basis and I call [phone] in that particular prescription about 7 days ahead of time. I don't miss a beat and soldiers know how to obey orders. What boils my hide is that the VA staff and Pharmacy are NOT above lying, passing the buck or just passing you off on a never ending [good old boys] goose chase to tire you out so that you just want to quit the system.... and that costs the Gov't less money when you quit or abandon the VA program! It was also documented and gone public that the VA staff actually got bonuses for denying Veterans' disability claims!! Hello! Well, today I was expecting the meds even late as it was, to be delivered by Fed Ex, and when they didn't come I called up the VA Pharmacy-- 5000 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, W|I 53295-1000 [888-469-6614 ext. 46765], and that is when the goose chase began. Its an old story.... lol. I know the 2 ladies' names and Kathy has been truthful enough to tell me that the other gal 'lets things slip and forgets alot...' With medications and people's health involved you just can't do that! If they can't do their jobs right--let them transfer to a less attentive job. If I did my job like that in combat- Vietnam, my helicopter crew might have died-- or at the lest the other guys in my platoon would have really 'readjusted my mind, and perhaps body'... lol. The same when I worked for AMC/ Chrysler.

I got handed over to a female, Lindy W, who wanted to pass me on the the head pharmacist, but I convinced her that my medications were already late and I was out of them-- so that she PROMISED to have them sent to me special over night delivery- tomorrow, Ha! We shall see... Dealing with the VA system for over 30 years, I have taken notes, recorded things and surely know their system, tricks, and lies. Other Veterans have told me the same story-- and I like to 'interview' them when I go to the VA and wait for my turn. I even give them my 'business card' in case they want to get back with me and talk about the grand promises of God in His Word- the bible, and also try to hand out small pocket bibles for their encouragement --part of my small Christian ministry, as known by my Journal readers and friends at church, etc. Most of the guys are happy and very thankful to get that pocket bible! It makes me feel good inside to cheer them up and help if I can.

When some Vet gets pissed off enough to contact their State or Federal Rep. or Senator-- things go public and the VA goes into 'Damage Control' and puts on a little 'floor show' to appease the public out cry, but in a few weeks after it all dies down they are back to their old screwed up, sloppy ways of mediocre medicine, service/ treatments. I have heard that other countries take care of their disabled Vets a lot better. Don't get me wrong-- there are still some very good doctors and nurses that want to help the Vets, but IMHO [in my humble opinion] most people that work at the VA are there only for a paycheck, judging from their condescending attitude.
Since this happens about every 2-3 months, I guess it's about time to forward this blog post to my State Reps. Our two big time Lefty Dems in Wisconsin [ Senators, Russ Feingold, and Herb Kohl] won't even reply to me as they prob. know that I lean conservative/ Republican, and in their eyes perhaps that spells 'troublemaker', when in fact this old, disabled, tired combat Vet of age 59 won't just roll over and die. Don't worry, I don't think that I will live much longer...dear Senators... lol. I am getting shafted enough by my own company, Chrysler even in retirement, so I will not be pushed around, abused by the Gov't / VA !! My dear wife is disabled with Sarcoidosis, and we live in a 100 year old house that I bought about 7 years ago in Union Grove,WI 53182 -- our humble hovel with a fine veggie garden in the back yard, a dog and a cat. I get injections in both knees for 'bone on bone' Osteo Arthritis, and my back is injured too. I also suffer from combat PTSD, service-connected.

Your comments, support and help are very much appreciated!
I hope that some of you will take this opportunity to forward this post to your OWN Gov't Reps.

Apocalypse Now - Helicopter Attack- Kilgore


Thank you.

Thomas G. Schuckman
Union Grove, WI 53182
tschuckman@aol.com
Hi Tom,

Things like this always really gets me fired up. Other countries wouldn't have to try very hard at all to treat their veterans better than we do here. I know you OK' d forwarding to our Senators/Representatives, but I wanted to clear with you first if it was OK to forward this as is with you name on it.

I hope you get the medication soon. This is ridiculous. Hope you are well otherwise, my brother.

Dirk
http://tsalagiman2.blogspot.com/

Comment:

A letter from Dick, in Hawaii.

The following is a letter/ message/ reply from a friend and fellow combat Veteran
that I consider very special.   I am going to take his advice.  His greeting to
me is always 'DoorGunner.'   Song:  Dirty Water - The Standells 

Aloha DoorGunner.

You are not alone --- you are not a freak.  We are all doing this same sort of
thing, but in our own particular way.  You have infinitely more company than you
may be aware of.

Yours truly devotes endless hours on the internet reading other Vets websites.
Most all identify having the same sort of things that you described in your
posting, daydreams and flashbacks.  I know that I most certainly do.  The
emerging general consensus is that mentally reliving our experiences is quite
normal for combat veterans.  The harsher the experience, the more vivid the
recall.

The best therapy, it is agreed and if any is needed, is to tell your story[s].
Doing so is not only good for you, it is also of benefit to others who are going
through the same sort of thing.
Knowing that many others share the same sort of thoughts about their
experiences, but in their own personal way, helps me to understand that my
thoughts are within the range of normalcy.  If you were there ducking bullets,
you have one-of-a-kind experiences to relive and interesting stories to tell.

Back then we were young, tough as nails and were wired with energy.  In our
aging years we miss that. It left us with a hunger that we can never again fully
satisfy.  Nam is part of us forever.

After haunting many blogs for a considerable period, it becomes readily apparent
that those of us who both received incoming small arms fire and, in turn,
returned it to survive have an entirely different set of beliefs about what we
went through than those who were in logistical support units living behind the
safety of the wire.  We 'line unit' Vets are a band of brothers who were forged
and then tempered by being Baptized Under Fire.  "For he who sheds his blood
with me will be my brother forever."  The behind-the-wire support types never
knew, let alone understand, this blood-bonding experience.

The threads posted by the support/depot types are full of bitterness and
residual anger.  All they largely do is gripe about the years of their lives
wasted, endless days of boredom, the drugs they used, bad chow prepared by
indifferent cooks and playing grab-ass with the hootch girls.  They never tell
stories of having pride in themselves, of their unit or of their service to our
wonderful nation.  All they talk about is negative stuff.

Stories posted by those serving with SF, Airborne, Ranger, Long Range Recon,
Armored Cav units and AHC's are full of unit pride.  Although many of their
stories are filled with hair-raising drama, they are stories of uplifting pride.
Pride in their unit, in themselves and in what they accomplished.  This also
holds true for stories told by the combat engineers and the demolition explosive
guys.  Some of the most positive, yet heart-wrenching are the stories told by
the dog handlers.  I'm a dog person, love big shaggy Newfies, and it always
breaks my heart when the War Dog is hurt or becomes a KIA.

As you are aware, I was a MACV Adviser, living and working with the Vietnamese.
Therefore, my perspective is quite different from that of a GI who only served
with fellow Americans and who looked upon the locals as being lesser beings.
You don't entrust your life to others without accepting them as equals, showing
them the respect they have earned.  Yes, I learned to love them, more so than
some members of my family.  Its more than 40-years now and I still miss some of
them.

On the personal side --- Most evenings when I close my eyes and begin to drift
off, I'm back in the triple canopy jungle or the mangrove swamp of the Rung Sat
Special Zone of over40-years ago.  Being back there is not a troubling or
fearful event.  Its more a case of being back where I belong.  Aside from the
terrible firefights, having our compound mortared and always being a bit        
on the hungry side, life was good.  I never felt more useful to others or ever
having a greater sense of purpose than I did when living with the Vietnamese.
The experiences gained are a part of you forever.  You earned them the hard way.
Learn to relax and enjoy the memories and to share them with others.

After all these years, I'm nothing more than a old, tired, rifle-carrying,
sweat-soaked, muddy-booted grunt.  That is the way I continue to see myself and
I'm fiercely proud of being such a humble creature.  I am one of the fortunate
few to have served with MACV and I would do so again in a heartbeat.  No regrets
whatsoever.  I know it had to end, but I would relish doing it again.

Enough of my ranting.  Let me end by saying that if your dreams are of the
nightmare kind, you have a problem.  If they are of good memories, then learn to
accept them as wanted old friends.  Your stories are a portion of our national
heritage.  Get them out in the open where we can all benefit from them.  You
have a fine website going for you.  Use it to post some of your experiences.
When and where it works, relate them to a passage in the Bible or a lesson
leaned from the Bible.

All in all, you come across as being quite normal as I understand you.  Request
that you post other responses you receive on this topic.  I'm most interested to
learn what our other brothers-in-arms have been experiencing.

Take good care --------

Aloha,

Narrow Seadog Two Two

===============================================================
Rangers are roping-in half way around the world, while the remainder of the Army
is still lacing-up their boots.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I Send? Who will go for
us?"  And I said "He