Posted on 05/21/2010 5:50:46 AM PDT by marktwain
TAMPA — Ronald Bullock made MacDill Air Force Base his home even though he was no longer in the military.
Decades had passed since a grenade blew up on him in Vietnam, rendering him disabled, his brother said. But as a veteran with a military ID, he could stay at the base's campground for six months at a time.
Bullock, 61, didn't have a family or a job. He told his uncle he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
"He took a mess of pills to keep him going, to keep him cool," said his uncle, Phil Sullivan, 80, of Tampa.
Ever since Vietnam, he struggled with drugs and alcohol, his brother said. In 1994, Bullock got four years of probation for aggravated assault on a public servant in Texas. Three years later, he was found guilty of possession of a controlled substance.
Still, his family never thought it would come to this.
Three officers knocked on Sullivan's door Wednesday night and explained that Bullock had been involved in an altercation at MacDill.
He had confronted an off-duty FBI agent with a knife, they said.
That agent fatally shot him.
"They said there was an altercation," Sullivan said. "Everybody uses that word: 'altercation.' "
Officials have released few details about the altercation. His family said they also have few details.
"I don't have any information. I only know what I've read," said his brother, Donald Bullock of North Carolina. "But it doesn't seem like his character. He wasn't a violent person."
(Excerpt) Read more at tampabay.com ...
How many bases have campgrounds? Do they attract many homeless vets?
SSRI's kill.
But as a veteran with a military ID, he could stay at the base’s campground for six months at a time.
Hmmmm. Veterans don’t normally have military ID. Retirees do, and perhaps those medically retired who have not served sufficient time to reach 20 years of active duty. Any others?
I think this incident actually fits the definition of the much over-used word “tragedy”.
Thank you for your service to our country, Mr. Bullock. I hope you have now found the peace that eluded you in life. I will keep you in my prayers.
To the (as yet) unnamed FBI agent: It certainly appears you acted properly and in self-defense. I hope you, too, are able to find peace and I will keep you in my prayers.
most large bases have “campgrounds” or RV parks. i don’t know how many homeless vets are attracted to them.
How many bases have campgrounds? Do they attract many homeless vets?
Most military installations have a campground that is operated as part of Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) using non-appropriated funding. Most are well run, quiet, clean and an inexpensive alternative to their civilian counterparts.
This case is a very rare exception to the norm. Most people staying at these camps are either active duty on leave or between assignments or retirees who own RVs.
RIP my troubled brother...
Very sad.
I was thinking it’s most likely a medical retirement.
Thanks all, for the information. Very interesting.
How many bases have campgrounds? Do they attract many homeless vets?
Not sure, but I know Davis-Monthan did when I was there in the early 90s.
I don't know much about them, but the word was that they were highly coveted spots for retired military snowbirds.
Here's a website that could give you some insight as to how many. Not sure about the homeless vet issue. http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/
He was a disabled veteran and was retired as a result of his injuries.
IF he was 100% disabled by his PTSD an unable to work, he could aplly for a miltary ID for use on base such as the PX and so forth.
Just about every navy base around here does. If they have camping stuff, I don’t know how you could tell they were homeless.
Most bases of any size have some sort of campground/RV park. Don't know about the homeless vets.
I wonder what the off duty FBI agent was doing on MacDill?
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