Military Counseling: About VVAW's Military Counselor

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Ray Parrish is VVAW's GI Counselor. Ray grew up in the military. His mother was one of the first women in the USAF. Ray's father was in the Merchant Marines in WWII, transferred to the US Army on his 18th birthday and put on a new uniform when the USAF was created. He retired in 1973 as a CMSgt. on a total disability after 30 years and two tours of Vietnam.

Ray, Sgt., USAF, 72-75, was trained as a Russian Linguist, served as an intelligence analyst in Turkey and spent his last year cleaning rain gutters at Pope AFB. He worked his way thru college as a part-time veteran's counselor and a full time activist. He ran the Midwest Comm. for Military Counseling for a decade until the funding ran out in 1995. Then he spent five years as an American Legion Veterans Service Officer until the VA had him fired. For the 3 years before coming to VVAW, he was a mental health caseworker reintegrating the homeless into the community.

For GI Counseling call (773) 561-VVAW or e-mail Ray at camiblue@vvaw.org.

My name is Ray Parrish (USAF, 72-75, Sgt.), and I'm VVAW's one and only GI Counselor. So while you may also be referred to local volunteer lawyers and doctors or vet centers and veteran groups for specific forms or assistance, or a local VVAW member may help me work with you, you and I will work together. This is a one-man operation, so don't expect to talk to a receptionist (that's my wife,) or meet in a comfortable office (it's my spare bedroom.) VVAW considers you to be a sister or brother (for some it's child or grandchild), not just another client looking for help.

As a Vietnam-era vet and brat of a WWII & Vietnam veteran and after 28 years counseling GIs, vets and their families, I've accumulated a lot of information and become a good listener. No one has a magic wand that can be waved and make the nightmares go away or get you the benefits or honorable discharge that you deserve. You should believe no guarantees from anyone. However, together we can make sure that everything that can be done to resolve your problem is being done, if you can find the patience to see the process through to its end. As long as you don't give up, they haven't won.

Catch 22: As the military doctor explains to the GI: If you're crazy I can't send you into combat. Not wanting to go into combat is sane. We only send into combat those who want to go and we arrest those who refuse. You're crazy if you don't think that combat makes you crazy.

As a GI, it was my experience that it's almost impossible to go through an entire day in uniform without violating the UCMJ, even if it was just “disrespectful deportment.” While that fact may cause you to watch your behavior, it also means that the officer that is causing you problems is probably violating the UCMJ as well, so complain. Do your job so well that you become “indispensable” and your behavior can “push the envelope” of acceptability. Don't desert! If you have to leave duty to avoid a life-threatening situation, run to the police, media, Congress or a hospital or me.

Vets seeking benefits and GI's seeking discharge both face mazes of rules and requirements in systems that are supposed to help. I can help you submit properly worded medical opinions to the correct people and help you through the forms, regulations, hearings, doctor interviews and tests. Trust no one who gives you a guarantee. Get second opinions and verify information from any source, including me.

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