By: R Gilbert
Non Compensated Gay Vietnam Veteran

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.

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.

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. Since that time and because of the mental anguish they cause me and the brick wall atitude of the VA I have decided my claims are hopeless and dead and buried, never to be re-opened again.

My Personal Blog
About all of the stagnated Little closed minds and the Dixie Marfia in Morrilton that I can manage

Free To Be Gay Vets
For all gay men, women and transgendered who have in the past, or are now repressed by "don't ask, don't tell".
WARNING! ADULT NUDITY!

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