Legion, VA work to improve health care in Tuscaloosa

American Legion volunteers, VA staff and veterans discussed the care provided by the Tuscaloosa, Ala., VA Medical Center during a System Worth Saving (SWS) visit on June 12.

American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Autrey James presided over the town hall. “We are not here to do an inspection of VA,” he explained. “We are here to help improve health care for veterans. The work that we do with VA is to help improve VA and get them what they need to improve. Nobody knows VA better than the people who are using it. And that’s why these town halls are so important.”

Veterans, local American Legion members, eight staff members from the Tuscaloosa VA and American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division personnel also attended the town hall. Retired Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jimmy Moore, the 21st district vice commander, helped coordinate and host the event. He is satisfied with services provided by the Birmingham VA, which is closer to his home and the post he belongs to, Post 347 in Fairfield.

“This gives veterans the opportunity to come out to a town hall forum and share the experiences they’ve been having at the VA, and also offer praise or compliments,” he said. “It also gives us, The American Legion and VA, the opportunity to exchange ideas. If there is something in this area affecting veterans, it may be affecting veterans in another area. That’s very important for us to know that so we can advocate on the national level to get those concerns resolved.”

During the town hall, veterans expressed their satisfaction with their health-care experiences at the Tuscaloosa VA. For more than 20 years, The American Legion has coordinated SWS visits in an effort to work hand-in-hand with VA to improve veterans’ health care.

The monthly visits commence with the town hall. Afterward, Legion volunteers and staff members meet with local VA representatives to discuss takeaways from the town hall, assess other findings and work together toward solutions to improve health care.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Paul Gonthier, the 23rd district commander, also helped coordinate the town hall and will be attending the meets with VA this week.

“This is an extremely worthwhile event,” he said. “Any time we can talk to the VA and tell them about issues and concerns — and also attaboys — that is a super thing for all of us veterans. Only The American Legion and VA can have that sort of dialogue because we are both powerful and strong organizations working toward the same cause, health care for veterans.”

A member of Post 138 in Alabaster, Gonthier cited a recent legislative victory as how The American Legion is steadfast in its quest to ensure veterans receive their earned benefits.

“One of the recent things The American Legion was instrumental in was the PACT Act,” he said. “Without The American Legion, it might not have passed and signed into law by President Biden. Because of the PACT Act our veterans with exposure to toxins can now get the help they need. I think it’s awesome to have this connection, this handshake between VA and The American Legion.”

Gonthier, who also uses the Birmingham VA, encouraged all veterans to enroll.

“As you get older, you don’t know what kind of disease or ailments you might get,” he said. “The VA can get you your medicine but you need to be enrolled with them. Any benefit veterans can get out of VA, they should do. They worked hard and made lots of sacrifice for these benefits.”

Charles Gills is the associate director of nursing and patient care services at the Tuscaloosa VA. He pointed out that major employers of veterans in the Tuscaloosa area have strong health-care benefits.

“We need all veterans to sign up for VA,” he said. “I understand that some veterans don’t want to take away VA care from another veteran. But we need as many veterans as possible enrolling in our system. And you may not need it now, but in 20 years from now, 25 years from now, you may be needing care.”

James noted that, “It is a system worth saving and we are going to do everything we can to make sure it is there for our veterans. We’ve just come out of this 20-year war. Many of our young men and women from that war are in the early stages of their life right now. Those of us who are in our 40s and later, know that things start showing up. And that’s why we do these visits.”