The Vegas Voice 3-20

Take a close look at the picture. What do
you see? For me, I see a homeless veteran
calling the streets of Las Vegas home.
Someone who has been cast aside by society - that no one gives a
damn about! Sadly, thousands more just like him are going through
life on the streets.
To make matters worse, he, like many other homeless veterans, relive
the horrors of war that only they have experienced. The constant
re-runs of battle and death have becomes such a regular part of their
daily life, they can’t function or live what we call a “normal life.”
Their Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is vivid and real. It has
driven many to end their lives by their own hand. The problem is not
abating, it’s getting worse!
Why? Because our illustrious elected officials aren’t doing enough to
fix it. Oh, they talk a good game about spending millions of dollars on
a transitional rescue location for the homeless in Las Vegas.
I’ll admit, that’s a start, but it’s not enough. What good is it if you can
only “rescue” 300 homeless, when you have thousands more looking
for shelter on any given night?
Until we hold the politicians’ “feet to the fire” and demand action
34
He’s Worth the Effort
By: Dan Hyde / Call to Action
A Salute to G.I. Jo
By: Chuck Dean / Vet 2 Vet
54 years ago, I stood in the dust looking up
at a chopper that came in from Saigon with
1965 Playmate of the Year aboard. None of us had
seen a “round eye” chick seemingly forever.
Lt. John Price, a platoon leader in the 173rd, who had purchased
a lifetime subscription to Playboy set out to hold Hugh Hefner to his
promise of having the Playmate of the Year personally deliver the first
issue. Here’s his letter to Hef:
“This is written from the depths of the hearts of 180 officers and
men of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne
Brigade (Separate) stationed at Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. We
were the first American Army troop unit committed to action here
in Vietnam, and we have gone many miles—some in sorrow and
some in joy, but mostly in hard, bone-weary inches.
“We are proud to be here and have found the answer to the
question, ‘Ask what you can do for your country.’ And yet we
cannot stand alone - which brings me to the reason for sending
you this request.
“The loneliness here is a terrible thing and we long to see a real,
living, breathing American girl. Therefore, we have enclosed with
this letter a money order for a Lifetime Subscription to Playboy
magazine for B Company. It is our understanding that, with the
purchase of a Lifetime Subscription in the U. S., the first issue is
personally delivered by a Playmate. It is our most fervent hope that
this policy can be extended to include us.
March 2020
on a much grander scale, nothing will change. I have in previous
columns outlined several solutions to consider. First and foremost is to
collaborate together.
What a novel thought! Politicians working together to solve
countywide problems instead of posturing for power. Is that possible?
Look at that picture again. Isn’t “He Worth the Effort?”
(Photo by LVRJ photographer Benjamin Hager)
Dan Hyde is a passionate and effective advocate for the senior
community. He can be reached at: dhyde9@cox.net.
“Any one of the current
Playmates of the Month
would be welcomed with
open arms, but if we have
any choice in the matter,
we have unanimously
decided that we would
prefer the 1965 Playmate
of the Year - Miss Jo Collins.
“If we are not important
enough…to send a
Playmate for, please just
forget about us and we
will quietly fade back into
the jungle.”
Deciding that only old
soldiers should fade away,
and deeply touched by the paratrooper’s plea, Hefner immediately began
drawing up plans for the successful completion of Project Playmate.
The one hitch to Price’s plan was that he got himself nicked while Jo
Collins was in route. Thanks, Lieutenant.
Chuck Dean served as an Army paratrooper in Vietnam and
through that experience was led to address the many transitional
issues veterans struggle with. He is the author of several important
books for veterans. All can be found on Amazon at: http://www.
amazon.com/author/chuckdeanbooks