More from World War II veteran and former P.O.W. Eddie Livingston, who lived with his wife Helen for 30 years in squalor and neglect -- no lights, no running water. Conditions not befitting an American hero, an American veteran. But very much the case for one who fell through the cracks, for whom there no safety net. He writes poignantly about his experience of combat:
"After four years, seven wounds, a year as a P.O.W., World War II ended for me. I did the best I could, and no man should feel ashamed of his best. I have always known that war is our ultimate failure. But war is an addictive thing. I became addicted, and now I am addicted to agitation. I have no way of knowing how crazy I am. I doubt if the psychiatrist would (even) know. I made the fatal mistake of staying in combat too long. I had no choice; I had to stay. What we know does hurt us. It is what I know that has made me the way I am."
Editor's note: the photo of Eddie Livingston, neglected American hero, and its caption were written by Eddie's niece Pam, with whom he lived right before he died.
