Vice President Vance Visits Walter Reed Medical Center
Vice President JD Vance, along with Second Lady Usha Vance, paid a visit to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday, just a day before Veterans Day. Their aim was to connect with wounded soldiers and veterans who are on the road to recovery.
During their time at the Bethesda, Maryland facility, they toured the Military Advanced Training Center (MATC), spoke with veterans, observed therapy sessions, and engaged with staff about the needs of those in recovery. The MATC is designed to provide advanced rehabilitation through innovative prosthetics and various holistic care initiatives.
One poignant moment of the visit was when they met Coast Guard Seaman Sam Kenyon, who is currently undergoing physical therapy after losing his right leg during boot camp back in February.
“What do you need from us? What can we do to help in Washington?” Vance asked him.
Kenyon shared that he has been benefiting from ketamine therapy for about a year. He described the experience positively and emphasized the need for legalizing psychedelic treatments for veterans. He expressed concern that without regulated options, many veterans might resort to dangerous alternatives, such as traveling abroad for ayahuasca or ibogaine treatments.
“First and foremost, symptom management… all of those things that I was dealing with—really helps to mitigate that,” he explained.
“You go in there, you have a death experience every time you do it. It’s pretty intense. But when you come out of that, you translate things that you love,” he conveyed, reflecting on his memories from deployment.
The Vice President also engaged with U.S. Army combat veteran Ian Nugent and watched U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Carlos Evans as he went through his therapy exercises.
At the MATC, Vance reaffirmed his dedication to listening to the veterans’ needs and ensuring they receive necessary resources. This visit reflects the administration’s focus on supporting those who have served, especially amid ongoing conversations surrounding military resources during the current government shutdown.
