This is the story of a World War II veteran and his family who is desperately trying to get him home. We have come to know him as Uncle Charlie. He was lost in the system for years. Now his family wants to bring him back to North Carolina, but no one can seem to help, not the Veterans Administration or even a US Congressman.
He came home in 1947 suffering from shell shock. Laurica says her grandmother talked about how "the war made my son crazy." Uncle Charlie wandered off into the woods and did other things that scared people. Laurica's grandmother contacted the Army who then came for Uncle Charlie. The family says he was placed in the care of the Army and the Veterans Administration.
Uncle Charlie was moved to a VA supervised group home in Tennessee. He stayed there for many years and in the 1960's, Uncle Charlie was moved to another supervised home in Ohio. In 1974, the VA determined that Mr. Newkirk was incompetent and an attorney, Richard Dimond, became legal guardian. Later, Uncle Charlie was diagnosed with schizophrenia by health care professionals. In 2002, Uncle Charlie was admitted to the VA in Chillicothe and has remained there since.
Laurica went to court to try to gain guardianship over Uncle Charlie from Richard Dimond. Richard Dimond was very forthcoming about Uncle Charlie's situation. He said the court was acting in the best interest of the veteran, not the family. Dimond also says the court believed it's too traumatic to move Uncle Charlie with his medical conditions. Dimond admits he does not go to visit Uncle Charlie very often, but he said he was there last week to take him some clothing and new pajamas.
Laurica disagrees and believes the fight is really over money.
Laurica offered to allow Dimond to keep guardianship of Uncle Charlie and control of the money, if he would just not oppose Uncle Charlie to come home to North Carolina.
She turned to the VA who couldn't help because of the court's ruling. Then, she asked Congressman Howard Coble for help.
Congressman Coble personally wrote the VA: "Ms. Oliver has no ulterior motive except for the good will that would be generated within the family to have Uncle Charlie back home. Most of the time we can work through the snafus. But, we've run into a brick wall on this one."
Full Article and Source:
Uncle Charlie's War
He came home in 1947 suffering from shell shock. Laurica says her grandmother talked about how "the war made my son crazy." Uncle Charlie wandered off into the woods and did other things that scared people. Laurica's grandmother contacted the Army who then came for Uncle Charlie. The family says he was placed in the care of the Army and the Veterans Administration.
Uncle Charlie was moved to a VA supervised group home in Tennessee. He stayed there for many years and in the 1960's, Uncle Charlie was moved to another supervised home in Ohio. In 1974, the VA determined that Mr. Newkirk was incompetent and an attorney, Richard Dimond, became legal guardian. Later, Uncle Charlie was diagnosed with schizophrenia by health care professionals. In 2002, Uncle Charlie was admitted to the VA in Chillicothe and has remained there since.
Laurica went to court to try to gain guardianship over Uncle Charlie from Richard Dimond. Richard Dimond was very forthcoming about Uncle Charlie's situation. He said the court was acting in the best interest of the veteran, not the family. Dimond also says the court believed it's too traumatic to move Uncle Charlie with his medical conditions. Dimond admits he does not go to visit Uncle Charlie very often, but he said he was there last week to take him some clothing and new pajamas.
Laurica disagrees and believes the fight is really over money.
Laurica offered to allow Dimond to keep guardianship of Uncle Charlie and control of the money, if he would just not oppose Uncle Charlie to come home to North Carolina.
She turned to the VA who couldn't help because of the court's ruling. Then, she asked Congressman Howard Coble for help.
Congressman Coble personally wrote the VA: "Ms. Oliver has no ulterior motive except for the good will that would be generated within the family to have Uncle Charlie back home. Most of the time we can work through the snafus. But, we've run into a brick wall on this one."
Full Article and Source:
Uncle Charlie's War
Of course the fight is over money!
ReplyDeleteProfessional guardians are in it for the money! If not, the "ward's" intentions of inheritance, if any, would be followed!
How many of these guardians are trustworthy?
(See a recent FLorida discipline report: http://www.srpressgazette.com/news/court_6549___article.html/order_practice.html
Veterans are in the same boat as the elderly. They don't receive the same care and "honor" once they've completed their duty.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad statement about society.
Uncle Charlie is in the system and the system will take everything he has including his freedom to choose where he should live.
People and Veterans churned into products - the American Way with court approval.
ReplyDeleteAnd this is how we treat our Veterans? It's disgusting.
ReplyDeleteVeteran's and their families are a sacred group of people. Seeing how our Veterans are treated with disrespect and dishonor is unacceptable.
ReplyDelete