Dr. Dan at VA Hospital Truly Helps Veterans

Veteran’s Medical Care at the VA Hospital

Dr. Dan is the Man

by Peter Macdonald

I saw Doctor Dan my VA Psy today at the New Hampshire VA Hospital. I had told Dr Dan when he called to make the appointment with me that I was not seeing the VA for my care anymore. I assume that the VA is just using Dr Dan to show a paper trail that I am receiving care to cover up the VA’s illegal acts. He called again a week later. I forgot that I was not seeing the VA any more and confirmed the appointment.

I told Dr Dan that I questioned why and was intrigued? The VA has done every thing possible to cause me harm, why would he put his job on the line for any veteran’s care unless it was ordered by his superiors? (That was my why), but Dr Dan is a unique individual. You can tell when you meet someone that does care and wants to do everything possible to help. This is Dr Dan! This is why I am intrigued with Dr Dan. I want the VA and everyone to know what I talked to Dr Dan about? I believe, that since I am running for NH State Senate District 21 the people have a right to know. I am honest with Dr Dan as I am with all of you.

The newspapers censor my words (as they must believe) to protect society from someone like me. I described to Dr Dan about how some little event (at any time of the day) can trigger hidden thoughts that I did as a U.S. Marine. I told about my serious head and back pain. I described how I help people every day and disregard the pain because I do not want my disabilities to control my life. That I would rather suffer in pain than sit and let the world pass. My volunteer to help others is my paying back those Veterans over the history of the U.S. that gave for our freedom.

I emphasized that I feel no guilt for what I did, but society back here has no reality to conceive unless they had been living in such putrid conditions and did what we did. Dr Dan stated that he had never been there and that he can not conceive it but by talking and treating so many WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Gulf War and many other veterans he does understand. "Understands that he does not know" but has built a sense to feel the emotions and gravity by hearing the same description from each that he treats. Can you feel or see what I do, in Dr Dan? The intrigue, question why?

Dr. Dan is worried about my suicide. His VA superiors, the NH governor, the police and many others hope it is soon. I told and Dan understands my suicide is thought about all the time by me. You or any one else can not understand what it is like to be dropped into a world with no memory from an accident in the MC. (TBI). Most people have a foundation that their thoughts (over years of learning) develop from.

I came home from a place where killing was the first and last thought on your mind each day. I came home from a place where you gave or took orders. Where the mission was the only means to survive for. I crashed in a C-117, was blown off a runway, broke my back during a Vietnam Offensive, killed a child with a bayonet to get my M-16 back and escape, survived eight convoys as an American Advisor deep into the "Bush", had a bullet pass with in inches of my head and watch the out house that I just exited be blown up by enemy mortar fire. Then one day I was back in "round eyed" country as a civilian.

I did not understand the people. I had no social skills. I was lost in a world that I did not belong. Other than controlling my mind with VA drugs, I must live with what I have and be happy. The VA stopped my medical care other than Dr Dan. I should think that the newspapers would want the individuals to know whom is running for District 21 NH senate. Don’t worry about my suicide, worry about the survival or the United States of America.

Peter Macdonald Sgt USMC Semper FI