Army veteran Will Menton, who was awarded a Purple Heart while serving in Vietnam, sits with fellow veterans as they wait their turn to voice their grievances with the VA on Tuesday, May 27, 2014. A crowd of veterans gathered at the Benjamin L Hooks Library to have their testimonials recorded during a meeting arranged by Rep. G.A. Hardaway.MEMPHIS – Dozens of veterans are complaining about the Memphis VA Medical Center.
The Commercial Appeal reports the complaints were voiced Tuesday during a town hall meeting organized by state Rep. G.A. Hardaway and attended by about 60 veterans and their family members.
The meeting comes after a report last year by the inspector general’s office, which found three patients died at the hospital due to inadequate care. Last week, Tennessee’s two U.S. senators requested an update on changes at the facility.
At the meeting, Vietnam veteran Randy Wade asked how many were dissatisfied with the care at the center, and nearly everyone stood. Those in wheelchairs raised their hands.
“Ninety-nine percent are unhappy,” Wade said about the veterans who attended the meeting at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library.