We are alone. That was the clear message voiced by about 25 South Coast citizens and veterans to three members of the Governor’s Task Force on Veteran’s Services at a town hall meeting Monday in Myrtle Point.

“We seem to be out here hanging on our own,” said former Southwestern Oregon Veterans Outreach President Vic Diaz.

South Coast veterans said they need better access to health care. Some  are discouraged by the amount of traveling to get to medical appointments as far away as Portland, while others are frustrated with the limitations on their care. One vet, whose medical needs didn’t stem from his service in the Vietnam War, said he didn’t think his income level should stop him from receiving care. He said if he makes more than $25,000 annually, he cannot use VA benefits.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski formed the task force in March. He wants the 27-member committee to evaluate current veterans policies, procedures and programs and develop recommendations to improve veterans’ access to  services.

Diaz said limitations on local services are leaving some vets without options. He said most treatment facilities require vets to be sober before they can get treatment, but some can’t take that step on their own.

“Do we just let them stay drunk ... until they die?” Diaz asked. “I’ve got one sleeping in a shed in Bandon. I can’t do anything for him.”

Veterans’ organizations in the area would like to provide a facility that doesn’t require veterans to get sober before seeking help, but financially, those groups can’t pay for a treatment center, he said

Task force member Paul Evans told Diaz financing a facility is a smaller problem than convincing the right people of the need for one. He suggested veterans service organizations present a unified front. Coming up with a detailed plan would go further in convincing state representation that money should be allocated than just stating a need.

Those in attendance also said they are concerned about the ability of the VA and service organizations to help returning service men and women before symptoms of war-related conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, start affecting their lives.

“Service in the military now is different than what it used to be,” Evans said.

In World War II and the Korean War, almost every family was affected by someone going off to war, he said. Even in Vietnam, the draft impacted every community. With the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, that is no longer true. Unlike past wars, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are being fought by only 1 percent of the population.

As a result, people often don’t understand the war-time military experience. That is compounded by less flexibility in the roles service men and women can take on while on a tour of duty. Contractors provide many of the military support roles in Iraq and Afghanistan. That leaves commanding officers without the option of taking struggling soldiers off the front lines.

“We have contracted out all the elasticity,” Evans said.

With the pressures of multiple deployments, Evans said the support of veterans organizations for those coming home is even more crucial.

“We have to remind people that service matters,” he said.

Diaz said the current outreach and veteran’s services is greatly underserving women. It’s not only women veterans who need help, but also the wives and families of service men who come back with war-related problems.

“There is no place for these women to go,” Diaz said.

Facing another possible large deployment of the Oregon National Guard next year, Lt. Eric Martz, who was on hand to answer questions said the statewide discussion must become action.

“When I come back, I hope all the things we have been talking about for the last few months will be in place — for my soldiers coming back or me, if I need help,” Martz said. “I want to make sure the soldiers are taken care of and their families are aware of what is going on.”

 The task force will conclude its tour of Oregon communities in Ontario on Aug. 15. Final recommendations will be issued at the end of this year.