Homeless Veteran Beaten in April Dies in Hospital

Commodore

Deity
Joined
Jun 13, 2005
Messages
12,059
OLNEY (WPVI) --
A homeless veteran, beaten at a gas station in the Olney section of Philadelphia nearly eight months ago, has died.

The incident at the Sunoco in the 5500 block of North 5th Street was captured by a surveillance camera on April 7th.


The video shows 51-year-old Robert Barnes being pummeled by teens with a hammer, a piece of wood and punches, after police say a 10-year-old boy told his mother he got into an argument with Barnes.

The attack left Barnes in a coma.

The boy's mother, 34-year-old Aleathea Gillard, has been charged in the case, along with 24-year-old Shareena Joachim.

Three juveniles were also arrested and charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, simple assault and related offenses.

Police say those charges could be upgraded to murder after the district attorney returns from the Thanksgiving holiday.

Source: http://6abc.com/news/homeless-veteran-beaten-by-teens-on-camera-in-olney-dies/1101081/

This is absolutely disgusting to me. There are so many things wrong with this whole situation that just get my blood boiling. First, I hate seeing stories about homeless veterans because it just reminds me of how much this nation has failed those who served it, and reinforces my belief that this selfish, wretched population isn't worthy of those who protect them. Second, it disturbs me that this family thought it was okay to beat a man to death simply because their little brat lied and said the homeless veteran hit him. Even if the little brat was telling the truth, beating a man to death is not the appropriate response, at least not for civilized people.

Here's the video of the murder:


Link to video.

And civilians wonder why soldiers and veterans look at them with disgust.
 
Pretty disgusting video, indeed. As far as wondering why veterans look at civilians with disgust, how often do homeless veterans get beaten to death by civilians? Did the people who beat him to death know he was a veteran? What if the guy wasn't a veteran? Would it be any less disgusting to see a non-veteran homeless guy beaten to death? I mean, every time an unarmed person gets killed by a police officer we're supposed to refrain from jumping to conclusions until the investigation is over. Shouldn't the same apply to civilians beating other civilians?
 
Not all civilians are like this.
 
As far as wondering why veterans look at civilians with disgust, how often do homeless veterans get beaten to death by civilians?

It's just indicative of how veterans are viewed and generally treated in society. It's like once we are done serving, the people and the government turn their backs on us. Veterans have the highest rates of unemployment and homelessness of any other demographic in the US and no one really does anything about it. We also have the highest suicide rates of any other demographic as well. Sure, everyone talks a good game about supporting the troops and getting better care for veterans, but nothing ever really comes of it. In fact, when the cameras aren't on them and they aren't on the campaign trail, those very same politicians who talk about improving the conditions for veterans go back to Washington and try to push through legislation that slashes VA funding and reduces veterans' benefits. Luckily such legislation hardly ever passes, but how long is that going to hold up? How long before this selfish population votes in politicians who will strip veterans' benefits completely just so they can get more for themselves?

I mean, I get absolutely garbage medical care from the VA for the knee that was injured in service to this nation, and now these selfish people want to take even that away from me and the thousands of other veterans who rely on the sub-standard care from the VA as their only form of medical care because it's free and a lot of veterans can't afford health insurance, even under the ACA.

I know none of the above has nothing to do with the video, it's just that when I see things like what happened in the video, it reminds me of how we fought for a nation because I believed in it, only to find out that nation doesn't believe in us. I mean, the way we get treated, people might as well drag us out into the street and beat us to death. It would have the same effect as what they are doing now, and it would be quicker and less painful.
 
I mean, I get absolutely garbage medical care from the VA for the knee that was injured in service to this nation, and now these selfish people want to take even that away from me and the thousands of other veterans who rely on the sub-standard care from the VA as their only form of medical care because it's free and a lot of veterans can't afford health insurance, even under the ACA.

IMHO, Commodore's situation is far more disgusting than the actions of an isolated, deranged family. He is the victim of a systemic failure of our nation to treat our veterans with the honor and respect they have earned. :worship:
 
Well we could seek to improve the VA but we all know that government subsidized medical care is pure "communism" and against the glorious "free market".
 
If I could push a magic button that immediately shifted half of our military budget to paying vets more, paying active duty folks more, and providing all armed service members with better Healthcare and more social services, I would do it in a second.

Commodore I hope if you ever see any of my anti war rants or anything else of that ilk, and I am sure I speak for others of my political bent, you know I say them out of my deepest wishes for the good health and well being of the men and women in our armed forces. I don't like seeing young men and women die or become injured for pointless reasons and the way we treat injured vets in this country is a national disgrace.
 
Not all civilians are like this.

What we need is for civilians to acknowledge the superiority and primacy of the military. Society will most assuredly be better off for it.
 
Whenever I'm in the U.S. and there's a veteran in sight, people are thanking them for their service, letting them bud in line, board flights first, etc.

Maybe American politicians treat veterans like crap, but the American public sure seems to love their veterans.. at least compared to my experience with how they're treated elsewhere. (Well, but they don't get nearly the same level of recognition in public outside of the U.S. from what I've seen)
 
Whenever I'm in the U.S. and there's a veteran in sight, people are thanking them for their service, letting them bud in line, board flights first, etc.

Maybe American politicians treat veterans like crap, but the American public sure seems to love their veterans.. at least compared to my experience with how they're treated elsewhere. (Well, but they don't get nearly the same level of recognition in public outside of the U.S. from what I've seen)

Those are just token gestures though. As I mentioned, these people do things like this for veterans, then come election time they vote for politicians that fight to reduce veterans' benefits and VA funding. I'd much rather see the VA get more funding so they can give us better medical care, than for someone to let me cut in line or take their first class seat on an airplane.
 
Well we could seek to improve the VA but we all know that government subsidized medical care is pure "communism" and against the glorious "free market".
Howdy Gary, good to see your post, am replying to you because IIRC you work/worked with vets.

First, the beating was pure evil IMO. That said, why are there (so many?) homeless vets?

Speaking from my experience as a 22 year retiree, it was horrible getting out and looking at a 9 to 5 civilian job, it was beyond the pale. Why is that, suspect it's because modern vets are volunteers, not the draftees of old, they joined for the service life, when they get out some aren't able to transition to civilian life, like me, I had to find jobs that were sort of like service life, I was lucky had elect tech background and that skill was needed worldwide w/US companies. But a vet with only combat skills (not demeaning them) won't fit in except maybe as a mercenary.

Just my view, not from reading a study.

Best
Andy
 
Howdy Gary, good to see your post, am replying to you because IIRC you work/worked with vets.

First, the beating was pure evil IMO. That said, why are there (so many?) homeless vets?

Speaking from my experience as a 22 year retiree, it was horrible getting out and looking at a 9 to 5 civilian job, it was beyond the pale. Why is that, suspect it's because modern vets are volunteers, not the draftees of old, they joined for the service life, when they get out some aren't able to transition to civilian life, like me, I had to find jobs that were sort of like service life, I was lucky had elect tech background and that skill was needed worldwide w/US companies. But a vet with only combat skills (not demeaning them) won't fit in except maybe as a mercenary.

Just my view, not from reading a study.

Best
Andy

Hi Andy,

You may have me mistaken with someone else. I did Federal Student Aid for college students for a while; no longer. Right now I'm in between jobs and volunteering for an organization for people with mental illness (since I have a lot of experience with mental illness). Of course there are some veterans out there with PTSD and other mental illnesses but most of the people I've worked with are civilians (maybe a vet here and there).

I'm sort of curious why there seem to be so many homeless veterans as well. Is it a transitional issue for some? It must be more than a little bit of a culture shock to go from such a regimented lifestyle where everything is very structured and services are comprehensively provided to suddenly just being out on the street looking for a job in a world that doesn't really care if you find one or not. I mean the military seems about as "socialist" as it gets (I would think) compared to the "everyone for themselves" rat race outside. It's got to be a tough transition.

Thinking about the video more, I would be shocked if the attackers were beating the homeless guy BECAUSE he was a veteran. At "worst" maybe they knew he was a veteran but just didn't care, meaning the guy was going to get pummeled regardless of who he was or that he had served the country. I would REALLY be shocked if veterans have it tougher statistically in civilian life than any other person on the street (at least in terms of any sort of "prejudice" directed specific toward veterans). Of course I may certainly be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time.
 
I have allways connected US with respect to veterans. Here were veterans tortured after WWII, experimented on after 60s and now just called "mercenaries" because participation in Afghanistan and Iraq.
 
Back
Top Bottom