Not On My Watch

SGT Mitch McKinley — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:06:16 -0400

I was sitting in a What-a-burger yesterday morning doing a Bible study with several other men.
Two gentlemen came in and grabbed a booth. One went to the counter to get some coffee and food, the other sat in the booth looking very distraught. And naturally, this caught my eye.
I went up to refill my coffee and ask the guy at the counter if everything was ok. Here is what he said:

"I am a cab driver. I went to pick someone up at the apartments across the street. I waited and waited, and no one ever came out. So I went and knocked on the door, and this guy (the one in the booth) opens the door. He is standing there holding a pistol. I asked if he ordered a cab and he said no. I asked what he was planning to do with the gun. He then proceeds to inform me that he is a veteran of OIF/OEF who is struggling in life as a civilian. He has no one, and he is better off dead.
I told him that I wasn't going to let that happen, and asked him for the gun. He gave it to me. I brought him here to get some food and we are headed to the VA hospital to get this brother some help. He isn't going to die today. NOT ON MY WATCH!"

The cab drivers name is Alvin, and he was a Vietnam era vet. The gentleman in the booth was Chris. I spoke with Alvin earlier today. Chris is resting at the VA hospital and receiving the care he needs.

Chris didn't call a cab. But for some reason Alvin showed up anyway. A veteran whom had chosen death over life has been given another chance, because someone said not today. Not on my watch.

Be vigilant. There are so many of us veterans out there. Someone may be crying to you for help.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2014 10:24 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:24:55 -0400

It would hopefully be rare that such a thing would happen....but there are days I fear this is not the case. I agree with you SGT Mitch McKinley we all should be more aware of what's going on around us.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 30 at 2014 9:09 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 21:09:27 -0400

That is an amazing story. I hope more of our brothers and sisters realize that they can get help. This was a complete Hail Mary pass but just goes to show what good people can do for each other.

Response by CPT Richard Riley made Jul 30 at 2014 9:18 PM

CPT Richard Riley — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 21:18:35 -0400

It's not hard to realize that this could happen anywhere. There are times when each of us has a bad day, but when it drops to the bottom as in this case - somehow things turn out much differently than they started. Thank goodness that this vet was able to get the help he needed when he needed it.

There are good people in this world! I think I will adopt this motto and stand with the cab driver. Every veteran is worth that much.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2014 9:29 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 21:29:18 -0400

Awesome story!!!! Everything happens for a reason and it sounds like everything happened they way it needed to. I don't know that I'd be calm enough to do what Alvin did...I'd hope I would be. Love hearing a happy ending

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2014 9:48 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 21:48:35 -0400

Awesome story…glad to hear that their are people still willing to help others. That took strength from both individuals.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2014 9:48 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 21:48:52 -0400

You know it's one thing to know that a suicide is a permanent fix to a temporary problem. So far every problem I encountered is temporary. EVERY ONE. It's ok to turn for help. That help is out there. EVERY TIME.

If you're feeling suicidal, realize thousands out there feel just like you. You can overcome those feelings so that you'll have your own tale to share and rescue others

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2014 11:42 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:42:33 -0400

Wow, the only thing I can say about that is Alvin was Chris's angel and God works in mysterious ways

Response by SFC Michael Hartwig made Jul 31 at 2014 1:40 AM

SFC Michael Hartwig — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 01:40:59 -0400

Wow, that is an awesome ending.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2014 2:00 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 02:00:37 -0400

Wow. Amazing story.

Response by CPT David Dickerson made Aug 5 at 2014 12:48 PM

CPT David Dickerson — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 12:48:57 -0400

What an amazing story. I am glad Alvin was there when the vet really needed someone. This problem has only recently begun to get the attention needed. The conservative estimate is 22 veterans die by suicide every day.

I am a member of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and we had been trying to get Congress and the President to take action for quite some time to no avail. No one on the Hill wanted to talk to us about it and the nation's responsibility to act. Finally after 47% of our members stated they had been affected by suicide in one way or another, we decided to make it the focus of our annual Storm the Hill event in March.

If asking behind the scenes was not going to get them to do the right thing, we decided to make the issue very public. We planted one flag for every veteran lost to suicide this year on March 27 - there were nearly 1900 flags on the National Mall and was a very powerful sight. We spent a week talking to members of Congress and their staffs trying to get their support. We did get bipartisan support in words but we need them to act.

Since that time, bills have been introduced in the Senate and House that will take concrete action to reverse the trend. The VA Hospital scandal caused us to shift fire for a few months to take that issue on, but with the passage of the Veterans Access to Care Act last week, we will be refocusing our efforts on getting these bills out of committee and passed.

We could use some help with calls to your Senators and Representatives asking them to support this legislation.

HR 5059 is the Clay Hunt SAV Act and was introduced by Rep Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. We need as many Reps to sign on as cosponsors as possible. We hope it will get out of committee when they return in September.

S 2182 is the Suicide Prevention for Americas Veterans Act. This was introduced during Storm the Hill by Sen Walsh back in March but has been stuck in committee since then.

The President also needs to act and has several things he can do using Executive Orders. He has a role to play in this as well and IAVA's DC staff is pushing that issue.

This is something that affects all of us. If the nation fails to act this national tragedy will be our national shame. Not everyone has an Alvin show up on their doorstep and we need to do whatever we can to provide the support vets in trouble need.

Thanks for listening and please call your Congressional delegation and ask them to support this legislation.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2014 1:34 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 13:34:38 -0400

What a great coincidence! Good on you and Alvin for stepping in to lend a hand.

Response by SrA Marc Haynes made Jul 4 at 2015 1:08 PM

SrA Marc Haynes — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 13:08:13 -0400

Coincidence:
Gods way of being anonymous!