Biography
Terry is a Vietnam Era Veteran and has been non-service connected Retired-Disabled since 1998.
Terry was in the U.S. Army from 1968-1970 and his first tour of duty was with the Berlin Brigade in West Berlin, Germany for 15-months assigned to the 287th Military Police Company where he worked patrol and at the famous Checkpoint “Charlie,” and then later at the less famous Checkpoint “Alpha” in Helmstedt, West Germany as a Military Police Desk Sergeant.
Terry was then re-assigned to the 4th Missile Command's “Camp Page” in Chunchon, Korea for 13-months where he worked as a Military Police Desk Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant.
Terry has been an active non-compensated Veterans Rights Advocate since 1990, and in addition to writing and publishing informational articles and articles exposing VA misconduct, he has assisted Veterans with their VA and Social Security Disability claims, written letters to VA Medical Directors on behalf of Veterans who were not being given proper medical attention or care, and directly and indirectly helped homeless and otherwise financially disadvantaged Veterans find housing and jobs.
Terry is the former Managing Editor of the Veterans Free Press Internet Newspaper (1998-2001 –“archived”), and Columnist & Copyrighter of Veterans Corner by Terry Richards (1997-present). Terry is also a Veterans Charities, Labor Law, American with Disabilities Act, and Older Americans Rights Compliance Watchdog, and a Civil Rights Advocate and Member of the ACLU.
As an American Citizen, Veteran, Veterans Rights Advocate, Civil Rights Advocate, and Member of the ACLU and a “strict Constitutionalist” of the U.S. Constitution, Terry believes that not only does the American Press have the absolute Right to exercise their Viewpoints and Opinions, but any person living or even just visiting the United States regardless of whether they are a Citizen or not have the Right to express their Viewpoints and Opinions without Censorship. And even if their Viewpoints or Opinions were offensive to Terry and others, and it became necessary to ensure their Rights to exercise their Viewpoints and Opinions because the Government or others tried to Censor them, Terry would peaceably demonstrate on their behalf for those Rights, because YOU EITHER HAVE A FREE COUNTRY OR YOU DON’T, YOU CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS…
With all the Global Economic gloom and doom ubiquitous in the News, 161 Million Americans let loose to have some fun and spent $6.8 Billion Dollars celebrating Halloween this year.
October 31st, 2011 | Posted in Business,Economy | Read More »
A Special Comprehensive Report: 100-Days after the City of St. Petersburg Enforces its No Sleeping on its Sidewalks Ordinance, how the homeless are faring?
October 21st, 2011 | Posted in Economy | Read More »
A Columnist’s response to the Iranian Government-Funded and Controlled News Agencies asking him for further statement about his published story “THE REAL ECONOMIC TERRORISTS IN AMERICA?”
September 19th, 2011 | Posted in Of Interest | Read More »
The most comprehensive Graphics and Demographics Report on 10-years after 9/11 I have seen. It’s a must read!
September 14th, 2011 | Posted in Of Interest | Read More »
The Real Economic Terrorists in America are not who you think they are. Read full story to find out.
September 10th, 2011 | Posted in Business,Economics & Markets,Economy | Read More »
Hundreds of thousands of Veterans receiving the Non-Service Connected Disability Pension and others may be owed hundreds or thousands of dollars from VA for travel reimbursement.
September 6th, 2011 | Posted in Benefits,Top 10,Vet News | Read More »
Mega-underspending by U.S. Consumers (70 % of U.S. economy) will be one of the main causes for Dow dropping below 7500 by years end.
August 18th, 2011 | Posted in Economy | Read More »
Haley VA Hospital paid its employees $553,000 in Bonuses.
August 11th, 2011 | Posted in Economy | Read More »
Tax Hike for Rich for Revenue or Bust!
August 10th, 2011 | Posted in Economy | Read More »
Hidden in New Debt Deal is requirement that Disability claims be reviewed, redetermined, terminated!
August 5th, 2011 | Posted in Economy | Read More »
Cuts in Medical Care meant to bring about physical destruction & death of Veterans, Seniors, Disabled.
August 2nd, 2011 | Posted in Economy | Read More »
Indigent Republicans should be thankful and grateful to so-called Democratic Liberals.
July 29th, 2011 | Posted in Economy | Read More »
Debt Ceiling Crisis: “The Cure is as bad as disease. Spending cuts could cost economy 1-Million jobs.
July 27th, 2011 | Posted in Business,Economy | Read More »
There are several well-known self-proclaimed Homeless Advocates for the homeless Men and Woman and Children in St. Petersburg who advise their homeless clientele not to accept anything less than permanent housing.
May 26th, 2011 | Posted in Economy | Read More »
A recent Appeals Court Ruling Upholding an Orlando, Florida Ordinance Prohibiting public feeding of the homeless such as in parks and on the streets is currently being researched by the City of St. Petersburg for a possible similar Ordinance.
May 25th, 2011 | Posted in Economy | Read More »
After having several conversations with Officer “Rich” as he prefers to be called, I found him to be not only dedicated to his job but compassionate to the plight of the homeless men and women he comes into contact with, especially the ones who want to help themselves by getting off-the streets and into transitional housing like Pinellas Hope and other shelters available.
May 11th, 2011 | Posted in Causes | Read More »
Sadly however, after 10-News Investigative Reporter Noah Pransky contacted the VA, they refused to correct those mistakes at this time even though they knew they were being investigated by the News Media. So Pransky contacted Congressman C.W. Bill Young.
May 2nd, 2011 | Posted in Veterans Affairs | Read More »
“He has never been part of the solution,” said St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster. “He spends a lot of time advocating for the homeless lifestyle…St. Petersburg is trying to get the homeless off the streets.”
April 29th, 2011 | Posted in Causes | Read More »
Minister and self-proclaimed leader for the Homeless of St. Petersburg, the Rev. Bruce Wright publicly vows a life of poverty and food stamps. But according to his Sworn Affidavit found in the Public Court records of Rev. Wright’s 2010 Dissolution of Marriage, he and his former wife Virginia Bustamante Wright’s 2010 combined monthly gross incomes were $9,276 ($111,312 annually). To boot, while the Homeless eat at “soup kitchens” Rev. Wright declares as deductions that he spends over $800 a month in food, and then loses his driver’s license for non-payment of child support.
April 10th, 2011 | Posted in Causes | Read More »
Wright said in one of his e-mail responses that he was on food stamps which may very well be true, and he probably does qualify for food stamps especially if Wright were to not report any of the income from the solicitation of donations from illegal and unregistered Charities he has been operating for at least the last 22-years and uses those funds for his own personal use?
March 27th, 2011 | Posted in Causes | Read More »
I believe that the VBA sends these inaccurate VA Forms 21-8416 with the lower mileage in hopes of hood-winking 98% of the recipients because most of the recipients will never know about the correct mileage rate, and thereby, potentially saving the United States of America $45-180 Million Dollars a year by my figures depending on how many recipients file for a Medical Expense Report and file for mileage, and how much mileage they file. This kind of alleged wrongful actions by the VBA is not in the best interest of the United States.
March 1st, 2011 | Posted in Veterans Affairs | Read More »
“Our experience suggests that during the Vietnam, era, the appointment of casualty officers was often as a collateral duty, and they did not always receive the necessary training to assist survivors. It is not difficult to imagine that PFC Noddin’s parents were not informed of the death gratuity benefit and would have claimed the gratuity if they had been made a aware of it.”
February 19th, 2011 | Posted in Veterans Affairs | Read More »
Dissolve Congress and all the State Legislatures and County and City Commissions by RECALLING all of them and then make America a TRUE DEMOCRACY where the people run the Government rather than elect others to run Our Federal, State County and City Governments.
February 19th, 2011 | Posted in Legislation,Politics | Read More »
Federal courts have ruled that cities cannot arrest people for sidewalk sleeping unless shelter beds are an available option. St. Petersburg rarely enforces its law because of full shelters. Homeless to New “Pinellas Safe Harbor” Homeless Shelter just a change in Geography, but a good start to change their lives for the better. And after Touring it and talking to its Residents, I endorse it.
February 5th, 2011 | Posted in Causes | Read More »
After 3-months of interacting with hundreds of Homeless Men and Women mostly in their 40′s and 50′s and 60′s, on a per capita basis, I found this group to be more honest and down-to-earth, more compassionate and less condescending, more informed about World, National and Local News, and if not more book smarter-more street-smart, and more intellectually and philosophically wise than their general public counterparts who have never been homeless. Moreover, I also found that the only real difference between the disorderly conduct associated with alcohol and/or drug abuse by some of the Homeless of all age groups and that of my neighbors in the same category in various housing units where I have lived over the last 40-years, or whom I have met on the streets, buses, restaurants, bars and whom had secured housing, is that my neighbors and others mentioned had secured housing, and the Homeless did not.
January 31st, 2011 | Posted in Causes | Read More »
My new apartment in the downtown area of St. Petersburg is just a short walk from City Hall. I had not been down in this area at night for years so I had no idea that the homeless were sleeping in front of and around the adjoining blocks of City Hall as a protest to the City’s 2008 “no sleeping on the sidewalk Ordinance” which the City could not enforce unless there were homeless shelters that could accommodate all of those homeless, which until this month there were not. Although I am not homeless, I have been virtually embedded with the homeless and I watched them lay-out their cardboard boxes, blankets and other bedding, and had numerous conversations with both Veteran and non-Veteran homeless men and women almost every night to try and find out why they were homeless. I also ate at most of the “Soup Kitchens” they ate at for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the last 3-months just about every day. And when you read the full story and series of stories to follow, you will surely be astounded at the results of my observations and findings.
January 22nd, 2011 | Posted in Economy | Read More »
Unlike other prepaid debit cards, this card offers cardholders free access to their money. There is no sign-up fee, and no bank account or credit check is required to enroll. Cardholders can make purchases, pay bills and get cash at thousands of ATMs and retail locations.
December 9th, 2010 | Posted in Corruption,Politics | Read More »
No income or low income Veterans or non-veterans alike, can now obtain no cost or low cost Senior Housing due to a special HUD Program lowering the age for Senior Subsidized from age 62 to 55 at certain HUD Senior Housing facilities.
December 2nd, 2010 | Posted in Economy | Read More »
When one enters the various VA Hospitals and Outpatient Clinics Nationwide, one sees tributes on their billboards such as “The price of Freedom is Visible Here” or “If you love your Freedom, Thank a Veteran.” However, none touched me as much as the tribute that I found on the window at the agent cashier’s office at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Columbus, Ohio in 1997.
November 8th, 2010 | Posted in Veterans Affairs | Read More »
In 1999 or before (?) Medical Doctors (M.D.’S) hired by the VA did not have to pass the National Boards Competency Test that are required for all other PRIVATE PRACTICE Medical Doctors practicing in the United States.
October 23rd, 2010 | Posted in Veterans Affairs | Read More »
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
