DEAR EDITOR:

I was pulling into the parking lot of my local veterinarian in order to pick my dog up after her exam a few months ago. As I got out I saw a very elderly man getting out of an equally elderly pickup truck. I noticed that he wore a cap with the name of a bomber group that was based out of England during World War II. He was wearing shabby jeans and an equally shabby sweater and an old pair of shoes that had seen better days.

I spoke to him and found out he was a crew member of a bomber and had flown over 45 combat missions before he was wounded by German antiaircraft fire. He walked with a pronounced limp.

I asked him if he was picking up a pet and he said no, he was coming to say goodbye to Kilroy, his dog. He lived alone with Kilroy after adopting him 14 years ago. Kilroy had cancer that had spread to many parts of his body and was in constant pain.

"I want to hold him when they put him down. He shouldn't have to die alone, like I may have to," he said.

The old veteran had to be in his late 80s or early 90s. He probably received a VA pension and probably had spent a lot of money he couldn't spare trying to make Kilroy comfortable. I imagined that he probably got most of his medical care from VA clinics and the local VA hospital. He went in and I had to pick my dog up and take her home. He had already gone back to be with Kilroy and I never saw him again.

The veterans of World War II and Korea are dying and every day there are fewer of them. Many are indigent and depending on the VA hospitals and clinics for their care. And then I heard what I hope is only a rumor and I went ballistic when it leaked out that the Obama crowd are thinking of closing most, if not all, of the VA medical care facilities and putting these veterans on Medicare alone, no matter how badly they needed care. I hope it isn't true. It had better not be true or some liberal lawmakers will have a real election fight on their manicured and callus-free hands. It won't happen if we let our anger and outrage be communicated to these liberal congressmen and senators. Let your voice be heard as loud as mine will be. Throw these rascals out next year!

James T. Cooper
Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
East Cobb