Vietnam Veteran takes his own life over VA error

For all the tales of how we are a "grateful nation" this happens all the time when they are treated as if they are the ones who should be grateful just to have come home alive. They should be thankful they were allowed to serve this nation and they are the ones who owe us. "You can pay by cash, check or credit card" because you didn't pay with your life, is basically what he was told. The majority of claims are finally awarded, with a fight from the veteran, but there are some who are denied and never honored. There are Vietnam veterans still fighting to have their claims honored who never set foot in Vietnam but suffered because of what they were exposed to with Agent Orange, sexual assaults and accidents. There were Vietnam veterans dealing with events that happened after most people assume Vietnam ended in 1973 but the lives were still being claimed in 1975.

Capture and Release of SS Mayaguez by Kmer Rouge forces in M...
Mariner Heroes from Military Sealift Command ship participate in rescue attempt of SS Mayaguez which was caputured by Kmer Rouge Cambodia forces in May

Some of these veterans are still having their claims denied and they are also being treated as if they are not even "combat veterans" by other veterans. All because they were not in Vietnam itself. Do we owe them anything for their service or the fact they were involved in such a horrific event? How can the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans ever think they will be taken care of when we can't even take care of Vietnam veterans or Gulf War veterans still seeking justice?

Veteran takes his own life over VA error
By Sharon Woods Harris
Published: Friday, August 1, 2008 10:29 AM CDT
Times staff writer

PEKIN - The walls of Thomas Dale Harrison's meager apartment on Sheridan Road in Pekin were covered with reminders of the years he spent as a Green Beret with the U.S. Army in the Panama Canal region during the Vietnam War era.

Pekin Police detective Rick Von Rohr said Harrison was very proud of his service to his country. His living room was covered in memorabilia and prized possessions from his service.


Times had been tough for Harrison over the past several years. Often, he could barely afford to put food on the table with the small Veteran's Administration benefits he received. He had no other income. Harrison was a diabetic who suffered from high blood pressure, so he could not work.

Even with all that, Harrison, 59, was living a happy life until the first letter came, said Tazewell County Coroner Dennis Conover said, recounting an earlier conversation with Harrison's sister.

The VA letter demanded the repayment of $43,000 from Harrison that the VA alleged he was overpaid. Ironically, the letter told the man (who spent part of his life defending the nation) that he could pay by cash, check or credit card.



Eventually the VA cut off his veteran's benefits, said Conover, but the letters kept coming.

That, said Harrison's brother-in-law, Bill Maquet of Manito, was the “last straw” for Harrison.

Harrison spent his last moments of his life writing three notes - one to his sister, and two to the Veterans Administration on the back of two letters from the VA demanding payment.



The notes were found next to his body June 3.

“(Expletive) you, you can't get money from a dead man,” said one of the notes to the VA.
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