Since Cain slew Able, humankind has been busy killing. Sun Tzu, the famous Chinese general raised killing to an art form with his book, “The Art of War”. Written in the sixth century BC, the treatise is the foremost book on strategy and tactics of its time and is still widely studied by military and business leaders.

There are 13 chapters from which a commander can draw knowledge to train his soldiers and destroy his enemy, but there is no chapter, nor ancient book written, on what to do with those soldiers who survive the war, or are wounded and disabled. Veterans are quick to be forgotten, especially if the war was an unpopular one. We are as guilty as the ancients are.

When my fellows and I came home from Vietnam, we did so as individuals, not as a unit. We were not greeted by bands playing and loved ones cheering. We were, at worse, met as we walked the concourse of Los Angles International by protestations of “Baby burner” or “War monger” and even spat upon. At best, we were ignored.

After I had settled in Austin at the University of Texas, I went to the local VFW in search of men with whom I could relate and share experiences. I was told I could have a drink there, but could not join. It was explained to me that I had only fought in a police action, “Not in a real war.” That may or may not have been VFW policy, but after hearing it, I wanted nothing to do with the organization, and still do not.

At the time, the Veteran’s Administration was something you got a home loan through, and college paid for, but for help with physical or mental health issues, we were made only vaguely aware of any assistance, and the stories told of VA hospitals and health care sounded as if they were rewrites from some medieval horror collection.

No, we were not warmly treated, or even welcomed. Due to modern television, Vietnam was the first war fought in people’s living rooms as it played out on the evening news. The realities were much too messy, so veterans coming home were shunned. We were victims of an “if we ignore it, it will go away” attitude.

Such terms as “police action,” “military intervention” and “conflict” may make the politicians and the public feel better about sending young men and women to die, but to the boots on the ground, the blood is still as red and runs just as freely as it does in a declared war. The public may be able to live with the actualities of war by using such glossed over terms, but it is still killing.

There is a quote by an unknown author that I paraphrase here, “A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a check made payable to ‘The United States of America’ for an amount of up to and including my life. That is honor and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.”

America is beginning to recognize this sentiment, and I am glad of it. There is much more support now for returning veterans. There are television ads, mailings, and posters declaring care and concern for this generation of veterans, and it is about time. I applaud the efforts of organizations such as the Wounded Warrior Project. The Veterans Administration is making great strides to extend care to veterans for medical and mental health, for housing, employment, benefits and a host of other services. I applaud them as well, but it is not enough.

There are far too many returning men and women who, because of their service, have shattered lives. Families have disintegrated in their absence. Jobs they left are no longer available due to changes in the economy, or are taken by someone else, or due to wounds or disabilities, the vet is no longer able to do the job. Many of us are changed by our experiences to the point that what we did before does not fit who we are now and are in need of redirection and training.

Even with the heightened awareness of the needs of our returning vets and with all the singing of “God Bless America” at ball games, many vets go begging for gainful employment. There are, however, some businesses that are shining examples with their policy of hiring vets first.

One such small business is Baldwin Legal Investigations of Daphne and Mobile. Max Hansen, owner and CEO has made a practice of hiring vets for his investigative team. In conversation with Mr. Hansen, he sings the praises of hiring veterans because they work independently, follow instructions, and will stick to the task until it is completed. To him, they are heroes worthy of support.

The way America is honoring this generation of veterans is laudable, and I am grateful, but pretty commercials, posters, and mailings do not feed a family. If you want to honor a veteran, get to the roots, give them their dignity, give them a job. They gave so much for us. Now, it is time for payback. Put them to work.

David Wilson Atwood is a local writer whose human-interest columns offer a unique perspective. He may be contacted at: www.starchasers.us.