ICVSO reaches out to veterans and their families

Calexico Police said a veteran claiming to be suffering from Post-Traumatic Syndrome Disorder (PTSD) recently caused a disturbance at a local restaurant.

Veterans Service Office Outreach Representative Manuel Sanchez said local veterans need more help.

“They come back, they suffer from anger, irritability, rage,” Sanchez said.

Veterans face many challenges adjusting to civilian life.

“We have 21 veterans a day committing suicide in the United States,” Sanchez said.

Help is available but many veterans do not look for it, according to Sanchez.

“We’re interested in having everybody, the general public, not just veterans know that veterans have benefits and that they are entitled to supportive services,” Sanchez said.

Vietnam veteran Ernie Medina said the public needs to know how to help veterans.

“Many times, the behavior of a veteran is misunderstood by the public. As either he’s crazy, he’s acting irrational,” Medina said.

Medina wishes police and family would recognize veterans suffering PTSD symptoms and refer them to services.

“Many times, law enforcement fail to recognize, our families fail to recognize,” Sanchez said. Vietnam veteran Jose Cuellar volunteers at Calexico’s library Veterans Center.

“We’re here from ten to twelve noon. And if they have a problem, they can come in and we can help them out,” Cuellar said.

Cuellar said he’s benefited from veterans’ services.

“Tremendously. I have sleep apnea. And they provided the machine that I can use to sleep at night,” Cuellar said.

Sanchez said he pans to contact local police departments and offer free training on how to deal with veterans with PTSD and where to refer them for additional services.