Secretary Nicholson, This is an open letter to you, because unlike your predecessor, you do not have an e mail address that veterans have access to, you choose to ignore and seem to abhor any contact with America's veterans, why?

The story that the data that was lost from the VA anaylsts home in the beginning of May 2006, only contained the data of military members discharged since 1975 appears to be another mis-statement by your agency, why?

We have now learned that also in that data base was the name of the 6744 WW2 era mustard agents victims, by chance were the names of the 7120 Cold War chemical weapons experiment veterans in the data base, since they are known to the government? What about the 2300 men used in biological tests at Fort Detrick from 1952 thru 1972?

I have only been active in Veterans Advocacy since October 2002, but every number I have ever seen has said that there are approximately 5 million veterans registered for medical care, that the VA just announced it's 18th million home loan since the program was started after WW2.

The numbers of living veterans nation wide is approximately 26.5 million veterans, so has the VA lost the names and Social Security numbers and addresses and phone numbers of all the nations veterans, or just the ones discharged since 1975? Exactly how many men and women have been recruited and discharged since 1975 and the end of the Vietnam war?

My gut tells me that there is more to this story than is being told this nations veterans, and as the man responsible, it is your duty to tell us the truth, you are the steward of this nations veterans, haven't we earned the truth from this nation?

We served when they needed us, now that we need honesty from the government, like what was the project that this analyst felt pressured to take this data home to get it finished off the clock, he reported to a political appointee, who was not qualified to be in the job he was in, his expertise was cutting budgets, so exactly what is now being covered up?

Is it time for the VA Colonel who is supposed to be a gentleman, a man who the words Honor, Duty and Country mean something, your word is your bond as an officer and a gentleman, is it time to break your sword? Shall we call you Branded? Can your fellow veterans trust you any longer Mr Secretary, if not, you know what you need to do. Come clean or sign the resignation letter.