Page 31 - Tacoma-Pierce County Lawyer Magazine - September October 2018

there might be avenues available other than a criminal trial. Steve Krupa, a member of the Pierce County Bar, in a previous article indicated he might also be a source of assistance for veterans facing civilian criminal charges. Steve is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves.
At their Selway River facilities, I witnessed a de nite tendency among these veterans to gather together, o en late at night and, essentially "shoot the breeze" (yes, a few brewskis did help that breeze move along). e veterans keep a log book at their facility and I did not see one negative comment. To demonstrate some of their feelings, I quote from the log book:
Robert Dawson - I was here June 5,
2014 - June 8, 2014. I'm a city boy from San Diego, California and I've never
been hunting so I didn't know what to expect. I was a bit worried because I am a wounded vet so a lot of the equipment for a successful hunt was a challenge to me. Rick, Aaron, and Lauren were truly a blessing. My time was so awesome!!!
6/30/15 - Rick, thank you for everything. Please accept this " ag" (quilt) as. a token of my appreciation for all the things you do for veterans like me. You provide a safe place to nd ourselves and remind us that we are never alone. Very respectfully, Michelle Holloway.
1 June 14, quite the paradise you have here. And the fact that you opened up your home to enjoy demonstrates to me your love of nature and your caring for others. e opportunity you provided
us wounded warriors to come share
your paradise was something that I will always remember... all the best, Maj.Jason Waggoner.
With great thanks, Dustin Brown.I can't tell you how grateful I am for people like you. e gratitude and support you show to veterans is absolutely amazing... e scenery and calming sounds of the river take me back to a simpler time and help me remember what it means to relax . Coming here helped me get away from the everyday hustle and bustle that drives me crazy. Without places and people like you, I'm not sure where I'd be today.
MSgt Raymond Soto, May 29, 2018. is was a truly therapeutic and relaxing
experience. I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend Memorial Day than with a bunch of veterans who know what it's like to serve... is is such a peaceful and beautiful place.
In pursuing this assignment, on August 15, 2018, I met with Dr. Jonathan Buchholz, Medical Director, Inpatient Psychiatry - VA Puget Sound Health Care System. Dr. Buchholz con rmed what I had strongly suspected, that PTSD is the most common diagnosis
for disabled veterans from the Iraq/ Afghanistan theaters. He pointed out that one di erence between these wars and the Vietnam War was the urban settings in which so many of the Iraq/ Afghanistan battles have occurred. is is not to say that PTSD is not a problem among Vietnam Veterans but the battles in Vietnam were fought mainly in rural and jungle settings. He related how the enemy could be almost anyone in these Iraq/Afghanistan cities including women and children. And the Gls' anxiety level when entering these areas would be extremely high. Because of their multiple deployments, that anxiety level remains with many of them when they return stateside. When they go to, say, a Fred Meyer for shopping purposes, many
of them without realizing it are still, at times, on the alert for danger because
of the hyper vigilance they maintained in Iraq/Afghanistan and which many
of them carry over stateside. Indeed,
Dr. Buchholz felt that assimilation back into society was the biggest obstacle that many of these Veterans faced once their deployment was over.
As he stated, when they are released from service, many of them are without jobs and the thought process of many is "how do I t in?" Dr. Buchholz also mentioned that a veteran's response to stress changes if he/she is su ering from PTSD. And because of the stigma attached to a diagnosis of PTSD, many of the veterans do not come forward on their own. is is something that, if members of the
Bar suspect when representing veterans, questions should be posed to bring
this out and if it appears to be a factor the veteran might be directed to seek treatment.
Dr. Buchholz mentioned another very important resource available to the veterans of which I was not aware, and
that is the existence of "Vet Centers" located throughout the United States. As he explained, these Vet Centers are organized to provide prompt assistance to the veterans. ey are manned by, among others, social workers and therapists. As opposed to calling the VA where one might be switched several times between various departments and might be placed on "hold" for extended periods of time (and with veterans su ering from PTSD or high levels of stress they will o en abort this call) Vet Centers are designed to bring veterans into the system expeditiously and to
get them the treatment they need. He also mentioned the American Legion and AmVets as two other resources available for these veterans. And, of course, there is the relatively new USO Camp Lewis Center on Joint Base Lewis- McChord. ere is a Vet Center in Tacoma. Dr. Buchholz also mentioned that the opinion heard in various circles that the VA is not doing enough for
the veterans is misplaced. He says that with the current VA Administration they are extremely helpful and that if one becomes aware of a veteran in need of assistance, to not let this popular misconception deter treatment. Get them enrolled with the VA and they will receive help.
A DIRE STATISTIC
Radio Station KATT reported on the national news of June 15, 2018 that every day 22 veterans commit suicide. Over the past three years I have volunteered my time with Send-A-Vet Foundation. Primarily I assisted in back-packing supplies into various o road hunting and shing locations the veterans have established in the Nez Perce National Forest and the Clearwater National Forest in north-central Idaho. I have worked with several of these veterans and over the past two years I have primarily worked with Jose. ose who run Send-A-Vet Foundation, almost by intuition, know that a brief respite from the stress of everyday society, spent in these north woods and along these great rivers, probably is as therapeutic as any medical approach. Every member of Send-A-Vet Foundation is a combat- injured veteran. And, as I told you at the
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September/October 2018 | PIERCE COUNTY LAWYER 31