It all started the day after Christmas a few years ago. We haven't heard from Joe for a few weeks, and we were wondering where he was. Joe wasn't a social butterfly, but he never forgot a Birthday or a Holiday. If we didn't see him he'd at least call. You see, Joe didn't have a phone, but he always found a payphone to make his calls. When Christmas came and went, we were concerned. So we drove out to his house. We had a key, so we let ourselves in. You see, I'm the type of guy that always thinks the worst, but hopes for the best. As we entered, the house was as neat as it always was, and no sign of Joe. We thought maybe he went to visit his Nephew, his only living relative. We called Kenny, and he told us Joe was at the V.A. Hospital, and he'd been there for a few weeks. He said it wasn't serious, but the Doctors wanted to observe him for a while.

The following day we drove out to the hospital. As soon as we walked in, the stupidity started. We asked for Joe's room. The receptionist told us that we "can't" see him. She said, "That it was tough love" I said, "What the H*ll does that mean?" She told us that substance abuse patients are not allowed visitors. Well, that's all well and good but there was problem here. Joe doesn't drink, smoke, and no way does he do drugs I told her. I told her, "Well perhaps maybe you have the wrong guy" And after fifteen minutes, she found her mistake, and directed us to the right room. With no apology, what so ever.

When we arrived on the ninth floor, we found Joe sitting in a chair. This "tough guy" that I knew, who fought bravely in World War Two and the Korean War, sat there emotionless and still. We asked him what had happened, and he showed us that he was bleeding into a bag. Now, I'm no Doctor, but being a man I was pretty certain he had some sort of kidney infection. We asked him what they have done for him, and he told us, "Nothing, not a thing for two weeks. We asked o see the Doctor, another genious,he said they are working on the problem. "What the H*ll does that mean?" I asked. He said they have quite a few patients, and he was not a priority. As I looked around the room at all these brave men who protected us from our enemies in different conflicts around the World, laying helpless in these beds, I felt great sadness. These guys are my heros, and to see them like this made me, well, sad.

We visited Joe every week, and every week, there was no change. I don't mean his conditon worsened, I mean he still hadn't gotten any medication of any kind. A very nice nurse came up to us and told us that it was a kidney infection, and he should have gotten antibiotics a month ago, and should never have been admitted in the first place. "Why were they holding him here", I asked. All the nurse said to me was, "I have no idea"

A week after that encounter, Joe called us and told us to come to the hospital right away. When we arrived, the Doctor was in talking with him. We asked what the problem was, an the Doctor told us Joe was physically healthy, but he would not let him go home. The Doctor told us and Joe, that in his opinion, Joe can't take care of himself, and that he would have to be put in a nursing home. Joe pleaded with the Doctor and us, that if he couldn't resume his daily activities, it would kill him. To add insult to injury, the administrator also told us that his home of fifty- two years would have to be sold. The sale of the house would help pay the cost of Joe's care.

Is this the proper way to treat our Veterans? I don't think so. These people, both men and women, were wounded and died to keep us free, and we treat them in this manner. I am friends with four Veterans. Two that served in Vietnam, one served in Korea, an one from World War Two, and I have many more stories I may publish some day, but today it's about Joe.

About two months after Joe was "sent" to the nursing home, he passed away in his sleep. The Doctors said the cause of death was natural causes, but we visited him in the nursing home, and I'll tell you what killed him. This man, my hero, who fought for our freedoms, died in the nursing home a prisoner. I will miss him. When you see sign that says, "Support Our Troops" remember to also support them...Always
GOD Bless our Troops

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