I’m One Pissed Off ‘Nam Vet!
I posted this Suicide at VA Hospital Fayetteville NC up at ePluribus Media on the 5th of this month, the incident happened apparently on the 3rd.
Below is part of that ePluribus posting with Finally an Update and some comment.
Have checked for an update about wether this was a Veteran but so far the Fayetteville Observer has only the first report, nothing more.
This is an E I received when inquiring about an Update to the initial report and wether he was a Veteran and if so a Patient of the Clinic.
Thanks for your e-mail. I’ll ask our folks to look into this and see if we can post an update as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Charles Broadwell
The Fayetteville Observer
The Fayetteville Observer still has not updated any information on this incident yet it was posted up, a few days ago, as the most visited story at their site.
Below is the first report, than another, with pic, from a local News Station these were posted on the 3rd of the month:
Man shoots himself in front of VA center
A staff report
A man shot himself in front of the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Ramsey Street on Tuesday.
The identity and condition of the man had not been released at press time.
The shooting happened about 12:30 p.m. near the flag pole in front of the main entrance, said Norman Byrd, a hospital spokeswoman.
The center remained open, Byrd said, but Fayetteville police and hospital workers blocked the front entrance with barricades.
Drivers were told to use side entrances, Byrd said. Police cordoned off the area around the flagpole.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating, Byrd said, because the medical center is a federal facility.
Police investigate the scene of an apparent suicide outside the VA Medical Center in Fayetteville.
Man Shoots Himself Outside Veterans Hospital
Posted: Apr. 3, 2007
Fayetteville — A man committed suicide Tuesday in front of the hospital operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, authorities said.
The unidentified man drove onto the VA Medical Center grounds and parked near the flagpole in front of the building, a hospital spokeswoman said. He then got out of his pickup truck and shot himself, she said.
The spokeswoman declined to say whether the man had been a patient at the hospital or if he was seeking treatment there.
Fayetteville police and the FBI were investigating the incident.
Finally we get an Update three days later. He was a Veteran, and at 59 probably, like myself and many many others, of service In-Country Vietnam.
Identity Known of Man Who Shot Self in Front of VA Hospital
Suicide outside Fayetteville VA Medical Center
Posted: Apr. 5, 2007
Updated: Apr. 6, 2007
Fayetteville — WRAL has learned the identity of a man who committed suicide in front of Fayetteville’s VA hospital earlier this week.Harold J. Nealey, 59, of Chadbourne, N.C., drove onto the property of the VA Medical Center grounds, got out of his pickup truck and shot himself in the chest on Tuesday.
Hospital staff refuse to say if Nealey was a patient there, but funeral directors confirm he was a veteran.
Nealey, who went by the nickname “Rusty,” leaves behind two sons, four brothers and two sisters.
Why is there a problem with reporting an update on this incident, could it be that because it’s a Federal Facility the FBI is investigating, especially as Mr. Nealey was a Veteran and this took place in a heavy Military town, Ft. Bragg and Pope Airforce Base along with other nearby Military Facilities.
Is this Another slap in the Face to ‘Nam and ‘Nam Era Veteran’s? Hush Hush lets keep this lowkeyed as pretty much everything else about Veterans is done in this Apathedic Society, who sends their Military into Invasions while Cheering them on than go into Denial when they Return!
Support The Troops – Magnetic Ribbons Ya Right, as long as they Don’t have to Sacrifice the Monies needed to Care For Them, a Magnetic Ribbon and Occasional sent card or package is a Cheaper Form of Support!
RIP Harold
It’s estremely sad it had to come to this though, Brother
oh, good heavens Jim, ppl do not understand completely the mechanism of ptst, that is why. It is some thing that will always be around for a vet…it is that plain and simple. Although we do get help, and we do seem better equipped to function in society, there is always that factor that it is still there. Unless we find a way to support or contend with this disease, most of all with security for the person with it, it will always be around, hidden and simmering at sometime or the other to rise it’s ugly head to harm us. I am so very sorry for this vet. I just wished I could have taken him and held his hand and just sit with him until he could have let go with the emotion of the death wish he had, for what ever reason he had it. To feel alone and so helpless, is such a sad and lonely feeling.
Thank you so much for this diary…hugs..
Evidence that wars live on in those who fight them long after the rest of us have forgotten.
I live in NC and hadn’t even heard of this.
The observer in my e-box and just caught it, but thought it strange that it was such a small writeup, especially as to the location of the incident.
Than a quick search gave me the news show story with pic but also lacking info. Than the news show did the small update.
Somebody is trying to keep this as quite as possible. I doubt if it’s because of Harold, but because of the chioce he made for the location. What with all that is finally coming out about Military health facilities and the VA.