IAmA Vietnam veteran amputee who has fought with the VA for two years trying to get a prosthetic leg but have yet to get one. AMA!

What can redditers do to help?

Just raise awareness. That's really all that can be done. I'm starting a kickstarter in a couple days so that might help.

Do you have a link to the kickstarter?

Not yet! But i will post one as soon as i do.

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I have thought about it! My kickstarter will be posted in a couple days so that could be fun.

Sir,

What were the circumstances of the event that caused you to lose your leg? Also, thank you for your service and sacrifice.

We walked into an ambush and my leg was hit by a chinese claymore.

How much of your leg is left? Do you remember much of the incident? Did you freak out when you first realized your leg was gone?

Up to the knee. No. And yes. I did. Haha

How come you've only recently been trying to get a prosthetic?

They had fixed my leg at first. But not good enough so i got blood poisoning and ended up losing my leg.

Followup question: is it true that all VA care has to come from VA facilities? What would you think of a program where veterans could go to any doctor they wanted, but have service-related care paid for by the VA?

Yes. That is true. And that is exactly what should be done. It would be so much easier in many different ways.

Why are they refusing to assist you?

They aren't willing to spend the money for a good leg. They will give me the runaround anytime they say they are going to do something and in the meantime my health deteriorates causing other things to get in the way.

As a vet myself, I've always wondered if it is really incompetence of care or just the weight of all the bureaucracy getting in the way.

Have you actually been able to see a specialist and been ignored, or are they claiming no one is available to help?

I wonder the same thing. I had seen a specialist and been ignored since. I even travelled over 1600 miles to try a different VA. I got the same thing from them.

Is the VA trying to say it wasn't service related, or that it wasn't there fault it had to be amputated?

As a taxpayer, this pisses me the hell off. If we're going to send people to fight in bullshit wars the least we can do is take care of them when they come back.

No. They are slacking off and leading me on. Ignoring me, stuff like that. Just panning the time out.

Ever hear Dave Rabbit's pirate radio while in Vietnam?

No sir. I haven't. I wasnt in Vietnam until late September.

Have you ever been back?

No but i wouldn't mind it.

What do you think of Oliver Stone? Which film most accurately reflects your experiences of the war? Are you able to watch/enjoy them comfortably?

He makes some amazing films. Platoon isthe most accurate in my opinion. And yes. I love them. Hamburger Hill is also accurate!

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I will!

Hi Richard! Thanks for the AmA.

Have you been to another situation of extreme danger besides the day you lost your leg?

Thank you! And yes. When i got busted with quite a bit of marijuana. 0/10 would recommend.

What movie out there has closely resembled exactly what happened in Vietnam?

Platoon was the closest in my opinion.

My dad said the same thing. Well, he said that the boot camp part of Full Metal Jacket was good and that Platoon was good as far as 'in country' goes. He was a Marine over in '68-'69.

That part was very good! I was a Navy coreman.

What do you do for a living now-a-days?

Nothing. Yet. I'm 100% disabled. There are a lot of things i want to do but not being able to walk is a big obstacle.

what do you do to pass the time then? hobbies etc.

Im a marijuana enthusiast. I usually watch news or tv most of the time. Playing with my dogs is a lot of fun.

Oh I am as well. What sort of news interests you the most? Politics, current events, sports, local?

Current politics and sports.

Do you think the U.S. could have drove out the VC with special forces and air support assisting the south Vietnamese?

With air support we could have gone straight in.

did you get any phantom pains where your leg was ?

Yes. All the time. Haha. It is very irritating to say the least.

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Yes. It doesn't help me much but it was very interesting.

This kind of stuff pisses me off. I know you've probably been asked a million times so forgive me for asking again. Have you contacted your congressman? S/He is supposed to advocate for you with government agencies. Can we (redditors) bury your congressman and senator with requests on your behalf?

I have and yes you can! That would be amazing

Do loud noises make you jump ? Do you have nightmares ?

No. And sometimes. When i sleep long enough.

Cheers for doing this lad!

What is your biggest struggle in a normal day? Have you overcome some things with time?

Thank you! My biggest struggle is a tie between taking showers and taking my two dogs out. And not yet. It's hard getting used to.

It hurts me to hear about the dogs. As someone who loves those little fourleggers, I would be sad to be kept from doing my thing with them. Good luck in the future!

Thanks!