
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 14, 1990                   TAG: 9004160196
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ATTACK ON VA CENTER FULL OF DISTORTIONS

I TAKE exception to William E. Beitz's letter March 31 castigating the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem. His nasty attack was a lot of distortions and untruths.

I am a Korean veteran, have been going to the Salem VA for three years, and have always been treated with respect and given excellent health care from those dedicated doctors, nurses and staff there.

Beitz's only correct statement was the fact that the buildings are old. But those "union" custodians keep them spotless inside and out. He writes in generalities. He would be more specific if his allegations were true.

If the Salem VA were to close, as Beitz suggests, how many private hospitals would be needed to handle the caseload the VA now handles? Also, one major illness would more than wipe out the $20,000 stipend he mentions.

I appreciate the VA and the dedicated doctors, nurses and staff. So do the majority of veterans treated there. The open-heart surgery I had at the VA Hospital in Asheville, N.C., more than two years ago saved my life.

Beitz would do well to count his blessings.

\ JAMES R. GUTHRIE\ SALEM

by CNB