I must apologize if my generalizations are too broad. Please forgive me because I do know that some people care. Maybe the majority of people care and they just have no way of being part of the solution.

Many loving families and family members care. As you say, they try to help the warriors return, but none of us know how to do this. And often, the vet's condition refuses the care and concern.

I'm an example of this ... it works like this ... just last night I was with a friend and there was a problem with a lamp. I stuck out my hand to show where the problem was at the socket, and another person who is close to me said, "Be careful, don't touch that." -- Now, an innocent situation, right?

But I was furious. I responded in a kind of gruff tone, "Just leave me alone," meaning, don't tell me how to do this. What I felt in side was *#(%H@5z! Don't you think I'm smart enough not to stick my finger in a live socket? Do you think I'm totally incompetent? Must I depend on you to do the simplest thing? I wish you'd just go away. )&*o_)_^*(^= I must really be a dumb a* if people think they have to tell me that.

And on and on. I was steamed for several minutes, all the time trying to calm myself down inside because I knew it was an innocent remark with no hidden meaning. But the thoughts kind of take control, no matter how much I recognize they are illogical. Even as I type this, I'm starting to get hyper again.

I don't know whether others could see that I was so agitated. I tried to engage in regular conversation while this was going on. I smiled, joked. And kept telling myself, calm down. It didn't mean anything.

The vets on the street deserve a lot of help, but having known several of them personally, I can say that they, too, sometimes refuse the help offered. (and not all of those on the street are really vets - some are pretenders). But even though I know all of this, I still want to help them, even the pretenders. Living on the street is a tough life, even without all the other problems many of these guys (and women) have. Most of them are just like you and me but with different (maybe more difficult) mental and physical problems.