detailed account of the last hundred or so miles of his journey into Virginia. We expected Matt would arrive at around 11:30 p.m. but as we communicated with him we realized he was much farther out. Around three o'clock in the morning he called and said he was pulled over side of the road and needed someone to come get him to guide him in. I jumped in my trunk and drove out Route 50 towards the direction Matt said he was located.
When I found him he had pulled off into a parking lot and he was passed out asleep with the tractor running. When I knocked on the door it startled Matt, he was completely disoriented. After a few minutes he opened the door of the tractor and said are you Steve Robinson? I told him yes and asked him if he wanted to leave the tractor here let me drive them back to the house. He told me he wanted to finish the trip and if I would guide him he would be okay. We put on our emergency flashers and began the drive to my house at 20 miles an hour. As we made our way to my house I quickly realized what Matt had done. From where he was located to my house was normally a trip that would take 20 min by car but at the speeds Matt could travel it was going to take at least an hour or more. It made me realize how determined Matt was to get help, inch by inch; mile by mile he was going to get here and demand help no matter the cost.
I guided Matt through the streets and towns of Virginia wondering if anyone knew or cared that he had made this long journey. Everyone was asleep safe in their beds except for Matt trying to make it to the last rest stop before he drove into Washington, DC. It just so happened that I had guests over at my house. My sister-in-law and her husband and my wife stayed awake and waited up for Matt knowing he would need assistance once he arrived. My wife and fellow veteran Kip drove out to meet us on the last leg home. Patti , my wife drove beside Matt and honked her horn when ever Matt would fall asleep at the wheel. Since there was no media willing to stay up and meet Matt as he rolled into Virginia, my wife and Kip documented his last few miles in video and pictures that we will post very shortly.
There was no media, there was no fanfare, there were no large groups of people cheering him on when he pulled into our driveway. Only a group of fellow veterans and veteran supporters.
Matt could barely walk from the tractor to my house because his legs and feet were so swollen. Once inside we got him down on the couch and my sister-in-law Becky had to remove his boots. It was now 4 a.m. and we knew that we had to get up and leave the house at seven o'clock in order to make it through rush hour traffic to Washington, DC.
We gave Matt some clothes to change into because everything he had was completely wet including his suitcase and rucksack. We helped Matt to the bathroom, he wanted to shower and shave in preparation for the meetings on Capitol Hill that would take place in less than three hours. Once he got back downstairs he sat down on the couch and immediately fell asleep and we washed and dried his clothes so they would be ready when he woke up.
We finally made it to bed by 5 a.m. and I woke up when my alarm off at 6:30 a.m.
I went downstairs and noticed that Matt was sleeping sitting up in the same position that I'd left him a few hours earlier. When I woke Matt up he was very disoriented and dizzy but with the determination of a soldier on a mission he got himself dressed and we were out the door by 7:15 a.m..
Having only met Matt a couple of hours ago I wasn't sure how we were supposed to get in the Washington, DC and where we were going to park the tractor. As we rode down 395 towards the capital I realized just how dangerous a trip that he had made. If you've never driven 20 miles an hour on Interstate 395 is hard to understand but we made it over the 14th St Bridge and into Washington, DC without being killed. Once in DC we were supposed to go to Union Station where the Metropolitan police were located but we didn't get that far. I made a wrong turn as I was guiding Matt and we ended up in the parking lot of the Capitol police. We were immediately pulled over by patrolman who asked to see the special permit that Matt had to drive the tractor to Washington. Unbeknownst to me Matt didn’t have a special permit and the Capitol police began to search his vehicle and ask us why we were there. I explained to the officer that Matt was an ill Gulf war veteran who had traveled from Missouri on his tractor to seek help for the illnesses that he suffered. The officer a veteran himself from the 1991 Gulf War told Matt that even though it was illegal to drive the tractor on DC roads, he wasn't going to be the one to stop Matt from seeking help since he had driven so far. We were then surrounded by other officers who had heard the story and they one by one went up and thanked Matt for his service and his determination to get the government to listen. Many of the officers were veterans themselves from Vietnam, the Gulf War, and even an Iraq veteran.
They called their higher headquarters and asked for permission to escort Matt to Union Station even though he didn't have a permit. The Lt. agreed and we were given an escort with flashing lights all the way through town. Once we arrived at Union station the officer saluted and went on his way as we drove up the ramp to park in the bus parking lot. If it had not been for the kindness of the Capitol police Matt's story might be very complicated right now because there was no way for him to travel from where we were located to the hearing. After we parked I put Matt in the wheelchair that was located on the back of his tractor and pushed him to the front of Union Station where his local television station was there to conduct an interview. After the interview he realized we would have to take a taxi to the Cannon House office building so we found a van that would hold his wheelchair and drove to the hearing.
Once inside the Cannon House office building I was able to introduce Matt to several of the committee staff, Chairman Jim Binns, Dr Robert Haley and others. The committee seemed interested in Matt coming back in September to testify about his experience with VA Gulf War illness claims.
We had to leave the hearing in order to go to CNN were Matt was supposed to be on live television. Unfortunately once we got out of the building I got a text message from Michael Woods telling me that the interview was canceled due to a scheduling conflict with some senator. It didn't matter to us because he was there to meet with Senator Kit Bond at 2:30 p.m.
So we put Matt back in his wheelchair and I pushed him from the House side to the Senate side of Capitol Hill and into Russell Senate office building. When we finally took our meeting at Senator Kit Bond's office we were met by the senior staff who greeted us openly. Bo Prosch, Josh and Shauna made sure Matt was made to feel welcome and Bo proceeded to tell us about the conference call we were going to make with VA. Matt had three immediate concerns. 1 - that he be given compensation and pension exam immediately. 2 - that his VA claim the expedited once the exam was completed. 3 - that Senator Bond find out what happened to his claim, and why Matt had to go to so much trouble to get someone to help him. Senator Bond had already sent a letter to the VA requesting information on Matt's claim.
So Bo dialed the numbers and we began a conference call with VA. The representatives from the VA listened to Matt's concerns articulated by Bo and were very receptive to help Matt get the things he was asking for. I want to take a moment here to say that without the assistance of Senator Bond in coordination with VA at the highest levels Matt would still be struggling. But the VA listened and worked very hard to get Matt the three things he asked for and for that we are grateful. Bo promised to keep us informed of any changes and to assist us in any way possible. The VA promiseed to have answers by Friday around noon time. We also asked Senator Bond to help us find a tractor-trailer to haul Matts John Deere back home when everything was completed. Matt told Bo that he did not intend to leave Washington, DC until his compensation and pension exam was done and his claim was completed. Matt said quote - you're from the show me State right? To which Bo replied yes I am. Matt said – Ok show me!
We made our way back to Union Station where the tractor was located and loaded up to come home to Alexandria Virginia. Once again it was a horrifying trip on the interstate going 20 miles an hour. I was on my motorcycle in front of Matt making sure that I stopped at every road change said he would know which way to go. As we crossed over the Potomac River I got a little bit too far ahead of Matt and had to stop my motorcycle almost parallel with the Pentagon. As I waited for Matt and pull up so he wouldnt miss the turn the Pentagon police pulled up beside me and asked me why I was stopping. I explained to him that there was a veteran behind me on the tractor and that he had driven that tractor from Missouri to get help and we were leaving from a hearing on Capitol Hill and we simply wanted to go home. The officer said he was going to wait for Matt to arrive and check things out. Once Matt caught up with me the officer checked the story with Matt and decided he would escort us because it was too dangerous.
The officer pulled in behind Matt and turned on his flashers/sirens and all three of us drove down 395 in rush-hour traffic trying to make it to Alexandria Virginia. Once we got off 395 and more on some back roads a Virginia State Trooper pulled me over in front of Matt and the other officer and he said, Are you with the guy in the tractor back there. I replied yes. The officers said – did he really drive that thing from Missouri to Washington, DC. I said, yes sir , he did. The officer was amazed and told me that he was a veteran and he heard about Matt over the police band. He shook my hand then went back to shake Matts hand and sent us on our way with the Pentagon police escort.
Once we arrived at my house the Pentagon police waved and drove away. I didn't get a chance to say thank you to the officer but it was amazing all the people who made sure that Matt got there and got back. It was now 5 p.m. and Matt came inside and sat down on the couch after a long day. He was greeted by my wife my sister-in-law and her husband. We asked Matt if he wanted something to eat or something to drink and he declined saying he just wanted to close his eyes. Matt slept from 5 p.m. that day until 10 a.m. the next morning sitting up. He was exhausted. I checked on Matt through the night and became concerned about his sleeping position and has low respirations. So in the morning when I woke him up and wanted to make sure he was okay since he hadn't moved a single inch the entire 15 hours.
When Matt did wake up he was disoriented and needed to go to the bathroom immediately. He tried to stand up on his own and fell down, we quickly grabbed his arms and got him back up on his feet where he complained of the room spinning and not being able to stand. My wife and I had to physically carry Matt to the bathroom and help him sit down on the toilet. From inside the bathroom at began to complain about the dizziness and stated he was very concerned. I told him we should go to the hospital where there was competent staff and medical monitoring devices. I contacted the office of Senator Kit Bond to let them know that we were going to the emergency room of the Washington, DC VA medical center. Senator Bond's office contacted the VA to let them know we were coming and they called one of the senior medical officers to make sure the they were there waiting for us when we arrived. Again I want to say that Senator Bond has always been there for all veterans and his staff goes the extra mile. It wouldn't have mattered if Matt was from Florida or Kentucky because every time I've called them they have assisted me in assisting veterans. But Matt is from Missouri and the staff of Senator Bond was fully engaged every step of the way helping this veteran. Matt was unable to walk on his own so I had to carry him along with my wife assisting out of our house and into my truck. As we walked down the steps of my front porch Matt was clearly in pain, dizzy and unable to stand on its own. As we were placing Matt in my truck he collapsed. There were several people who were watching us trying to get Matt to the vehicle and they immediately rushed over to help. Once we got mad inside and strapped the vehicle I driven to the VA medical center where he was admitted to the emergency room. They knew we were coming and had the chief of cardiology and the Chief of Staff of the hospital there when we arrived. Matt was given a battery of tests to make sure he was not having a heart attack and eventually admitted for observation. Again here I want to thank the Washington, DC VA medical center for their immediate and prompt care of Matt when he arrived. I was assured that once Matt is stabilized they will begin addressing his C&P exam and claims issues.
While waiting with Matt is room he was visited by the head of the neurology Department and other department heads. The DC VAMC rolled out the red carpet for Matt and he was visited by at least 15 doctors from different apartments within two hours. That night they scheduled a sleep study for math and ensure that he would get a C-Pap machine.
I called Matt this morning in his room and while his swelling in his legs has gone down slightly the dizziness and neurological symptoms seem worse according to him. I know he's in good hands in the VA will do everything they can to identify what his issues are and how to treat them.
While I am very appreciative of the support Matt has received from Senator Bond and the Washington, DC VA medical center I also know that there are many Matt Letterman's out there who are Gulf war veterans who are still struggling and not receiving care. Hopefully Matt story and what he did to get here will inspire them to reach out one more time and try and get the help they have earned by virtue of their service. On our end we played the smallest of roles and Matt story, making phone calls, setting up meetings, connecting him with Senator Bond and others would help. Matt played the biggest role in the story because he had the courage to say I'm not going to sit here, I'm not going to wait, I don't care if I die I'm going to DC, they're going to see me you're going to hear me. I am not leaving until you take care of me. For that I am truly grateful and proud to have been a small part of Matt's journey. It always inspires me with veterans like Matt make a stand and demand their government address their issues.
Steve Robinson
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Update on Matt By Steve Robinson
Sorry it has taken so long to get back to the computer. For those that are following Matt and his story and wanted to give you a
Posted by Michael D Woods at 6:32 PM
Steve Robinson
Matt could not take off his own boots - his feet and legs were swollen like balloons