Medical Case for Vietnam Veteran Jimmy Ray White
Title
Medical Case for Vietnam Veteran Jimmy Ray White
Subject
Medical and Legal Documents for Vietnam Veterans
Description
Original record for Jimmy Ray White. Jimmy served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. These documents are dated 2004, well after his Honorable Discharge from the Air Force. Jimmy, originally from Kearney, Nebraska, reenlisted to the Air Force several times before the conflict in Vietnam officially ended. Jimmy was father to Andy White. Jimmy passed away in 2004, the same year as this case, after extensive chemotherapy and a long illness.
This document is significant because it shows the full-effects of PTSD combined with the effects of Agent Orange gas poisoning. According to his sons Andy and Cullen White, Jimmy used a variety of substances in an attempt to self-medicate himself (illegal drugs and alcohol). This, combined with his reenlistments, illustrates that PTSD was prevalent in those who served in the Vietnam War, and needed more recognition than merely calling it "shell shock." Also, it shows that PTSD is not a "new" ailment for those who serve in active duty.
In this document, some editing has been done by Jimmy Ray White himself. His writing is indicated by everything written in all capital letters, and he has highlighted some areas as well. According to his sons, some of Jimmy's added information is incorrect (such as his indicated that he never used drugs, or that his mother, Patricia M. White (now McCullough) was incompetent), illustrating the deep effects of his PTSD combined with Agent Orange gas poisoning.
This document is significant because it shows the full-effects of PTSD combined with the effects of Agent Orange gas poisoning. According to his sons Andy and Cullen White, Jimmy used a variety of substances in an attempt to self-medicate himself (illegal drugs and alcohol). This, combined with his reenlistments, illustrates that PTSD was prevalent in those who served in the Vietnam War, and needed more recognition than merely calling it "shell shock." Also, it shows that PTSD is not a "new" ailment for those who serve in active duty.
In this document, some editing has been done by Jimmy Ray White himself. His writing is indicated by everything written in all capital letters, and he has highlighted some areas as well. According to his sons, some of Jimmy's added information is incorrect (such as his indicated that he never used drugs, or that his mother, Patricia M. White (now McCullough) was incompetent), illustrating the deep effects of his PTSD combined with Agent Orange gas poisoning.
Creator
Douglas County Nebraska Board of Mental Health
Source
Patricia M. McCullough
Publisher
Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Date
July 7, 2004
06/20/2015
Contributor
April White
Dr. Jinny Turman (scans)
Rights
Andy and April White
University of Nebraska at Kearney (Images)
Relation
http://www.veteransinc.org/services/housing-programs/roy/
http://www.veteranshealth.org/Vietnam/ptsd.html
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/over-quarter-million-vietnam-war-veterans-still-have-ptsd-180955997/?no-ist
Format
JPEG
Paper
Language
English
Coverage
Kearney, Nebraska
Douglas County, Nebraska
Vietnam
Original Format
Paper
Files
Collection
Citation
Douglas County Nebraska Board of Mental Health, “Medical Case for Vietnam Veteran Jimmy Ray White,” History Harvest, accessed April 26, 2024, https://historyharvest.unl.edu/items/show/1102.