There are only 500k of us 100% service connected-Catagory 1 as the VA likes to say. Now days that means nothing, but once in the 1990’s it did.

Didn't Obama propose that wounded veterans pay for their own treatment ? I seem to remember this was earlier this year......
Interesting how military service was not an issue during this past presidental election, as in the past, eh ?
Pablo

I think he proposed that for officers injured in the current conflicts

They was discussion by advisors, that thoses with private insurance be charge for service related claims, just like non-service related claim have been done for years.
It never came out of the discussuion stage. Eric Shinseki was probably the strongest voice against of all the advisors.

Great Americans one and all and they deserve our Thanks and respect for what they have given all of us. On this Vets Day THANK SO MUCH

This article doesn't adequately mention the horrors and outrageous injustices that veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming home to: no jobs, many are homeless, and the government and the military are denying seriously disable veterans the benefits they deserve, access to health care, and adequate compensation for their injuries. And this is going on while our government can't give money we don't have away fast enough to people who have no reason to be recipients of it like whem Obama gave 900 million dollars to the Palestinians.
Also, I'd like to point out the significant difference in the ways the Vietnam veterans and the veterans of the Gulf War were treated when they returned home: with, and in the case of the Gulf War I'm not sure of the numbers, less than 1 thousand deaths in the Gulf War, the Gulf War veterans were received with huge parades and very warm and welcoming celebrations. Although there were at least 58,000 casualities and about twice as many seriously wounded and disabled at the end of the Vietnam War, the Vietnam veterans were greeted with accusations of being murders or were completely ignored and treated as if they didn't even exist. I served in Vietnam from May of 1968 to May of 1969.

I think there were only around 100 KIAs in Gulf 1

Thanks for the link!

Thank you. Proudly served, U.S. Army, 1970-1976, MOS-91B20, Spec-5.

I was int he Military until Dubya was Elected. I spent 4 years int he Middle East and Balkans. I was told I could get VA benefits and all Vets have that right. 9 years later and I am still being rejected.. Thanks for 8 years of hell Dubya. Use Us Up and Throw us out. If you are not in the latest conflict, you are a number and will be pushed to the side. I have the letters to prove it.

Welcome home. Been there, done that.

Welcome home.

When you think about your freedom, please thank a veteran.

Semper Fi!

Good blog, lots of interesting information. I retired in 1991 and didn't utilize any of my benefits until last year when I had a heart attack. Fortunately, they treated me very well thanks to my service related benefits. The Lord has been good to me and my family. Either my wife or I have always had insurance through our jobs and didn't want to add to the burden on the VA already.

I wished I never joined.

Been there, done that.

the_old_coach

Now, if only Congress remembered those stats and did the right thing.

Good Post. I was D 3/5 - C 3/17 (unit re-designated) out of Vinh Long, IV Corps, RVN, 70-72.

According to the DOD and VA, in the year 2000 there were about 750,000 of the 2.7 million 'boots on the ground' 'Nam vets left.

In that year's census, 13.5 million guys claimed to be 'Nam vets. Those numbers are the reason 'Stolen Valor' was passed. Remind your Vet friends (the real ones) that the hand salute is now authorized for any occasion that a uniformed person would use it, like the National Anthem, flag raisings or funerals. The idea is to identify the people who have served.

I'm Permanent and Total by the VA; I made it to work until about 10 years ago, then it all caught up with me.

50% of homeless males are Vets.

I still have that article from the VFW Mag. on stolen valor. I've seen guys not even old enough claiming to be vets.

FACT...DICK Durbin likes to shit on the military while waving the flag !!!!!SCREW DICK Durbin and SCREW John Murtha and SCREW John Kerry !!!!!