Greg Vojtko / The Press-Enterprise
Phil Garcia, 60, a counselor to veterans and a disabled combat veteran, says the Veterans Administration is trying to force him to retire because he's refused to cut the number of Vietnam-era vets under his care to make way for Iraq War returnees.
Veterans counselor says he is being pressed to retire over caseloads; VA denies it
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 12, 2008
By RICHARD BROOKSThe Press-Enterprise
A disabled combat veteran-turned-veterans counselor in San Bernardino is accusing the Department of Veterans Affairs of pressuring him to retire because he refused to drop Vietnam-era patients to make room for Iraq war returnees.
"I said I will not cut the (counseling) groups," said Phil Garcia, a former Army paratrooper whose right shoulder was shot up in Vietnam.
A VA official acknowledged that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are increasing the workload for counselors. But she denied making any attempt to slash counseling for Vietnam vets.
"I never implied or stated that services need to be cut for Vietnam veterans. I have no idea what reference he's making," said Joan O. Smith, the VA's associate regional manager for counseling. "We need those support groups."
Many of Garcia's patients have spent the past two weeks picketing outside the San Bernardino Vet Center on Hospitality Lane, saying that the fundamental problem is there is only one veterans center in San Bernardino County dedicated solely to counseling for post-traumatic stress and other readjustment issues.
Dozens of placard-carrying veterans from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars say they steadfastly support Garcia.
"He's the best counselor at this vets center," said former Army paratrooper Steve Dedeaux, a Vietnam vet. "Most of the counseling groups are packed, and it's because of Phil.
"It's easier for a combat veteran to open up to someone with combat experience," Dedeaux added. "Now they're taking him away from us. That doesn't make sense."
Smith insisted that no attempt is being made to force Garcia to retire.
"There is a personnel action, but I can't comment on it," Smith said.
She acknowledged that the workload in San Bernardino County may warrant additional counselors and at least one more office.
"We're looking to possibly open another there. We're doing a needs assessment," she said. "We recognize that it is a very large area."
According to Garcia's figures, the San Bernardino Vet Center had 7,844 counseling visits by about 700 veterans during the past fiscal year, up 24 percent from the 6,313 visits in fiscal year 2003.
Of those visits, he handles about half the counseling, he said.
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Linked from Veterans For Common Sense
If you think this isn't happening, it is. Vietnam Veterans are being pushed back and pushed out to make room. After all, there isn't enough room for the new veterans the national media seem to be focused on and the pressure is on to take care of them. The media can't seem to care about all veterans equally.
