ONE CONSTITUTION AVENUE, NE WASHINGTON, DC 20002 RESERVE STRENGTH 202.479.2200 or 800.809.9448 RESERVE LIFE November 1, 2019 The Honorable Greg Abbott Governor of the State of Texas PO. Box 12428 Austin, Texas 7871 1-2428 Governor Abbott: Writing the Governor of Texas on any occasion brings back warm memories: from 1993 to my de? parture for Washington with the newly victorious Bush team after the unpleasantness of the Florida Recount, I lived in Austin, getting my master?s degree from UT on the GI Bill. I?d moved there af- ter leaving active duty at Fort Hood, about the time you began your distinguished judicial service. I have always admired your principled approach to governance and law. As a veteran who advo? cates for a strong Reserve force upon which our military can call in the nation?s defense, I read with admiration your statement, But there is still more we must do to make sure every veteran returning home receives the support they need to re-enter civilian life and enjoy the freedoms they have fought so hard to secure. Our vet? erans deserve much more than our gratitude, and as Governor, I am committed to ensuring that Texas veterans receive our respect and opportunities to succeed. Thus, I respectfully write you about an issue that, as so many that reach you must, deeply affects a single person, and also a wider constituency. In 2008, a young Texan returned from war and was soon diagnosed with Constrictive Bronchiolitis due to exposure to burn pit toxins in Iraq. Le Roy Torres was ultimately medically retired from the Army after 23 years, following his diagnosis of a war-related lung disease and toxic brain injury similar to CTE brain disease found in NFL football players. He served seven years on active duty and 16 years in the Army Reserve. Torres had served for 14 years as a Texas Highway Patrol State Trooper; his medical condition left him unable to perform his duties as a Trooper, but he was still able to work at that point. He was ad- vised to resign from the force in order to initiate a medical retirement process through the Employee Retirement System of Texas. Removed from the state payroll, he was about to lose his house and was in a bad ?nancial bind. Essentially, he was ?red by the Department of Public Safety. They evidently refused to accommo? date his request for a job modification after he submitted a memorandum requesting one through his DPS chain of command to, I understand, Director Steve McCraw. The federal government did better for him: the VA service-connected his toxic exposure disabilities in 2012 as did an Army line-of-duty investigation; he was retired from the Army with bene?ts and partial retirement pay. Serving Citizen Warriors Through Advocacy and Education Since 1922 ARMY - MARINE CORPS NAVY - AIR FORCE - COAST GUARD - NOAA 0 USPHS The Honorable Greg Abbott November 1, 2019 Nonetheless, his abandonment by the state government and the DPS that he had loyally and faith- fully served took atoll. In 2016, unable to hold down a good job and still in ?nancial dif?culties, he placed the muzzle of a loaded shotgun into his mouth. His wife sprang to wrestle away the gun and his dog, HOpe, sensing the danger, grabbed his pantleg, dislodging the gun. Le Roy?s wife, Rosie, was in Washington for congressional meetings on toxic exposure this week. We met and she told me that every time she leaves the house, she fears he will kill himself. That sent a bolt through me; we immediately got him on Facetime and engaged him in our conversation. I told him soldier-to?soldier to hang in, as he is ?ghting not just for himself but for the many others who came home impaired to face a government too often balky at, or even resistant to, ensuring they receive our respect and opportunities to succeed. Le Roy has made a case that DPS failed to accommodate him and ?nd a meaningful role where he could constructively ?nish his remaining six years on the force. The case is pending a hearing in the Texas Supreme Court. It?s a shame to have come to this. Former Texas State Trooper and American Soldier Le Roy Torres asks that his time as a Trooper be reinstated, to earn retirement bene?ts and the associated back pay. He told me that he also wants to ensure that no ?rst responders who also serve in the Guard and Re? serve are ?left behind and forgotten? if an instrumentality of war returns them home ill or injured. Governor Abbott, we?re all aware of the tragic suicides that in retrospect are judged preventable the ?signs? were there, we say in outrage, if only someone had paid attention. Well, the signs are there. I think you can do something about this to make it right, and I respectfully and urgently ask that you act. Le Roy Torres has given so much, returned from war terribly impaired by his service, and in return has been treated so shabbily. Yet notwithstanding the toll, he retains ?delity to his nation. He has told us what can be done. If we should awake to ?nd him gone, whom shall we blame? With respect and appreciation, .r Jeffre E. Phi lips Maj. Gen., US. Army (Ret.) Executive Director