Posted on 11/09/2013 8:05:38 AM PST by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — They have served their nation.
Some in heated battles.
Others during times of cool tensions.
As individuals, they may have been drafted — a concept foreign to today’s generation — or enlisted.
For many, their service may have been for a few years.
Yet for others, it was a decades-long career.
Be they soldiers, Marines, sailors, airmen or Coast Guardsmen they have special benefits, although many do not know what they are and how to apply for them
But on an upcoming important day — Veterans Day — celebrated most years in Sierra Vista on Nov. 11, as it will be this year, a special Veterans Benefits Expo will be held in the most appropriate place: Sierra Vista Veterans’ Memorial Park.
Terrie Gent who, with Tara Octaviano and the help of many local organizations and groups, is coordinating the event said, “There are many veterans who do not know their rights or benefits and the expo will offer them help.”
The prime sponsors are the Coronado Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services and the Greater Sierra Vista United Veterans Council, said Gent, a retired Air Force colonel.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, and later if needed, near the park’s Centennial Pavilion, she said.
It will be a place where individuals can obtain information about federal, state and local organizations which can help veterans, Gent said.
A similar expo was held two years ago and there was enough interest expressed to have one this year, she said.
From health to eduction benefits to financial planning to home ownership and other needs, there will be nearly a dozen and a half booths offering help to not only veterans, but family members as well, Gent said.
“This is going to be a very helpful outreach,” she said.
Who will be there?
Some of the organizations which will be at the Veterans Benefits Expo include:
• The Sierra Vista Community-based Outpatient Clinic of the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration
• Arizona Departments of Veterans’ Services
• Sierra Vista Regional Health Center’s Wellness Depot
• National Alliance for Mental Illness
• University of Arizona/Sierra Vista Campus
• Cochise College
• Credit Unions
• Various veterans organizations and other organizations
People enrolled in VA healthcare are exempted from the National Socialist "healthcare" system.
“I’m a vet (’66-’69)”
Were you in Nam? If so you should contact the VA to see if you were exposed to chemicals or parasites.
You traded your service for this benefit my friend. It may be a lifeline from ObamaControl. Do some research before disregarding.
I’m a little disgusted in realizing that guys I served with in Vietnam who came back every bit as whole as I did, are since receiving benefits in some cases at 100% disability.
The system is designed to be screwed.
The thing that convinced me was that the VA said that my prostate cancer was caused by Agent Orange and my need for a quadruple bypass was too. Your mileage may vary, but I believe.
There's no reason to drop one plan to pick up the other. With documented Agent Orange exposure, your VA coverage should be automatic (with co-pays based on your income level).
I never had a problem getting over ‘Nam. I was a believer. We had OP’s on the DMZ and I was there when NVA tanks were in the zone. I never thought the US govt owed me a penny for my service. Two years ago, at the ripe old age of 75, I contacted the VA.
Every Viet Nam Vet should know that they are eligible for Agent Orange benefits if they suffer from a number of diseases that have been determined to be caused by Agent Orange. Look it up on the web. There are even some bases that were in Thailand, Koera and in other areas even some USN Ships that can make you eligible for Agent Orange benefits. Lists of the bases and ships are on the web.
If you fall into either category listed above, you do not have to show that you were exposed to Agent Orange to be eligible for disability compensation for diseases VA presumes are associated with it. Check the list of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships that operated in Vietnam to confirm whether your service aboard a ship allows VA to concede you were exposed to Agent Orange..
I’m suggesting that Obama the destroyer will soon get around to your Medicare Advantage plan and the VA may still be beyond his radius of destruction.
I contacted the VA because I had symptoms of things that I read were caused by Agent Orange.
Ok you raised your right hand and swore the oath. You spent your tour where and when you were told.
You did your duty, many did more than just “duty”. You were away from home for long periods under some harsh and trying situations.
So now you decide to collect some of the “veterans benefits” that you THINK you are entitled to. Guess what?
You may find out that according to congress you do not qualify for these promised benefits. You must have served during a “recognized war period”
What does that mean? It is very complicated, time and place limitations. Lets say that you served your tour between July 27, 1947 thru June 26, 1950, not a war time era and you do not get most benefits. Or if you served from February 1, 1955 thru February 27, 1961 another non-war time frame again you are out of luck.
Does this start to sound scary?
The good news goes on, if you spent your military service from May 8, 1975 thru August 1. 1990 you are once again not as good a veteran as other veterans. So you are a veteran but not a VETERAN.
Is this fair and equal treatment? No of course not.
Where does this leave most Cold War Veterans? OUT IN THE COLD. It was a long and drawn out, dangerous time from Sept. 1945 to the collapse of the Soviet Union Dec. 1991. Many times we were on the very edge, so close to nuclear war, most people had no idea.
It was a secret so deep that even today many veterans are not allowed to discuss where they were or what they did. They will carry their secrets to their graves. Yes they are proud and quiet, not one to toot their own horn.
Our nation should recognize them and honor the promises made to these servicemen and servicewomen.
The Department of Defense says that there are 156 MIA from the Cold War, that does not include those MIA/POW from Korea 8,100 and Vietnam approximately 2,400
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