Joanna Allhands

The Republic | azcentral.com

VA hospitals continue to let down our veterans. The allegations are particularly maddening -- claims of substandard care that likely led to veterans' death.

We've been living that nightmare for a while.

Our friend, Jesse Snider, volunteered to go to Iraq not long after 9/11. He wanted to serve his country. But he hurt his back over there. Developed some breathing problems from the dust.

And like so many veterans who served in recent wars, Jesse didn't come back the same.

The VA in Illinois that handled his case didn't try to rehab his back or get his lungs in shape. It simply prescribed him a pain killer. And then a stronger one. And a stronger one.

You know what happened next: Jesse got hopelessly addicted.

We tried to get him in rehab, but he wouldn't go. He thought he was OK, that he could handle those demons on his own.

We couldn't have him committed. He had to hurt himself or others first, the police said. Friends called the VA. Tried to tell them about the pills. Tried to get him help.

But you know what they gave him? A buyout.

Jesse traded his monthly benefits for a one-time payout. Even if it was a fraction of what he earned each month, the prospect of a big check proved too enticing for an addict. And the VA knew that. It could wash its hands of the problem it created.

Ultimately, Jesse lost his battle with addiction a couple of weeks ago. He wound up as a John Doe in California for a couple of days until a friend heard his description on the news and identified him.

Dozens of people have donated money to send his remains across the country to his family. A Facebook page is filled with touching stories describing a kind, gentle soul who was most at home outdoors, who loved dogs and would say the funniest things.

It's comforting to see how many people Jesse's life touched, but it's also bittersweet, knowing that maybe if he had gotten the post-battle care he deserved, we'd still be talking with our friend, not talking about him on a memory board.