BOYCOTT Suddenlink Cable Company

Tyler, Texas & Russellville, Arkansas
and if possible The Department of Veterans Affairs, for all of the good the VA has ever done they might just as well have never been

Copied in part From The Associated Press:

The Appeals Court has ordered VA to pay retroactive compensation to Vietnam Veterans with Chronic Lymphocyte Leukemia and flatly stated the Department of Veterans Affairs has contributed substantially to the sense of national shame, and in the words of my younger brother when he gets tanked "Burn Baby Burn". My second oldest straight brother (also a Vietnam Veteran) passed away on July 4th 2001 and never received any type of compensation, suffered with Chronic Lymphocyte Leukemia for over 30 years. VA's official reason for the denials was that it was not service related or connected

The Little Rock/North Little Rock Veterans Administration Deceptions, Lies and Cover-ups

I hope to bring to the national consciousness the close mindedness of those in the North Little Rock AR VA Regional Office, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center in North Little Rock and McClellan Hospital in Little Rock, AR. Further to bring to light the plight of the Gay Veteran in Arkansas. There are no less than five (See Hall of Shame) recognized and active hate groups in the State of Arkansas, and I have little doubt that the Little Rock VA Regional Office is controlled by a large number of them.

All veterans gay, straight, or whatever who have a computer and internet access should post a website or blog, detailing their experiences both good and bad with the Department of Veterans Affairs. If all Senators and Congress people (for the Senators and Congress people must share as much blame and shame as The Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as The Federal Judges) had been as public during the time of Vietnam as they are about the Iraq veterans, The Department of Veterans Affairs might not be in as shitty a state as it is now. And should you feel like using dirty gutter language go right ahead, your not writing about how Joe Blow down the street thinks it should be written, or what he or she thinks sounds better or what the VA would have you write. You are writing your experiences, your feelings and your emotions, let the world know what The Department of Veterans Affairs is really like.

A lot of assholes in the VFW, The DAV, The American Legion and all of the other veterans outreach groups are very quick to point out that I lied on induction papers, well what else is old news and how many lies has the Military, The Government and The Department of Veterans given out over the years. What I think The Department of Veterans Affairs is really pissed off about is I and gay veterans across the country made it. Served honorably in silence and never got outed and discharged in disgrace and so much for their stinking "threat to national security excuse", and I have to wonder at times if it would really have made any difference had I answered yes to any homosexual tendencies. In those days Don't Ask, Don't Tell was even an option. And I really feel The Department of Veterans Affairs, has never given any thought to even the remotest possibility the Gay Movement would ever obtain the political clout that it has now.

This is my theory for a large number of problems faced by gay veterans in Arkansas, and is based in part from my experiences and conversations with the Regional Office, VA Counselors and Outreach Counselors, McClellan Hospital, The VFW, The American Legion, The DAV and various Veterans Outreach organizations. Some have called this ranting and ravings against the man and a cold cruel world so be it, no apologies are offered and none are given. If it were up to those people these so called "Vanity Sites" wouldn't even be on the web. You would have to submit it to their advisory board and it would be the same as trying to get VA compensation, if not impossible, damned near it.

Some have told me I don't know how the VA system works and that may be true. But I sure as hell know when the entire deck is stacked against me (and triply so for a gay Vietnam veteran). My observations here are based on a lifetime of lies perpetrated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and small town Society in this neck of the woods.

GayCityUSA

My service dates (got drafted) were 9 May 1967 to 1 May 1969. For the two years of my active service and up until mid 1974, I hid my sexual preference. In 1980 I was awarded a Non-Service connected pension for nerves and lack of income. This would be terminated in June 1982 because of a re-evaluation report by Dr. Lewis Neal of the Little Rock VA Regional Office. There is little doubt my Sexual Orientation was a deciding factor in that denial, (see Discrimination Veterans Administration).

Though I am mostly self-taught, a good deal of my training comes from the Universities of Ole Screw U, also known as The United States Army and The Veterans Administration. I was even presented with a nice 8x10 certificate "Suitable For Framing" from The University of Screw U Department of The United States Army appropriately titled Honorable Discharge.

GayBlogDump

In his report Dr. Neal stated my grammar and diction were consistent with my ninth grade education and my self professed Bisexuality. Although the report presented by Dr Neal is highly discriminatory and inflammatory it does present all of the symptoms of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) with the exception of the statement about my self-professed Bisexuality.

On or about 1998 or 1999 the Adjudication Officer Fredrick H King deliberately lied to the Little Rock Office of Senator Hutchinson in which he stated that I had informed (Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System) CAVHCS that I wished to withdraw my claim for compensation due to lack of transportation. Truth is however I had informed CAVHCS that I wish to cancel a medical appointment due to lack of transportation.

Vietnam Veterans Against The War

I view the time I spent in the Military as a curse, nothing more nothing less and dealings with the VA and VA doctors, The DAV, The VFW, The American Legion here in Arkansas and elsewhere as an even bigger curse. And you will not find any gratitude on this site for any of them. The fact is I've never been welcomed by the Gay or Straight world. What little sexual life I had was taken away by the two years of Military service, and gives every indication of making it a lifelong deal.

Little Rock and Arkansas is so small, impoverished and un-important that no one will get involved. It's one of those places where everyone feels that it nobodies business. Since on or about 1976 as an openly Gay Disabled Vietnam Veteran I have existed on a small Social Security Disability check and the VA has denied me service connection on all types of compensation.

The most recent denial was in early 2003, and I have suffered from PTSD since day one of the Military and extreme panic attacks since the last part of 1968 and Vietnam to the present. I am currently living and have lived below the poverty level due to psychological difficulties stemming from and or aggravated by my Military service and since being Honorably separated from the Military in 1969.

Gay Vets Message Board
Gay Veterans Forums.