Carbondale Reporter

Teary-eyed state Rep. Dr. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) said he is one with Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) and other House Republicans in demanding accountability for COVID-19 outbreaks at state veterans' homes.

He underscored he was not happy to be at the May 18 news conference recounting the heroic deeds every veteran did for the country and talking about how they have not been given the utmost care they should have been provided at state-run long-term care facilities.

“I think all of us that trained and supported these men have a profound respect for them,” Jacobs said. “All of us here — veterans or not veterans — appreciate the Navy corpsman, Army medics, the Marines, the soldiers, they were all put in harm's way. Their sacrifice, the sacrifice of all the veterans obligates us to provide them with the highest level of care. We have seen the opposite of that as we've learned what happened at the veterans' homes in this state.”

He also sadly recalled his own experience during the Vietnam War.

“I go back up to 1966, my experience in the military was as a member of the Navy,” he said. “I was at sea on a very old World War II carrier, the USS Boxer, maybe someone's heard of that. While onboard you know, we loaded thousands of Marines on board that ship to train for helicopter assault in Vietnam during 1966 and '67. When I was on board there these Marines that came on board knew exactly what was in store. To me, they were all heroes. I can't say too much. It took our whole ship training helicopters and pilots to support this effort. These Marines put their lives on the line for us and our freedom. The casualty rate was as high as 70% in just six weeks.”

With a heavy heart remembering the brave men and what they went through, Jacobs needed to pause before stating his next points.

“This is not good to be here,” he said. “Our veterans deserve better. They have the right to be cared for and protected just as they have historically cared for us and protected us. The administration needs to get this mess straightened out. I am proud to be here today. I'm not happy to be here today, but I'm proud to be here today to demand better and to join my fellow Republicans and veterans.

According to the report released by the Illinois Department of Human Services Inspector General, the facility operated in an environment that was "inefficient, reactive and chaotic."

The report also blamed former Veterans Affairs Director Linda Chapa La Via for relying on a non-medical chief of staff.