MINUTES for 2019-05-28 FINAL - Laserfiche WebLink

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Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes May 28,2019 Page 7 Sueoka: Yes. So, like I said, I don't want to say I disagree with what were saying but I do want to say 1) if we do for one, we have to do for all and if we look at it on the other side Wery: That's the family's responsibility. If his wife was Hawaiian, there's a family that will support her. That's their kuleana, their responsibility, not ours. We shouldn't be sticking our nose into it. Let the family do what they're supposed to. It always works out better. Chair Doolittle: I know she has a big family. Wery: They'll take care of her, they'll take care of the family. Chair Doolittle: I don't doubt that they have. But as just another veteran in a line who is highly educated, highly experienced, highly trained, very successful guy who did verey dangeroud things, it disturbs me that veterans don't find a way, the flashligjt to get out of that dark place. Marcia Brinkley: Is there something we can suggest to the Mayor about suicide prevention, that deserves more study, a priority action item, not that we can come up with a solution today, but something to acknowledge that it's a problem and that we need to look at. Wery: The VA has facilities, you have facilities all over. You have the Catholic church, the consulate, all these state and counties. There is a whole world out there to address that, but the individual has to want to address that first. Brinkley: But is there enough knowledge in the community. Wery: Yes, there is. But again, I have to go to you and say I need help. Otherwise I ain't going to get it. It's my responsibility to ask you, you can't read my mind, but that's why you're there, if somebody holds his hand out and you need help, all you have to do is grab his hand. The person holding their hand can't read Chair Doolittle: Well, his hand was out, he had a therapist and even the therapist didn't see the red flags. I guess that's part of the larger question, what in the professional community are they not doing or do't they understtan, or is it that shrouded in darkest that it's impossible to understand or predict. Sueoka: You're going to get the one or two. And this is just one of those. Chair Doolittle: Yeah, and he was a very intelligent,probably very analytical. You can't be a Navy Seal and Ordinance Disposal and that kind of black ops warfare and not be very diligent in planning.