Remembering Mama Lee

I never knew when Mama Lee was born and I don't remember the exact day in 1995 when she died, but I knew and loved Mama Lee during the ten years she was a homeless Vietnam veteran living on the streets of Santa Monica, California. Born in Texas, Mama Lee was a full-blooded Comanche Indian whose married name was Yvonne Starsky. Yvonne served as a military nurse in Vietnam during the 1960s when our government claimed that we had no women in combat's way.

It was near the end of her second tour of duty in Vietnam when Yvonne stepped on a "bouncing Betty," a small landmine that was meant to maim, not to kill. Indeed, the bomb destroyed the inside of both of Yvonne's legs. Upon her return to the States, Yvonne took "Mama Lee" as her street name and used vodka as her pain medication.

Her use of vodka as a painkiller caused Mama Lee not to be acceptable as a resident of any homeless shelter. So, for ten years, Mama Lee spent many days sitting on a bench in front of Santa Monica City Hall and slept in the doorway of the Santa Monica Culinary Union, then at the corner of Fifth and Colorado, in Santa Monica, California. During the harshest weather, the police would occasionally take Mama Lee to jail for public drunkenness in an effort to protect her health.

It was only during the last two months of Mama Lee's life that she was permitted to reside in a homeless shelter. After Mama Lee learned that she needed a heart operation and she was able to secure a doctor's prescription for vodka as her pain medicine, the homeless shelter agreed to house her. Unfortunately, Mama Lee died in the homeless shelter before she was able to have her heart operation.

Mama Lee shared the little resources she had with the homeless people she knew. Recognizing the common bonds among all people, Mama Lee said that the worst treatment a homeless person could receive is to be ignored by people walking by. She spoke with love and about love to everyone who took the time to speak to her. Everyone, housed and unhoused, who knew Mama Lee, cared for her.

Well, perhaps not everyone loved her. One night as she slept in the doorway of the Culinary Union, Mama Lee was robbed. Upon learning the identity of the robber, Mama Lee said that he needn't have robbed her because she would have given him the money if he had asked. I know that to be true.

Although her money was never returned, the robber did eventually apologize to Mama Lee. For her part, Mama Lee did not hold a grudge against her robber. The news of her robbery spread among homeless and housed people. Mama Lee was never robbed again.

Mama Lee, frail and short, appeared under 5 feet tall as she hunched over her ever-present walker. Because of her diminutive stature, she had to look up to most of the people to whom she spoke. To me, Mama Lee towered over all.

Despite the constant need and subsequent use of her pain killer, vodka, Mama Lee was acutely aware of her life as a homeless person. She knew that she was homeless and she never complained about being homeless. In fact, Mama Lee often consoled other homeless people when they were sad and depressed about their condition.

This was the life of a woman I respected and loved. My homeless friend, Vietnam veteran, Mama Lee.

I look forward to your comments.

Thank you, Christine.

Comments

[SMZBaker]

As an injured veteran, shouldn't she have been entitled to permanent disability benefits so she could treat her "on-the-job" injuries for the rest of her life? Is the government not held to the same requirements as U.S. businesses? I don't understand how the military isn't held liable to treat her injuries.

[ChristineSchanes]

SMZBaker,

Thank you for your continuing thoughts and comments.

You bring up an excellent point by comparing work place injuries and subsequent benefits due workers to the military benefits for military-related injuries for service personnel.

There are several issues at play for military personnel which may not be the case for private company workers.

First, honorably discharged service personnel may or may not be currently housed. If they are housed, they stand a better chance of receiving whatever benefits to which they may be entitled. If they are homeless, a whole set of issues arise which can hamper the receipt of military benefits. For example, a homeless person may not be near a Veteran's Administration facility or office. Proximity to a veteran's administration facility is very helpful to receiving benefits.

Second, a veteran may not fully understand the benefits that are due him/her. Certainly, if the veteran is unhoused, he/she is less likely to hear of changes in benefits which may cover their specific health issue.

Third, it has seemed to some people that in the past the Veteran's Administration has appeared to be reluctant to dispense services to some veterans. Sometimes it is not easy for housed veterans to get the benefits to which they are entitled. The challenges facing homeless veterans sometimes culminate in the homeless veteran just giving up the pursuit of their rightful benefits.

Certainly veterans, housed or unhoused, should receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

Please stay in touch.
Christine

[itolduso]

Christine- another great post, you are the best. Please keep working to keep this issue of our nation's veterans out front. Anyone working with the homeless understands just how awful life on the street can be... that anyone who served should be tossed away is a national disgrace. For those looking for more information about our Iraq & Afghanistan veterans and ways to help...please visit IAVA.org and communityo­fveterans.­org

[ChristineSchanes]

itolduso,

Thank you for your continuing comments.

Thank you also for your kind words.

I agree with you "that anyone who served should be tossed away is a national disgrace."

Also, I have visited the two websites you mention, "IAVA.org and communityo­fverterans­.org, and I agree that that they are very helpful sites for further information.

Please stay in touch,
Christine

[ChristineSchanes]

larry278,

Thank you for your comment.

Your comment is very astute. Yes, our soldiers have been thrown away, not just in the Vietnam War, but in the Korean War. Perhaps, we have thrown away some troops in every war. And, yes, troops who served in Iraq/Afghanistan are already being thrown away.

These were brave and loyal troops who are lovely people and the children of caring parents.

The real reason they are now homeless is that they experienced combat and suffered physical and/or mental trauma because of their service to this country.

It is unconscionable for us to allow our country to treat them without the respect and help that they need.

Please keep in touch,
Christine

[larry278]

Mama Lee was another Viet Nam veteran the USA threw away. There is a cost for throwing away a generation of soldiers. The USA started throwing away soldiers after Korea. What will be the fate of troops who served in Iraq/Afghanistan?