U.S. Senator, Joni Ernst, has penned a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General, Michael Missal, expressing her frustration and disappointment over the death of yet another Iowa veteran. Curtis Gearhart, a 32-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Ankeny, served two tours in Iraq as a combat engineer and tragically committed suicide on Monday, Nov. 7, after he was allegedly told by the VA he would have to wait for treatment. Gearhart’s death follows that of Brandon Ketchum’s earlier this year and Richard Miles’ death in 2015. Both of those veterans also took their own lives after failing to receive adequate treatment from the VA. Ernst wrote that these men and all of our other veterans deserve better. “It is unacceptable that veterans are being told to wait, especially when seeking care for combat-related injuries,” Ernst wrote. “If immediate care cannot be provided by the VA itself, it is absolutely imperative our veterans be made aware of other health care options available to them outside of the VA.” Ernst is calling for an immediate investigation into Gearhart’s treatment, focusing on why he was denied care and what steps must be taken to prevent this from ever happening again. A Go Fund Me account has been set up to gather funds for a memorial for Gearhart. A link to that site can be found below.
Curtis Gearhart Memorial Fund