disabledmilitary

Obama Speaks: Not The Same Stuff...

2008-08-12T12:49:00Z

Obama Speaks: Not The Same Stuff...

Obama on VA: "...There is a sense that somehow the job of the VA is to protect the treasury as opposed to make sure that those who served are getting treated..."

Stars and Stripes' interview with Sen. Barack Obama - By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
(http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56694)

WASHINGTON — Democratic Sen. Barack Obama wants to keep Guardsmen and Reservists closer to home, believes military families need a bigger voice in government, and sees a long-term U.S. presence in Iraq even with his plans for a drawdown of combat troops there.

In an Aug. 6 interview with Stars and Stripes, the presidential candidate said his opposition to the increase in troop levels in Iraq last year “doesn’t detract from the heroic work that our troops have performed,” and believes his plan for a similar “surge” in Afghanistan is a more balanced, responsible plan.

Here is the full transcript from the candidate’s interview:

Q: A lot of the issues we’re been following for the military have been touched on, but not the specifics that we’d like. I wanted to start with Afghanistan, which you mentioned earlier today. You’ve talked about sending more combat brigades there, but in the last week Secretary of Defense (Robert) Gates said there’s no immediate plan for that. I don’t know if that’s something we should be doing immediately, getting troops in there, and if so how can we do that in the next six months, seven months?

    Sen. Obama: In speaking with the commanders in Afghanistan, as well as folks who are out in the field, the strong impression was that more troops are needed and that we are spread thin. It’s not the only solution, but it is part of a more comprehensive focus on what I consider to be the central front on terrorism.

    We still have to do a better job of dealing with the narcotics industry in Afghanistan, which is funding a lot of terrorist activity. We still have to push the Afghan government to work more effectively in providing basic services to their people. Our infrastructure spending has been lacking. We don’t have the kind of non-military expeditionary force that we could use. USAID, State Department, having enough non-combatants who are in the field helping to, essentially, build a state and build a country. I think we have to do more in training both the Afghan Army and police.

    We’ve made more progress on the Army side, less on the police side. And get the judiciary system to work more effectively. And probably most importantly, we have to get Pakistan’s cooperation in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and along the borders of Pakistan of Afghanistan where Al Qaida and the Taliban are still setting up safe havens and training folks and engaging in incursions. So all those things matter. And there’s also probably room for more effective coordination between NATO forces and a greater unity of command.

    But in the absence of some additional U.S. troops, I think we’re going to continue to see our policy drift. Now, obviously it is tough to get more troops in Afghanistan so long as we’ve got the number of brigades deployed in Iraq that we do. This fits with my larger strategic belief that a phased withdrawal in Iraq, where we hand over more responsibility to the Iraqi government, push them harder on political reconciliation, expect more from them in terms of spending their money on reconstruction in Iraq, all can facilitate a greater focus on Afghanistan.

    I’ve said in the past the work that our troops have done in Iraq is extraordinary. Violence is down. (Iraq) Prime Minister (Nouri) al-Maliki has signaled a greater interest in taking on responsibility, and the assessment I got from commanders there is that although Iraqi forces still need support, they are increasingly taking the lead. In those circumstances, for us to begin a careful, phased withdrawal, starting with those areas that we have clearly secured the area, and then eventually moving to those areas that are still posing problems, that is how we’re going to free up the kinds of troops we need in Afghanistan.

Q: Is that an acknowledgement then that the surge strategy in Iraq worked?

    Here’s my view, because I know there has been a lot of back on forth on this. I’ve consistently said that our troops have done a magnificent job and they have contributed greatly to the reduction in violence.

    My opposition to the surge has always been based on a larger strategic concern, which is, if you recall, the debate during the surge had to do with whether or not we were going to double down on an indefinite occupation of Iraq, or we were going to start putting more pressure on the Iraqi government to achieve political aims, or political reconciliation. I continue to believe that an open-ended commitment to Iraq is a mistake. Given that the surge was couched in the language of an open-ended commitment, I would have continued to oppose such an open-ended commitment.

    We weren’t presented with the choice, “Let’s start with a surge with a plan for a timetable for withdrawal.” That wasn’t the choice that was presented to us. But that doesn’t detract from the heroic work that our troops have performed. And there is no doubt that because of their work, along with the awakening among Sunni tribal leaders and the Shiite militias standing down, that we have achieved an environment in which the Iraqi government, I think, can start stepping up to the plate.

Q: You’ve talked about a drawdown. I don’t know how you envision the long-term presence in Iraq. When you talk drawdown, are you talking eventually no troops in Iraq, or are you thinking something like Germany and Korea?

    What I’ve said is that we need a residual force to start with. So, without putting a precise number or a precise time frame, I’ve set a series of missions that we’re going to have to continue to perform for a decent stretch of time.

    We’re going to have to continue to provide logistical and intelligence support to the Iraqi military. We’re going to have to continue to provide training to the Iraqi military. We are going to have to continue to protect our diplomatic forces, our civilians on the ground in Iraq. Our embassy, we’ve got to protect. And, I believe we’re going to have to continue to have a counter-terrorism strike force, if not directly inside of Iraq then certainly in the region, that can provide insurance against any resurgence of either Al Qaida activity inside of Iraq or serious, destabilizing violence inside of Iraq.

    Those are all tasks that we’re still going to have to perform, and that means a certain number of troops. What those troops would be to accomplish those missions, I would leave up to the commanders, or I would at least consult closely with commanders in order to achieve the goals.

Q: The other big issue in the region is Iran. You spoke about that earlier today. Is there a military role in that that you see, or is it all a diplomatic role?

    I think, I’ve said before that we never take military options off the table. And Iran poses a grave threat to the region. One of the constant refrains during my travels in the Middle East, not just from the Israelis but from a number of Arab observers as well, is that Iran’s possession of a nuclear weapon would be a game-changer. It would probably trigger a nuclear arms race in the region. At the very least, it would change the balance of power so significantly that Iran would be much more aggressive in some of its activities like supporting Hezbollah and Hamas.

    So we need to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon. I believe our strongest tools at the outset have to be strong diplomacy, big carrots and big sticks that can change their calculus. We’ve tended to have vague carrots and inadequate sticks in dealing with them. So they just keep on blowing through red lines that this administration has set. If we’re serious, then we’re going to have to mobilize the international community, and I think reaching out to Russia and China more than we’re doing is going to be real important.

Q: How effective do you think that will be? There have been efforts to reach out to them that have been unsuccessful.

    Part of what we have to do is look at our broad, strategic relationship with the Russians and the Chinese and prioritize what are the issues that are most important in our relations with those two countries. I think that Iran ranks as high as anything. We have to listen carefully to determine what are their interests in order to secure their support.

Q: I wanted to talk to you about stop-loss; It’s been an issue for a lot of our readers. Where do you stand on the use of stop loss?

    I believe that we should stop the policy of stop loss. Every troop that I met during my recent visit, even those that have been on four or five deployments, take enormous pride in their work. Morale was extraordinary. They understand that the sacrifices they’re making are on behalf of our nation. Their families, despite being under enormous stress, are willing to bear that burden.

    But giving people predictability in their deployments, I think, is absolutely critical. When you have policies that essentially renege on the deal that’s been made, or you signal the people after they’ve been deployed, “You know what? We’re going to stay an extra three months.” Or an extra five months, because of inadequate planning by our civilian leadership.

    That hurts morale, that hurts recruitment. That’s one of the reasons why I’m in favor of increasing our ground forces: 65,000 for our Army, 27,000 for our Marines. That can help relieve some of this pressure. I think it’s also important that we return our National Guard and reserve to its traditional mission, which is primarily one of homeland security.

    Our National Guardsmen and reservists take enormous pride in the work they’ve done. But we have put an enormous burden on them. Our National Guards here back home are not adequately trained to meet a potential catastrophe here in the United States. We saw that during Katrina. We saw some evidence of that during the tornadoes in Kansas. There are a whole bunch of units all across the country that essentially have left all their equipment behind, back in Iraq. So there’s going to be an important reset function for the next administration.

    All of those things, I think, are going to require a long-term strategy. It’s not going to be solved overnight. But we have to set out some very clear goals in terms of the directions that we’re moving.

Q: Does it concern you at all, though, if there are limits on the guard or with policies that you may be tying the hands of military leaders?

    I think that we have to distinguish between critical situations that direct our immediate national security and what our military commanders may want in terms of flexibility in non-emergency situations. I don’t think there’s any doubt that if, heaven forbid, there was another attack on us that required us to open another front against terrorists, that we would do what’s required. I don’t think we’d have a shortage of volunteers that would be willing to fight.

    But in situations in which good planning can prevent these kinds of unpredictable deployments, that should be the default rule, that should be the standard by which we’re operating.

Q: Have you thought at all about the role of women in combat? There are still restrictions on where they can serve.

    Let me say this -- When you’re traveling through Afghanistan or Iraq, in the kinds of wars that are being fought, where more often than not you’re seeing casualties coming from IEDs or mortar fire, women are already in a combat zone. They’re already taking hits. They’re already showing extraordinary courage and valor in the battlefield.

    So some of the lines between combat and non-combat roles have been blurred. My strong belief is that we should strive for maximum equality between the sexes in all branches of the military with the caveat that effectiveness is our number on criteria. But I think the threshold should always be very high in proving that somehow effectiveness is enhanced by placing restrictions on women.

Q: The GI bill that just passed – I know you were a supporter of it …

    A strong sponsor, yes.

Q: I don’t know if you have any concerns about retention related to that. A lot of military folks were concerned, even after the adjustments were made with transferability, about keeping the non-commissioned officer corps intact.

    I feel very strongly that the strategy for maintaining the excellence of our all-volunteer forces can’t depend on stinginess once they get out. We should give the same kinds of benefits that my grandfather got after World War II, when he got the GI Bill and the GI Bill paid for college.

    The GI Bill prior to this bill simply had not been keeping up with inflation. It had watered down these benefits. You can’t tell me that troops today are any less courageous or any less willing to sacrifice than those of an earlier generation.

    Whatever effects this may have on retention, I believe, are more than made up for in enhancements in recruitment. I think when all is said and done, what this GI Bill does it shows to our military how much we value their service, it indicates to them that they are going to, that this country is going to serve them as well as they served us, even after they’ve left active duty. And, by the way, it will also continue to do what was one of the biggest side benefits of the GI Bill, which is to strengthen our middle class at a time when we need a better educated workforce.

Q: Recruiting is different from retention though, and I don’t know if it’s a concern keeping the institutional knowledge in the military.

    Look, if we’re really concerned about retention then we should be thinking about policies like stop-loss and should be thinking about policies like backtracking on commitments made to people about how long their deployments are going to be.

    When I talk to NCOs or other folks who have been in active service for a while, the biggest pressure on them is their families. That’s the biggest burden. With four or five deployments, they’re growing up not knowing their kids. Their spouses are at home, trying to juggle family life by themselves.

    So that’s one of the reasons why I proposed a military families advisory council that can continually give me good information about how we can enhance the quality of life for military families. Child care, employment for spouses, those are the issues that are really going to make a difference in terms of retention.

Q: Last question is on the VA. There has been a backlog in that system for years and years, and this administration hasn’t been able to deal with that. What would you change, how can you fix that system quickly?

    Partly because my grandfather was a vet, and he instilled in me that we have a sacred trust to our veterans, I joined the veterans affairs committee the minute I entered the Senate. The first issues I worked on in the Senate were veterans issues. Eliminating the practice of charging wounded soldiers for meals and telephone calls at Walter Reed. Fixing the disability payment system in Illinois, where we were ranked 50th for 20 years in a row when it came to disability payments.

    So this is something I care deeply about. The backlog isn’t a mystery. It has to do with not enough people evaluating these claims and not a good enough job keeping track of people’s efforts, and not enough money in the system to pay these benefits in a timely way.

    So what’s the fix? We need to have every record in electronic form – service records, medical records – so that the minute someone is discharged those records are immediately gone with the push of a button. They are immediately transferred to the VA.

    That right away would eliminate a whole host of delays, because if you talk to veterans they’re trying to gather up forms. They apply, turns out they’re missing a couple of records. They’ve got to go back. So just using technology would make a huge difference. We’ve talked about this for a long time, but the Pentagon, DoD and VA have not gotten a system that interfaces that works as quickly as they need to. So that’s point number one.

    Point number two: We need more people to evaluate claims, a simple money proposition.

    Number three, I think we need to train people more effectively across various regions so that those who are evaluating claims aren’t making it up as they go along. That’s probably an overstatement; obviously, there’s training and there’s standards involved, but we’re still seeing large discrepancies in terms of how claims are evaluated.

    And the fourth thing, maybe the most important, is a shift in attitude in the VA. I still think that there is a sense that somehow the job of the VA is to protect the treasury as opposed to make sure that those who served are getting treated with the honor and respect that they deserve.

    And that pervades a whole host of issues. The fact that we’re still not adequately screening for post-traumatic stress disorder and giving folks the services that they need. The fact that homeless rates are astronomically higher than the regular population, and yet we don’t have a comprehensive system to provide services for substance abuse, housing, job training.

    The fact that we’re not working well enough with National Guardsmen and women and reservists when they’re discharged for the transition back to civilian life, including working with them on employment issues. Many of them may have given up their job or have fallen behind in their job as a consequence of their service. But those all have to do with an attitude that I want to change when I’m commander in chief.

McCain Speaks: Same Stuff Different Day

2008-08-12T12:42:00Z

McCain Speaks: Same Stuff Different Day

McCain on VA: "...I would be opposed to imposing more financial costs" on veterans.

Stars and Stripes' interview with Sen. John McCain - By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
(http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56693)

WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. John McCain hates stop loss, worries about the number of departing non-commissioned officers and expects more U.S. troops in Afghanistan in the near future.

In an interview with Stars and Stripes on Aug 2, the presidential candidate praised troops serving overseas, calling the current military “the best we’ve ever had.”

But he also warned that he expects continued strain on the military in coming years, including increased U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan and continued irregular warfare against terrorist groups that pose a threat to national security.

Here is the full transcript from the candidate’s interview:

Q: I wanted to start in Afghanistan, because there has been a lot of attention there lately. You’ve talked about sending three combat brigades there, to amp up some of the efforts, but this week Secretary (of Defense Robert) Gates said there are still no plans to increase troop levels there. So, I don’t know if you think we should be increasing those numbers right now, and I don’t know how you plan on getting those extra troops there, where they’re going to come from.

    Sen. McCain: First of all, some of them should come from our allies. I’m pleased that the French have committed to increasing their commitment there. I’m hopeful that others of our allies will make similar commitments. But we’re going to have to increase our troop presence.

    A lot of that will probably come when we draw down in Iraq. And we are drawing down, and we are succeeding, and we are winning. So a lot of them will be there. Plus, we are increasing the size of the military, and we are going to have to continue that effort.

    But let me emphasize: we know what a winning strategy is now. We used it in Iraq, and that strategy will be successful in Afghanistan. My opponent, interestingly, opposed the strategy in Iraq yet basically wants to, whether he realizes it or not, wants to have that strategy, which he said failed in Iraq, in Afghanistan.

Q: Is something like the surge for Afghanistan, though, something that we can wait on? You said when troops draw down in Iraq, that may be …

    I’m confident that as president, with the joint chiefs and with others, and input from our allies, and working with our military leadership, we will be able to address this challenge. It’s very difficult, very complex, but fundamentally the same strategy that we’re using in Iraq will win.

Q: Speaking of Iraq, I don’t know how you picture Iraq going into the future. I don’t know how long you think we’ll have troops there, and if some day it will be like Germany or Korea, like all of our readers are used to: A semi-permanent, long-term force.

    I think that’s going to be the result of negotiations between the United States and Iraq. There are two examples in the Middle East. One is Saudi Arabia: They didn’t want us to stay, so we left. The other is Kuwait. They asked us to remain there in a security arrangement, and that arrangement has been very helpful, particularly in, among other things, supporting our effort in Iraq.

    So I think that will be a subject of negotiations between two sovereign nations. But the important thing is that we have succeeded. If we have been driven out, we would have, in my view, been at a very great risk of a war in returning. So the important thing is that the future is now one where we have different options.

    Before we started the surge, we were losing the war. We were losing, and we were going to leave in defeat. And that would have been catastrophic for the United States’ national security, both in Iraq, the region and Afghanistan. So we will work out, I’m sure, those arrangements with the Iraqi government.

    Every life is precious. Every wound is grievous. And we mourn for any life that is sacrificed. But the fact is the month of July was the lowest number of casualties since the war began. It wasn’t an accident. It was bought at great sacrifice of American blood and treasure.

    We cannot, cannot lose those gains which we have made at such great sacrifice by embarking on what (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs) Adm. (Michael) Mullen has said is “a very dangerous course of action” which is still advocated by Sen. (Barack) Obama: dates for withdrawal. We’ve seen by the massive suicide bombings that al-Qaida and other jihadists are still capable of doing some very bad things.

Q: Speaking of national security, looking ahead at Iran, I don’t know if you see a clear military role there, or is there just a diplomatic role in dealing with them going ahead?

    Well, the first thing that’s vitally important is success in Iraq. If we had been defeated, the Iranian influence would have been dramatically increased, not only in Iraq but in the region.

    The second thing is, I think it’s a series of steps that have to be taken, beginning with efforts to impose sanctions that would affect Iranian efforts, beneficially effect, Iranian efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. They do pose a threat in the region. They have announced their dedication to “wiping Israel off the map.” And we need to act with our friends and allies.

    I’m sorry for this long answer, but (French) President (Nicholas) Sarkozy, (German) Chancellor (Angela) Merkel, (British) Prime Minister Gordon Brown and others have said they will join with us in trying to bring financial, diplomatic and other pressures on Iran so they will modify their behavior.

    But let me just summarize and say we can never allow a second Holocaust.

Q: Do you have any concerns, though, about what you’ve seen in Afghanistan with the, I don’t want to say wavering, but difficulty in getting other countries to pull their share. Going ahead, will you have the same “gotta keep reminding Germany, gotta keep reminding France” that we have a united front against that?

    Obviously, we have to work closely, but when president Bush met with President Sarkozy, President Sarkozy’s words were far more emphatic than president Bush’s were.

    We all know that it’s Russia and China, but especially Russia, that are blocking security council actions on sanctions. So we should and must join with our allies that have the ability to bring enormous pressure on Iran to try to deter them from the course of acquiring nuclear weapons.

    I’m pleased with cooperation and commitment we’re getting, especially from our European allies.

Q: I wanted to talk to you a little bit about the GI bill. You didn’t cast a vote on the final version of the supplemental bill that had the GI bill in there. How do you feel about the final product that came out? Because you were opposed to Sen. Webb’s bill as written before the modifications there. I don’t know how you feel about the final product.

    The modifications, in my view, were vitally necessary. There were different studies that showed there would be a decrease in retention. The heart and soul of the military is the non-commissioned officer. And we need to have incentives for people to remain in the military.

    And now that we have the provision that, after a period of time, that the servicemember can pass on to their spouse and family members educational benefits, I think that was vital. So I was very active in insisting, along with (Sens.) Lindsey Graham and John Warner and others to insist that we give them the ability, after a certain period of time, to transfer those educational benefits to family members.

    I talk to people in the military all the time. I see them all the time. They write me, they email me, and they tell me “I want to have the ability to have my spouse and/or children have these educational benefits, because one of my greatest fears about staying in is being able to afford education for them.”

    So I’m glad that I and others stood up to what was a virtual tidal wave of passing this legislation without having one of the most important provisions, in my view: that’s the ability to pass on educational benefits. Not only because they needed it, but also as an incentive to retention. We’ve got to keep highly qualified professionals in the military for as long as we can.

    Again, I stood up not for what was popular but what I know is right. It was used by my political opponents to beat up on me very badly. It would have been very easy for me to say, “Fine, I’ll sign on to this.” My first obligation is to the men and women in the military and the military, so that we can retain these high-qualified, highly-trained, highly-experienced individuals.

    One of the things I’m most proud of is that I’ve stood up for the men and women in the military, whether it be support for the surge, when even Republicans didn’t support it, and standing up to the point where people said my campaign is dead because I wanted 30,000 additional troops there. Because I’ll always do what’s right for my country first.

    I believe this provision concerning educational benefits was vital, was a vital element.

Q: But do you feel like it’s enough to offset the other end, where you did have concerns and they do have more generous benefits with the guaranteed four years.

    Look – if I’d have written the bill exactly I’d have written it somewhat different. But I thought we needed to improve educational benefits and we also needed to provide incentives for retention in the military.

    I know that your readers are very well aware of what it requires nowadays in terms of training and experience, to have the most professional military we’ve ever had. That means you’ve got to keep a certain percentage of the very best if you’re going to keep the quality of the military what it is.

    I might have written some provisions of it differently. But the point is I think we know have a bill that is good for the men and women in the military.

Q: I wanted to ask about stop loss, which has been another big issue for our guys too. Do you think that’s an appropriate tool for filling the gaps?

    I hate it. So does everybody in the military. The way you cure the problem is by having a bigger military and succeeding and having victory in Iraq. It’s a symptom of the problem of the mismanagement of the war by (former Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld, which we paid a very heavy price for for nearly four years.

    Again, I stood up and said it was wrong, and I was criticized for being disloyal for doing so.

Q: Another big one we’ve heard from folks is women in combat. I don’t know if you’ve looked at those rules and thought about revising those rules regarding having women at the front lines.

    It’s vitally important that we sit down, using the experience that we’ve had in Iraq and we’re having in Afghanistan, and say we all know the battlefield has changed. The parameters of the battlefield are dramatically bigger than the kinds of wars and conflicts that we used to fight.

    Now, the first thing we need to do is have the joint chiefs study it and then give their recommendations. I as president will consider their recommendations as to how we make all of the adjustments to the new kind of insurgent warfare we are facing, which is an integral part of the struggle against radical Islamic extremists.

Q: The backlog in the VA system is still very sizeable and a concern to even many of the younger guys. I don’t know how you’re looking at the issue, and how you fix something that the current administration has really struggled with.

    I think the best thing we could possibly do is focus military medical care and the VA on treating the wounds directly related to combat: PTSD, combat wounds which they are uniquely qualified, through years of experience, to address.

    I think in the case of veterans that have ordinary health care needs, routine health care needs, we should do everything we can to give them a card that they can take to the health care provider or doctor of their choice to get health care immediately.

Q: I know there has been a push by the current administration to take those healthier veterans and have them pay to help support the system, even a small, nominal fee. I don’t know if that’s something that you’d support.

    First I think we’ve got to make sure that veterans receive the care, and then we have to worry about if there’s any necessary changes. I’m unalterably opposed to telling future generations of Americans that we’re not going to give them the health care they need in service for our country.

    That means that I would be very reluctant, I would be opposed to imposing more financial costs.

Q: You brought up PTSD. The stigma with that continues with the troops. There has been a lot of effort by leadership, but I don’t know if you see avenues where they could better focus troops to think about that and find ways to treat them.

    Thanks to (CENTCOM commander) Gen. (David) Petraeus and some of the leadership, both in the military and Congress, we’re doing a better job. But we’re far, far from providing not only the treatment after it’s onset but detecting the early signs of PTSD so that we can minimize the impact at its onset.

    We all know this kind of war is one that’s one of the most difficult kinds we’ve ever engaged in. It puts tremendous strain on the people who are serving, who happen to be, in my view, the best we’ve ever had.

    It’s something that we have to understand that this type of warfare imposes enormous strains on people.

Q: And you don’t see any indications that we won’t be facing this kind of warfare for years to come.

    I think this kind of warfare is a very typical kind of conflict we’re going to be in. Hopefully, we will not screw it up the way Rumsfeld did, so that the cost of winning is less in a whole variety of ways.

Q: You brought up Rumsfeld, and I know you’re a fan of Secretary Gates. I don’t know if you’ve talked about keeping him on. Yesterday, he got some questions and seemed like he was counting down the days.

    Secretary Gates has done a magnificent job and I can fully understand why he might feel that he’s fulfilled his duties to his country. I’ll just say I value his service and obviously I’m not so presumptuous to making those kind of decisions, but I would certainly want to make use of him in any possible way.

    But I certainly understand how hard this job has been on him, how hard it’s been on Ambassador Crocker, and how hard it’s been on Gen. Petraeus. I think three of the last five years Gen. Petraeus has been in Iraq. That’s a lot to ask.

    But we’ve also got non-commissioned officers who have spent three of the last five years in Iraq as well, and nobody is more aware of that than Gen. Petraeus.

McCain Or Obama Your Veteran Vote: Just Do It

2008-08-08T20:56:00Z

McCain Or Obama Your Veteran Vote: Just Do It

Thanks to the Veterans' good friend Larry Scott, Founder and Editor VA Watchdog dot Org (http://www.vawatchdog.org/), the following information was made readily available. Having now less than 90 days to make up ones mind, I share this information with you; McCain and Obama both want the veteran vote, who will get yours? A look at how they voted on veterans' issues and what they have planned for 'our' future just might help you make up your mind.

McCain Or Obama

Both of these U.S. Senators want the veteran-vote. But, how did they vote on past veteran issues? And, what do they have planned for future of all veterans?

For McCain (http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=mccain&op=and)

For Obama (http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=obama&op=and)

You'll Find Helpful Information Here

The Candidates And Their Overall Voting Records: A good place to find information is Project Vote Smart (http://www.votesmart.org/).

Here are the candidate pages:

McCain (http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=53270)

Obama (http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=9490)

On these pages you can look at their voting record on any issue and you'll find links to other related information.

How Did They Vote On Veterans' Issues, Their Veterans' Service Organizations' Ratings:

McCain (http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?category=66&go.x=8&go.y=15&can_id=53270&type=category)

Obama (http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?category=66&go.x=10&go.y=5&can_id=9490&type=category)

What They Say For Themselves: The official election web sites are here.

McCain (http://www.johnmccain.com/)

Obama (http://www.barackobama.com/index.php)

Finally, What Do They Say About Their Position On Veterans' Issues:

McCain (http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/9cb5d2aa-f237-464e-9cdf-a5ad32771b9f.htm)

Obama (http://www.barackobama.com/issues/veterans/)

--- Regards, Walt Schmidt

This Week’s Almost Not Commented on Story – He Doesn't Know Better

2008-08-07T16:37:00Z

This Week’s Almost Not Commented on Story – I Don’t Think He Knows Better

VA CHIEF SHOULD THINK TWICE -- “James Peake should be urging vets to get checked out, not suggesting a concussion can be shrugged off.” Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake suggested during a visit to Quinhagak Alaska that concerns about post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and traumatic brain injury, or TBI, are overblown. He likened some of the head injuries to nothing more than any high school football player may have suffered when he got his bell rung during a game. According to research published in the Journal of Athletic Training, from 1984 to 1999, 69 football players died of catastrophic head injuries, 63 in high school, six in college. The point here is that likening the shock of an IED or the concussive blast of a car bomb to a football injury both trivializes the hazards of battle and ignores the hazards of football. The brain doesn’t care if it’s rattled by a vicious hit on a pass route over the middle or a homemade bomb in Baghdad. Both can be deadly or disabling. Or not. But the point that Secretary Peake should be making is that any combat vet experiencing any problems that might be related to a head injury should be checked out. Let’s be sure there’s no lasting damage. If there’s not, fine. If there is, let’s start treating it -- and make sure prompt treatment is there for any vet who seeks it. Let’s be clear: Most of the 1.6 million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are not suffering from PTSD or TBI. But a Rand Corp. survey suggests that several hundred thousand may be. Overblown? Not to any vet who’s dealing with either PTSD or TBI. The VA chief needs to be a bell-clear advocate for those men or women. BOTTOM LINE: James Peake should be urging vets to get checked out, not suggesting a concussion can be shrugged off.

Lest We Forget: 080801

2008-08-07T14:24:00Z

Lest We Forget: 080801

On August 1, 2008, there were (at least) 5,067 (35 more since last month) Veterans of Modern Warfare who no longer will be “asking” our government for a dime . . .

This Week’s Almost Not Commented on Story – I Don’t Think He Knows Better

2008-08-06T13:25:00Z

“SSDI” Social Security Disability Insurance: More Available Than You Might Think

2008-08-06T13:13:00Z

“SSDI” Social Security Disability Insurance: More Available Than You Might Think

You can learn something new every day... all you have to do is listen to the right people. I was fortunate enough to recently be in the company of such people. What I learned could benefit many a veteran and their family. I know it surprised me.

Social Security Decides If I Am Disabled How

By law, Social Security has a very strict definition of disability (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/links_disability.htm). To be found disabled you must be unable to do any substantial work because of your medical condition(s), and; your medical condition(s) must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 1 year, or be expected to result in your death. Nothing new there.

But Exactly How Do They Decide

To decide whether you are disabled, they use a step-by-step process involving five questions.

1. Are you “working?” If you are “working” in 2008 and your earnings average more than $940 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled. (For the time being note my quotes around working).

2. If you are not working, is your condition “severe?” Your condition must interfere with basic work-related activities for your claim to be considered.

3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions? For each of the major body systems, there is a list of medical conditions that are so severe they automatically mean that you are disabled. If your condition is not on the list, they have to decide if it is of equal severity to a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, they will find that you are disabled. If it is not, they then go to Step 4.

4. Can you do the work you did previously? If your condition is severe but not at the same or equal level of severity as a medical condition on the list, then they must determine if it interferes with your ability to do the work you did previously. If it does, they then proceed to Step 5.

5. Can you do any other type of work? If you cannot do the work you did in the past, they see if you are able to adjust to other work. They consider your medical conditions and your age, education, past work experience and any transferable skills you may have. If you cannot adjust to other work, your claim will be approved. There is more to this than I am going into here. As example, if you are approaching age 50-54, they consider your age along a severe impairment that may seriously affect your ability to adjust to other work.

Now Here Is What I Had Not Realized

Say you’re a service member or a veteran in a hospital or at home convalescing. Let’s say your monthly pay is greater than the $940. You do not qualify, right? WRONG! The operative word here is “working.” (There are those quotes again). Just getting a paycheck is not considered “substantial gainful activity” or “SGA.” If you do not have SGA, then regardless of the amount of any paycheck you receive, you could qualify for SSDI.

To Be Very Specific

How does military pay affect eligibility for disability benefits? Active duty status and receipt of military pay does not, in itself, necessarily prevent payment of disability benefits. If you are receiving treatment at a military medical facility and working in a designated therapy program or on limited duty, you will be evaluated for your work activity to determine your eligibility for benefits. The actual work activity is the controlling factor and not the amount of pay you receive or your military duty status (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors/).

‘Nuf said.

This Week's Almost Not Commented on Story - And What If She Didn't Keep...

2008-08-05T11:39:00Z

This Week's Almost Not Commented on Story - And What If She Didn't Keep...

RETIRED MARINE HAS TO FIGHT TRICARE FOR DAUGHTER'S LIFE-SAVING TRANSPLANT -- Four years after she retired from the Marine Corps, Bessie Miller had to fight the same military she was a part of for three decades. TRICARE, her military insurance, had refused to pay for a procedure for her daughter, Sloan Hunter. Hunter is 18 and suffers from a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Miller, 57, felt as if she and her daughter were getting "slapped in the face every time we turn around." After she gave the Marines 30 years of her life, she said, she expected its insurance to provide the care her daughter needed. When it didn't, Miller went to battle. She fought to get Hunter admitted to VCU Medical Center in Richmond, even though the hospital is not in TRICARE's network. Then she fought TRICARE when it refused to pay for a bone-marrow transplant for her daughter. By the time her claim reached the third and final level, Miller had contacted The Free Lance-Star and her local Representative, whose office lobbied for her. In addition, Miller called the hospital and insurance company regularly to confirm that each had the needed paperwork. TRICARE announced on ‘Thursday' that it would pay for Hunter's $110,000 operation. Officials said she qualified for care under a rare-disease regulation. "I guess just bugging all these people, not giving up, refusing to accept ‘no' for an answer, made the difference," Miller said. "That's the only thing I can think of, and I am totally thrilled and happy."

Out Of The Pockets Of Our Seniors: Our Service Members, Too!

2008-08-05T11:31:00Z

Out Of The Pockets Of Our Seniors: Our Service Members, Too!

Over the last several weeks, our Congress has once again taken a giant step... in a direction I wish they had not gone. On the 12th of June the Senate fell 6 vote short, while yesterday, June 26, by a mere two votes legislation that would have prevented a potential Medicare disaster was stalled in the Senate. What is realized by almost everyone that what is harmful to Medicare is harmful to our seniors. What very few people realize is that it is also harmful to our active duty service members and those who have retired from military service - more on that below. One side point. I realize that “cuts in payments” do not directly come out of the pockets of our seniors. However, if these cuts result in physicians not taking on Medicare patients, isn’t the results just that. It will cost our seniors; it will come out of their pockets.

June 26 and June 12

By a vote of 58 to 40 (60 votes were needed), the Senate affectively rejected a bill that would have avoided deep cuts in Medicare reimbursements to physicians. Because of this and effective July 1, a 10.6% cut in payments to physicians is set to take place. Ironically, just two days prior the House voted significantly in favor (355 to 59) to prevent this cut-back from occurring.

The actual Senate vote was:

Yea Nay Not Voting

D 47 1 1

R 9 39 1

I 1 0 0

ID 1 0 0

Totals 58 40 2

Similarly back on June 12 the Senate again failed to pass a bill that would have canceled the cuts in physician reimbursements.

Regardless of what had happened in the Senate, the current Administration had promised to veto this attempt to prevent the cuts in position reimbursements.

And Why Is This so

The Medicare (and military health care, read that TRICARE) budget for 2008 was based on these cuts going into effect.

Our Military

As mentioned above, there is much concern that with these cutbacks doctors will not take on any new Medicare patients. As our military’s TRICARE payments are treated the same as the Medicare payments, this could easily mean our active duty military, their families, and all who have retired from the military (!) and their families (!!!) might find themselves in a similar situation; unable to find a physician who will take their case.

And what is TRICARE

TRICARE is the U.S. government sponsored health insurance plan for all active military members, their family, and all retirees and their families.

This Week’s Almost Not Commented on Story -- I Know of This, Personally...

2008-08-04T13:39:00Z

This Week’s Almost Not Commented on Story -- I Know of This, Personally...

VA'S CRUEL BENEFITS POLICY: IF YOU DON'T ASK, WE WON'T TELL -- Lack of VA outreach costs World War II POW more than 60 years of benefits. When family files, VA loses paperwork and vet dies with nothing. A World War II veteran, was unaware he qualified for $2,700 a month and full medical and dental benefits through the VA because of his POW status. With the help of his family Jones filed for benefits but his paperwork was lost earlier this year. Jones died two weeks before receiving any benefits. How can this happen? Because the VA has no obligation to inform "older" veterans of their benefits. Until recently, the VA didn't notify any veterans about their benefits, but now they are required to do outreach to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. While this is a good thing, those "young" veterans make up less than 3% of the veteran population. That leaves the other 97+% without any mandated outreach. Congress tried to implement legislation requiring the VA to notify all veterans of all possible benefits...but, VA argued against it. It's time for Congress to bring this legislation back. In this election year, we hear politicians of both parties talking about supporting the troops and caring for veterans...but, that's just 3% of the veterans. Iraq and Afghanistan vets get priority healthcare and claims adjudication as well as a special outreach program to inform them of their benefits. The older vets just sit and wait their turn in line. Anyone who served prior to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan is truly "Old and in the Way."

The New GI Bill: Almost As It Always Should Be

2008-08-04T13:34:00Z

The New GI Bill: Almost As It Always Should Be

For our Veterans of Modern Warfare and on Aug. 1, 2009, their education benefits will finally make a four-year college degree affordable -- something that should have been the case from day-one.

Only A Year Away, But...

It seems that not all, is as yet, as it should be. Due to a variety of factors including the VA wanting to delay implementation because... (any veteran can fill in the 'reason' with any one of many, we all know and have heard all too often), the benefits provided under the law signed by President Bush on June 30, The Post-9/11 GI Bill, will most probably be less than expected.

Some in government have suggested that the kinks will be worked out in plenty of time. I would like to (at least) think they are right about that.

And The Other Shoe(s)

Those in the know have already suggested several groups will be disappointed as the details of the new law become clearer.

Spouses And Children Expecting To Use GI Bill Benefits: while the Pentagon demanded that 'transfer rights' be added, it appears this aspect of the program could be limited.

Those Who Have Already Used Their 36 Months Of Entitlement: they will never receive full tuition payments or the new book and housing allowances as there will be no retroactive payments.

Current GI Bill Enrollees May Continue Pay: This, even though the new benefits plan will be free.

Some 'Bill' Details

Served at least three months on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001; you're eligible. That is, as long as you have not used other veterans' education benefits and you served under honorable conditions.

Had no benefits before; you do now. With the 'you' including National Guard and reserve members with at least three months of active service, and those whose service predates the Montgomery GI Bill.

Full-tuition (housing and book allowances) benefits depend on tuition rates in effect in each state and the length of active service since Sept. 11, 2001. 90 days will get you 40 percent; six months provides 50 percent; one year, 60 percent; 18 months, 70 percent; two years, 80 percent; 30 months, 90 percent, and; 36 months qualifies you for 100 percent tuition payments.

The benefit will be paid to your school not you, as is the current practice.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill will be available for 15 years after separation or retirement, five years more than allowed under the current Montgomery GI Bill.

Back, As It Were

2008-08-04T13:02:00Z

Back, As It Were

It's been a few months...

Let's see what we can add...

This Coming Memorial Day Weekend...

2008-05-22T14:40:00Z

This Coming Memorial Day Weekend...

From the Other Side...

At first there was no place for us to go until someone put up that “Black Granite Wall.” Now, every day and night, my Brothers and Sisters wait to see the many people from places afar file in front of this “Wall.” Many people stopping briefly and many for hours and some that come on a regular basis. It was hard at first, not that it’s gotten any easier, but it seems that many of the attitudes towards that Vietnam War we were involved in have changed. I can only pray that the ones on the other side have learned something, and more “Walls” as this one, needn’t be built.

Several members of my unit, and many that I did not recognize, have called me to The Wall by touching my name engraved upon it. The tears aren’t necessary, but are hard even for me to hold back. Don’t feel guilty for not being with me, my Brothers. This was my destiny as it is yours to be on that side of The Wall. Touch The Wall, my Brothers, so that I can share in the memories that we had. I have learned to put the bad memories aside and remember only the pleasant times that we had together. Tell our other Brothers out there to come and visit me, not to say Good-bye but to say Hello and be together again ... even for a short time ... and to ease that pain of loss that we all still share.

Today, an irresistible and loving call summons me to The Wall. As I approach, I can see an elderly lady ... and as I get closer, I recognize her--It’s Momma! As much as I have looked forward to this day, I have also dreaded it, because I didn’t know what reaction I would have.

Next to her, I suddenly see my wife and immediately think how hard it must have been for her to come to this place, and my mind floods with the pleasant memories of 30 years past. There’s a young man in a military uniform standing with his arm around her -- My God! -- he has to be my son! Look at him trying to be the man without a tear in his eye. I yearn to tell him how proud I am, seeing him stand tall, straight and proud in his uniform.

Momma comes closer and touches The Wall, and I feel the soft and gentle touch I had not felt in so many years. Dad has crossed to this side of The Wall, and through our touch, I try to convince her that Dad is doing fine and is no longer suffering or feeling pain. I see my wife’s courage building as she sees Momma touch The Wall and she approaches and lays her hand on my waiting hand. All the emotions, feelings and memories of three decades past flash between our touch and I tell her that ... it’s all right ... carry on with your life and don’t worry about me ... I can see as I look into her eyes that she hears and a big burden has been lifted from her on wings of understanding.

I watch as they lay flowers and other memories of my past. My lucky charm that was taken from me and sent to her by my CO ... a tattered and worn teddy bear that I can barely remember having as I grew up as a child ... and several medals that I had earned and were presented to my wife. One is the Combat Infantry badge that I am very proud of, and I notice that my son is also wearing this medal. I had earned mine in the jungles of Vietnam and he had probably earned his in the deserts of Iraq.

I can tell that they are preparing to leave, and I try to take a mental picture of them together, because I don’t know when I will see them again. I wouldn’t blame them if they were not to return, and can only thank them that I was not forgotten. My wife and Momma near The Wall for one final touch, and so many years of indecision, fear and sorrow are let go. As they turn to leave, I feel my tears that had not flowed for so many years, form as if dew drops on the other side of The Wall.

They slowly move away with only a glance over their shoulders. My son suddenly stops and slowly returns. He stands straight and proud in front of me and snaps a salute. Something draws him near The Wall and he puts his hand upon the etched stone and touches my tears that had formed as dew drops on the face of The Wall ... and I can tell that he senses my presence and the pride and love that I have for him. He falls to his knees and the tears flow from his eyes and I try my best to reassure him that it’s all right, and the tears do not make him any less of a man. As he moves back wiping the tears from his eyes, he silently mouths, “God Bless you, Dad ...”

God Bless You, Son ... we Will meet someday, but in the meanwhile go on your way ... there is no hurry at all.

As I see them walk off in the distance, I yell loud to Them and Everyone there today, as loud as I can: Thank You For Remembering ... Thank You All For Remembering ... and as others on this side of The Wall join in, I notice the U.S. Flag, Old Glory, that so proudly flies in front of us everyday, is flapping and standing proudly straight out in the wind from our gathering numbers this day ... and I shout again, and ... again ... and again...

Thanks for Remembering!

Thanks for Remembering!

Thanks for Remembering!

May your weekend be one of remembrance...

--- Regards, Walt

THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS - PART 3 - FINAL BLOG

2008-05-01T21:13:00Z

Or, as they say in the Breetish Ahrmy, "LAST POST!"

Hello, all. Hope everybody is doing well, these daze (hehe), as always. I fully anticipated completing this, my explanation for the need of the importance of maintaining your medical records, sometime way before this date. But, I have had some significant medical issues come up, which I also feel compelled to share with the "crowd" at disaboom.

In 1997, I had about 5 small lumps removed off the top of my head (be quiet, Gloria! HeHe! Gloria is the same type of person that Mrs. Cavendish was. Every night that Red Skelton completed his TV show, he would say something like, "Good night, Mrs. Cavendish, where ever you are!" So, that is why I always put Gloria into my writings. You may think I am demented, but Gloria is my blow up doll! Just kidding, get off of my back, Gloria! HeHe!) (PS-I am also available for weddings, Bar Mitzvah’s, christenings, briss’s (after the Rabbi is through with the wine, that is left in the bottle, hehe) and bachelorette parties. Sleep-overs, optional! HeHe!)

Anyway, they never shaved my head, and removed each one by making an incision, removing whatever it was, and then closing with one simple stitch. (They never told me later what they were). When I returned to have the stitches removed, they could not find the last one, and told me not to worry about it, that I would somehow find it, and then come in to get it removed.

Please read my profile so I don’t have to repeat myself, here. Three years ago, I had a case of pneumonia that lasted 11 months. Since then, I have been diagnosed with most all of that stuff I speak of in my profile.

My original reason for coming to Las Vegas, from central Nevada, 3 years ago, was to get a dental exam and cleaning, a new prescription for my contacts, and to get several lypomas (commonly referred incorrectly as tumors (probably because every time I go to the surgeon, he asks why I am there to see him, and I tell him a got "two-more," (two more is also usually what causes single occupant roll-over automobile accidents, on country roads, shortly after 2am, each Friday night)," and to also spend time with my family for the holidays.

Just for informational purposes, lypomas are now (21^st century) referred to as neoplasms. A neoplasm is kind of like the fat that is under a chicken’s skin, that you remove when you pull the skin off, prior to cooking; or, for us country folks, kind of like the fat that surrounds the kidneys on animals. Its now considered a type of cancer, meaning a blood abnormality, that is caused by an imbalance of plaza in the blood. Just like my EKG’s, which are abnormally normal for me, being that the T-Waves are upside down, so is the glucose tolerance level reading of my blood. Normal, but upside down. I am still going to the oncology clinic, who is trying to blame my abnormal blood work on my smoking, and not on anything else that I might have been exposed to, like Agent Orange. I am a certified Agent Orange veteran. When I had a heart attack, at age 31, my wife of 14 years left me, took the kids with her, and raped me in divorce court. There was no medical proof of the heart attack back then, and MRI’s did not exist to show that what I really had, was a stroke, plus other brain damage. So, instead of screaming and hollering, which I don’t do anyway, when I get to the oncology clinic for my next exam, I will listen to what they have to say about everything, and then inform them that I will cut down on my obviously self induced attempts of suicides with the 9 cigarettes a day I smoke, so that I will live a longer life. By the way, I have had more tests and exams done to me over the last 3 years, then Willard (the rat) that it is now scientific fact, that I have the heart and lungs of a 20-year-old non-smoker! That is the truth! My only problems now, are brain damage, osteo-arthritis, paralyzed left forearm and hand, and constant pain. Aside from that, I am now ready to jump out of moving airplanes, while in flight, ride horses again, and begin dreaming up new and deadly extreme sport activities. I’ve already discovered that I have no one, not ONE family member willing to care for me the next time I get sick, that I am basically on my own, and that it is time to move on and have fun, again. (That’s why I now keep a loaded revolver along side a new, unopened bottle of Johnny Walker Black, so when the time comes, I will at least be able to go out with a bang! Sorry, folks. I am not a wussie. I now know the true meaning of pain. I was married, once or twice!) A lady friend of mine, recently, even taught me a new sexual position. Know what it is? Lying down! Anyway, back to my story……

I, really, have not felt well the last 20 years or so let alone the last 3 years, since getting pneumonia. (Probably because Gloria won’t let me sleep in my PJ’s, kind of like Ruth Buzzie used to wear, with the closed feet, anymore)!

Also, because of my other medical issues, I really haven’t gotten much done over the last few years, as I really only wanted to do the things mentioned above, and then high-tail it back to BFE, where I belong.

But, either due to my condition or the meds they were literally pumping into me, I have been in a semi-conscious, foggy, cloggy, state of mind. Besides not feeling comfortable, I did not have the feelings of being safe or of being in a state of mind where I could defend myself. It is not a very nice place to be, considering that I have been a bull throughout my whole life, a person who gets things done, doesn’t count on others to do it for me, and someone who keeps any promises made, regardless of its consequences. Meaning, I will always stand up to what is right, even if it is politically incorrect.

I always fight for the little guy (little does not mean stature) and will always protect and defend anybody, should I believe their position to be the correct (right) thing to do.

Oh, my daily joke. My brother and I died recently, and when we got to heaven, we noticed that the pearly gates were locked. So, I took the initiative and started banging on them, demanding that we both wanted in. St Pete came to door, looked through his list of papers he had on his clipboard, and said, "Sorry, bubba’s. You two cowboys are outa luck!" I told him that there had to be a mistake, and that we weren’t wearing shorts, so that we knew we came to the right place, in essence, that we "belonged" there.

He did some more rummaging around his paperwork and declared that there was, in fact, an error, and not a mistake, and that we should go and cool our heals in the lazy-boy’s in the corner, and that he would get back to us, after discussing the matter, with "the" boss.

After we had our two-mores and a couple of cigarettes (yes, you can even eat all the Danishes you want, with real melted butter poured over them, in heaven), St Pete comes over and tells us that there is a problem.

He told us it was not our time, and that we needed to be sent back, but that our physical bodies would not be ready for another week, and that because the boss wanted us out of there before other decent people showed up, that he, St Pete, would send us back to earth, as anything we wanted, while we awaited the repair of our bodies.

My brother said, "Well, in that case, I want to go back as a "barrel racer," (that is the horse that cow-girls ride in the rodeos). St Pete asked why, and my brother said, "So real cowgirls could finally get to "ride" him, instead of the other way around!" St Pete was outraged, but decided that a promise was a promise, and "whoosh," my brother was gone.

Then he looks at me, obviously outraged at my brother’s decision, and asks, "So, what do you want to be?" I told him I wanted to go back as a "STUD." St Pete said, "Don’t tell me why, I don’t want to know!" "Whoosh" I was gone.

"The" boss comes by about a week later, and tells St Pete that our bodies are now ready for us, and orders him to make the switch. St Pete says, "OK, I can get the barrel-racer back in 3 seconds. But it will take three months for the other guy." God wants to know why.

St Pete says that I had the strangest request he had ever heard from anybody, and because of my request, he could not retrieve me until March or April. God wanted to know why.

And St Pete told him, that I would still be in that tire in Minnesota that he put me in, and that it wouldn’t be safe to bring me back until then!

So, anyway, about 10 days ago, I got in to see my surgeon, again. I explained that I was not there for him to whack out every lump in my body (they won’t do it all at once, anyway) and that I would only like him to take out the ones that bug me (hurt).

Oh, Oh, need to insert info here. For the last six months or so, I always had an itch on the top of my head, and every time I would scratch it, I would tear off a scab. So, that is one of the reasons for my visit. Nobody, including myself, could figure out what it was (probably the "lost" stitch from 1977?). So, I shaved my head and went in to have it examined. I told the nurse I was there to get my head examined and she told me, "You’ve come to the right place." HeHe!

He told me that I was lucky, because he would be able to do four that day and not the usual two-more at a time. So, I had a mole removed from my hip, a lypoma removed from my right forearm, a hard as rock "something" from just above my right ear (one of the nurse’s present during the procedure mentioned something like, "Will one hang lower than the other?" And of course, I made my usually inappropriate remark; appropriate for when it was made. This nurse also asked me to remove my clothing when I entered the OR, and I told her "NO!" She said, "What do you mean by no?" I said, "Not until we are properly introduced!" She told me her name and demanded that I get na-ked (not naked, na-ked) and was also asked by the surgeon to shave any hair I had next to my mole that was at least 6 inches (to the east) from my Garden of Eden. When I got home, I realized that she shaved everything from my left big toe, all the way up through my waist, including my left armpit. Now I wonder why I’ve been feeling cold, lately. We’re getting married next Tuesday! Just kidding, Gloria!) The surgeon told me, while operating, that the lypoma on my left forearm was actually sitting on top of a vein, just under my skin. He also told me that the lump on my head (which supposedly was the lost stitch from 1977) might actually be the lost stitch, but that he believed at the time, might have been something else. I could feel him "digging" through concrete while he was removing it, and he was even nice enough to ask for a new blade to complete the procedure. He told me that he removed these four items because they did not look "right." I spent 2.5 hours on the table. The only stitches he used were on the top of my head; the other incisions were closed with butterflies. The only one that gave me problems was on the hip, because the incision was done horizontally, and was inside the flap of skin that bends when you sit down.

So, I came home with 20 lbs. of gauze and duct-tape, took about 8 ounces of liquid-sedative, and went to sleep.

About 5 hours later, I awoke, startled, with a cold sensation in my right forearm. It really freaked me out! What I noticed, was that all of the pain, numbness and paralysis that was in my right hand, less than my left is, had vanished! All except for the joint pain I have in my pinky finger, due to osteo-arthritis! I was astounded!

I am sharing this info with everyone, so you will learn to ASK QUESTIONS! When I was a little roper, I used to say things to doctors, like, "Uh, huh, ok." Not knowing one darn thing about what it was that they were talking about! ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS! It’s your body, folks, not there’s, and I’ll tell you right now, if you don’t start asking questions and demanding answers, AFTER tests, you are going to live a very unhappy life.

For 3 years, I complained about pain in my hands and feet. I was told that it was from osteo-arthritis. Great! Prove it to me! Finally, I get my feet x-rayed. Great! It is osteo-arthritis (they had previously discovered this fact from a blood work-up.) But, you know what? Because of the OA, I have no cartilage at the base of either of my big toes. What does that mean? It means that my foot-rudders aren’t working, and the complete gravitational force of the weight of my body is being put onto 4 little toes, and not the big one, like the Great Architect of the Universe designed it to be. So, now I know why my feet hurt. Plus, I also know what my limitations are. Remember, every (wo)man needs to know what their limitations are! And, never put your life into the hands of another. If you do, you’ll only blame that other person for what happens next, not yourself for allowing it to happen, against your better judgement!

The pathology reports on these 4 pieces of tissue have not yet been completed. On Monday, I go back to the clinic to get my stitches removed, and will be told then, hopefully.

Now, something else has happened to me. The stupor that I have been in for over 20 years has now vanished. My mind is no longer in the clouds. My thinking is clearer. I feel like I have awoken from a 20-year period of semi-unconsciousness. I don’t know what was on the top of my head, but I am sure that it was a foreign body, and that my body (blood cells) were doing their best to get rid of it. But, it never happened, until the foreign body was removed, surgically. Don’t EVER let a doctor leave something in your body with the excuse that your body will take care of it, unless it is one of those self-destructing stitches, designed to be eaten up by the "yours truly." I really do believe that this has caused a lot of my pain and suffering.

I am still having problems sleeping, due to my stroke. My mind will not shut off, and I can go for days without sleeping, before I force myself to, with liquid sedation, if my sleeping pills aren’t working.

I was in to see my PCP this week, and she made a correction to my sleeping pills. Sorry, they did make me sleep, even for 4 hours after I woke up. I’ll use it as a last resort, should I not have anything to do the next morning after I take it.

When I got to the clinic, my BP 128/60 and my pulse was 60. Hasn’t been that low in 3 years. The nurses wanted to know what happened to me. I told them. I also told them that I dragged my weight machine out of storage two weeks ago, and am now up to lifting one hour each day. My goal is to get back to my original 3 hours a day. I have also lost 18 lbs., and still plan on getting back to a 31.5-inch waist and a 155 lbs. Look at my photo from 2006. I now weigh about 190, and because my jeans aren’t tight, I refuse to throw a yardstick around my waist to check it out.

So, now back to the VA, your medical records and the compensation process.

When you file for disability, you complete your form and you either send it off to the Regional office, or show up in person, to sign it. Can’t remember which. The regional offices do not have access to your health records, and the computer system at the regional office is not tied into the one with the medical centers/clinics. Typical SNAFU by our government. They don’t tell you this stuff, either. So, when you are at the clinic, and scream that they have your records, they really don’t. In my case, my health records were (and still are) in Reno at the regional office, and not anywhere else.

So, let’s not get off track. And, let’s remember something I previously wrote about. I got copies of most of my health records before I left active duty, and others, could not be found. I asked for disability for every illness/injury/disease I may had or may not have received while on active duty. Remember, I served in country, where malaria, typhus and every other disease known to man was at. My reasoning for doing this, was so that I would not have to come back 40 years later, and try to explain myself, should I become ill, later in life. Remember, also, that I am not looking for money. All I want is treatment. After all, the VA is nothing more than the military’s "worker’s comp" physicians, and all I wanted was documentation, and what was "right" for my situation.

The regional office told me that they did not believe that the copies of my records were real, because they had to be requested by them, and received by them. OK, fair enough. They don’t know who I am and I don’t know whom they are, and sure enough, I would rather prove my identity to them, than to make requests without proof. Think about what I speak of in my writings. I am saying things in a certain way, so that when you go through the process, you won’t get frustrated and think they are putting the screw to you.

When you sign and hand in your application, if any disabilities are later found, this is the date that will determine when you will start receiving your compensation, date of receipt. Not from the date that they finally discover that you actually have a disability. Reread my blogs about disabilities and how zero is a number and how zero does not mean "none."

I really don’t remember how long it took for them to gather my records up, but I can tell you that it didn’t happen overnight. IT WAS AWHILE! So, if you are expecting instant money, or instant medical care, you ain’t gonna get it. Get over it. If you are really sick, call 911 and write it off on your taxes.

After they got my records, I was invited into the VA Hospital, they didn’t have nor do I know if they now do have, clinics in the Reno area, for medical evaluations. For those who might think I am now a hypochondriac, I would like to inform you that I am not. If I had gone to my yearly physical examinations, like you are supposed to, maybe they would have found my current medical problems at a reasonable pace, and not all at once, like I am now experiencing. In the 21.5 years that I was on active duty, I had only been to the infirmary/sick-call, NINE times. That doesn’t include surgical visits, hospital stays. NINE TIMES! How’s that for being healthy.

Instead of me spending an 8 to 4 visit for all of my maladies, I think it took a little over 9 months to have all of my evaluations. Some of the conditions I had, like how my right foot would drag and the tendon would not lift my foot up and down, could not be evaluated, because, "Gee, its not happening now!" But, it was noted in my records. So, I got a zero on that one. I now realize that that was the beginning of arthritis, because of broken bones in my right foot, that occurred while I was in the Army.

Now all of my exams are complete, and months later, I receive their results. A whole bunch of "So sorry, GI" and a few, "Ya, you were rights." I was outraged. Who do these clowns think they are? I’m sick. I want my compensation/treatment! And, I want it now. So I appeal the results and go to court (the hearing officer/medical board kind).

Something I didn’t know at the time. You might think you are sick, and you might be, but, that doesn’t mean you are entitled to anything. The key word, is entitled to. And, what you are entitled to is in Section 38, US Code. HeHe!

Let me give you an example. I am making up the facts, only to show the point. You get "one" of your testicles shot off in battle. Boy, are you screwed. You think that one testicle is worth at least 50%, because half of two is one, or 50%. Sorry, the "law" does not work like that. You only get 10%, and free medical care for the rest of your life, for the lost testicle that you aren’t carrying around, anymore. Duh? Yup! I hope you’re getting the picture. If you lose both, you get 100%, because you no longer have the ability to recreate. Something your neighbors might be proud of, but, by law, well worth 100%. This entitles you to free health care at the VA for any condition you may have, but, if not related to your disability, you will be required to pay a co-pay on your meds. But, still free health care. Well worth the entitlement for a pair of nylon tesa’cle implants at the ungrateful taxpayer expense.

Another example. I was told I had Meniere’s Disease, a hearing disorder. My rating for that one, 10%. But, they changed the diagnosis to Tennitis. Sorry, GI, no more money for you. But, I am also designated an Agent Orange Vet, so I get all free medical care, with med co-pays, regardless of the condition (didn’t know this fact, until 3 years ago! Why? Nobody ever told me!) As it should be. Remember, the VA is my worker’s comp. It is not some free-be I get for serving on active duty for two days, and then being cut loose because I could not hack it anymore, like every average American believes it to be for all of our veterans. Now, if I wanted to lie about my condition, I could tell them I have loss of balance, and they would make it 20%. They would also probably tell the DMV about my condition, that would most assuredly result in my losing my "privilege" to drive an automobile. DON’T EVER LIE ABOUT ANYTHING. Always tell the truth. God really "is" watching you. And, when he’s having a potty-break, your ancestors are!

I don’t have any issues with PTSD, but I am sure that might be a big "unknown" issue with me. I don’t hunt anymore, after hunting "humans" for 2 years, and I don’t enjoy fishing, anymore, either. I’m pretty much a pacifist. But, if you screw with me or someone I love, I will rip out your throat with my teeth, reach in and grab a hold of your anus, and turn your body inside out! And, that is the truth. I don’t ever back down to anything or anybody. As an example, if you were my woman, I would stand in front of a moving train to protect your life, fully knowing that it would kill me. I am as passionate in love as I am in life. I enjoy both to the max. There really is no alternative.

Want to play games with the VA about PTSD. Go right ahead. I invite you to. Thanks to President Clinton, anybody who visits a psyche clinic at any VA facility is immediately reported to the BATF, as a mentally ill person. In America, that means that you are a certified mental person, someone who can never own a gun, have a federal firearms license, or make your own wine/whiskey/beer, for resale, or serve as a member of the board of any company that does so. I am also pretty sure, that here in Nevada, it might also keep you from getting a liquor license, should you want to own a 7-11 or a gaming license should you want to put a "rented" slot machine in your dry cleaning business waiting area. DON’T SCREW WITH UNCLE SAM, ITS NOT WORTH IT. YOU WILL BE FOUND OUT. YOU WILL GO TO JAIL. YOUR ASSETS WILL BE SEIZED. YOUR INCOME TAX REFUNDS WILL BE WITHHELD UNTIL THEY ARE PAID BACK. AND, THEY WILL GARNISH YOUR WAGES AND WIPE OUT YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS. DON’T BELIEVE ME? THE US MARSHALL’S SERVICE HOLDS AUCTIONS ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AND YOU CAN GO BUY YOUR NEIGHBOR’S STUFF, TO PAY OFF THE MONEY THEY OWE TO UNCLE SAM! That is the truth!

I really can’t remember the length of time it took for me to get to the hearing after asking for it. But, it amounted to showing up at the VA office and sitting across the table from the hearing officer who had a tape recorder to "memorialize" the occasion. He asked me where my lawyer was? I told him I didn’t need one. I planned on telling the truth, as I always do.

So, I made my case, which amounted to nothing more than the equivalent of me speaking to the wall. I explained to him that I didn’t want any money, just documentation and treatment, and was out the door in about an hour.

Exactly two years later, I received another, probably photocopied, standard form, "screw you" letter from the VA, saying that my request for additional compensation was denied. Enclosed was a check for about $2,400 which at the time, was the complete total of my compensation that I was entitled to during that 24 month period, from the time I had originally signed the paper, handing them my military health records, asking for compensation. I then started getting my monthly compensation checks, which have fluctuated over the years due to COLA’s and my medical conditions.

So, that is what it comes down to. My PCP at my VA clinic here in LV still does not have my military records in her system, and if I have a need to request additional compensation, zero-percent or otherwise, I will have to go through the same situation, all over again. Remembering, that nothing will happen in an instant. Something to remember, though. Once you get into the system and start seeing doctors on a regular basis, your current medical situation is being documented. So, when you ask for reevaluations, sometimes, they are performed electronically, because they already have your records, and very seldom will you have to come back for an actual reevaluation. If you’re already being treated for something that has worsened, they already know about it. IT IS YOUR responsibility to seek the reevaluation. They will not do it automatically for you.

One of the problems that us veterans have, is that we are used to instant treatment. Get hurt, go see doc, and you are back on the job, faster than a fly can eat a piece of ___T, and then fart.

So, don’t expect anything extra from Uncle Sam. An extra to me, is a nice word every now and then, when I visit the clinic. Or, the nice female PA I used to see a very, very long time ago, who would always check me for a hernia, every time I went in with an earache. I call that a no extra, and at no additional charge, either. HeHe! If she offered a free rectal exam, I would have declined, hehe!

So, keep your head screwed on straight. Stand up like a (wo)man, and be nice. Don’t make demands, and always ask questions. This is a true story. I had a problem with my bank once, and I called up and used a voice like I was retarded. I told them that I was confused and needed assistance, and that nobody else would help me. INSTANT SUCCESS! Unfortunately, I am also sure that God is punishing me or has punished me for that one. Now I talk like I am from Bangladesh. HeHe! Just kidding.

So, I wish everybody great health and many successes in life. Do always what is right. Good things will come your way!

Take care and God bless, you DESERVE it!

Any comments, Walt?