Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Michael Frerichs Illinois Treasurer
    Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown Economy
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations Civil Rights
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad News
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families Business
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat Democrat
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens Government
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured Fire
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday Features
  • two-story apartment building on the 15200 block of El Camino Terrace in Orland Park
    Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries Fire
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown Baby Boomers
  • Illinios Industrial Energy Consumers, information ad
    Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Business
  • State Senator Mike Porfirio secured over $20 million to support infrastructure improvements and construction in the 11th Senate District.
    Senator Porfirio applauds more than $20 million in infrastructure repairs coming to the 11th District News
  • Dad and daughter reunited Lebving Law firm photo
    Little Girl Recovered and Reunited with Dad After Long Separation Dads' Rights
  • 11-03-25 OFPD Coffee living alone
    Orland Fire hosts meeting on helping Seniors who live alone Nov. 5 Baby Boomers
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings secures $250,000 grant for Easterseals Academy’s Tinley Park campus Health
Photo courtesy of the Lyons Democratic Organization

Veterans column: suicide remains a continuing problem for veterans

Posted on January 14, 2019January 14, 2019 By News Editor No Comments on Veterans column: suicide remains a continuing problem for veterans
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Veterans column: suicide remains a continuing problem for veterans

By Jerry Field

send new and events to [email protected]

There have been discussions and few actions taken on the increasing problems of post-Vietnam Veterans, specifically addressing the high degree of suicide and other related illnesses, mental, physical and social. The solutions are not easy and a proper procedure has not been discovered. A few possible solutions are available often with positive results, on an individual basis.  The results are promising, but as in most new procedures addressing physical and mental health it’s a slow process.

There was a practical solution after the Korean Conflict was drawing to a stalemate. Military being discharged or released to civilian life were given a decompression program. Most GI”s called this “Hurry up and Wait”.  The program consisted of being transferred to a National Guard or an Army Post, most likely away from a city.  Here the assignment was daily exercise, meetings, discussions and talking about what to expect when he get home.

After several days of this routine that most members of the squad were relaxed in a routine they had been accustomed for the last three to six years, The orders were issued for a  five day pass to return  home with a critical assignment. Three questions. One: What has changed since the last time you were home? Two: Will you get your old job back if you wanted it or what new profession or job are you now interested in ? The third question was not easy: What would you like to do with the rest of your life?

Photo courtesy of the Lyons Democratic Organization
Veterans Day Salute

Answering the questions was not as easy as it seemed. In the days before this assignment the squad was briefed on what was available under several Veteran programs, private agencies and to expect your executive officer or recruiter ask if you want to sign up again. There was a list of forms that we could fill out if we planned on using they GI Bill, file with the VA hospitals or health clinics and a ton of other materials. They were well prepared for their homecoming. Decompression process had started. The slow edging from standard military routine to a relaxed schedule did not take long to adjust to, but at times was difficult to understand the change to civilian life would be available soon. Some adjusted well and quickly, others needed more time. The Vietnam military in contrast, got off the bus and went directly home.

At Jesse Brown VA and Medical Center(JBVA) it was refreshing to meet an eight year Marine veteran, Alberto Lopez who also started his professional life with a desire to be a history teacher. We had something in common.. Marine Lopez took a quick change to working with two Veterans organizations. Lopez volunteered at JBVA and later while working with John Mundy, a psychologist, who understood Alberto’s efforts with Veterans, was to build some relationship of a multitude of common situations and address common problems. These opened the discussion with an effort and to seek attainable solutions and a comfortable plan to pursue the solution.

Alberto is at JBVVA every Tuesday heading up coffee hour which often is extended.  All are welcomed, no appointment is needed.  His coffee meeting is conducted at various locations you can call 773-789-9896 for the time and location.  “Just being around others who share the same situations is the start of the program. I have at my disposal a vast number of cooperating organizations, both public and private.  And my company is available to special assignments. Albert Lopez can be reached at [email protected] 773-798-9696.

NEW MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS LAW TAKES EFFECT

TheIllinoisServiceMemberEmployment&ReemploymentRightsActorISERRA(330ILCS61etseq.)wasalegislativeinitiativeofIllinoisAttorneyGeneralLisaMadigandesignedtomodernizeIllinoislawto reflect the realities of today’s operational reserve force. ISERRA garnered bi-partisan sponsorshipand support passing the General Assembly unanimously before being signed into law by the Governor this pastsummer.

Theoverchinggoalof IS E R R A istoprotectandencouragemilitaryservicewhilefacilitatingemployer compliance through assistance primarily in the form of education and training. ISERRA works to minimize disadvantages to military service in civilian careers through reemployment and benefit protections while diminishing the disruption to employers and co-workers. To accomplishthis goal, ISERRAincorporates,reconciles andreplaces,inwholeorpart,sevenstatelawswhichregulateservice memberemployment.Thisconsolidationwillgreatlysimplifycomplianceforemployers.ISERRAalso clarifies areas of ambiguity within current law including the issue of paid military leave for full-time publicemployeeswhoaremembers ofareservecomponent.

ISERRAexpandscoveragetotwonarrowgroupsofpersons.First,!SERRAprovidesbasicreemployment protections to servicein a federally recognized auxiliary of the United States Armed Forces when performingofficialdutiesinsupportofmilitaryorcivilianauthoritiesasaresultofanemergencysuchas anaturaldisaster.Second,I SERRA providesbasicreemploymentprotectionsforaperiodforwhichan employeeisabsentfromemploymentforthepurposeofmedicaltreatmentbytheUSDepartmentof Defense (not the VA) for a condition,illness, or injury sustained in the line of duty. Finally, ISERRA expands benefits to include minimum performance review protections designed to prevent poor performanceratingsduringperiodsofmilitaryleave.

For more information on ISERRA, contact the Illinois Attorney General’s office at 1-800-382-3000.

ADDITIONAL LAWS AND OTHER ACTION BY THE ILLINOIS

 LEGISLATURE WILL BE ANNOUNCED WEEK OF JANUARY 21   

Heads Up!  Agent Orange Is No Joke!

Prostate cancer is one of the 14 diseases now presumed to be caused by agent orange. Additional diseases are being processed for inclusion in this list.  There are numerous links on the web to discuss this if you Google “service-connected disability compensation for exposure to agent orange”.

I know many Vietnam Veterans, like myself, who were in safe, behind the line jobs never considered their risk for agent orange.  But it was airborne and therefore distributed over a large undefined area.  There is even action making its way through Congress to include the “blue water” Navy (ships serving off the coast of Vietnam) where agent orange is believed to have contaminated the water supplies.

Since many of the presumptive diseases result in death, it is also important that spouses and other relatives of Vietnam Vets are aware that, if the presumptive disease is noted as a partial cause of death, the surviving spouse becomes eligible for Dependents Indemnity Compensation (currently approximately $1,280 per month).

If you are a Vietnam Vet, or you know one, regardless of where they were stationed, please be sure they are aware of the scope and coverage of the agent orange compensation.

Prostate Cancer – 

One of the Agent Orange Presumptive

One of the agent orange presumptive diseases that will affect many men (and their spouses and families) as they get older is prostate cancer. Therefore, if you are diagnosed with it, step one (other than learning about the challenges you will be facing) is to file for disability compensation. The sooner you file, the sooner the compensation will begin.

As part of the new education you will begin, there is a national support organization called  UsToo  that can provide a great deal of information about Prostate Cancer and the options you’ll need to consider. Options include Active Surveillance (“wait and watch”, surgery (either traditional or robotic), and radiation (in different forms).

There are two chapters that are reasonably accessible to Lake County:

Us TOO Bill Buckman Chapter  Glenbrook Hospital, Glenview  Meetings 2nd Tuesday each Month – 7:00-9:00 pm  Contact : Peter Wiggins-Email : [email protected] Phone : 847-535-9729

ADDITIONAL LAWS AND OTHER  ACTON BY THE ILLINOIS

 LEGISLATURE WILL BE ANNOUNCED WEEK OF JANUARY 21  

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
News Editor
News Editor
News Editor at Suburban Chicagoland
Managing Editor and News Editor for stories published in SuburbanChicagoland
News Editor
Latest posts by News Editor (see all)
  • Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries - October 25, 2025
  • Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield - October 24, 2025
  • Court vacates order of protection, reuniting dad and daughter - September 18, 2025
NPV: 59
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Baby Boomers, Veterans, Veterans Column Tags:Afghanistan, Iraq, military service, suicide, Veterans columns, Vietnam

Post navigation

Previous Post: Pritzker, Stratton host “Day of Service” to kickoff their inauguration
Next Post: Alderman Burke deserves fair treatment

Related Posts

  • Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital
    Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital Achieves Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification Baby Boomers
  • Veteran Diana Howard addresses a disrespectful Village of Orland Park Village Board meeting on August 21, 2023. She was viciously attacked in Mayor Pekau's eNewsletter
    Veteran Diana Howard courageously confronts abusive Orland Park Mayor Blogger
  • Orland Park Veterans commemorate Veterans Day. Photo courtesy of the Village of Orland Park
    Orland Park Commission to salute Veterans  Baby Boomers
  • Some of Ray Hanania's syndicated columns from the week of Feb. 24, 2024. Subscribe at www.RayHanania.com
    Hanania’s columns: Dune review, Pekau’s disrepect in Orland, #AbandonBiden and Best Middle East Bakeries Baby Boomers
  • Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital
    Northwestern Medicine Hospitals Recognized by U.S. News & World Report in Annual Best Hospital Rankings Baby Boomers
  • Congresswoman Marie Newman, 3rd District Illinois
    Reps. Newman and Bonamici, Beyer and Garcia introduce Supporting Older Workers Act Baby Boomers

More Related Articles

Bingo Tiles photo courtesy of Unsplash no attribution Orland Township Announces Bingo Fest March 26 Baby Boomers
Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge Pekau Allies Removed from Electoral Board by Cook County Judge Civil Rights
Decorated Iraq War veteran Senator Michael Hastings appointed to two key statewide veterans groups Frankfort
Netflix, price hike, House of Cards, Kevin Spacey, Hulu, lack of quality programs Netflix increases fees as programming drops Baby Boomers
Illinois Joining Forces to Host Veteran’s Resource Fair as Part of Chicago Warrior Week Government
Senior Care Home, eberhard 🖐 grossgasteiger on social or copy the text below to attribute. Nursing Home Violations for First Quarter of 2022 Baby Boomers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch
    October 17, 2025
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Michael Frerichs Illinois Treasurer
    Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown
    October 30, 2025
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations
    October 30, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad
    October 30, 2025
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families
    October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat
    October 29, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme