Two Deputies Change Veteran's Life after 911 Call

More than 140,000 troops have left the military since 2000 with less-than-honorable discharges, according to the Pentagon.

That was reported by the LA Times April 1, 2015. With that number fresh in your mind, this needs to be added to that fact,

"Many vets with 'bad' discharges are cast off to local mental health services, charities despite suicide risk

Of those suicides, 403 were among ex-service members whose discharges were "not honorable" — for a wide range of misconduct, from repeatedly disrespecting officers to felony convictions. An additional 380 occurred among veterans with "uncharacterized" discharges, the designation used for troops who leave in fewer than 180 days for a variety of nondisciplinary reasons."

That is why this story should matter to every veteran around the country. We know there were 200,000 Vietnam veterans discharged instead of being diagnosed and treated for what war did to them. We know what happened even before they were sent. The question is, "How long will this go on before these veterans get justice?"

They have been shoved out then abandoned but this story will show you how far a human act of kindness can go.

Two deputies change veteran's life after 911 call
KUSA NBC 9 News Colorado
Anastasiya Bolton
September 25, 2015

"I saw someone real," Barnett said. "He was trying to connect with me on just a human level. Nobody's ever tried to do that with me before."

A veteran with PTSD says two deputies helped change his life

(Photo: KUSA)

ARAPAHOE COUNTY – Larry Barnett's girlfriend had to call 911 last week because Barnett, an Iraq vet, had a PTSD episode and she was afraid for his well-being.

"I was done. I was at the point where do or die," Barnett said.

Barnett reached out to 9NEWS to share his story and said he was in a better place to talk. He was adamant about talking because he wanted to share what the deputies who responded to his call did for him.

"In my head I didn't feel like I could live anymore," Barnett said about Wednesday September 16.

Two tours in Iraq in 2003 and 2005 still haunt the Army vet.

He received an other than honorable discharge in 2006, has been suffering from PTSD and fighting with the VA to get an upgrade and then be eligible for services.

September 16, Barnett said he lost it, again.
read more here

The Gazette out of Colorado reported that Congress was going to do something about all of this back in 2013 when Iraq veteran, Representative Mike Coffman on the House Armed Services Committee read about what was going on with these discharges.

Rep. Mike Coffman, a Denver-area Republican who is on the House Armed Services Committee, introduced an amendment to the 2014 Defense Authorization Act that would create a 10-member Commission on Military Behavioral Health and Disciplinary Issues.

The commission would study whether the military discipline system needs to change in light of emerging research on the connection between PTSD and TBI and behavioral problems that can get troops in trouble.

Soldiers who have been discharged include wounded combat veterans who are denied medical care and other benefits because of the character of their discharge.

The problem is when Barnett was victimized he wasn't alone. The Saint Louis Post Dispatch reported this September 29, 2007 Many soldiers get boot for 'pre-existing' mental illness

Thousands of U.S. soldiers in Iraq - as many as 10 a day - are being discharged by the military for mental health reasons. But the Pentagon isn't blaming the war. It says the soldiers had "pre-existing" conditions that disqualify them for treatment by the government.