Proper Care for Veterans Still Lacking

No doubt many of you heard or read about the would-be bank robber in Cobb County last week.

While the incident took place several miles from Jasper County, the aftermath of what took place should give us all, as Americans, reason for concern. Fortunately none of the employees or customers inside the bank suffered injuries when a man entered carrying what he said was a bomb.

In the end, however, the man was killed although it was still being investigated whether he took his own life or whether a bullet from a SWAT team member ended the situation. No money was actually taken. It was later confirmed the would-be robber was a veteran who was having trouble getting help for various issues including PTSD, an ever-growing issue for many servicemen and servicewomen.

Family members of the man, a one-time Marine, said it was a cry for help as he had no place to live and the red tape he was dealing with in trying to get assistance had become too much for him to overcome. In fact, once inside the bank the man called an Atlanta television station to explain his plight in what was clearly a final appeal for assistance from someone, anyone.

Those inside the bank said the man never hurt anyone. His threat of having a bomb, however, made the situation one that had to be dealt with however by law enforcement. It’s a shame that it all had to end the way it did for someone who had, by all accounts, served his country in a noble manner.

“He made bad choices,” the man’s brother said. “This was a very bad choice. “I believe it was one episode that he was having and he was crying for help.”

The man’s brother said he felt there could have been a peaceful resolution to the incident.

Situations like the one that unfolded inside the bank in Cobb County last week once again highlight the plight many veterans go through. While some improvements may have been made in terms of veterans getting care, both physical and mental, it is still a big obstacle for many.

Waits are often too long and service is often denied to those who need it. The fact that veterans in our country struggle to have a place to live or to receive the medical care they deserve is something which should be a great concern to all of us.

How desperate must this man have become that he took the actions he did last week. It should be noted that he actually did not harm anyone and some bank employees who were inside the facility later said they never felt like they were in danger.

This is an issue which is a non-partisan one even though both major political parties are to blame for allowing it to get to this point. If we expect our military to protect us then we must provide each member with the proper care once he or she returns home.

Continuing to ignore the problem is not going to fix it. Cases like the one in Cobb County last week emphasize that loud and clear.

Monticello native Chris Bridges is a long-time newspaper columnist. He welcomes feedback from readers of The Monticello News at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.