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I've never talked to / called anyone out on it, but I tend to see a LOT of homeless people on the side of the road, with signs that identify them as a vet ("Homeless Vet, anything helps" type signs)... Most of these people have long hair, beards, and aren't in the best of shape. On top of not really fitting the "military image", I'm pretty sure there's all sorts of programs to keep a roof over our vet's heads. I doubt (m)any true vets are homeless.
You've obviously never dealt with the VA. Don't get me wrong, there is help available for veterans; it's just hard to cut through all the red tape required to get it.
That being said, most homeless vets are homeless due to mental illness rather than an inability to secure housing. And yes, there are, unfortunately, many of them out there.
I think so. I once worked with a guy who claimed very loudly and in braggart fashion to be a retired SEAL. Now I grew up in Virginia Beach, right next to Norfolk, where the East Coast teams are based and have known a few real SEALS and none of them bragged about it. In fact most of them never mentioned it. I only found out about one of them because I saw him in uniform wearing his Trident.
So this guy's attitude was a red flag for me. He also dissembled when I asked him which BUDS class he was in and who his swim buddy was. Sadly I can't recall this guy's name to do a check on him and report him if he is in fact a fake.
One telltale sign is guys who talk about major operations they were in rather than simple stuff like where they were based out of. They read things in Soldier of Fortune magazine and pass it on as their personal experience. Anyone that glorifies their time in Vietnam was clearly never there. And yeah, I've met a lot of former "SEALS"...
My future son-in-law is a fake veteran-even his mom didn't know until recently that he was dishonorably discharged from boot camp for drug use. He claims to be an ex-Army Ranger and cries about the things he had to do in Iraq. Sickening.
In the book, "Homicide: A Year On The Killing Streets" (and in the TV show based on it), there is a story about two guys who were drinking together at a bar and get into an argument. They pull knives and stab each other, both fatally.
When the police get there, the barmaid says that two guys had been drinking and talking peaceably, when they got to talking about their service in Vietnam. They started arguing about which one's unit had been the tougher unit, and the argument escalated until they killed each other.
When the police checked the dead guys' I.D.'s, they found that when the war in Vietnam ended, one of the guys was 13 and the other was 11.
I've never talked to / called anyone out on it, but I tend to see a LOT of homeless people on the side of the road, with signs that identify them as a vet ("Homeless Vet, anything helps" type signs)... Most of these people have long hair, beards, and aren't in the best of shape.
Gosh, you described me, except for on the side of the road, no sign, just walking a few dogs...
I was in good shape during my 22 continuous years in the U.S. Army. But old age, injuries, medical stuff has been taking a toll...
Never been on unemployment, welfare, disability, or inherited anything. I do get my Army retirement pay... I'm holding off on my Social Security till I need it.
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Originally Posted by cab591
On top of not really fitting the "military image", I'm pretty sure there's all sorts of programs to keep a roof over our vet's heads. I doubt (m)any true vets are homeless.
Sorry, but you are incorrect there... Since I retired over 10 years ago I have probably met and helped over 100 homeless, down and out veterans... Some through the VA hospital, some through soup kitchens while I serve or clean tables. Most of them just need to talk, some just need a fresh cigarette. I suspect some would have been homless even if they had not been veterans... The VA has National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline. I have used it a few times to help someone. But it's not really that many homeless vets, just an estimated over 65,000 are homeless on any given night.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cab591
And, regarding some of the older posts, I have noticed a lot of Vets who served in the 101st, and a lot of SEALS / Rangers / Marines / Green Berets / Airbornes... I was under the assumption that these weren't very common occupational specialties.
Airborne? My son was airborne qualified but was not in the Infantry or an Airborne unit... Marines, I am friends with maybe 20 or so. Have probably met 500 or more Marines... Not sure what the point really is. I think I will just shut up on trying to educate on the mentions units, qualified...
Yes, there are fakes out there. Don't assume every down n' out "Vet" is a fake...
My dad didn't tell me about his time in the Navy until after I returned from Desert Storm. He had worked on the flight deck off the coast of Vietnam. While he didn't see ground combat, he did see some stuff on the flight deck. One story he told me was kind of funny. His buddy went to the toilet. While on the throne a jet came in and crashed. Part of the jet hit the island structure and passed inches in front of the guy on the toilet. Fastest he ever dumped his load. Another wasn't so nice. His buddy didn't duck down in the pit in time when the arresting cable snapped and cut him in half. What was worse was his buddy was still alive and talking as he lay in two pieces before he eventually died.
My brother is a Vietnam vet. Staff, in Saigon, no combat. No problem talking about his service.
My father was a WWII vet. Interpreted Italian for a while, then repaired P-47's. No problem talking about his service.
My grandfather was a WWI vet. Combat infantry. Trenches, barbed wire, machine guns, poison gas. Wouldn't say one word about his service.
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