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VA demands proof World War II combat vet with Purple Heart served in military
FoxNews.com ^ | 2-8-2016 | FoxNews

Posted on 02/08/2016 1:28:18 PM PST by servo1969

He was wounded in a foxhole in the Philippines in 1944.

"There were four guys in there, and two guys got killed," he told the station. "And then the other guy, he got his leg... Oh, hell. I guess he lost his leg. It was slit in four places where a grenade hit between us and I got one in my leg."

Limpert said he waited until now to apply for benefits because he is down to nothing.

******

His application included plenty of documentation, including discharge papers, the names of his foxhole pals and the X-ray of his wounded leg. The proof also included his Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars he received in the Pacific.

Fox 2 reported the VA letter asks Limpert to submit affidavits from fellow service members, most of whom are dead, or the location of the hospital where he was originally treated.

"There ain't no hospital," he told the station. "We were in the jungles."

The station reported that Limpert's military records were apparently among the millions destroyed in a massive fire in Overland, Missouri, in 1973.

The station also reported that it sought comment from the VA in Washington without success.

Limpert has now turned to his local senator for help in the matter.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: usveterans
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To: NTHockey

God bless you, sir. And thank you for your service.


21 posted on 02/08/2016 2:00:02 PM PST by BullDog108 (A Smith & Wesson beats four aces!)
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To: NTHockey

It also may have kept you living longer, given how many of those places mistreated veterans’ health problems.


22 posted on 02/08/2016 2:01:07 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: napscoordinator

I agree. Sure his situation is likely a bureaucratic snafu and it is the government’s fault not his they their records burned up and were not backed up in any way.

But they still must attempt to check things before giving away tax payers money. Anytime there is a big pile of money people will come try to get it whether or not they have a claim on it, so there must be some controls.

I am a bit surprised that the VA did not fold as soon as a media source contacted them?


23 posted on 02/08/2016 2:02:53 PM PST by JLS
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To: NTHockey

I’m 70 and only go to the VA with my VFW post to play bingo with them, serve pizza on any month at has five Sundays.


24 posted on 02/08/2016 2:02:54 PM PST by Portcall24
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To: napscoordinator

I served over forty years ago and I’ve never been to the VA.


25 posted on 02/08/2016 2:07:52 PM PST by meatloaf
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To: napscoordinator

Thank you Bob Dole.


26 posted on 02/08/2016 2:09:47 PM PST by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: napscoordinator

My husband (Vietnam vet) has never gone to the VA.
He doesn’t trust them.


27 posted on 02/08/2016 2:12:44 PM PST by bog trotter
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To: napscoordinator
I still find it strange that after 60 years he is now just going to the VA.
I went to the VA for dental work right after I got out, after two botched tries they sent me out to a civilian dentist. I havn't been back for myself since then and don't plan to change that over forty year record.

I did go in once to argue for benefits for a friend only to be told that I had no standing since I wasn't in their system - then that I couldn't get into the system because my salary was too high. (PS: any one having served in a combat zone is eligible but I know of only who never left CONUS who are receiving medical benefits.)

28 posted on 02/08/2016 2:13:18 PM PST by norton
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To: servo1969

A bunch of my Grandpa’s records were destroyed in that fire, but we resubmitted nearly everything from his personal copies.


29 posted on 02/08/2016 2:14:44 PM PST by miliantnutcase
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To: napscoordinator
The last two years it is an almost epidemic and now that you can't be charged, they're will be a ton more.

They can be charged if they defrauded anyone with that claim. They cannot be charged for simply making the claim, or wearing a uniform and medals they didn't earn.

30 posted on 02/08/2016 2:15:10 PM PST by IYAS9YAS (I got nothin'.)
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To: napscoordinator

My father served in Okinawa, WWII. 92 now. As far as I know, he never used any of his VA benefits.


31 posted on 02/08/2016 2:16:21 PM PST by loucon
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To: servo1969

Something a lot of veterans did after WWII did was take their DD 214 to the County Court House and have it registered and recorded on official records.

Different states have different ways but I suspect all of them would have recorded it.


32 posted on 02/08/2016 2:19:42 PM PST by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: napscoordinator
He just waited too long and it is obviously becoming difficult to prove he is who he said he is.

He had more than enough proof. They're just not accepting it - illegally. It's a disgrace, and it's political harassment.

33 posted on 02/08/2016 2:20:27 PM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: taxcontrol
So? The VA asked me to provide proof that I was in the military as well. It does that for all veterans.

And did they accept your proof? Because they aren't accepting his. Did you have to provide affidavits from people who served with you after they ignored your proof? Because he does. Did you even read the article?

34 posted on 02/08/2016 2:22:38 PM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: meatloaf

My husband served in the AF for 8 years (1954-1962), and has never been to the VA... He did use the GI Bill for college and used it for his ATP rating in aviation after obtaining all of his other ratings and certificates on his own dime. He will be 80 this year and still has his “military jacket” with all his orders neatly filed and safely locked away along with his DD214.

Ironic that veterans after a lot of years still have a better handle on their records than the government does.


35 posted on 02/08/2016 2:26:44 PM PST by Thank You Rush
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To: Talisker

Sure hope his Senator gets busy and gets to the bottom of it. I trust that he/she will.. The best of luck to him and your family.


36 posted on 02/08/2016 2:28:07 PM PST by Thank You Rush
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To: The_Republic_Of_Maine; BigEdLB; 2ndDivisionVet; servo1969

I will defend Michael Michaud in that his questions to the DoD records folks caused the Army to admit that its records collection system is broken and no unit records were being collected for posterity for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Please note that the Army did NOT loose individual soldier 201 personnel files or individual medical records. But the records, that normally go to NARA for preservation are used to verify individual soldier claims.

He sent specific questions to the Army based upon investigative reporter Peter Sleeth’s Stars and Stripes article :

https://www.propublica.org/article/army-says-war-records-gap-is-real-launches-recovery-effort

initial article at: http://www.propublica.org/article/congressmen-to-hagel-where-are-the-missing-war-records


37 posted on 02/08/2016 2:39:05 PM PST by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: NTHockey; servo1969

The veteran records that were burned were in possession of the National Personnel Records Center at St. Louis, MO. It is run by the National Archives and Records Administration, NOT the VA (and I have plenty of disrespect for the VA).

NPRC report on the fire: http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/fire-1973.html

see also: http://www.dd214.us/nprc_73fire.html

By the way, my own father’s records when up in the fire.


38 posted on 02/08/2016 2:43:19 PM PST by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: BigEdLB
Some bureaucrat needs to be transferred to Northern Alaska

Forget that! We don't want them.

39 posted on 02/08/2016 3:14:42 PM PST by AlaskaErik (I served and protected my country for 31 years. Progressives spent that time trying to destroy it.)
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To: AlaskaErik

Well bureaucrat could be stationed where there are hungry polar bears.... jk


40 posted on 02/08/2016 3:17:05 PM PST by BigEdLB (Take it Easy, Chuck. I'm Not Taking it Back -- Donald Trump)
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