WASHINGTON, July 26, 2007
VA Chief Sued Over Iraq Vet's Suicide
Marine's Parents Say Veterans Administration Failed To Give Their Son Mental Health Treatment He Sought
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A photograph of Marine Jeffrey Lucey sits in the home of Joyce and Kevin Lucey in Belchertown, Mass. in a 2004 file photo. The family of Lucey, an Iraq war veteran, filed a lawsuit accusing Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson of negligence in the suicide death of their son. (AP Photo/Nancy Palmieri)
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The lawsuit says the VA is to blame for the death of 23-year-old Jeffrey Lucey, a Marine who killed himself in June 2004 after he returned from a tour of duty in Iraq, asked for treatment of mental problems and was denied help. The lawsuit sought unspecified damages and named as defendants Jim Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who is leaving his job soon, and the U.S. government.
The action comes just days after the group Veterans for Common Sense sued Nicholson and the VA on behalf of injured Iraq war veterans. That lawsuit accuses the agency of unlawfully denying veterans disability pay and mental health treatment.
Lucey's father, Kevin, says he and his wife hope their lawsuit will force the Bush administration to take swift action to overhaul the VA.
"They've got to look at the entire system of the VA," said Lucey, who spoke from his home in Massachusetts. "We're hoping that it goes to trial and that people can truly see how dysfunctional the system is."
Kevin and Joyce Lucey joined the anti-war group Military Families Speak Out after their son's death.
A message left for Nicholson was not immediately returned.
Nicholson abruptly announced last week that he would step down by Oct. 1 to return to the private sector. He has repeatedly defended the agency during his 2 1/2-year tenure while acknowledging room for improvement.
According to the complaint, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Lucey began to experience difficulties several months after returning home from Iraq. He had nightmares, daily bouts of vomiting and began drinking heavily. Depression soon set in.
He told his sister he had "a rope and tree picked out" behind the family home and needed to keep a flashlight by his bed to check for camel spiders he heard at night.
His parents took him to a VA Medical Center in his state, and he was involuntarily committed for help. He was released after a few days because VA personnel said they could not make an assessment of his post-traumatic stress disorder until he was sober, the complaint said.
A few days later, his family took Lucey back to the center, but the lawsuit says the staff turned him away. Kevin Lucey found his son dead, hanging from a beam in the cellar two weeks later.
The VA has been heavily criticized by lawmakers and others amid reports of months-long delays for treatment, poorly trained workers and inadequate screening for mental health problems.
On Wednesday, a presidential commission urged broad changes to the military health care system. It recommended that military leaders, VA and Pentagon personnel receive comprehensive training in post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries.
Among the other recommendations: better benefits for family members helping the wounded; creating an easy-to-use Web site for medical records; and overhauling the way disability pay is awarded.
President George W. Bush said he has instructed Nicholson and Defense Secretary Robert Gates to look at the recommendations and implement the ones they have the power to enact.
The Luceys' lawsuit was filed in federal court in Massachusetts.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- The only thing worse than a punk who starts a fight is a punk who can't finish it. Bush and his whole staff fall into that catagory. Not only have they murdered hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians, they don't even take care of our own boy's. There's so much blood on Bush's hands! He reminds me of a pitiful version of MacBeth-soon he'll be walking the whitehouse halls, muttering to himself, trying to get the blood off. I'm glad I don't have to face my maker with that mark on my soul.
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- We need bigger government...that'll help.
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- Jeffrey Lucey sacrificed so much for America and America failed him in his hour of need. The stain of indifference for our proud men and women in uniform by this government shall not be washed away by shallow words of regret. Let no American forget this terrible and shameful event. It represents the war our veterans have to fight for their dignity and the care this government promised.
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jeffry Lucey. And to all veterans, this one American apologizes for not speaking louder and acting stronger on your behalf. - Reply to this comment
- Oh dear God - these poor people and their poor son - he did what was asked of him, he served this nation and the nation in turn threw him away.
Those that turned this young man away from their doors when he and his family were begging for help will never forget his face.
The blame for this goes all the way to the top of the ***** heap - that means Bush. We can no longer trust that he's done anything right - or moral. - Reply to this comment
- A Republican Presidential Commission
In 2005, a Republican Committee (The American Enterprise Institute)
appeared, before The Congress saying :
The Veterans Claim, on the PTSD issue was Fraudulent.
They urged the Congress to Stop the Treatment, of the Veteran for the PTSD issue.
Also ! They urged the Congress to stop paying the Veteran.
Compensation for the veterans claim of having : PTSD.
By 1980, five (5) years after the Viet-Nam war had ended.
The combination of suicide and suicide induced accidents.
Committed by the Viet-Nam combatant, was at fifty two percent. (52%)
Which means : That within five (5) years, after the Viet-Nam war had ended.
Over half of the Viet-Nam combatants. Who had survived the war and returned home.
Were now dead - By their own hand.
The suicide rate of : The veterans of Iraqi, has already begun.
The issue of PTSD is being Scrutinized by the : American Enterprise Institute.
They are saying : "PTSD" - Is a Liberal Hippie dream.
Lynne Cheney the Wife of : V.P. Cheney,
Is on the Board of Directors of - The American Enterprise Institute
This is the Real Attitude, of the Republican Party,
The Bush - Cheney Administration's
Concern - Towards - The Combat Veterans of Today.
Within their own actions - Lay - Their True Feelings.
Lastdance - Reply to this comment
- This is indeed tragic. How many more American lives will be sacrificed to the truth about this senseless war we're in? I hope those in charge will get us out of this mess sooner rather than later before we turn into another Vietnam war catastrophe!
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- This is a very sad story. Corporal Lucey and his parents have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country.
Whether each of us agrees with the war in Iraq or not, we must insist on proper and competent medical and psychological care for the brave men and women who serve in the Armed Services.
I think Corporal Lucey is in heaven now. God knows who the innocent victims are. - Reply to this comment
