American Heroes, Pt. 2

" And -- what doesn't mean you today I mean after -- having been through that when you came what does it mean to you today. The top with some of these men who are coming up now it's -- to me it's it's the best but."

" You want to help I think we'll put them here to help people you know so it I feel. Auto parts but it helped your daughter that they're right you might -- year. That's my job and it's very page the page."

" Contrast that I was -- the Pentagon -- they're out when Reagan was president and he went for the first time. When he went down veterans Memorial Day any -- related to every game at the tomb of the Vietnam veteran and it was the first time an American president. Have acknowledged and said thank you for your service I wrote really there at Arlington. There were Vietnam -- wheelchairs. And without limbs. You know put their old battles on their -- they were. And years you know. -- thank you. But when they came back -- something and it made you ashamed to be an American and at the same time when Reagan. Finally get that and finally said we acknowledge their contribution we acknowledge your dad you count -- body right and wrong."

" I think I also saw -- sample of that -- the GI film festival this year here here's a festival that is three years old and is actually outgrown itself. Major general Kelley who led the battle for Fallujah was there. Lot of returning veterans. The movie about taken chance at all it with fire. And there were a number of documentaries but there were a lot of soldiers in the room. Not -- senior officers. And they were talking about their experiences coming back and yes there's a myriad of experiences but what I heard more off was thank you you know thank you I don't. Have that experience I've raised my hand I just did my train -- But my dad was a Vietnam veteran also in the Tet offensive he served two tours in Vietnam. And I got to -- some of the people there I would -- from their -- and I would occasionally go to the Vietnam veterans conference with guys like. Jim -- when he was national vice president was a guest on my show and pastime and and there is clearly a difference. But I think -- like you've hit the nail on the head. The guys with the experience -- I -- the experience of Vietnam veteran those guys are given a lot of support. To these guys whether to Walter -- whether to the GI film festival where they just take off Google were reception room. And in fact just to support each other or when they stand -- when they walk into the one of the theaters -- there shall -- documentaries and everybody. Justice thank you and -- and I take this this -- thought. That Harry Walters the managing commissioner of the commission for the future of America's vets. A couple years ago told me when the first meetings I went to that we spend billions to recruit and we will spend the dollar to thank soldier. -- that is a fact that is a monetary factor and I think the American people pick that up."

" Now at Torrey and joining us here again if you -- the top of the hour -- Torre is with the program an important program here in the New York area. Of the Jericho project N she took it upon herself -- this this project. Find housing for homeless man and one. But part of what you found is that some younger man and women. Were in need of housing we're coming back from these wars and you push your organization to start building and providing house. For this younger generation. Back -- that -- I think that will surprise a lot of people although we have talked about it here. That some men and women from these wars are coming home without whistle. And I think. Epidemic of -- at some -- Vietnam veterans very well known fact. There's over 300000 veterans experience homeless. Every year. Which is really. Only one in four or start one in four homeless individuals are veterans whereas -- the -- population of about 1112%. For the disproportionately represented. Half of homeless veterans are Vietnam veterans. And a lot of that had to do with their combat and the way that their country treated them when they came -- so. It was really it became it passion of mine when I started to hear that some of veterans were coming back from -- Iraq and Afghanistan becoming home. I'm I think we we as a nation really need to address. The problem before becomes epidemic like it -- after Vietnam and -- what we're doing is we're building to. New brand new beautiful residences in the Bronx near the -- medical scanner or veterans and it's going to be a mix of homeless veterans most of -- will be from Vietnam and then low income. Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Where there you know right now maybe they don't have a job in their living with their parents and they need a safe place to live. For the can be among veterans that it can get counseling get help getting a job. Accessing things like the GI bill and so hopefully we can prevent some of -- homelessness because they are coming back every single Iraq and Afghanistan. Or -- that I've talked to. From a lieutenant colonel down to a private has had difficulty -- in -- and I don't want that what is -- scene and is not the level of course that that it is -- firm for Vietnam era veterans. I read one statistic that said 3000 or less than that that was according to the VA but -- If there -- 3000 non Americans are facing homelessness that's entirely too. What what is causing a senior -- when you hear these men I mean that bit. There's 3000 that the DA has seen so far after Vietnam sometimes took a decade or more -- people to come home because it's it's usually a profit that doesn't happen overnight. From what the risk factors were seen them veterans are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan it's it's a high level of violence -- now -- some you know it's it's not always -- dramatic stress disorder but certainly. -- bears. People are surviving traumatic brain injury is more which often can happen and kind of symptoms of post traumatic stress which can be. Leads have problems with your family with your employer. We're seeing. Multiple deployments which is another actor and then of course in our veterans are coming back to the worse. Job market in decades and where housing crisis in decades ago. These -- with actors that -- C and we don't want them to become we ought to get. So I think I'm we we need to work with the -- we need to work with community based organizations and all of us. You today need to do something about it -- and that you speak with the folks at the VA quite often about this program how helpful. Do you find them and being in terms of the supporting your efforts. They've been very support him. The thing about them the veterans administration they're really health care system and it and a benefit entitlement and I think I think would be -- to partner with groups like the Jericho project which we argue that -- around the country. To really build the network. Organizations. Government hand and -- They aides who are -- I think this problem level because a lot of veterans that they're having problems they -- now. That's the key in an and I could be an air traffic and about their record them if they wanna be a police officer fireman -- me say. You have a mental help -- there was talking to a former. Alec it's. NATO commander general George Allen Vietnam infantry and asked him when he was head of NATO. When they did Bosnia how do you view him and he -- all right after the Bosnia operation that what I think that every American. Military personnel -- states you know their -- Spanish. Have a physical check up. And now South Africa that they had -- female professional. That was his decision he did it it was they absolutely it happens and kind of later. But it never happened again you know and I think. That that's being done now now men and women have to answer their questionnaire I talked with some men in particular. Who -- the questionnaire because they don't want anything to go on the record."

" Exactly as you know what it's -- sort it out earlier today announces that I in meant -- so yeah. Yeah."

" People have regardless of the marine yeah I got this kind of cool with a -- and help me. Tough you know I I have noticed this in the supermarket where I live here and it in New York I've noticed some postings from therapists. Believe it or not who who say. Now we want to help. The servicemen and women. We're coming home who need to talk about these things we'll do it completely -- related. To the VA so this won't go in your medical file we're doing this on around I've seen that here in the New York area I've -- that -- Colorado two and I'm wondering has anybody heard. About this happening in any kind of widespread."

" ten to -- in the field of yoga."

" You're not -- which is a great. -- There are homeopathic remedies to it right now product. Did you get -- two. Yeah. So there is and the best the best remedy in the world. Is flat out -- His -- that's. And -- there's an organization now that's working to build something similar. The always you organization. Call -- you -- They're not only talk about gold over Iraq and Afghanistan engage in the truth of wholesome -- really deal with them one on one. But when they come back here they're working on programs that when they come home the -- they can integrate back into society that the families. Jonathan stinks is that moved out of the program and Stephen Baldwin -- big supporter of this. Have brought their expertise their names to it and a lot of other people myself and others have gotten involved. Because this is about what happens when you come home and -- integrating -- into. --"

" for second because -- waiting on the phone when our strategy rumors out there and I love that we can bring in somebody from the strategy -- real life person quote two to share his experiences I want -- is everybody today happy. He's of -- He without -- there -- the floor and -- a website recently -- called K and the veterans dot com now you know of him as. But the website itself is -- and the veterans dot com and he joins us by phone to talk a little bit about about the organization he founded hi -- hi Dylan -- more and other."

" I was so happy to have you one of these days when you have up your New -- to visit that spam line. You're -- and -- now that's -- right. Going to be there one day compelling I can't let -- the way I --"

" Now I think served in in Vietnam he was in the airports and."

" I was -- that Moyer and during the Tet offensive like. And I had a similar experience came home and one remember in Anchorage. With a blanket wrapped around us as we walked into the terminal La -- the tropical count and then all of a sudden it was below zero yeah. -- moment December of 68."

" While gay people go -- the --"

" You're welcome home brother. -- what what was the reception like when you came home in December 68."

" Oh my god whether it was it was horrible it will it was and that's why we have the motto never again. Because it was all -- we can't -- a member of the taxi. To. I'm Travis air base two -- go to get my plane back home. I was on my my dress blues I felt -- I can remember bench. That -- not sure people know that you know next to me that I won't tomato struggle the factory. But moderately veterans inside exactly. It was just horrible and -- and that's why we say that again the -- that."

" But today we congratulate you for the work that you're doing to help out today's young -- But not all of them are so young but today's men and women to tell -- a little bit about this website is started what your plan ended up."

" All right look agenda dot com we job. Planned -- as a political life support and direction and counseling for the veteran. Pitcher Andy and there's -- a lot of them I mean. An eye opening experience the last two weeks we. I along with. -- dedicated volunteers have gone down to a place called the resurrection now. Out for the -- and by the way god bless you Tori but what you're doing. But -- election now that the space center for the homeless but we've felt about 10% of the Vietnam veterans so far that. Some of emotional problems some have. Financial problems summit just. Substance abuse and that you -- it once again that you know of everything -- could possibly be long and just look short two week that would -- there we've opened our -- and one gentleman in particular. Had a real emotional problem we we got all the way to -- The VA hospital. Or health. Just one instance you know and that that was worth what -- what we've done so for. But really the only thing right now -- as far as our plans. The only thing that that's holding us back right now funding we have no fun. What we've done so far and strictly out of pocket. And we've got so many things that we have plans to do it somebody veterans that we could help you know. The numbers -- the Vietnam on -- the thousands and so forth before we're done. Yeah I'm so excited about it."

" And I are we -- and I emailed back and forth very strange hours about about this program. I'd say you gotta tell us how to donate but also if they don't mention there's a program that you're involved would that's that setting Christmas packages to troops overseas and a lot of programs that you -- that. But the fact -- putting together is especially important because we know you know. -- we also know about your service the country and and in part you were inspired by strategy room so we calculate your -- your brother here. Suddenly -- how to go about donating your program."

" Okay I have -- don't insightful on every page of the web site okay into the donate can I have a couple. Yet but I have a couple of projects right now that on the -- would be empowered Gunner on a five times in Iraq. As the show coming up in September."

" And he's going to be dependent packages over -- is troops. And."

" Helping out -- parents Sarasota which is the operational -- support. But the -- gonna -- other percent to veterans and poor veterans."

" And he just went into a real problem with funding with insurance for the 3000 dollars and around the site that you need for a show."

" Another seven -- is so so the county yet. Bonds has -- funding Heather there's always -- and old and build on. You know."

" Now well -- thinkpad W and keep learning more about the projects that you're working on that will -- promoting it here and do everything that we can to help you David. David -- here David served as a marine Davis backlash my Gloria."

" Got your noses and so what -- inspired me to do something I launch my news all week we talked earlier than you or market starting this Sunday. You're gonna become one of my first charity projects and -- get it out there we go."

" Here. -- appreciate it later pretty good -- you don't why yeah my ignorance but very cool well -- could happen. RA whine about it we just do yeah Wednesday by the way you you you haven't gotten real life and you -- this sort of on the slide work with a seven that's who. -- seven --"

" Well I'm now I'm not retired but the seven -- I know you pictured it is that what they were a lot sitting around -- What's one little lightbulb over some -- talking about you guys but."

" But not really the way -- that government that came about with the other guys that I talked with on a on. Leo was probably -- Vietnam veterans format and the sense that -- And I would bring the subject that you guys -- and they -- We'll ask her about it felt good about how about -- about that so that I was pretty much the messenger. Got it."

" I am so glad that you Matt and we're gonna continue to stay up to speed things right not and we are proud of -- yeah where we're honored to be associated with it now."

" I'll -- better my goodness I thought what you guys for what you do to blogger was. But they got a good one Kate he would ask me about the new GI bill yes. There's a little better check and into -- and it looked like there are a lot of hoops to jump through yet ready to take advantage of it one you -- with Guatemala volunteers. Make that a project study that GI bill about maybe eliminate some of those who for the guys that are getting back again. And."

" It. Fantastic. Benefits but really complicated. Yes so the price you want to balance and everybody is displays how we're gonna have this plan rhetoric and other web site. It is. In new GI bill dot org. And this -- America -- this is -- Afghanistan Iraq and Afghanistan veterans association. Has dedicated apple website to it it'll walk you through what benefits you're eligible for they have a calculator you can -- platinum you when you. Tight band you know what was your service and then they'll tell you what you're entitled to where to go to get it how to get reimbursed or a lot of it is up front. Payments that tuition payments -- directly to your academic institution. But it covers community here bill really is terrific that covers tuition full tuition that covers housing and -- room -- board. -- books and supplies and leave it I think the neatest part of it if you can transferring. It to your spouse. Hume oh dear sir I'm not you get -- served your -- for five or ten years. You don't want college to a pre got them after doing. You can use that as an -- that the scholarship for your yeah and it Matthews that's really thought about their new. GI bill dot org and I I think it's got static -- anything anybody needs to know about themselves there's."

" Also on that website which you can also find information that IAV. A dot -- that stands for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America IA VE -- dot org you can also find a series of reports. Where they talk with you about kind of jobs that could appeal to you when you come home from the from service. Sort of how to navigate through the red tape how to talk your family members about close deployments that's a fact that I'd say we'll talking -- Thank you are right they."