Veterans sacrificed enough: USA TODAY investigations of VA health care help our heroes

Stanley Christian Jr. piloted helicopter gunships into some of the worst firefights imaginable in Vietnam. His proudest achievement?

“I never lost a man,” said Christian, 73, a retired Army captain who lives in Oklahoma City. “They all came home.”

Over the years, Christian said he turned to the Veteran Affairs hospital as he struggled with health issues. In 2010, Christian had complained to the VA that he felt pain in his upper right jaw. An X-ray then showed no bone behind an upper right tooth. Medical staff said he had chronic gum disease and should brush and floss better.

Four years later, the VA finally discovered the likely cause — thanks to a scan done outside the VA: Christian had an aggressive cyst that had grown to encompass large areas of bone by that time.

“The VA screwed me up bad,” Christian said. “Then Donovan got to asking questions. Why hadn’t this been addressed?”

Christian is referring to USA TODAY reporter Donovan Slack, who covers the VA. She had been investigating complaints of misdiagnoses and subpar medical care at the Oklahoma City VA hospital.

Slack produced an investigative story that helped patients there receive proper care and led to reforms, including the appointment of a new director.

“She helped us,” Christian said.

Veterans Day is a time to remember sacrifice

In Nevada, a banner of George Purifoy adorns Main Street in Virginia City, honoring the Army sergeant’s service in Vietnam.

Purifoy, 68, had complained of severe pain after radiation therapy damaged the bone under his nose. He said VA clinicians thought it was a dental problem and sent him for root canals and other procedures. After that failed diagnosis, Purifoy said he has been left with no nose, no front teeth and with debilitating pain. 

Slack wrote about the medical failures, and subsequent misdiagnoses in his case.

“Purifoy contacted me to tell me folks at the VA had reached out to him. He said he was getting better care.”

Today, Purifoy is working with a Tulsa dentist who is constructing a prosthesis and a nose and finishing his dental implants.

“Thank God for Donovan Slack,” said Purifoy.

More:Writing wrongs: Our investigative journalists do mission work

Donald Trump's Medicare op-ed and all the reaction in USA TODAY show democracy in action

USA TODAY partnering with CBS to find education solutions across America: Standards editor

Slack is part of a team of reporters across the USA TODAY NETWORK — spanning the continental United States and Guam — who cover the military and veterans. We also publish a heartwarming video series called Military Kind. It’s important work.

Veterans Day is a cherished time to honor the men and women who serve or have served our nation, to tell their stories of heroism and remember their sacrifice.

“By taking the time to talk with these men and women, we can make it personal and inform the public about the impact of war and trauma. In some cases, it can be the first time a veteran has been asked to speak about their experiences,” said Yihyun Jeong, who covers veteran and military affairs for The Tennessean. “That's powerful."

In Phoenix, reporter Dennis Wagner's coverage of the VA crisis led to nationwide investigations and major changes in veterans' health care, as well as in the administration's accountability and transparency. Internal VA investigations verified that patients were dying while awaiting care and documented widespread mismanagement and reprisals against whistleblowers.

The VA secretary was forced out. Congress approved a $15 billion emergency fund and launched the Veterans Choice program giving VA patients a private-care option. New VA leadership carried out what has been described as the most comprehensive overhaul in agency history.

Our coverage helped, but we need to be vigilant

"While it's gratifying to think our coverage helped bring about better care for America's veterans, and greater accountability for the nation's taxpayers, the media's watchdog role requires eternal vigilance,” said Wagner, who led the investigations for the Arizona Republic.

“Without the free press, this country would not survive,” said Mike Trephan, a Marine and part-time Naples resident, who founded "Honor the Free Press Day," now in its 14th year. The day is a tribute to military service and the First Amendment, sponsored by the Marines of Naples.

Slack’s investigations have uncovered widespread wrongdoing across the VA and inspired significant changes. She revealed that: 

► The VA Inspector General withheld the findings of 140 investigations from the public, including instances where veterans suffered harm or died. As a result, the Inspector General stepped down and a whistleblower network was created. Congress passed and the president signed legislation ensuring that all IG reports are made public.

►The VA also hired workers with problem records, including a neurosurgeon whose license had been revoked in one state. As a result, the VA ousted the neurosurgeon and discovered conflicting agency policies had allowed the VA to hire practitioners with revoked licenses. The agency launched a nationwide review of providers and their records.

► The VA created a secret rating for its nursing homes and kept secret ratings for its hospitals for years. As a result, the agency released the ratings for both and pledged to do so annually.

► VA bosses in seven states falsified wait-times for care.

* The VA declared that it had "new leadership," but records show they shuffled managers between hospitals.

Slack said veterans and their families constantly call her with tips. So do medical professionals in the VA.

“They all want to help the veterans get well."

Thank you for reading, you can reach me at 1-800-872-7073 or email accuracy@usatoday.com

Manny García is the standards editor for the USA TODAY Network.