The following is part of a online letter written by a combat veteran (Marine). I don't know the gentleman, but he has my eternal thanks and gratitude.
I found this post on a Disabled Veteran chat board. He was answering a post from someone who called him a fat, whinning, loser for expressing his feelings on concurrent receipt.
I didn't ask for his permission to reproduce the post.
Most retired disabled vets I know feel the same as he does.
I edited the parts out that where directed to the other person personally.
Please, contact your Congressman, Senator and President Bush and support Concurrent Receipt for Retired Disabled Veterans.
Thanks,
MM7 ps: Contact information
The White House Phone Numbers
COMMENTS: 202-456-1111
SWITCHBOARD: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Phone Numbers (for the Hearing Impaired Only)
202-456-6213 Comment Line
White House E-Mail Addresses
President George W. Bush: president@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Richard Cheney: vice.president@whitehouse.gov
Toll Free number for the Capitol switchboard: 1-877-762-8762
Senator Levin - 269 Russell Senate Office Building
(202) 224-6221
FAX (202)224-1388
Email - senator@levin.senate.gov
Senator Warner - 225 Russell Senate Office Building
(202) 224-2023
FAX (202) 224-6295
Email - senator@warner.senate.gov
Rep Skelton - 2206 Rayburn House Office Building
(202) 225-2876
Rep Stump - 211 Cannon House Office Building
(202) 225-4576
FAX (202) 225-6328
Email - bob.stump@mail.house.gov
I cried the day the doc's told me I could no longer serve my country. I begged to be placed on a Limited Duty Board vice a Medical Board. They agreed to let me have 8 months to see if I could get better.
My day's were spent taking pills, exercising and working 18 hours. All I could think about was what was the Corps going to do without me? Who was going to take care of my Marines? I must get better.
The pain mounted. My medical problems just kept getting worse. I lied to doctors. I missed appointments. Anything to keep them off my back while I trained my Marines for war. My men knew something was wrong. They saw through my scam. They told me to take it easy.
One day my boss called me in his office and told me he was concerned about my health. He ordered me to go to the hospital and see a certain doctor. Marines follow orders. I went and the doctor told me he was going to place me on a medical board due to my worsening condition. He placed me on 30 days convalescence leave. I cried all the way home from the hospital.
I've served in combat twice. I know what my men are up against. They need somebody that knows what to do when the @#%$ gets bad.
All my men came over my house one day unannounced. I had just been classified 100% disabled and told by the doctors that I would never be able to work again. My life expectancy has been cut short by at least 20 years. With careful monitoring of my condition by doctors I might live to see my children graduate from college and get married. My Gunnery Sergeant knew all this. He was the only one I would give any information to because Marines don't complain about problems.
They stood in my den. They had prepared a shadow box of all my medals, ribbons and ranks. I had not counted before but one of them mentioned that I had been promoted 10 times in my 21 years of service. The young Marines couldn't keep their eyes off the number of medals and ribbons I had. They had flown a U.S. flag over the Iwo Jima monument on my birthday and neatly placed that in the shadow box. They had gotten letters from my state Governor, the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the President of the United States for me.
I was sitting in my chair. It is hard for me to stand without much pain. The Gunny knew I was a man of faith. He knew that I prayed for my Marines every day. As he gave me the shadowbox he asked that I continue to serve our beloved Corps by becoming a Prayer Warrior for the men. I could not reply...I just nodded. Tears were streaming down my face. He called the men to attention. My Commanding Officer walked into the room. I didn't even know he was there. He asked if I could stand-up. Two Marines helped me to my feet. The Gunny began reading a citation from the President. I was being given another award. My last award from the Corps.
They all shook my hand and congratulated me. They all told me how much I had done for them. They praised me again and again. All I remember ever doing was loving them. Loving them enough to work hard for them. Loving them by training them hard and making sure they were very well taken care of. They were my Marines. My brothers.
My only regret is not being able to serve longer. The services need men and women who are experienced. I made a mistake and fell in love with the grunts and stayed in combat units for all of my 21 years. It took its toll on my body.
I don't know if I will get concurrent receipt. I don't know if any of us will. But if I do...I know I earned it. I will spend it on my children's education and my wife who stuck by me for all those years while I was gone overseas and to war. Maybe I don't deserve the money but maybe my wife and children do? They paid a heavy price for my service as well.
I would rather be healthy and back in the Corps leading Marines. Despite the pain I still stand ramrod straight to the playing of the national anthem or my beloved Marines Hymn. Once a Marine...always a Marine.