Popular Post Ron Altier Posted October 13, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 We get a lot of salesmen knocking on our doors, usually selling windows, painting houses, etc. I just talked to one who was collecting for homeless vets with substance abuse problems. Colorado has a large amount of homeless and it is growing, in part because of Pot. They stand on corners begging money with signs "Homeless disabled vet" I find it Very hard to donate to a fat man, smoking cigarettes and on disability. One joint costs more than $6. I donate to organizations that try to help. (wounded warriors) The young man collecting was an afghan vet who served 2 tours there and his dad was a Viet vet. He asked what I did in Nam and I told him heavy artillery. He immediately said "Thank God for guys who did that, artillery saved so many soldiers, including our outfit". I was taken back by that. We only got few reports on kills or and one on saves in all my time serving there and shot 8000 projectiles weighing 200 lb each. I enjoyed talking to him and did help out. lew, Cal, p_toad and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted October 14, 2017 Report Share Posted October 14, 2017 Ron, I hate to be the skeptic here. So many of the homeless portray themselves as vets, it's sad. I am assuming through your discussion with this man you vetted him and you trust he was telling the truth. I trust your judgement. But I gotta say, "outfit"? Nobody says that anymore. But I digress, back to your judgement, I trust it. And that being said, there are so many places our veterans can go for help. If they just only reach out. Our VA and homeless programs do not know they exist, if they don't reach out. Granted the majority of homeless veterans are mentally ill, or substance dependent. I'd like to ram home a reality that is uncomfortable to talk about, most veterans on the street, are there not because of a service related illness or injury, such as PTSD. But they are there because of poor life choices after service. Most veterans never served in combat, or experienced the challenges of it. All that aside, the help is there, they only need to reach out. Actually, for homeless as a whole, veterans or not, the help is there, they just have to want it. https://www.va.gov/homeless/ Ron Altier, Stick486 and HARO50 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Altier Posted October 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 All very true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred W. Hargis Jr Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 Given the small size of the nearest "city" (40,000) I see a lot of panhandlers with "homeless vet" written on their signs. It's to the point where the city government asked people not to give to the panhandlers, instead donate to one or more of the various organizations that help such folks out. But I've often wondered if the ones who call themselves a "vet" really are what they say. Regardless, while I would occassionally offer money to them in the past, I've stopped and now donate to those organizations. HARO50 and p_toad 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Altier Posted October 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2017 On 10/15/2017 at 9:13 AM, Fred W. Hargis Jr said: Given the small size of the nearest "city" (40,000) I see a lot of panhandlers with "homeless vet" We see them every day. In Denver the number is much higher. Most have homeless vet or Viet vet signs. Even people in wheel chairs with fishing nets that extend out to drivers. I've tried to see the other side. My visit to the VA here was a total disappointment, but an eye opener. I saw guys struggling to breathe thur tubes, stop and lite up a cigarette. Maybe I am to naive or unforgiving, but I don't think so. I do help, but not on the streets. HARO50 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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