Former U.S. Sen. Joseph Maxwell Cleland said he knows from experience how truly painful war is, both from a mental and physical standpoint. Cleland served in the Army from 1965 through 1968–climbing to the rank of captain. During his service, Cleland was wounded in combat. His legs were amputated at the knees, and his right arm was removed at the elbow.
Former Sen. Cleland speaks for veterans
Former U.S. Sen. Joseph Maxwell Cleland said he knows from experience how truly painful war is, both from a mental and physical standpoint.
Cleland served in the Army from 1965 through 1968–climbing to the rank of captain. During his service, Cleland was wounded in combat. His legs were amputated at the knees, and his right arm was removed at the elbow.
Cleland visited campus yesterday in support of U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley. Merkley is running against incumbent Gordon Smith, who has served as a member of the Senate for 11 years.
Cleland and Merkley both spoke about how they think the United States can effectively end the war in Iraq and how the country can and will fulfill its commitment to veterans, regardless of whether or not they served in combat.
“War is the most traumatic event in the world,” Cleland said. “That trauma stays with you and never goes away.”
Both Cleland and Merkley stressed the importance of immediate troop removal from both Iraq and Afghanistan and how to properly care for troops upon return.
“We need to make sure that the senators elected to office sincerely care about making a better life for our veterans when they return home,” Cleland said.
Merkley echoed those feelings while expanding on a need for affordable health care, housing and small-business loans for veterans.
“Our current administration did not plan for the aftermath of war here,” Merkley said. “We were so fast to go to war and slow to care for the return. This is the opposite of what should be.”
Recent articles by The Washington Post revealed problems within the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. While the Bush Administration is not talking about any failed medical aid, Cleland and Merkley said they feel they have the proper plans of action to alleviate the problem.
“The GI Bill must be reinstated so all veterans, whether they have served in combat or not, are properly and promptly treated,” Cleland said. “We must strengthen our mental health services, while having monthly screenings for brain trauma and have a full funding initiative for all VAs to receive benefits.”
For Cleland, once a veteran of war means always a veteran of war, and the repercussions that follow require a lifelong dedication from both the state and federal level.
“They gave something back that will never be replaced,” Cleland said. “We must do whatever we can to show our troops it is possible to lead happy and successful lives after war.”
Election ballots will be mailed out this Friday, giving voters time to study the candidates and their various platforms before Oregon primary voting concludes on May 20.
