"Veterans for Prince"
October 31, 2008, Redlands, CA
"Veterans for Prince" organizers (from left) David Raley, USAF, 1954-1980, Allen Bartleman, USMC, 1966-68, Jeff Haines, USN, 1965-68, and Gilbert Mink, US Army-Airborne, 1990-92.
"Veterans for Prince" met Thursday night with Tim Prince, 41st Congressional District Democratic nominee, and Patrick Kahler, his Campaign Manager, at the Tim Prince for Congress headquarters on State Street in Redlands to discuss how they can help the Prince campaign get out the vote on Nov. 4.
"Veterans for Prince" is a group of military veterans who have had problems communicating with Congressman Jerry Lewis and receiving the treatment and benefits which they are entitled to.
After being rebuffed by the offices of Congressman Lewis, several veterans approached nominee Tim Prince to see if he could help them resolve their ongoing problems with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Loma Linda veterans' hospital.
Some of the health care issues discussed were traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), support services for transition from military to civilian life and the high rates of suicide among veterans of combat.
The members of "Veterans for Prince" are just a few of the thousands of U.S. veterans who have had problems with making a smooth transition from combat to civilian life.
"Veterans are always a hot-button issue during elections and then the issue falls off the radar of elected officials as soon as they are elected," said Gilbert Mink, the leader of the organization.
Mink is a veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the first Gulf War. He suffers from PTSD and migraine headaches, the cause of which is undiagnosed.
"The public has no idea how hard it is to go from combat to civilian life. We spend up to four months training for combat, several years in combat, and then can be back out on the street in a week or less with no time for adjustment."
"Our troops need the best equipment in the field and the best medical treatment and care they can get--at least as good as what Congress gives itself," Prince said.
"The Department of Veterans Affairs need to be fully funded to provide all our veterans the services and treatment they need to make a smooth transition from combat to civilian life.
"Bureaucratic red-tape needs to be cut, the disability claims system needs to be streamlined, and an ombudsman-advocate system for monitoring treatment must be implemented."
Veterans interested in joining "Veterans for Prince" to support the election of Tim Prince to the 41st Congressional District seat are encouraged to call the Tim Prince for Congress Campaign Manager Patrick Kahler at (909) 222-7780.
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