Veterans and Homelessness

* Re “Homeless Vets Touch Base at Stand Down,” July 24.

I read the article on homeless vets touching base. While I think it is admirable to help the homeless and I certainly applaud the accomplishments of the persons who put on the event, I don’t understand why this effort was put forward as a veterans event.

I don’t see any connection between the needs of the homeless and the fact that some of them at some time in their lives may have served in the armed forces of the United States. Lurking in the background of this identification of homelessness with military service is the suggestion that they are homeless because of their service. They may be homeless for a variety of reasons, some good, some bad, but they are not homeless because they spent two or three years in the service.

Moreover, while some or even most of the vets may actually be veterans of the services, it is likely that some are not veterans even though they may claim to be. In this regard I commend to your readers (and particularly to your staff reporters) a book titled “Stolen Valor” by B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley (Verity Press of Dallas, Texas). It details the many, many spurious claims of would-be veterans and exposes many of the myths of veteranship.

RICHARD S. HAWLEY

Thousand Oaks