Udonthani, Thailand—The following opinion piece is authored by Wayne Beverly, a service-connected disabled Marine Corps veteran. The author opines on the death of a VA worker from earlier this year, which occurred in Minnesota, and why voters should take note. Wayne is a Texas UOCAVA voter, resident of Thailand, and member of the Democrats Abroad Global Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus. 

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Alex Pretti did not have to die. He was an American hero. Period. Anyone who says differently does not understand the meaning of “public servant.”

In 2024, I flew from Bangkok to Minneapolis for emergency health care. I showed up unannounced with all my scans, diagnoses, etc., from Bangkok Udon Hospital at the Minneapolis VA emergency room. When they finally got me settled in, things began to blur after that, but the workers there scrambled to find me a room. I was told later that I was on death’s doorstep. I was in urgent need of treatment for my pneumonia, COVID, and cancer. At some point afterward, Alex Pretti checked in on me in the ICU, and I recall his presence several times over the eight-month stay I was there.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was lucky to have Alex Pretti as an employee. When I went for medical treatment at the VA hospital in Minneapolis, Alex was one of my nurses whom I depended on. When I first heard of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents having murdered a VA employee last year during peaceful protests, I had to look at Alex’s face on TV several times to confirm this was the same individual who provided me with medical care. And while the images rang a bell, it was not immediately clear to me that this was my VA nurse, as I had just gone through the ICU in Minnesota, which left me lightheaded while in recovery.

As of today, there has been no accountability whatsoever for Alex’s death. Zero. Nada. Let that sink in. Federal agents killed a dedicated VA nurse in broad daylight on January 24, 2026, when a woman was knocked to the ground, and Alex was there simply helping her back up. The administration absurdly claims he was a “domestic terrorist” and that he was shot in “self-defense,” which we all know is completely contrary to what eyewitnesses saw who were actually at the scene. Alex liked to ride his bicycle. He hiked. He was literally a Boy Scout not too long ago. And he worked long hours at the VA helping veterans like me with their illnesses, injuries, and service-connected disabilities.

This administration has lied over and over and over. The president’s MAGA allies in Congress are too scared to do the right thing and speak up on Alex’s murder, so we know we can’t rely on them to hold ICE accountable. At the same time, the VA secretary and other administration officials are doing everything they can to cut federal employees, squash union and business contracts, and yes—even cut VA benefits. They’re replacing human eyes with A.I. programs. VA hospital televisions are now tuned to religious programming rather than nonpartisan news. “Veteran’s preference” in federal hiring appears to be going extinct. Now, ICE agents are stationed outside of Marine Corps Base Parris Island waiting to snatch-and-grab family members attending graduation ceremonies. We’ve reached the critical point where permanent damage to our democracy is being done in real time. 

If we don’t all vote this November, it’s inevitable that there will be more violent deaths like Alex’s, and fewer VA benefits, health care, and services for veterans.

Unfortunately, I’ve been experiencing postal issues whenever I send mail from here in Thailand to the U.S., and the same with mail coming from the U.S. to here. Regardless, I just sent my primary runoff ballot via the diplomatic pouch method. I hope that with my vote being sent that way, maybe it will not only arrive but also get there before the deadline. I’m fortunate to have a good county clerk and local election office, but not everyone is as lucky. I’ve made voting-related errors in the past, and they’ve notified me immediately, which led me to send ballot corrections a.s.a.p. by email.

This can’t be stressed enough: Register to vote. Request your ballot. Return your ballot. Tell other U.S. citizens living abroad to do the same. 

There are thousands of veterans, military retirees, family members, DoD civilian retirees, and other potential voters out there. We need them all to vote so we can remove this incompetent, extremist, racist administration once and for all.

Let’s do it for Alex Pretti. His killer has never been brought to justice. Let’s honor Alex and others who paid the ultimate price at the hands of a wannabe dictator who repeatedly fails to understand civil liberties, civil rights, and the world of veterans.

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U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in. 

The Global VMF Caucus has over 1,400 members in dozens of countries and proudly consists of veterans, military family members, Department of Defense civilians, other national security professionals, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes.