This is a CHALLENGE for the VA Secretary, when are you going to get the Gulf War Veterans what is due them for the issues and problems that the Gulf War veterans have been told that it is in your HEAD… We are having so many problems but no issues have been resolved. It taked the Regional VA here in Texas about 2 years to get an individual to get their first submission. And there are some that just get completely DENY Like Matt Letterman below. I was living across the road from the Oil Well Fires for 3 1/2 months with the 1st Infantry Division Main so tell me what is the real criteria you must be DEAD FIRST?

I have a friend named Matt Letterman and he is being treated like he has the plague from the VA and they refuse to help him and I even called his congresswoman last week and I was told from her office head Judy and she told me not him again. I would just like to know one thing from the VA Secretary himself in writing or verbally that he is taking this to heart since the LTG Thomas Rhame is not since he told me that 3/4 of the Infantry Division is sick and that was in 2001 imagine what its like not. But during the War he was always pushing to take care of your troops, I guess by being quiet they bought him with his 3rd Star and retirement. Who ever determined the Criteria for the test needs to throw all of his information in the trash and should look at the Service Members that were there on the Ground and in or ahead of the front lined.

I was told that I had to leave with the Early Retirement with 15 years since I was sick since 6 weeks after returning from the War. I went to Chaplain (CPT) Oscar Stone from Talihina Oklahoma and he got me an appointment from 5th General Hospital in Stuttgart Germany. The Shrink there was no help for me at all. I now take 63 pills a day so when is the Veterans Administration going to help the Veterans? I have a book published to help Gulf War Veterans called “A Soldier’s Dying Heart” and a Patriot Guard Rider when my health lets me participate. Some people still think that our Good Old Government is helping the Veterans but allot have lost their families and everything….

Lastly, I too have been fighting the Veterans administration starting at 0% for a few years then 30% then 50% then 70% then 90% and now 90% but 100% unemployable and all of these took more than 13 years. And still have an appeal at the VA in Washington DC they told me it would take about 2 to 6 months. You walk into the VA in Dallas and a majority of employees there think that we are there for them and they are not there for us and at 4PM daily its like mass exodus and they are heading for the DOOR. Who cares who is left only a chosen few and I can name names too..

HELP THE VETS MR SECRETARY, that is your Challenge. Can you fix the system that is currently BROKEN or at least get rid of the Good Ole Boy Network and put people in place that can fix the system. Sir, I can help you fix that system that is the start of YOUR SOLUTION. If I had to move to DC and work for you that would show me how and what needs to be fixed…

If you get nothing from this please make sure that you tell your troops to make a copy of all military records since when you get out they fall off of the face of the earth. And if you need someone to talk to with questions please email me harely2001sport@aol.com.

Randy L. Stamm
SFC, USA (ret)

Author
“A Soldier’s Dying Heart”
http://www.authorhouse.com

214-830-0902 cell

“Patriot Guard Rider” supporting soldiers and their families
“Minute Man” border watch too!!!
“Sergeant Audie Murphy Member”
“Sergeant Morales Inductee”

Randy L. Stamm
SFC, USA (ret)

Author
“A Soldier’s Dying Heart”
http://www.authorhouse.com

“Patriot Guard Rider” supporting soldiers and their families
“Minuteman” border watch too!!!

However I did ask, I did not say, and I gave the link so that someone at AMVETS could clarify.

That said, DAV actually also gets high marks from Charity Navagator, but there is another group on Charity Navagator that fronts the DAV name if not logo, and they got a ZERO.

I should have checked closer to see if there were two American Vets groups. My bust.

I also was not personally attacking Christina, only asked her a few questions to which she gave respectful and appropriate answers.

In fact, I hope and pray that more younger Vets can infiltrate some of the Old Guard and change their inefficient ways but not at the cost of growing membership in IAVA, IVAW or whatever other younger group of Vets arises with your wars.

Bobby Hanafin

PS: WE are thrilled that Gordan’s views have generated so much discussion and debate with very little if any flaming.

In fact, I’ve had a few, VERY FEW, but a few combat Vietnam Vets approach me who happen to be both progressive and anti-war to say they do not totally agree with Gordan and my views on the Old Guard.

I just told one founding member of VVAW that I respectfully agree to disagree with his strong defense of VFW, but I’ve know his service, his courage to resist, and his current on the streets activism to both end the war(s) and have Vets treated fairly regardless how we view our war(s).

If I can cut a fellow pro-Peace Vet a little slack for not agreeing with me, I sure can grant due respect to moderate Vets who have earned the same respect.

However, I draw the line on Stolen Valor Vets, no compromise-no surrender. I no more believe the different between Stolen Valor and Home to War than I can see eye to eye between one view of Christianity over another.

One thing I will say as far as AL is concerned my local post has been having an internal battle for as long as I can rememeber. I still renwe but I only go up one day a year for some fiends of mine that can’t go anymore Memorial Day!

God Bless our troops and may they not have to go through all the S**t us Nam Vets did!

I can’t find one thing to be critical of in your article, you hit a lot of nails on the head. Of course the goat turds have to come in on this even though it’s none of their damn business. As a Veteran who life has been dependent on VA health services since 1967 I would say you criticisms are on the mild side.

You only forgot one item and that would be to get the VSO’s off Federal property, get them out of the MC’s and the Clinics. Volunteers in MC’s are always welcome, but I have never seen why these generous people have not been put on the pay roll. I also have never understood why a Veteran being discharged for a MC has to go to the DAV and make arrangements in advance for a ride home, a voucher for cab fare would be less humiliating to the Veteran and far more cost effective.

Now the goat turds can weigh in.

ALLONS,
Byron
“Stewart’s Platoon”

Sure a few of the service officers actually care about helping veterans, in fact most get involved because they care, but then they forget why they signed up to help. Many more interested in the politics, and making a name for their self than helping veterans.

I tossed my membership card years ago. I was so tired of seeing money being wasted on so called conventions. It was always the same members, spending the chapter money to go to these things just to vote on a few issues that usually went nowere, and to get a free drunk on.

I also tossed my VFW and AL card… I don’t believe in the old saying if you can’t beat them, join them… no if something smells like crap it usally is and I want no part of it.

Now if only the members of these organizations would take them back and run them right… no taht is just a pipe dream.

However, the AMVETS National Service Foundation, our 501(c)(3) charitable arm, received a FOUR STAR rating from Charity Navigator for organizational efficiency:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=11547

The foundation’s downfall–and subsequent 2-star overall rating–came within capacity, meaning the ability to sustain future operations. This is a grave concern for us, which we attribute to the natural attrition of WWII vets.

Fortunately, AMVETS, as a VSO, is on the grow and we’ve been vocal on real veterans issues like PTSD, suicide, health care, employment, etc. I’m an Iraq veteran who has had to deal with the VA for the last 5 years, and I can assure you we’re using our bully pulpit to bring about change–just check out AMVETS’ recent testimony and our national media coverage.

I’m not here to debate the editors of VeteransToday over who is the better veterans’ advocate. I want to simply set the record straight on my organization so that we can focus on what’s most important: Serving veterans.

-Ryan

Thank you so much. I am usually not personally affected by the comments of other people. But for some reason the comments made about me actually did. I guess I will need to get used to it though. Thank you. You really have just made me feel better. I do understand the frustrations, for I share them too. However I didn’t feel it necessary to attack anyone personally though. I guess we all deal with anger and frustrations differently.

Thanks Again,

Christina M. Roof