“Viet Nam veterans cited as ‘self sufficient bunch’” from the January 11, 1972 Door County Advocate
Viet Nam veterans cited as ‘self sufficient bunch’
By KETA STEEBS
It’s remarkable how little any of us seem to know about Door county’s returned Viet Nam war veterans.
An impromptu survey conducted by this writer among coworkers and friends reveals that most people believe there’s “about 100” returned veterans living in the county. The highest figure given (by my editor) was 260; the lowest (by my husband) was 36. There are actually 530 VV’s on record, about half of whom served in Viet Nam. (So I was off 5 — Ed.)
This figure and some other rather surprising statistics were revealed by Veteran’s Service Officer Fran Everson who pointed out that 11% percent of all veterans recorded at the courthouse are of the Viet Nam vintage. A high figure but not exorbitant, when one remembers the current conflict dates back to 1964.
Forty-two men are 10 per cent disabled (or more) and draw disability pay. Exactly half of this number, 21, were wounded; the other half were injured in non-combat accidents or are partially incapacitated by disease. Most of these disabled men, said Everson, are employed.
There has been no loss of sight among the 530 returned men but Everson said, “An awful lot of hearing loss has been found among artillery men and those associated with helicopters.” One veteran has lost both legs (he’s employed), two lost one leg but all 530 returned with arms intact. Four of these men are considered “100 per cent disabled” and draw maximum disability benefits.
About 35 per cent of these young veterans (average age is 25) are in school. Everson has 187 applications for higher education on record and said this includes those taking correspondence courses, attending vocational school, or going to college. Many are serving as apprentices learning required skills on the job. One is a doctor (interning in a Milwaukee hospital), two have a year to go for law degrees, one has a Ph. D. in psychology and another is an environmental scientist.
Forty veterans applied for and received housing loans and, despite the fact there is a special fund set up to help indigent veterans, only about one per cent has requested assistance.
“They’re a self-sufficient group,” said Everson proudly.
He mentioned that six of the 42 disabled men are suffering nervous disorders and one is obtaining psychiatric help at Tomah. The facilities of this excellent veteran’s hospital are available to all veterans but those with service connected disabilities have top priority.
Seriously ill veterans are provided with ambulance service to out of town hospitals and while private ambulances are usually used, the police ambulance is available in an emergency. Most receive medical treatment at Wood hospital in Milwaukee but a few prefer the smaller veteran’s hospital at Iron Mountain, Mich.
In listing the benefits available to returned service men, Everson said only about 25 per cent of returnees have taken advantage of free dental treatment. Each man is entitled to one complete treatment (which may consist of several visits in the case of dentures, partials, capping, etc.) and the Veteran’s Administration picks up the bill.
An added inducement is that men no longer have to go to an out of town “army dentist” but can consult with their local doctor.
Veterans in need of dental care and who are perhaps unaware of this gratis treatment are asked to contact Everson for further details. There’s only one hitch. The offer is good for a year after discharge.
Returnees are entitled to unemployment benefits (the amount varies according to rank), financial assistance with schooling, housing loans, death and pension benefits and other services.
“If I can’t help a man, I’ll tell him where he can get it,” stated Everson.
The amicable veteran’s officer serves as counselor, guide and, once in a great while, whipping boy.
“I even make house calls,” he grinned. “If a veteran can’t come to me, I’ll go to him.”
Everson believes Door county is under the state average for high school dropouts. Many of those who entered the service without earning a high school diploma have since taken and passed General Educational Development tests. These tests entitle students to an equivalency degree which enables them to go on to further education. A few go back to high school and then to college but they’re the exception.
Eight men have died while in service, five in combat.
Only one young man, of all those who have conferred with Everson upon returning, expressed dissatisfaction with his status. “I’m ashamed to tell people I’m a veteran,” he had told the veteran’s officer bitterly.
In commenting on the incident, Everson said thoughtfully, “No bands are playing for any of them. They weren’t playing for us Korean veterans either, “In fact,” he concluded softly, “there’ve been no bands playing for a long, long time.”
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
Articles by Keta Steebs
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Vietnam or Vietnam War-related articles
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