My name is Ash Woolson, I am a veteran who served in Iraq with the 130th Engineer Brigade in 2003. I have deep concerns about this countries returning veterans. Not all veterans are receiving the health care that they deserve. The problem with the veterans benefits is that they are connected to the type of discharge of the soldier. Some soldiers returning from combat have such mental illness that they are unable to perform there duties and or contract with the military. The military then gives these soldiers other than honorable discharges which leaves them without any health care or the benefits necessary for that soldier to live. The nature of this beast is grave.

The fact that one-third of all homeless are veterans is shocking, veterans are also three to four times more likely to become homeless than their non veteran peers. These are people that served their country and now they are not being taken care of. It is well known the majority of homeless people have mental illness, this obvious connection is not being made by many people. But I implore everyone to make it, and make a change.

As the veterans' population increases, we need to take a stand to protect our veterans and take care of them, with no cost being too high. This has got to be our top priority. These men and woman have done and seen too much pain to let leave them without basic benefits. We need to make a stand to take care of our veterans no matter what their discharge is.