Expert: Howard Lorenz - 5/14/2008

Question
I was having difficulty surviving in the engine room of a Sumner Class Tin Can..Destroyer.. due to enclosed space, noise, heat rash and the fact that I wasn't a very good MMFN. I requested a phych evaluation due to depression, anxiety and a feeling of failure. I asked to be transferred to deck duty and was instead given an Honorable Discharge with "Not suitable for military service" written on the bottom. I was told that the Navy had already spent $10,000 on my training and the Board decided to separate me from the service. This happened in 1960 during my second year of duty. Is this a common method of getting someone out of the Navy? The effect on me was devastating given the fact that I was already being treated for anxiety and depression at Balboa. The Psych that I saw told me that I had "peacetime battle fatique"... whatever the hell that is?
I guess I don't understand why I wasn't given the transfer to deck duty since I was only an MMFN. To make matters worse I was not allowed to reenlist in any other service. One look at my DD was all it took.
I feel a combination of owing the US 2 years and feeling cheated that I wasn't allowed to finish my tour of duty. I got my GI for education and housing but nothing else. In fact, when I left Naval Hospital Balboa the Navy confiscated my sea bag and contents. What the hell did I do that was so damn bad.
I began drinking heavily about 1961 and finally quit drinking in 1969. I have been sober ever since. But my disappointment is still alive and well. I have applied for Psych assistance through the VA. I was refused any assistance and they told me that my wife and I earn too much money to qualify for treatment. My question is simple... "WHY???"

Answer
Back in the day there were not folks around that were available like me and many other so councel those who are separating to be sure that they get everything documented properly. In those dayse it was do what you were told and lets get you back home as soon as we possible can. Truth is there were several Medical officers that there sole job in life at the time was to weed out the problem children, Lets give them an honotable , the GI Bill since they have aloready paid into it...(That is a DOD program that the military has to adopt)

You  can still fight it, the real question is how long to you want to spend doing it?

The one thing you have to remember....is really simple... Just becasue you were unable to continue your service due to the contitions that you had at the time....Does not make you a failure! You did what was expected of you ...You enlisted in a time of conflict and answered your countries call to duty!. You competed your mission. Some missions are just shorter than others. Being deemed medically unfit for duty is actually a blessing in disguise, because if you were allowed to go to deck duty and something else happened that caused you to have the same reaction that you had being below deck....Others could have been injured including your self. You were removed to prevent this...NOT YOUR FAULT!!  Sometimes we are given a very shitty deck of cards, but we have no other choice but to play what we were given.

As for taking the sea bag, there can be alot of reasons, back in 90 when I left the Army...They did the same thing, they took everything I had....Even my skivies!! I just figured that they needed them more than me, said oh friggen well and pressed on.

The military is  trying in every way to cut corners and trim the fat. The Vets that are coming back from the war are taking first chair and its getting tougher on the older vets who still need help. The onlything that I can say is to keep applying...adjust your income levels to meet the requirement....

I am getting out of the military after 20 years and I dont even get a retirement....so I feel your pain. But do not ever think that YOU were a failure becasue you were not allowed to stay in the service...You did what you needed to do, they made the decision to cut you loose, not becasue you were the Fat that need trimmed, but becasue you were not Medically fit for service according to a regulation that was written years before you enlisted... and that the medical officer at the time was probably having a bad day or something....too hard to tell.... But I can say this to you even though I do not know you from adam...Thank You for the service to my countries flag....even if it was just for a short time.....