Ret. Col. Vic Ogilvie has high hopes for Obama and troops

Vic Ogilvie of Altamonte Springs is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel.
My Word, Orlando Sentinel
High hopes for troops under Obama
Vic Ogilvie
September 5, 2008
DENVER - As a pro-military, Hillary Clinton delegate from Central Florida, I went to the Democratic National Convention in Denver with the realization that she would not secure the nomination, but I was determined to get a better understanding of Barack Obama's plans for veterans and the military.

Having spent my entire professional life serving with the military and working for veterans in a health-care setting, I feel a strong bond with them and a keen awareness of their needs and concerns. The veterans I know are selfless individuals, who have made untold sacrifices for their communities and the nation. Many experience disruption or abrupt termination of their career plans, physical injury and deep emotional distress and some, even death.

Most know the risks when they enlist, but they do so out of a desire to serve a cause greater than themselves. Is it not then reasonable to expect that we, as a nation, will provide adequate benefits to restore employability and medical and mental health care to heal the terrible wounds of combat trauma?

Sadly, this has not been the case during the past eight years. The recent scandal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center involving patient care and building neglect was a shocking wake-up call for all Americans. The Department of Veterans Affairs does a good job treating traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder, burns and amputations -- the signature wounds of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan -- but it has always struggled for adequate funding, particularly under the Bush Administration.
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This is also one of the biggest reasons why I am so appalled with McCain and the GOP. With all the speeches, all the talk about how bad Obama is over the convention (and before) none of them manage to address the dire needs of our veterans. I know I've said this way too much but considering McCain keeps talking about how being a POW, he should have cared more about his fellow veterans than he has. McCain always wants them standing behind him but never stands behind them when they needed him. kc