My brother would have been 65 tomorrow

[DainBramaged]

but he died from pancreatic cancer in early April of this year. Like my father who died at 64 from heart failure and my sister who is very ill and will be 63 in August probably will not reach the magic number for retirement either. I hadn't seen my brother since my father's funeral in 1985. He was one of the lost souls of Vietnam. Severely wounded by a 'popper', even winning two bronze stars for bravery in combat. Lyndon Johnson even pinned his Purple Heart on him when he arrived home to recover. he lost part of his foot and hand and had shrapnel in him they never removed. He came home and was briefly married, and fathered a daughter. Spent most of his years after that lost like so many of his brothers in arms. We had thought he had died years ago since there had been no contact with him from anyone in our families. But in April something told me to try and find him again. What I found was his obituary.

He lived FIFTEEN MINUTES from his daughter and about two hours from me, but had not contacted her in over 20 years. He had worked here and there but because of his ghosts, never could hold a job for long. When it was discovered he had cancer in early January of this year, he moved in with some members of the church he adopted. When he was placed in hospice, his minister contacted his daughter, but by the time she reached him, he had slipped into a coma and passed quietly. He is buried in a Veterans cemetery near where he lived. But thankfully he didn't die alone. His minister brought me up to speed on his life and death when I researched his church. He was a silent victim of Vietnam. He was a silent victim of the treatment our Veterans receive.


I don't know what ghosts convinced him to live apart form his families most of his adult life. I never got to talk to him after he came back because he disappeared immediately thereafter. And he was silent for the most part at my father;s funeral. he never knew his Mom had died in 2009. He didn't even know my sister and I were still alive nor did he want to know.

Neither my dad or brother got to enjoy 'retirement'. And now the wealthy pricks in Washington are trying to make it worse for the rest of us. I am sure the system failed my brother, because if it was a caring system, he would have found the help he needed long ago. All they provided was hospice in the end.


Thanks for reading.


Happy Birthday my brother, Happy Birthday.

:cry:

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Such a moving story. My heart is with you and your family.

Things have gotten very brutish and nasty in the last 30 years, I feel so sad at what's going on all around us, all the victims of our rigged chess game.

We have choices to make: what's the America that we want?

Peace.

[daleanime]

2. .......

O8)

[Stinky The Clown]

3. . . . .

The lost souls of Viet Nam veterans.

A national disgrace.

I hope you find peace, friend.

:hug:

[DainBramaged]

13. As Republicans wrap themselves in the flag and step over the dead from their wars

flying fighter jets at sporting events and praying for those who give us freedom.


Such horrible bullshit.

Where were they when my brother needed them?

[w8liftinglady]

4. I feel for you,friend. same with my dad.

We are there for each other.
Hugs to you.

[TBF]

5. My uncle is another silent victim -

he was married before serving in Viet Nam, and had 3 children. It was always a struggle. In the end he was a homeless alcoholic who lost his wife. Everyone said he was a great guy before the military service (this was in a small town where siblings had gone to school with him). He died from the alcoholism (and I would argue post-traumatic stress), and was living under a bridge at the time.

[handmade34]

6. appreciate you sharing

we allow too many people to slip through the cracks... be extra nice to yourself tomorrow

[H2O Man]

7. Recommended.

Moving. thank you for sharing this.

It brings up something that I do not think about much. I have relatives who live less than five miles from me (mother, sister, brother-in-law) whom I have not spoken to in many, many years. Extended families are curious things.

[Permanut]

8. Thanks for telling this story, DB... K&R

From a 65 year old veteran who has been luckier than your brother.

[DainBramaged]

9. The system failed him, he simply retreated to stave off the monsters.

:cry:

Way too many years ago when his brothers were spit on and condemned for fighting a war the military industrial complex wanted, he is another chit cashed in. I wish I had been able to make my peace with him.

[malaise]

10. What a sad story

:grouphug:

Now you live for him!

[DainBramaged]

12. I truly hope longer I really do.

:hug:

[alsame]

11. ....

:hug: