Gulf War Veterans Die Off and No One Seems to Care

by Denise Nichols

They die too often and too young!  It is sad that these Soldiers don’t receive as much attention as those injuried or killed during the war.

IT is the Injuried vs Illness problem.  Illnesses that go unrecognized and unaknowledged until it is much much too late.  What happens to those soldiers and their families without the full support of the military support given to those that come home injuried.
 
It is like being forgotten!  But I will not let those that I went to serve be forgotten it is a solemn
oath, the oath of a Nurse Officer.     
Today I spent time on the phone with a family that lost their brother and their son to gulf war illness three years ago.  He didnt get help thru the VA because of OTH and not having the right guidance to get that changed.

He ended up with a liver and pancreas transplant and then died pneumonia, but in troop his whole body had experienced a toxic insult from his service and his immune system finally gave out.  I was honored to talk with this family and to really listen at the grief that is there after 3 yrs almost to the day.  That grief that is not healing due to the nagging
thoughts that it didnt have to happen so soon.  To find a way for meaning and purpose of that lost life.  Again the family saod it is not about benefits!  It is about how his life was altered and not recognized and the many of others that are sufferring and not acknowledged for what they gave to this country.
 
This family knows not only by that single episode but also because the cousin also served and going thru the exact same path!  Exact!  Tell me that is a random occurrence!
 
The administrations over 18 years, the DOD, the VA just doesn’t get it!  The soldier, sailor, marine, airman that went healthy and came back ill from their service are due the same that is
acknowledged and given to an injuried amputee!  It is all about acknowledgement, a sacred contract, a sacred trust, a support of recognition that can not be denied but yet over and over again thru the years they failed hundreds of thousands of us.  
 
Where do such men and women come from that despite it all they would do it again and again!
 
But will their offspring that have seen this in their families repeatedly follow that path?
 
It is the same honor and recognition that families of POW and unaccounted for fight for!
WE are all accountable for our actions..and we expect no less from our leaders and our government.
 
To be Accountable and Responsible for their troops well being and health!  Do not leave us all as Prisoners of Washington Politics, cost accountability, face saving or denial!  Stand up as leaders and officers should!
 
With those words I will reflect on these 4 names and the lives and the service they gave to this country and the hundreds of thousands of others.  We as fellow veterans that know the true cost honor them and their families!
 
Salute, Taps, 21 Gun Salute, FULL HONORS AND RECOGNITION.
Memorial and Services this weekend and Monday.
 
Roll Call of Names
 

37.  Hoffman,60, USA, VN and DS, Nebraska Nat Guard..mechanic
 
38.  MCElroy,56, at his residence, MD, US Navy, VN and DS
 
39. Gould,USA, 61, platoon sergeant with Company A,1st Battalion, 120th Infantry, a first sergeant with Company A with the Morehead City Armory, VN, Desert storm,Bosnia
 
40. Weaver,43,F, at home, Illinois National Guard, 333rd Military Police

 
Obits follow
 
Harold Gene "Bud" Hoffman   
Harold Gene ‘Bud’ Hoffman 60, Lincoln, died Wednesday (4/15/09). Born in Lincoln, Neb. on September 22, 1948 to Robert & Mary (Slote) Hoffman. Harold was a United States Army Veteran, serving during Vietnam. Operation Desert Storm veteran, serving with the Nebraska Army National Guard. Longtime mechanic with the Nebraska Army National Guard.

Survivors: daughter & son-in-law, Amy & Louis Kicken, Gering, Neb.; grandsons: Levi Kicken & Liam Kicken; granddaughter: Megan Kicken; mother, Mary Hoffman, Lincoln; brothers, sisters & spouses: Kenneth & Joyce Hoffman, Grand Island; Duane & Ruth Hoffman, Chico, Texas; Romaine & Charlie Chiarelli, San Diego, Calif.; Jenelle & Alan Duffy, Lincoln; Janet & Larry Madison, Boyds, Md.; Marla & Thomas Mumgaard, Papillion; Merrilee & Mark Ediger, Aurora, Ill.; Daryl & Teresa Hoffman, Lincoln; Patricia Varga, Lincoln; brother-in-law, Wayne Phillips; many nieces, nephews & great-nieces & nephews. Preceded in death by father; sister, Judith Phillips.

Funeral Services: 11:30 a.m. Saturday (4/18/09) at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 South 14th Street. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday (4/17/09); 9 a.m. until services Saturday, at the funeral home. Graveside Service: 1:30 p.m. Monday (4/20/09) at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Neb. Memorials: In care of the family. Condolences: www.lincolnfh.com. Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home.
 
Theodore Steven "Mac" McElroy   
McELROY, Theodore Theodore Steven "Mac" McElroy, 56, of Summerville, husband of Dianne Porcher died Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at his residence. Graveside funeral service will be held Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 2 o’clock at Black Oak Porcher Family Cemetery, Bonneau, SC. Flowers will be accepted. Mac was born October 8, 1952 in Hagerstown, Maryland, son of Anne Kruy McElroy of Hagerstown, Maryland and the late David Edward McElroy, Sr. He attended schools in Hagerstown, Maryland. He was a retired veteran of the United States Navy having served active duty during the Vietnam Conflict and the Persian Gulf War. Among others, he crewed the U.S.S. Moosbrugger and the Jessie L. Brown. He was known for his gregarious wit; and was an avid student of history and world geography. He enjoyed spending time with his family, cooking and playing golf. Surviving in addition to his wife and mother, are son and daughter, Chris and Jackie McElroy of Ladson and Amanda Rutkowski of Goose Creek; step son, Christopher Rutkowski of Columbia; granddaughter, Abigail McElroy of Ladson; two brothers, Keith McElroy of California and David McElroy of Florida. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jamesadyal.com. ARRANGEMENTS BY JAMES A. DYAL FUNERAL HOME, 303 SOUTH MAIN STREET, SUMMERVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/ deaths.

Guion Gould   
HAVELOCK – Guion Earl Gould, 61, of Havelock, died April 10, 2009, at Craven Regional Medical Center in New Bern.

A funeral with military honors will be at 5 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2009, at Brooks Funeral Home chapel in Morehead City with the Rev. Dennis Goodwin, Jr. officiating.

He was a platoon sergeant with Company A,1st Battalion, 120th Infantry, a first sergeant with Company A with the Morehead City Armory, a combat veteran having served in Vietnam, Bosnia, and Iraq, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Morehead City and worked at Cherry Point for 34 years.
Survivors include his wife, Sarah C. Gould of Havelock; a daughter, Christina Carlton of Portsmouth, Va.; a son, Richard Gould of Speedway, Ind.; and a brother, Jesse "Buddy" Bell Gould Jr. of Newport
The family will receive friends from 4 to 5 p.m. Monday, April 13,2009, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517.
 
 
Robin Weaver   
ROBIN D. WEAVER, 43 MOUNT MORRIS – Robin D. Weaver, 43, Mount Morris died on Saturday, April 11, 2009, at home. Born on April 8, 1966, in Ludington, Mich., to Dale and Mary Morrison. Married William Weaver on Feb. 28, 1987. Retired from Illinois National Guard, 333rd Military Police, including a year in Iraq. Robin loved her family, holidays, trains, crafting, zoo’s and museums, Red Hat Society, camping, hiking, fishing. She was a member of the Leaf River Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband, Bill; children, Melanie Weaver and William Weaver Jr.; parents, Dale and Mary; sisters, Jeanie (Ed) Breedlove and Valerie Dotson; brothers, Kyle (Bitsy) Morrison, and Lonnie (Jamie) Morrison; grandmother, Myrtle Morrison; and numerous relatives and friends. Predeceased by brother, Dale Morrison Jr.; grandparents, Velmar and Alberta Bidwell, Edward Morrison. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, at Riverside Assembly of God Church, 4242 W. Riverside Blvd., Rockford. Officiated by Pastors Truman Turner and Randy Newton. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. before the service. The family requests the attire to be in bright, spring colors. Burial will be in Willwood Burial Park with military honors. A Memorial fund has been set up at Rock River Bank for "Robin Weaver Memorial."