Vet Kills Himself After VA Turns Him Away

(CBS)  Marine veteran Jonathan Schulze survived the war in Iraq but almost two years after he came home, it ended up killing him, reports The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.

He had one of the toughest jobs in the war: taming the insurgent hotbed of Ramadi in 2004.

"In two days of fighting his unit had lost 17 guys," said Jim Schulze, Jonathan's father.

Every family prays for the return of their loved one and the Schultzes were overjoyed that their son was coming home. But the young marine who fought in Iraq came back a different man. He was haunted by the carnage he witnessed and tormented by the guilt of surviving.

"In a matter of hours he could take and go from unbelievable anger and rage to just uncontrollable weeping," Jim Schulze said.

Jonathan was not alone. A new study says one in three veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan is suffering from psychological disorders, including post-traumatic stress. Jonathan had terrible nightmares, to the point his mother, Marianne Schulze, said, he was "afraid to close his eyes."

He turned to drugs, alcohol and fighting. He couldn't hold a job. Finally he asked his parents to take him to the VA hospital in St. Cloud, Minn.

"She asked, 'Why do you want to be seen?' and I was standing behind him and he was sitting in a chair, his shoulders were slumped and Jim was standing in the doorway and he said, 'I feel suicidal,' " Marianne Schulze said.

His parents say the VA told Jonathan they couldn't admit him that day and asked if he would call back the next day. He did but was told he was number 26 on a waiting-list and the VA didn't have enough beds for him. Four days later he hung himself.

"I feel cheated that my son's needs weren't taken care of," Jim Schulze said. "I feel cheated that in my mind, the condition that he was in was not for a valid reason."

The VA won't comment on Jonathan's case, but said they are looking into it and are reviewing their intake procedures.

It was as if Jonathan Schultze had died twice. His spirit had been snuffed out on the battlefield and without it he could find no reason to go on living.

"He was willing to go to Iraq and did what he had to do in Iraq, got injured in Iraq, and he comes home and a year and a half of his life was torture. And they couldn't help him, or refused to help him, or told him he was number 26," Marianne Schulze said.

Jim Schultze served three tours in Vietnam and understands post-traumatic stress. He is certain the VA isn't ready for the veterans who are coming home.

"It's unfortunate because you'll have more and more vets coming back with this and it's gonna be a larger problem all the time and it's gonna need to be dealt with," he said.

The Schulzes hope other families will get the help they need: The help Jonathon didn't get.

"Time goes on and they say that time is the only thing that heals, but you never forget," Jim Schultze said, "and the hurting never stops."

[biosulpt]

I regards to the person who created thefirst post. *** you! If you served this country and enter a VA hospital suicidal they turn you away, you should be escorted by Homeland Security to the nearest hospital and throw every illegal alien sponging off our government and create space. Just wait until one of these Vets decides to come back and "make" space. I can picture your limp *** *** now, trying to explain why his feelings of injustice are inappropriate. You're nothing but a paper pushing waste of sperm!

[biosulpt]

I regards to the person who created thefirst post. *** you! If you served this country and enter a VA hospital suicidal they turn you away, you should be escorted by Homeland Security to the nearest hospital and throw every illegal alien sponging off our government and create space. Just wait until one of these Vets decides to come back and "make" space. I can picture your limp *** *** now, trying to explain why his feelings of injustice are inappropriate. You're nothing but a paper pushing waste of sperm!

[bujo2]

Jonathan is a veteran, he has the right to be seen and hopefully healed at the VA. The VA has a billing system for some conditions or emergency procedures called "fee basis". If Jonathan was not a registered VA veteran he could have been. But no one should wait for the VA to approve his/her status, thinking they must be registered to have a treatment paid for. The registration process can take place after being seen for the condition. My point is, someone should have called anyone to help Jonathan and figure out the VA issue later. Obviously, the parents knew of his condition. I must ask, was there a reason they didn't call someone else or conduct a twenty four hour watch until someone could see him? Blaming just the VA is not the answer.

[brwnidgrl87]

I see here that there are a lot of people ranting but there is nothing talking about what to do or where to get help. What if you are one of the people like the young man who committed suicide? What if you can't wait on the VA? Does anyone have any answers or helpful advice??

[didedoodah]

Personally, I think the government has its priorities screwed up. We ask people to go and possibly die for their country and then ignore their needs when they come home. Everything is always about money, not people. Sad.

[swaheal]

The VA was not ready for this influx. Cuts, Cuts, and more Cuts which affect certain projects that affect patient care, BUT, there is an exception to the Cuts, and that's the "bonus" money being paid yearly by each VA facility. Where I work, the 2006 figures for money paid above regular salary "bonuses" went up 2.4 Million over the 2005 figures, which were over 4 Million, these are just the $500 and above "bonuses". Here's something taxpayers and Vets have no knowledge of. Hears something to pnder: The federal government has a "retention allowance policy" where an employee can be given up to 25% of salary to keep you from leaving. The VA in 1998 paid "somebody/ies" $68 thousand to keep them from leaving, in 2005 the VA paid out $40 MILLION in retention allowances. I know the fraud that's taking place where I work. Contact your local VA facility and ask for a list of any and all money being given to employees above regular salary, and tell them you want everything because they have lots of different names for bonuses. My new favorite for 2006 is the "Executive Career Field", meaning only Supervisors and above get any of this "bonus" money! Add ALL the "extra" money, throughout the federal system, and you have a Billion plus each year extra. I'm not against bonuses, I'm against certain employees constantly getting 10 thousand to 40 thousand extra every year for no "good" reason. Check it out, ask for this info. if need be use Article 1 Section 9 of our Constitution.

[garsh548]

When will this end? This administration has blood on its hands. How much more blood does this country have to shred? Shame, shame, shame. Did they know with war comes death? Hello. the emperor has no clothes on.

[annouche1]

Jihad

"In fact Jihad signifies a struggle for the cause of establishing the truth and does not always mean a war, as commonly understood by the masses. Islam permits the Holy War only against armed aggression or obstruction to peaceful propagation of religion. In Islamic terminology, this is called Qital, which is the final step in Jihad. The Holy war (Qital) forms a part of this struggle called Jihad but this not true in all cases.

Before declaring a war all possible opportunities should be explored for peaceful resolution of disputes without bloodshed. An undeclared war is not at all permitted in Islam.

Fighting is permitted against those who resist the peaceful propagation of the religion of truth. Fighting is not allowed against those who are inclined for peace. No cheating is allowed even during the war. The aged people, women, children, hermits, monks, wounded and all other innocent people should not be harmed in any manner during the war.

Bodies of the enemies killed during the war are prohibited from disrespect or mutilation. The forests, fields, crops, animals and such other things should not be destroyed. The traditions of the Prophet (SAWS) prohibit such acts. Islam permits the use of force only when it is needed and only to the extent that it is required. "

[jjp735i]

Annette100..
1st, if anyone was in Bush's shoes, they would never have been placed in this kind of tragedy. Like Bush, they never would have served in the first place.

2nd, with all the name calling of "un-patriotic" if you questioned Bush, people now see why he should have been questioned. He lied so other peoples sons and daughters died or were hurt. Now we learn of the "un-patriotic" neglect those who served are now receiving by the very people who who lied and never served.

Wake up.

[ikee22ss]

It is a sad day when the same country that sends their men and women does not give the proper care and treatment their Veterans derserve. I am a Dis abled Veitnam Vet that also has PTSD. I was a Hospital Corpsamn with Kilo Co.,3/1. I servred most of my four years with the Marines(The Finest Men I Ever Met).I was the Marines version of a Combat Medic. As this father says you Never forget it's bagage you carry for the rest of your Living Days.The Non Veterans in the Great Country need to finnally stand up and help the Veterans get what's due them in the form of medical or compensation for disabilities. I have fought my goverment for 34 years trying to get medical care from the VA. President's past and Present are cutting veterans care and also are dividing Veterans onto groups so they don't have to let them into the VA to get care. IF your in what Bush says is group 8 you can't even get ANY care from the VA even if you are a Veterans that has been in a WAR. I go to the VETS CENTER for help for my PTSD. ANYONE OUT THERE THAT HAS A CHILD THAT HAS COME BACK AND YOU FEEL NEEDS HELP TAKE THEM AND YOURSELVES TO THE NEAREST VET CENTER. There's Help !!!!