Sunday, April 4, 2010 - BIG SPRING, Texas – The Veterans Land Board promotes its seven state-owned veterans homes with a glossy brochure titled "Where Honor Lives."

But there was nothing honorable about what allegedly happened to World War II Navy veteran John Harris in the final months of his life in 2007 at the Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez State Veterans Home in Big Spring.   A certified nurse aide said she saw a co-worker grab the 97-year-old from his wheelchair and slam him into his bed. Harris, suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was taken to the hospital that night when he complained of hip pain, according to a state inspection report.

That same year, another employee at the home was accused of punching and trying to choke Albert Teague, 84, a Marine who fought at Iwo Jima.  Felony charges were filed against the ex-employees last month.  On March 25, a Howard County grand jury indicted the two former employees of the home, Bryson Vanderbilt, 25, and Connie Mae Johnson, 52, charged with "striking, pushing, grabbing and forcefully handling" two residents in separate incidents.  Johnson was hired in August 2006 and her last evaluation was "good," according to the inspection report. Vanderbilt's employee file said he was hired about a year after Johnson, and it contained no evaluation form.

Vanderbilt is accused of injuring Harris, the WWII veteran whose destroyer escort was credited with helping to sink a Nazi U-boat in 1945. Harris died in May 2008 at age 98. Johnson is accused of hurting Teague, the Marine who died in October 2009.  If convicted, they could face a maximum 20 years in prison. Vanderbilt and Johnson couldn't be reached for comment.  They are scheduled to be arraigned soon, and the district attorney said he expects the court will appoint lawyers to represent them.

Cpl. Adam Stovall spoke with a unit manager who said a certified nurse aide had seen a male co-worker abusing one of the residents.  Stovall said he saw one statement, from resident Wilson Sikes, who said he had slammed Vanderbilt's hand in his nightstand because the man was going through his belongings. Vanderbilt then "lifted his wheelchair and dumped Sikes in his bed, then sat on him and slapped him across the face with gloves," the police report said.

John Harris' son, Jerry, who lives in Lamesa and runs a cotton gin company, said he was glad to learn of the indictments. But he still has questions about the investigation.  He recalled that his father was older than the others on their destroyer escort ship during World War II and counseled those who feared death or not serving bravely.  "It sounds like the two of these employees went berserk," Jerry Harris said.

Experts note that most nursing homes at some point must grapple with allegations of abuse and neglect.  Since 2004, state regulators cited the home for several violations, including a resident, unattended in his wheelchair, left the veterans home building. The resident was found in the cold darkness, lying on the cement about 80 feet from the front door, with swelling to his left eye and cheekbone. He spent two days in the hospital.

The Department of Aging and Disability Services' inspection reports "substantiated" allegations that seven residents in the Alzheimer's unit were abused over two months in 2007, with five employees as witnesses.  The agency cited the Big Spring veterans home for violating federal and state regulations, including failing to ensure the "residents' right to be free from repeated verbal/physical abuse" by two staff members over a period of almost two months.