EAST TEXAS (KLTV) - An East Texas veteran's battle to get life-saving treatment from VA sources, is making his voice heard about what he says is gross inefficiency.



It's a story of a veteran whose fight was to get a nutrient order filled, an order that's critical to keep him alive.



Retired Army veteran Greg Hass, of Wood County, was diagnosed with mucosa melanoma cancer in 2011, and given six months to a year to live.



"Mucosa melanoma makes up less than 1% of cancer. The doctor's option was to cut off your face, you might have six months to a year to live. That didn't sound good to me. I'm going to survive another day," Greg says.



Many surgeries, and five years later, Hass has beaten the odds.



But he must now take nourishment through a feeding tube, which was a point of dire contention on a recent visit to the V-A outpatient clinic in Longview.



"At that time I was put on tube feeding. They had issues getting the nutritional order to Longview. At one point, I was told the nurse doesn't have time to see you today, she's too busy. My order may be laying on their desk or inbox, but they have no record of it," Hass says.



"Absolutely unacceptable to say I do not have time for you, not okay to lose the paperwork," says wife Lynne Hass.



Furious, Greg pleaded his case for his life-sustaining order.



"You people are killing me by not providing these nutrients. Their lack of integrity, their lack of commitment, I need this to live," Greg says.



So infuriated, staff mistook him for threatening.



"Basically the lady thought I was threatening her, and asked if I was bringing a weapon and if she had to have the police there Monday. I care about

getting the services that I put my life on the line for, for 20 years," he says.



"There are still issues that need to be addressed to care for our veterans," Lynne says.



But Hass will not be quieted.



"We have people, veterans , that have been waiting two to three years to get the treatments they require. The VA has failed the American people. I will

be there Monday morning to get this case resolved because I need these nutrients to survive," says Greg.



Hass says he will be at the VA outpatient clinic in Longview to lodge a formal complaint regarding the treatment of patients.



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