Veteran Decries Plan
They spat at me when I returned from Vietnam in 1967. I fought for my country and they called me a baby killer. Excuse the deja vu, but I feel like it’s 1967 again.
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors propose to tell the county’s 72,000 veterans and their dependents “we don’t need you now. We got what we wanted, but it’s the budget, you know.”
County supervisors plan to close the Veteran’s Service Office and eliminate the four staff positions there. The Veteran’s Office had its staff cut 33% two years ago and again the supervisors are trying to make veterans carry an unfair burden.
By attempting to save pennies by closing services to veterans, the Board of Supervisors could put the nail in the coffin at Point Mugu and force its transfer to China Lake. Would the base at Port Hueneme close? Are four positions at the county Veteran’s Office worth the risk of this slap in the face to the military and the loss of thousands of jobs? I think not.
PAUL CALCATERRA, Oxnard
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