SAN ANTONIO – Veterans and advocates gathered outside the Audie Murphy VA Hospital, demanding accountability following the suicide of 33-year-old Marine veteran Enrique Ramos Jr. last week.
This marks the second such death outside the VA this year. Tim Jenson, president of the Grunt Style Foundation, expressed frustration, saying, “This should make all of you sickmakes me sick. These are my brothersthese are my sistersthe are people we went to war with and all they’re asking for is a little help and they’re dying in this building behind us.”
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Dr. Larry Miller, whose son Mark also died by suicide outside the VA months earlier, shared a poignant message from his son: “He sent me a text.papa you know what they did I came in they didn’t even listen to my story, they just gave me some pills they’re killing our men and woman in uniform.”
State Rep. Josey Garcia, a veteran, emphasized the urgency for action, stating, “What more do we need to prove that we are damaged by our service as you can see here we’re tired of the rhetoric you already know the stories we need action now.”
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In response, the VA acknowledged the issue of veteran suicide, noting that under President Trump, the department is revamping its approach to suicide prevention with new leadership and a focus on reaching those in need.
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However, veterans stress that time is critical and immediate action is necessary.