11/17/1982 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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CAP!!CD TIMES, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1982 . • • • j • t r ® : Ve vets r r , let By SUSAN FENELON the veterans that their only chance in obtain- One man told of dealing with his own skin me to go to the VA for help. Now I have this the VA to task and force Improvements in that Staff Writer ing needed benefits through the state or Feder- sores and of his baby daughter who was born mar on my record,that will go to Washington, system. The commission voted to send a let- HYANNIS — About 30 Vietnam veterans al government is to organize, and lobby as a deformed. He said when he went to the VA that says I am an alcoholic. All I want to do ter to Washington requesting the establish- last night told a special state commission that special interest group. Paul R. Camacho, ex- hospital in Providence, he saw a doctor who now is get it off my record. I went to the VA ment of a veterans outreach center on Cape the government isn't doing anything for them. ecutive director of the commission,said there told him aches and pains are common as the for help.But as you can see,all I got was a big Cod. One by one, they walked to the microphone are 265,000 Vietnam era veterans in Massa- body ages and his skin problems might be goose egg. I am sorry I ever. bothered," he ` Currently, some Cape veterans who need during the public hearing in Barnstable Town chusetls, the largest block of votes in the from exposure to the sun as a child. - said. ' � - help have to travel to the Brockton Veterans Hall. Their testimony was tinged with anger state. Another man, who has a skin problem than Earl Legeyt Sr.of Harwich said he was laid Center.For the past three months,that center and bitterness against a national Veterans "Complaining in the streets or complaining also afflicts his daughter, said a VA doctor off from his job on the Harwich Police Depart- has sent outreach workers to the Cape, but Administration that they believe sees them as in the barrooms will get us zero," Camacho told him to make an appointment and come ment only because he is a disabled veteran. that team will be disbanded by the end of the an embarrassment. - said. - back three months later. Legeyt claimed Harwich selectmen told him month,when funds run out. One man said he helieves the VA would He told the veterans to gather in each oth- One veteran, who said he has been going to they didn't want to employ"damaged goods" Several of the veterans asked that the state rather wait until they all die before tackling ers'homes and write letters to their state and .a psychiatrist for several years, finally and that he might become A'liapility on their require that veterans agents it each town health problems spawned when the United national legislators, and to use their state sought help from the VA to help pay some of disability system. Legeyt said he had been a must be Vietnam veterans themselves. States government sprayed herbicides on the representatives to file.legislation on their his medical bills. But to get help, he had to Harwich policeman for 20 months when he Another veterans advocate announced that jungles of Vietnam. behalf. undergo a medical and physical exam. was laid off. •- - Cape Cod Hospital and the Brockton Veterans Eight members of the state's Special Com- "Five letters on an issue will shake you He said that after a 15-minute physical and Repeatedly the men declared they would Center will run an Agent Orange screening right to your boots,"said state Sen.Joseph B. a 20-minute psychological evaluation, the VA never allow their sons mission on the Concerns of 1'i^_foam Veterans to be drafted into the clinic from noon to 8 p.m..Tuesday at the listened to the testimony. The commission Walsh, D-Boston, a member of the report produced an assessment that much of service. - hospital. , has held eight public hearings around the commission. the man's problems were due to use of alco- "I'll take mine to Canada before I'll let Veterans who were not at last night's meet- stale. Gov.Edward�I.King gave the commis- But last night, the commission heard testi- hol. The report did not mention that the man them take him,"said one. Ing may submit testimony to the commission sion$100,000 to produce a study, due in June, mony from veterans who expressed their sus- was taking three different forms of They spoke of being treated insensitively in by writing to the Special Commission on the that can be used to develop legislation on picion of politicans and commissions and medication. VA hospitals. Concerns of Vietnam Veterans, Room 1001, behalf of Vietnam veterans. their disbelief that even their testimony last "When I went to Vietnam I was 18,a baby.I John Barry of Barnstable asked the com- Levered Saltonstall Building, 100 Cambridge Last night,members of the commission told night would do any good at all. didn't have any of these problems.People told mission to use the power of the state to call St.,Boston,Mass.02202 . �V - For more infocmot+�Cin , Please r—cm : &M Vers Assoc (A'rtotj _ 771- 177-7