DAV Magazine — July/August 2016
LETTERS
The future of veterans health care
Your efforts on behalf of veterans, especially those of us who suffered some disability in the service, are much appreciated. Therefore, the alarm you are sounding over talk of cutting back on health care for all veterans should be taken seriously. Unfortunately, the politics of the moment are clouding the issue, relegating veterans in the minds of many legislators to another budget item to be trimmed.Constituent service, especially in the House of Representatives, was an essential duty that was independent of party affiliation and kept many in Congress for decades and helped many veterans. Maybe voters should be asking their congressional representatives, “What are you doing for me?”
Robert J. Salgado, New Hope, Pa.
A lifetime of service
During the Vietnam War, I volunteered to serve my country. When my stint was over, I was honorably discharged with a serious service-connected disability. Shortly after returning home, I received a letter from DAV stating that I had earned many VA benefits. Because I’ve been getting VA benefits for 40 years, now I felt it was time to give back. The VA and DAV put the call out for volunteers, so I signed up. Now, I am a cemetery walker at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis County, Mo. I walk through the over 206,000 headstones and graves of veterans looking for any that are in need of repair. I feel good about honoring all the veterans who went before me and showing to their families that they are still respected and always will be.
Dennis L. Adair, Wright City, Mo.
For all veterans
As a veteran working for a private employer who does not recognize Veterans Day, I urge all veterans to join me and write their state and congressional representatives to mandate that private companies employing at least one honorably discharged veteran give those veterans a paid day off for Veterans Day without the veteran having to use accumulated vacation or sick leave.
Scott Rogers, Everett, Wash.
VA travel pay system is useless
We’ve been going to the Nashville VA for more than 20 years. We weren’t pleased with the new payment procedure they implemented. As of today, we’re up to a four- or five-month period before any money appears in our account. The paper receipts you receive from the kiosk only document that you applied for the travel pay at the end of your visit. What is the holdup? The VA travel situation is quickly becoming the replacement for the veterans waiting to be acknowledged for service-related disabilities. Take it back to a more efficient, immediate payout. Give the veterans their travel pay at the time of the appointment. This current process is a joke.
Sharon Cavanaugh, Cadiz, Ky.
Toxic training grounds
In 1978, I was sent to Fort McClellan, near Anniston, Ala., for military police training. This military reservation was home to chemical warfare training for World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. The same source of water that the city of Anniston and Fort McClellan both drank from was, and is, highly toxic. Monsanto paid the city of Anniston more than $700 million; the people all moved away after getting this award. The city of Anniston got their payoff amount, but what about the vets who got sent there?
Raymond Richmond, North Highlands, Calif.
Women in the military
I read an article in the March/April 2016 edition of DAV Magazine— “Vietnam-era women veterans: the unknown trauma”—about Carmen Bennett who was raped in the U.S. Army in 1968, got pregnant and was discharged. The rapist most likely got a promotion. Not much has changed in the military since. Female troops are not treated equally, but all of us need to keep pushing changes in the military and with the VA so that women will join to serve our country and not fear the system.
Bob Mulholland, Chico, Calif.
@DAVHQ on Twitter
Our nation needs to keep the most important promise of all: make good on benefits promised to their #survivors. #DIC #offset #widow @AndreaLynneCory
I totally agree that veterans should get the benefits that they deserve. @KeithSi66065989
I agree veterans should also be a priority when they need a job and housing. They should get the best benefits. #veterans heroes @THEFLOURISHING2
WRITE TO US
We welcome letters from our readers. Please mail them to DAV Magazine, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076, or submit them via email to feedback@dav.org. We regret we are unable to acknowledge every letter due to the volume received. We also welcome feedback on our Facebook (facebook.com/DAV) and Twitter (twitter.com/davhq) pages. Letters used are subject to editing for clarity, style, accuracy, space and propriety. Messages involving individual claims are referred to the DAV Service Department.
Your efforts on behalf of veterans, especially those of us who suffered some disability in the service, are much appreciated. Therefore, the alarm you are sounding over talk of cutting back on health care for all veterans should be taken seriously. Unfortunately, the politics of the moment are clouding the issue, relegating veterans in the minds of many legislators to another budget item to be trimmed.Constituent service, especially in the House of Representatives, was an essential duty that was independent of party affiliation and kept many in Congress for decades and helped many veterans. Maybe voters should be asking their congressional representatives, “What are you doing for me?”
Robert J. Salgado, New Hope, Pa.
A lifetime of service
During the Vietnam War, I volunteered to serve my country. When my stint was over, I was honorably discharged with a serious service-connected disability. Shortly after returning home, I received a letter from DAV stating that I had earned many VA benefits. Because I’ve been getting VA benefits for 40 years, now I felt it was time to give back. The VA and DAV put the call out for volunteers, so I signed up. Now, I am a cemetery walker at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis County, Mo. I walk through the over 206,000 headstones and graves of veterans looking for any that are in need of repair. I feel good about honoring all the veterans who went before me and showing to their families that they are still respected and always will be.
Dennis L. Adair, Wright City, Mo.
For all veterans
As a veteran working for a private employer who does not recognize Veterans Day, I urge all veterans to join me and write their state and congressional representatives to mandate that private companies employing at least one honorably discharged veteran give those veterans a paid day off for Veterans Day without the veteran having to use accumulated vacation or sick leave.
Scott Rogers, Everett, Wash.
VA travel pay system is useless
We’ve been going to the Nashville VA for more than 20 years. We weren’t pleased with the new payment procedure they implemented. As of today, we’re up to a four- or five-month period before any money appears in our account. The paper receipts you receive from the kiosk only document that you applied for the travel pay at the end of your visit. What is the holdup? The VA travel situation is quickly becoming the replacement for the veterans waiting to be acknowledged for service-related disabilities. Take it back to a more efficient, immediate payout. Give the veterans their travel pay at the time of the appointment. This current process is a joke.
Sharon Cavanaugh, Cadiz, Ky.
Toxic training grounds
In 1978, I was sent to Fort McClellan, near Anniston, Ala., for military police training. This military reservation was home to chemical warfare training for World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. The same source of water that the city of Anniston and Fort McClellan both drank from was, and is, highly toxic. Monsanto paid the city of Anniston more than $700 million; the people all moved away after getting this award. The city of Anniston got their payoff amount, but what about the vets who got sent there?
Raymond Richmond, North Highlands, Calif.
Women in the military
I read an article in the March/April 2016 edition of DAV Magazine— “Vietnam-era women veterans: the unknown trauma”—about Carmen Bennett who was raped in the U.S. Army in 1968, got pregnant and was discharged. The rapist most likely got a promotion. Not much has changed in the military since. Female troops are not treated equally, but all of us need to keep pushing changes in the military and with the VA so that women will join to serve our country and not fear the system.
Bob Mulholland, Chico, Calif.
@DAVHQ on Twitter
Our nation needs to keep the most important promise of all: make good on benefits promised to their #survivors. #DIC #offset #widow @AndreaLynneCory
I totally agree that veterans should get the benefits that they deserve. @KeithSi66065989
I agree veterans should also be a priority when they need a job and housing. They should get the best benefits. #veterans heroes @THEFLOURISHING2
WRITE TO US
We welcome letters from our readers. Please mail them to DAV Magazine, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076, or submit them via email to feedback@dav.org. We regret we are unable to acknowledge every letter due to the volume received. We also welcome feedback on our Facebook (facebook.com/DAV) and Twitter (twitter.com/davhq) pages. Letters used are subject to editing for clarity, style, accuracy, space and propriety. Messages involving individual claims are referred to the DAV Service Department.
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