Maj. Thomas Lawrence Egan, decorated homeless veteran dies alone in the snow

by
Chaplain Kathie
Think of those words tied together. Decorated, would indicate above and beyond the call of duty. He was a Major. He also served in the Oregon National Guard. That indicates the kind of person that wanted to be of service to his state and his nation. Imagine that! Then he dies, homeless and alone in the snow. All of that yet we manage somehow to keep saying this is a grateful nation.

People tried to help Major Egan. He tried to get help. The shelter has rules on sobriety. One of the statements made was that Egan "chose" to not stop drinking. That's the biggest problem of all. Too many simply assume that a man willing to sacrifice his life for his country would rather be homeless, living on the streets than to stop drinking. The truth is, most of them can't stop. It's not due to being an alcoholic, as many would simply assume. Most of them are self medicating the feelings they cannot cope with. Without the proper help and support, this is their only refuge. We've heard the stories all too often. It's not generational. It's human need.

While the people trying to help him did what they could, what they knew how to do, the problem is, no one told them what else was needed to be done.

Too many of these veterans have lost hope of healing. Egan had a college degree. He had a Master's Degree. This would indicate a man with intelligence, along with the bravery he showed serving the nation. Even with that intelligence, the message that what was eating away at him could be healed and he could live a life again instead of just existing as yet one more nameless person most of us just walk by.

Without hope, all the education, all the bravery in the world, cannot replace what is missing. They need to reconnect to human kindness and above all, the spiritual connection to a Higher power to renew their strength. They need to see themselves through eyes of love and not condemnation. The people at the shelter tried to replace what was not in their power to deliver. He needed help to find that piece within all of us trapped under a wall of pain to heal.

Read the rest of the story and then watch Homeless Veterans Day, because they are veterans and they are homeless everyday. Not just one day of the year. They are homeless in the summer as well as in the winter when they can freeze to death alone. The very same streets this man was willing to lay down his life for as a member of the National Guard, claimed his life because this nation refused to guard his life.

Homeless man who died in snow was a decorated war veteran
By Laura Rillos
KVAL News
Video
EUGENE, Ore. -- The homeless man who froze to death Tuesday evening, believed to be the first victim of Oregon's snow, was a decorated war veteran who earned a master's degree from the University of Oregon.


Thomas Lawrence Egan, 60, was found partially covered in snow near the corner of Blair Boulevard and West First Avenue. According to the Lane County Medical Examiner's office, he died from exposure to the cold.

Word of Egan's death spread quickly throughout Lane County's community of veterans. He was well known among veterans support circles. He served two decades in the Army and Oregon Army National Guard, spent two years serving in Korea and earned several medals and ribbons for his service.

Bud Dickey, a Vocational Rehablitation Coordinator with Eugene's VA Clinic, says Egan's story is tragic.

Dickey served alongside Egan for five years in the Oregon National Guard. He calls Egan " a good person who fell on bad times."

"There were several different times when people tried to help him and for certain times, he was OK," said Dickey. "For whatever reasons, he couldn't stay on track and chose to continue to drink."

That was one reason Egan remained homeless. According to Dickey, many local housing projects for veterans required sobriety and Egan was unable to remain sober.



Awards:

Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

National Defense Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal

Army Service Ribbon

Overseas Service Ribbon

Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon

Oregon Faithful Service Ribbon with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Connecticut Recruit-badge
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