Memphis-area vets find help at Legion town hall
Arthur Wright returned from the Vietnam War with Hepatitis C, a severe rash and other ailments.
“When I was in Vietnam, I got a disease — hepatitis — but when I come to the VA, they tell me it’s not a wound that affected my life. What can I do?” he asked during The American Legion’s Town Hall meeting at Post 53 in West Memphis, Ark., on April 20.
About 10 members of the Memphis-area VA staff were in attendance and assured Wright that he should be able to get treatment at the local hepatitis clinic. After the meeting, Wright said he was cautiously optimistic and would attend the Legion's subsequent Veterans Benefits Center (VBC) to get more information. The VBC runs from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Whitehaven Community Center in Memphis, 4318 Graceland Drive. On Wednesday and Thursday, the hours are also from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“It’s tough when you can’t get help,” Wright said. “I’ve got 20 percent (disability) … I can’t work. But I’ll see what they can do (at the VBC).”
The approximately 25 veterans attending the town hall offered mixed reviews of local VA care. Some, like Wright, read off a litany of issues such as trouble with scheduling appointments, rejected or delayed claims, being treated “like a guinea pig” by inexperienced staff and difficulty finding parking places.
Others gave positive reviews of the Memphis VA, including one Vietnam veteran saying he was “treated like a millionaire” during his appointments.
“While the VA system has its problems, the VA system is worth preserving,” said Roscoe Butler, deputy director of The American Legion's Veteran Affairs & Rehabilitation Division. “The American Legion does not believe in a voucher system. We believe every veteran deserves timely access to the health care they deserve.”
Terry Long credited VA for its Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) program, which specializes in helpig Iraq veterans like him.
“I’ve been pleased with it,” he said. “I did have some problems with another clinic so I transferred here. I can say that the PACT is money well spent.”
Long says sees the other side of the process, as he is a county service officer, who helps veterans secure claims. “I can tell you that The American Legion does a good job in preparing claims, processing claims for adjudication. I am not accredited with The American Legion; I am accredited with the Arkansas state veterans affairs but we do all we can to get a good decision in favor of the veteran.”
Arkansas Department Commander Jake Greeling said the town hall should help clear up some misunderstandings some veterans have with the VA. “I use the VA and I never have had experiences like some veterans mentioned,” he said. “The personnel from the VA offered them some ideas.
“That’s why these town halls are important."