Veterans National Home: A Profile in Courage

A Profile in Courage

By Robert L. Rosebrock – Vietnam War-era Veteran

Bob Handy, a 76-year old Korean and Vietnam War Veteran, is an anomaly in today’s world of political correctness where playing it safe and saying what’s convenient for the moment, have become the norm.

Consequently, when you’re dealing with Bob, there’s never any doubt or misunderstanding as to where he stands on the issues, particularly when it comes to looking out for the best interests of America’s Military Veterans, and more specifically, protecting and preserving the sacred land of the Los Angeles National Veterans Home.

Bob is a U.S. Navy Veteran with 22 years of honorable duty to his country. He’s also a Veteran’s Veteran, as he has continuously championed many causes for his fellow Veterans over the years. Moreover, his standup, steadfast commitment and loyal support of the Veterans Revolution to “Save Our Veterans Land” has not only been unwavering, but courageously inspiring.

Going the Extra Mile
For 34 consecutive Sunday afternoons, there’s been a Veterans Rally held outside the National Home at Wilshire and San Vicente Boulevards, one of the busiest intersections in West Los Angeles.  Here, Veterans from around Southern California exercise their First Amendment Right to peaceably assemble and protest and petition our government’s abuse and misuse of this hallowed land, which it has shamelessly prostituted away to the highest, and sometimes lowest bidder.

While younger Veterans who live close by can’t seem to muster up the time or interest to attend a Sunday Rally, Bob has driven from Santa Barbara on several occasions to give his support. That’s a 200-mile round trip and with the cost of gasoline, it’s a major investment of time and money.  Neither fazes Bob, as going the extra mile for his fellow Veterans is his calling card.

Not on My Watch!
If Bob is not there for a Sunday Rally then he’s continuously contacting his huge network of Veterans and allies seeking support to stop this egregious land grabbing of Veterans sacred property for a public community park.

Because he knows that Veterans are the ultimate losers in these shameless land-heist schemes, Bob minces few words about where he stands when it comes to a public park or other land abuse on this hallowed land by boldly declaring in a military-like command: “Not on my watch!” 

Veterans United For Truth
Bob’s devotion to Veterans’ causes is well known, as he’s the chairman of Veterans United For Truth, Inc. (www.VUFT.org), which recently sued the Veterans Administration and others to improve medical care for veterans, particularly those returning from the current conflicts.

When Bob was questioned about the organization’s name, he replied: “Quite simply because ‘TRUTH’ seems to be the missing component of all current activities and programs designed to support military personnel and their families, and is likewise the missing component in the press and in government presentations to service persons and their families.”

Protecting a National Sacred Trust
Bob is also chairman of the California Democratic Party Veterans Caucus and along with Lt. Colonel Sanford Cook, (U.S Army, Retired), they recently wrote and sponsored a “Resolution Protecting a National Sacred Trust,” i.e., the National Veterans Home, by opposing a public park and other abuse and misuse of Veterans sacred land. General Joseph P. Hoar, (U.S. Marine Corps, Retired) and former Commander in Chief of United States Central Command, has co-sponsored the Resolution.

The public park that Bob is opposing in this Resolution represents Veterans land that has been coveted by Veterans Park Conservancy (VPC), and is a calculated scheme to take virtually all of Veterans land for a public community center or as VPC has envisioned, “central park west,” all under the guise of “honoring our veterans.”

In a recent article by fellow Veteran Rees Lloyd, titled “Shame on VA Bureaucrats and Shame on Congressman Waxman,” Rees correctly pointed out that “VPC, which manifestly is not a veterans organization but an organization of wealthy Brentwood residents whose principal agent in advancing its own interests through arrogant manipulation has been the politically-connected Sue Young — that is, politically connected to the Westside Machine.”

The Westside Political Machine
Just who is this political "Westside Machine" that is connected with Ms. Young? It’s an alliance of powerful Democrats that include U.S. Congressman Henry Waxman, whose 30th District encompasses the National Veterans Home, U.S. Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and his Senior Deputy Flora Krissiloff who is also a vice president of VPC, California State Senator Sheila Kuehl, California State Assemblyman Michael Feuer, Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, and Brentwood Community Council president Wendy-Sue Rosen, etc. Only Rosendahl is a Veteran.

Through the manipulation of the Machine and the VA bureaucrats, Ms. Young received a no-bid privileged lease arrangement for 16-acres of Veterans Land, "rent free," even though the parcel is considered to be one of the most valuable on the west coast and estimated to be worth $1 billion. On the flip side of this billion-dollar coin, Veterans receive absolutely nothing while their healthcare needs continue to go under-funded.

Unprecedented Compromises
When Ms. Young was asked in the November 2007 issue of the “Brentwood News” how she was able to essentially expropriate this 16-acre parcel of Veterans land "rent-free" for a public park, she responded:
 "Because this arrangement was unprecedented, it required lengthy discussions and compromises with Veterans Administration in Los Angeles and Washington. The agreement also called for approvals at the highest levels, i.e., Secretary Nicholson, and the involvement of the Congressional delegation."

It couldn’t be any clearer as to how the congressional delegation of the Machine and VA bureaucrats answer to Ms. Young’s demands, while disrespecting and disregarding the best interests of America’s Military Veterans.

As Mr. Lloyd also noted in his article, Jim Duvall, the "Chief, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs" for the West Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, did the “belly-crawling for Ms. Young” in this egregious land grab, even though Duvall is supposed to be serving the Veterans and their healthcare “needs” instead of facilitating the selfish “wants” of the community.

The Veterans Revolution
America’s Veterans have been outraged over this public park land-grab by VPC that was facilitated by the Westside Machine and VA bureaucrats. Consequently, members of The Veterans Revolution have been protesting against it along while upholding the “Declaration of Enforcement,” which was written to uphold the promise of the Deed of 1888, that this hallowed land shall be permanently maintained as a National Home for Veterans to heal from war.  

In defending the National Veterans Home, fellow Revolutionaries have successfully secured the alliance of major Veteran organizations that also oppose the public park, which includes members of the California American Legion, the American Gi Forum of California, Veterans United For Truth, The National Veterans Coalition, We the Veterans, and the California Gathering of Eagles.

Handy to the Rescue
While these Veteran organizations and their supportive Resolutions have proven to be a powerful ally in building solidarity to “Save Our Veterans Land,” VPC still exercises its wealth and power over the Machine and the VA bureaucrats, who are supposed to be the protectors and entrusted stewards of this Sacred Trust.

As a result, Bob Handy took a very bold and courageous stand on behalf of all Veterans when he rightfully filed the Veterans Caucus’s Resolution to be voted on by the executive board of the California Democratic Party on November 15th. 

Circling Their Wagons
It seems only natural that the California Democratic Party would support this noble Resolution. To the contrary, members of the Westside Machine are now circling their wagons around fellow-Democrat Bob Handy because these politicians support VPC first and foremost by aiding and abetting VPC’s scheme to convert Veterans sacred land into their personal fiefdom for a public park and entertainment center. 

Follow the Money
While the Machine’s true responsibility is to defend Veterans land that was deeded exclusively for convalescence and rehabilitation, it has shamelessly compromised the Deed of 1888 to benefit their wealthy constituents.

Something is seriously amiss when members of the Westside Machine are vehemently opposed to the moral and responsible Resolution by the leader of the Veteran Caucus of their own Democratic Party, including the co-sponsorship by a prominent 4-star retired Marine General.

Why is the Westside Machine so aggressively opposed to the Resolution that reinforces its own entrusted stewardship, which is to defend this Sacred National Trust from outside land grabbers?  Follow the money.

He’s Not Backing Down
Make no mistake; Bob Handy is not backing down, nor will any of his fellow Veterans back down from this enormous challenge and responsibility.

In addition to the support of Southern California Veterans, Bob has garnered support from Veterans all across America, from the Eastern Seaboard of North Carolina, the heartland of Ohio, to the Northwestern Seaboard of the State of Washington. 

Give ’em Hell, Bob!
Bob is definitely an old-school Democrat with a throwback style of the no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is Harry Truman. In retrospect, when Truman was campaigning in 1948, a supporter yelled, “Give ‘em Hell, Harry.”  To which Truman replied, "I don’t give them Hell. I just tell the truth about them and they think it’s Hell."

And so it is with Bob Handy. He just tells the politicians in his Democratic Party the truth about the land grabbing and abuse at the National Veterans Home, and they think it’s hell because of the heat he keeps putting on them.

One Man With Courage
Andrew Jackson said, “One man with courage is a majority.”  And so it is with Bob Handy, a brave and courageous man who stands up for what is right, regardless of his own consequences with the Democratic Party that he has been so very loyal to over his lifetime.

A Profile in Courage
President John F. Kennedy wrote his Pulitzer Prize winning book, “Profiles in Courage,” in 1956 while he was a U.S. Senator. The book describes various acts of courage, bravery and integrity by eight different U.S. Senators that he profiled, as each had crossed party lines or defied the public opinion of their constituents by doing what they knew was right instead of popular.  As a result, each suffered severe criticism and opposition, including the loss of popularity and support as a result of their brave and courageous actions.

John F. Kennedy would be extremely proud of fellow Democrat Bob Handy’s courage, just as all fellow Veterans are very proud of his act of courage opposing the abuse of Veterans land. 

On the flip side of the page, JFK would not be at all proud of this Westside Machine and its irresponsibility to protect this sacred land, just as it was patriotically deed in 1888 by U.S. Senator John P. Jones and Arcadia de Baker.

Think about this; John P. Jones, a politician, courageously gave his land for the best interests of America’s Veterans, while today’s politicians are cowardly taking this same land away for the best interests of their wealthy constituents.

The National Veterans Home represents the largest VA Healthcare Center in the nation, yet politicians of the Westside Machine serve their wealthy community constituents instead America’s Veterans. Just as bad, they do not even respect the recommendation of the top Veteran in their Democratic Party.

Sign The Resolution and Join The Revolution
While powerful members of his own Democratic Party are in defiance of the “Resolution Protecting a National Sacred Trust,” fellow Veterans salute Bob Handy for his bravery and courage in defending the Los Angeles National Home for today’s Veterans, and for future generations of Veterans.

Even though the 2008 election battle may be over, the political battle continues against the Westside Machine to stop it from giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the Veterans land, which are Sue Young and her land-grabbing cohorts. 

Fellow Veterans and Friends of Veterans, you are encouraged to endorse the “Resolution to Protect a Sacred National Trust” by the California Democratic Veterans Caucus. Then show up at the California Democratic Party’s board of directors meeting on Saturday, November 15, from 1:00 – 4:00 PM, at the Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort, 1855 S. Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim, CA 92802

Members of The Veterans Revolution will be rallying their support behind Bob Handy and his courageous Resolution to help “Save Our Veterans Land.”

God Bless America and The Veterans Revolution

Robert L. Rosebrock is U.S. Army Veteran, Vietnam War-era, HQ USARHAW, Schofield Barracks. He is Co-Director, We the Veterans, and Director of The Veterans Revolution, and a Member, American Legion Press Association

Robert Rosebrock

U.S. Army, 1965-67, Schofield Barracks, Hqs., U.S Army, Hawaii. Director, The Veterans Revolution, Captain, the Old Veterans Guard, and Director, We the Veterans.