• We are now running on a new, and hopefully much-improved, server. In addition we are also on new forum software. Any move entails a lot of technical details and I suspect we will encounter a few issues as the new server goes live. Please be patient with us. It will be worth it! :) Please help by posting all issues here.
  • The forum will be down for about an hour this weekend for maintenance. I apologize for the inconvenience.
  • If you are having trouble seeing the forum then you may need to clear your browser's DNS cache. Click here for instructions on how to do that
  • Please review the Forum Rules frequently as we are constantly trying to improve the forum for our members and visitors.

General letter to my Congressman

since9

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
6,964
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Thank you!

News: "A new clinic for veterans is coming to Colorado Springs. Congressman Doug Lamborn made the announcement Saturday."

Again, thank you!

I'm a fairly well-adjusted USAF retiree. Yet in the apartment complex in which I live, just 0.15 miles (769 feet according to Google Earth) from your Colorado Springs offices, there are at least 3 folks of the 24 who live in in my building alone who suffer from various disorders associated with their military commitment to Afghanistan or Iraq. Some of them are struggling just to get by, and these are the ones who've managed to find post-service jobs. The others are hugely struggling to the point of being evicted for non-payment of rent (and some of them have been evicted for that reason).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating any sort of welfare state, here. What I'm saying is that most of these guys and gals, given the right caring and loving (agape) approach from anyone who has "been there, done that" will overcome their war-induced disabilities and rise to help others.

Whatever disabilities I might have these days are not the result of war, but of the ineptitude of one military doctor who should not be a member of the profession of medication in any country. Yes, he's that bad. He rode herd on the denial of sleep medication for 34 months while I was stationed at Ramstein Air Base, between 2005 and 2009. During 34 months of chronic insomnia, this "docter" denied me sleep meds throughout this nearly three-year period, and was instrumental in convincing three squadron commanders that I should be booted out of the service.

Of those three commanders, only one had more medals on their chest than I. I'm not saying that count's for something. I'm simply saying that's a player in all of this, in that I've "been there, done that" more than 2/3 of my last three commanders, all of whom bowed down to the Ramstein 4-star who tried (and thankfully failed, in large part due to your intervention) to boot me out of office.

Yes, officer. I was a USAF officer, and I took an oath of office. My commission was signed by President George H. W. Bush. Althoguh I am retired, the oath I took on that day only expires on the day that I decide to turn my back on it.

I'm not going to do that. Ever.

My oath:

I (name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." Reference: USC 3331. If I'm not mistaken, I think you took a similar oath.

Regardless, there are many former soldiers here in the Springs who are hurting, big time, because they chose the hard road, that of protecting the foreign interests of the United States of America.

Unfortunately, "three squares a day" does not exist back here, much less quarters.

I'm not sure of the answer, Congressman Lamborn. I personally believe better pre-deployment screening is in order, to help weed out those who aren't fit for whatever duties they're assigned, as well as "blind" post-deployment counseling service i.e. those without any mention, report, or entry into the service member's record. Reason being, I've a neighbor who was "on the edge" when he finished his tour of duty last year. A few understanding conversations over the last 12 months, he has settled down, has a job, a girlfriend, and a dog, of whom he takes very good care.

That's HUGE.

Yet... Congressman Lamborn, this e-mail was compiled with perhaps an hour to an hour and a half of neighborly conversation, one vet to another, over a period of a couple of months. I wasn't out to "fix" them, as they don't need fixing. They simply need understanding, from someone who has "been there, done that." He also needed someone to accept him as he is. War has changed him, and he's still trying to figure out how. I'm an old head, so I know how. He doesn't, and is still trying to figure it out.

Congressman Lamborn, I thank you again for your efforts, and hope the new clinic can help those who need help the most.

Your staunch advocate...

- Steve Janss
 

6L6GC

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2007
Messages
492
Location
Newport News, Virginia, USA
it likely won't be read

because it is way too wordy. Not trying to be negative but they get lots of mail and emails and when they see a lengthy letter it is likely unceremonyously tossed. Maybe not, but probably.
 

Freedom First

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2010
Messages
845
Location
Kennewick, Wa.
Thanks for being there...

Even if he doesn't ever read it, you have done much more with your life to promote the very Liberty you stand for today than any political hack will ever do. You put it all on the line, he worries about re-election. Thank you for your service and sticking out your time in service.

Since9, your committment to your life long Oath is commendable and that is where I stand today as well.
 
Top