"Where Honor Lives" until nursing home veterans are abused

Elder abuse investigations linger in incidents at state veterans home

11:55 PM CDT on Saturday, April 3, 2010
By JAMES DREW / The Dallas Morning News
jdrew@dallasnews.com

BIG SPRING, Texas – The Veterans Land Board promotes its seven state-owned veterans homes with a glossy brochure titled "Where Honor Lives."

But there was nothing honorable about what allegedly happened to World War II Navy veteran John Harris in the final months of his life in 2007 at the Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez State Veterans Home in Big Spring.

A certified nurse aide said she saw a co-worker grab the 97-year-old from his wheelchair and slam him into his bed. Harris, suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was taken to the hospital that night when he complained of hip pain, according to a state inspection report.

That same year, another employee at the home was accused of punching and trying to choke Albert Teague, 84, a Marine who fought at Iwo Jima.
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Investigations linger in incidents at state veterans home