Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

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Good morning Las Vegas, this Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5. JS and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host, I'm going to make a few statements. And I'm going to bring in two guests that we have today that will be actually setting in for me for a couple of shows each next month as I go through some medical issues that I've mentioned to you all several times. Once again, this is Women's History Month. And I think that we all need to be acknowledging the women in our lives as well as others who have done things to help our country grow. Also want to always remind people that they can get a hold of our assistant state service officer Tony Marsh with 301-537-9465. If you're seeking to find out how to get your benefit packages together, and Tony only operates by scheduling, you have to have a, an actually scheduled program with him to discuss whatever it is you may have, you don't just you can't just drop in. And he comes over to American Legion Post in over Doolittle. And H Street also has another there's a service center out in North Las Vegas, he has an office out there. Nice office. In fact, I've been trying to get the the leader or the manager of that program to come on to include a young brother from the Salvation Army, what they do, and I know great, you have done some work in this area, but they also try to get veterans house that may be on the streets. So and he's housed in the same building way, way north in North Las Vegas. And it's a game called the veterans community service center. Also, there's a veterans Family Resource Fair, that's going to occur 11am to 3pm on March 30, at 390 East Centennial Parkway. So check those things out. I'm sure you can find it online. I don't have an actual website. But those are the timeframes and the date that you can go down to that program, particularly set up for veterans. As I mentioned, I've asked Jean and Grady to to sit in with me today. So we're just gonna have some general discussion about veterans and veterans affairs. And again, this show is called Veterans Affairs plus the plus side, and I'm going to say to these guys on air where, because everybody's busy. As far as guests, I'll try to get his schedule at a good time for you and your guests. You guys pick your own gifts. I want to I don't want to send somebody here and you're like, Why send that person? No, you pick your own gifts. And one thing I always try to let people know, I'm not a journalist. I'm not trying to be a journalist. I am a talk show host. And what I do in that vein is I send people possible questions that will be asked just to stimulate thought. But as far as trying to trick you and play games, I don't have time for that. That's what journalists do. Not all journalists do that. But I've been around. And I've seen some of the tricks that they play on people, and they try to get you in a corner, but I ain't about that. So I want to explain real quickly how I got here. In fact, it was actually through Grady and the guys at American Legion Post teen I was serving as an intern for at the time Commissioner Lawrence weekly. And also the sister Patricia Connie here. They both enabled both have two different totally different styles on how they deal with their radio shows. But they both asked me to serve and Grady and his guys heard me on the radio according to them and say man, we're gonna we're gonna do our own show. And we want you to co host at the time, Grady as you know you were the commander of American Legion Post teen, so I just felt like a little bit of payback. I just believe what you share. And you guys brought me in through you. So I'm gonna share some of the wealth goes But this is a program that I take care of from a financial standpoint. And I don't want. And I know Wes has the capabilities, he's had to do it for me a couple times, he can play repeat shows, but I might know I mean, I want, I want to have some fresh things and thoughts on the show. So what I will do is, I'll get with you guys and try to look at what's on the calendar, set those times, and then we'll go and then you make contact with your guests. And you will find it sometimes man, you have to swing in the middle of a suite to get it go. And there's been a couple of times where I've been sitting here by myself, but you know, you learn to roll with it. So with that, brother radiates, please tell us our listening audience. What branch of military did you serve? And how long

Unknown Speaker 5:46
but there's only one true branch that was a US Army. Vietnam era veteran? Definitely not if i Bravo, military police.

Unknown Speaker 5:57
You G got any calm?

Unknown Speaker 6:00
All right. Well, yeah, that was a rude awakening during that period of time, as I know, you know, and a lot of people out there know that the Vietnam veterans is so unappreciated when we got back that that was a true love to surf, for us to do that kind of, and be in that role during that time period.

Unknown Speaker 6:18
So as far as Commander with the posts, I know you initiated a number of things to include getting some grants from from various businesses throughout the community that really helped to stimulate. Not growth, but I'd say, upgrading the building, if you will.

Unknown Speaker 6:41
We Home Depot was very instrumental in helping us during that period of time, they've allocated allocated a certain amount of their revenue to to support nonprofits, and especially veterans, 501, C threes. And they were very instrumental in getting our kitchen and some of our supplies together at American Legion Post 10.

Unknown Speaker 7:01
You know, something else you and I have had several discussions about, and just can't I don't know if you've gotten any traction, but I continue to bring it up. And that is the small, the small houses, I've seen a couple of them go up in a community, but they would certainly help to get a few people off the streets. But unfortunately,

Unknown Speaker 7:22
you know, we talked about and you were so instrumental in trying to get this thing going for us a few years ago, I was able to get a few houses built like that the box of the homes down in in the Lord knighthood of Louisiana of New Orleans, they donated some land to us down there, and we've never we tried to do the same thing. And I know we will continue to try to get to the city of Las Vegas to participate in that and try to get some of those homeless veterans off the street and putting those Boxborough homes.

Unknown Speaker 7:50
Absolutely. Down there.

Unknown Speaker 7:54
Real good. And it really worked. Because if you familiar with the law, nice work is still suffering from the from from Katrina, you know, it hasn't recovered. And we were able to take a lot of the abandoned properties there and, and refurbish them and put those homes down there and provide housing for some of the veterans and, and also to as a beta test down there, the city saw that they're going to try to hopefully expand and not only do housing for veterans, but provide first time buyer homes for a lot of low income people. So it's growing and I just hope we can do the same thing in the historic Wi Fi and Las Vegas in general.

Unknown Speaker 8:33
So you say we who was we just doing it down in New Orleans is

Unknown Speaker 8:39
the National Veterans Housing Alliance that I'm the CEO of and we're able to get traction down there working with a lot of the other local nonprofits, most of the veteran organizations out there.

Unknown Speaker 8:51
Okay. So you say you the CE O. O Oh,

Unknown Speaker 8:55
yeah. Just to the grid. You know, I get to do the grunt work.

Unknown Speaker 8:59
Yeah, well, you're out there operating making it happen, man. That's the most important thing. And the other thing that you and I had a meeting with, folks downtown is City Hall was trying to get that telemedicine. They thought we was up Jeanne thought we was crazy. Like, What are y'all talking about? They wouldn't take the bite man. And I ain't calling no names but would not take the bite. And then it didn't then three months later, everything's blowing up on telemedicine. I'm like, That's what braid. That's what Grady brought to me and we took it downtown, and nobody would listen. But you know, what an A breeze but you you can't give up. You know, in spite of some roadblocks that you get from people. When you know something good. You just keep keep trucking and tracking. And hopefully God willing, as they say in a creek don't rise. Jean and I were down in New Orleans for a week every year. I want to get by and see someone who was the project that you had so we will make sure when they come contacting get an address because I want to June 2

Unknown Speaker 10:02
Through June 8 this year. So great if you're down and we're gonna set it up on the probably probably on the back end maybe to see.

Unknown Speaker 10:13
That'd be there. I'll be there for jazz. So what I'll do, I'll just stay a little bit longer. That was my pleasure.

Unknown Speaker 10:19
Thank you. Great.

Unknown Speaker 10:21
My pleasure. Well, you know, I want to give kudos, I have the opportunity to go to Washington, because you know, he is like a rock where a lot of people kind of fall off. He's, he's constant, steady. He's been there. He's been working with the programs. I've been working with the area working with the people. He's been very diligent and patient, especially with me, and I appreciate that in working and trying to get some of the programs and getting some of the the projects that we talked about implementing it. Like I said, it hasn't been easy. I know he's been through a lot. And I just want to say thank you. Because you for everything. You've done everything. Have you been to the historic west side of Las Vegas into the city in general.

Unknown Speaker 10:59
Appreciate that.

Unknown Speaker 11:00
Great. I want to bring up something that and I'm wondering if David you can think of it we've all you ingredie came along about the same time in the military. At a different era, before Desert Storm or knows those errors. I was like one of those tweener tweener stages in the military, I was an Air Force grantee. So don't pick on me. And I too, was a a police officer, security police officer. They're in the military. And but what I see is there's challenges for different errors. There's some common challenges that all veterans have, but different areas have different challenges. And given that you have a a operational background in working with veteran service organizations, what do you think the biggest challenge is now to the to the different groups or different factions of the military? So let's just say Vietnam era, let's just say maybe, Desert Storm, you know, those kinds of errors? And then you come on up into the Gulf War, whatever. What do you see the different challenges are for them? And and what do you think we need to be trying to help with veterans, you talked a little bit about housing, but there's quite a few other things.

Unknown Speaker 12:15
A lot of it, and I'm speaking for myself, not Dave on this one. But I think it's generational. When Dave and I came through, right during the Civil Rights Movement, so we get some of the, the tail end of the rights where I went in and I suffered. And being from Southern California, I hadn't had experience with dealing with a lot of the prejudice that a lot of people from the South initially had. And it was a rude awakening, the prejudices that still lingered in the military during that period of time. But like I said, the biggest problem, I think that's addressing veterans now is suicide rates. I mean, it's 21%, among veterans during this time, which is just outrageous. And it's something that needs to be addressed. And I think that, that even though the homeless problem with Vietnam veteran is that era, the era now with a recent separate veterans suicide, and we have to really address that and, and get the politicians to put more emphasis on that and try to eliminate that, or at least reduce that. Well,

Unknown Speaker 13:11
I echo your sentiments, because I think too, particularly as it relates to suicide, veterans, it's, it's alarming numbers. And I think that more can be done and should be done. I, you know, I've said it when I was working. And I continue to say that America should do better in regards to looking out for the interests of our veterans, because, and I feel the same way. And I've been arguing this point, which I haven't mentioned on the last couple of shows, but there's a there was a law that was passed, and I was told 2019 and had to do with increasing the number of cancers that one could come contrast. And then finally, we get to get a stipend in the fire service in the fires in the fire service. And, and I call them the domestic warriors, maybe they didn't go to war, you know, outside of this country. But that is still a warrior. figure to me. I'm talking about firefighters now. And I think that because we in this business, we have high divorce rates, we have suicide, not to the level of of the military, but I think all those have to be addressed and they can only be addressed by a stirring the pot and people. I remember Ramadan saying to me know that as a man, you just don't quit because I told us I mean, we got to fight this stuff, man. Laws are passed, but laws can be changed. And they can only be changed by the pressure of the people. And I'm saying that that 2019 law. It's a good law, but it didn't go retroactive. So all those all those colleagues that we know in the fire service Jean and I in particular, they don't get their family don't get anything because they didn't retro it, but yet we can keep printing money. We send money here we send money there to these other countries, yet, we will not take it and I still believe that if people start getting fired up about this change, we'll call it change. We'll call it I was watching TV this morning, Marcy, why? Why did he send the money to Haiti? I said, what didn't Dawg Haiti for so many years, I think is a little bit of guilt. But they're sending money down there. And he's showing the printing press. I say, back when I was growing up, we should talk about Fort Knox, that'd be backed by gold, backed by gold. America's money is not backed up by anything, but more paper. And that's unfortunate. But no, I'm with you on the suicide thing. And we got it, we got to do a better job. And I think the job comes from those of us who are aware of the statistics, and start speaking out about it, calling our congressional local state legislators and saying, hey, what can you do? How can we get some assistance, because there's always funding in fact, I talked. She called me yesterday. Senator Dean O'Neill, and she told me about some money that was coming out like $30 million for for local type businesses. I'm like, wow. Unfortunately, we shut our business down about three years ago, because we went from a for profit business to a nonprofit business. I'm talking about new ventures Capital Development Corporation, where I was the chairman of the board. And my brother in law, Ernest was the president and CEO. And you know what? SBA told us, You guys should go go nonprofit, and you'll be good thing do not help us. So we just say, well, it is what it is. But no. So anyway, Grady, I agree with you.

Unknown Speaker 16:28
What you know. And just to go back a little bit, and we talked about this before, in our previous show, that a lot of it has to start with mental illness and the negative stigma that's put on that, and no one wants to admit that. And first thing we have to address that a lot of the problems when it comes suicide starts with with mental illness, or the challenges that come with with PTSD and a lot of the the effects from that thing. And we have to stand up and say, Okay, there's a problem, we have to address it, and let's solve it, as opposed to denying it and running away from it. And that comes with just awareness. And I think that's where we start in our community is just being aware of the different stigma of mental illness and not looking at as a negative, but as a positive thing to address it and to recognize it and to move forward to to treat

Unknown Speaker 17:11
it. Absolutely. Once again, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host, I'm sitting across the table from my colleague, Chief Eugene Campbell, and also on the line from the great state of Louisiana, and my home state. down in New Orleans, I just say that Mardi Gras but we got a former commander of American Legion Post, he and Grady Hayes on the line. So again, this is Veterans Affairs plus guy he agreed with us you got for us.

Unknown Speaker 17:43
What Well, that's it, you know, and like I said, just the two of you have just been such an example, to the younger generation. And I think that's something else that we have talked about the past all the things we've talked about, we've talked about in the past and, and trying to, to bring the youth along and show them this other path to success and, and awareness besides what they see with rapping or being a sports figure, or being an entertainer or being you know, a hustler, right feels that they can get into and be successful with you know, and I think the path you to follow them the success you've had is a prime example to our youth of what they can do if they put in the effort and put the time into to to pursue those ventures. And

Unknown Speaker 18:22
I can tell you, man, not only black kids and white kids as well. They are going absolutely nuts, man. What do you call them things Angel, that they just go in a store and just start taking stuff? Like what I mean it ain't it ain't it's not pointing directly at one particular race. They all do it. They just go into the

Unknown Speaker 18:42
store and Smash Grab smash and grab. And they do it by by either texting a bunch of people, right? This is like a mob and everybody just comes in. They showed one other day at an irritant so called prominent area of town here where a guy just walked into the Apple Store, had some little hoodie mask on and just started snatching all the phones and the computers up. Folks was looking at him. I didn't know if they had security there at I think they were just standing there looking at it to the person was so calm, got all their stuff, went outside and got in their car and took off. It's like they were shopping

Unknown Speaker 19:17
as well. Yeah, but

Unknown Speaker 19:19
you know, great either one reason why I've kind of brought that up nationally by different eras, because I think in my era, and I've noticed differences in the branches. I think the Navy does a really good job just by my exposure on making their veterans know as they're getting out to make sure they have the proper physicals as well as make sure they document and keep documents in their records. And as a young Air Force guy coming out, I had one chief master sergeant, that kind of told me a few things. He was a senior enlisted officer as I was getting ready to come out but it hadn't been something that had been done. And so when I see a lot of people that I know they're not aware of it of benefits they're not aware of, you know, when they had certain injuries in the military that they had documented, that they're having problems with, with health care or having problems now that they have partial, or maybe full benefits with the military that did not even aware of. And I think for a lot of people that came along in the military, when I was in there, especially if you were in the Air Force, that wasn't something that was shared, because I had three or four other friends, one of them, it's I've been known almost 40 years we were in, in North Dakota together. And we didn't know to wait, after we were out of the service about some things that that we could be eligible for. Whereas people in the in the Navy, we're coming out with full packages. And so I think all veterans if you don't be ashamed not only of reaching out for those services, and one of those that you talked about was mental awareness, as well as mental health. But also for all those other benefits of just being able to get a physical maybe be able to get some support, as relates to head injuries. That's a lot of things that are also leading to PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, which we've had a lot doing with the, with the roadside bombings and things grating. Right?

Unknown Speaker 21:09
And you're correct. And that's why I want to given Dave already did it. But another shout to brother Tony Marshall, who had been really working diligently in trying to make a lot of the veterans aware of what's what's available for them. And, and he's done a magnificent job over the last three or four or five years that I've known, he's been out there and, and we just need more that you're right. Awareness is the problem, we don't we have a lack of knowledge and what's available to us. And, and we've got to put that information out there. And all these people that go around, tell them where they love the troops. Well, you know, that's great lip service is great, but we want the politicians and the people who put put that in action, you know, put some DS to the words, you know, if you love the better, so much, you know, show us, you know, provide the services to them, give them the opportunities, give them the information that he you know, give them the services where they can address a lot of these problems that a lot of these veterans have when they get out. But not, let's not forget, you know, my pet peeve is Vietnam era veterans. You know, the guys that went to Vietnam, majorities, homeless veterans, or Vietnam veterans, because they were treated so badly when they first when they got out. And none of the services were provided for them another like you said, the information was not provided them and, and what happened now they got so caught up in their lifestyle, now, it's tough to make a change, it's been 3040 years, you know, of them doing the same thing. So we cannot forget them, we gotta get back and reach back and try to help them also as we help them that recently separated veterans. Dave,

Unknown Speaker 22:29
I know we gotta go, I just want to let everybody know that Tony Marshall is having something on March 19, you can reach out to him at m 1835. Nine. That's our are m 1835 nine@gmail.com. And he has a time every third Tuesday, beginning at 11am. And you can reach out to him with that email address.

Unknown Speaker 22:58
Excellent. Well appreciate it. Right. Well, we got about six more minutes. So we got time to get into some further discussion. But it's great what you're doing down in New Orleans and some kind of we really, we must break that. That that top of whatever you want to call it that they're avoiding for whatever reason, I know that there's land available. And there's there's got to be a push made to ensure that we can get some of these veterans off the street through these small houses, if you will, I think we just have to put together a targeted process to to to get people to at least listen.

Unknown Speaker 23:43
And not just not help the homeless but we can help a lot of these veterans get into the first home because the VA will finance these 100% So not only is it just we just want to house homeless people want to provide the beginnings of generational wealth with these new veterans just getting up and help them get their first home. You know, this is a way to do is inexpensive. It's a way to get that that foothold and start building that generational wealth that we all talk about and we all think is available to everyone. But it's not provided for a lot of these young veterans first getting out of service right now.

Unknown Speaker 24:15
Especially with the way the market has changed too. So I really agree with that. Tony, good point.

Unknown Speaker 24:21
You know, we had a week before last we had Tim Haskins. He is a realtor. And he talked about some of the programs dealing with VA and VA benefits. Because see, I had benefits at a four Plex down on Jackson Street, decided to give it up, got foreclosed on but I paid my money back. And you know what? He said your rights should still be there. He said if you were and he said and this I didn't realize but he said that. As you mentioned greedy they will do 100% And if you have For those benefits, and use portions of what have you, there are still things and dollars available. You just have to pursue. And that was from Mr. Haskin. And he specializes in trying to get veterans placed in homes. And he's been here in Vegas for I think he told me about 10 years. But I will I will share his number again next week, because I will in another month, I'd say, because I don't have it with me. Oh, yes, I do. Do anyway, this brother. He is a good man. And he's looking out for the interests. He is Tim Haskins, Branch Manager premier mortgage resources 661-992-7005. And he is a specialist on helping veterans get their veterans benefit as it relates to housing, whatever it is you're trying to buy. So I'm glad you brought that up.

Unknown Speaker 26:01
And I think we need more of that we need to set up a referral network or a networking service for veterans where we're all this information is available to them for different services and and programs that are out there that they may not be aware of.

Unknown Speaker 26:13
Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, radio hope you have great travels down where you are in any passing words you'd like to share with our audience before we sign off today.

Unknown Speaker 26:27
Well, no, just you know, I think like I said, All honor, respect to you, brother, Washington for everything you've done, and that my prayers are always there for you and your family. And for everyone out there that, that that that prayers will help. You know, because that always worked. I think faith is always the strength and bedrock to our community. And we can never give that up. I

Unknown Speaker 26:50
agree. 100% G. Yeah,

Unknown Speaker 26:52
I just like to thank David for taking that challenge on greedy when you when you gave it to him. Dave was that kind of guy. And after I don't know, 13, we see my youngest boy is 33, almost 35 years hanging with Dave, he definitely is focused, motivated on helping and serving others. So I just pray that the Lord, find a way to touch his heart and touch his body. So he can be right back here on the air. Sharon, what our veterans need to know what our community needs to know. Great

Unknown Speaker 27:28
Jean will be will be right up. Appreciate that. And continued prayers from everyone to include family and I'll get with you guys offline and and take a look at the calendar and see what days best fit you because they go fast. And once we get locked in, if there's a need to cancel, there's a way to cancel it. And brother Wes will be there. As you know, he makes you feel comfortable when you come into the studio. And he makes it work. So Wes, we appreciate y'all man what we do. So once again, you're gonna see chief Eugene Campbell, former commander of American Legion Post team Grady Hayes, they'll be coming in to see you and I know they're gonna do a good job. And again, they are going to get their own guests I'm not gonna sit somebody here for get their own guests. So once again, gentlemen, appreciate you guys. This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 Jazz and more. Again, we had cheapy in Campbell, and we had the former commander of American Legion Post tn Mr. Grady Hayes doing great way to work down in New Orleans we got to get some of that work done here in Las Vegas is with take care Grady be safe.

Unknown Speaker 29:12
Hey, what's going on

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