Travis, Glad you have a sense of dignity (
and a sense of humor )
I was living in Bremerton, WA in 1960, 1961; I'm a Navy kid; but also it was my peers that fought in the bulk of the Vietnam war.
See about Section 8 Housing or other rent/purchase subsidy; you shouldn't have to be homeless!
By the way, I believe 'Gulf War Syndrome' has been going on for at least 50 years. . . that which is from
2-butoxyethanol, anyway. (Since I began learning about ethylene glycol ethers, and spoke to a wife of a 3 time Vietnam tour vet ... he had the 'leathery skin' where he tucked his gun in his belt - plus other odd symptoms, too; and then learned from the chemical companies that ethylene glycol ethers have been in widespread use since the 1950's)
Keep an ear open for that, too. Here's what to
ask to have checked in your blood:
valdezlink.com/computer_car.htm