My B-Inlaw enlisted with the Marines as a Radio Operator and the day of his 18th. B-Day was pushed out of Huey with his combat gear and radio , it was night and he was the only one coming in . The rest of his buddies were already in place . The Marines had him wait an extra day until he reached 18 . Before they showed him the door they told him this was as far as they went ,"you need to Hoof-It 2 days in that direction . Okay , So out he goes . Hey he's 18 a Marine and invincible . He gets to his unit (sorry If I used the wrong term !) and goes to work . well they Really are not There some of you know what I mean . They were there but they were not there . Okay he's out on all "Lerps" . On and off Hueys . Until,,,,,,,,,, One Huey Dump the pilot was 15-20' off the deck when they were told to "Un-Ass" . The pilot was not aware of how tall the grass was . A few of them got hurt "J" had the radio on and all their required field gear . I guess over 100 lbs . anyway he blows both knees and a couple disc for good measure . he gets out of the Nam after 4 mo. I/C . :blast: Fast forward 34 years......... He's done all types of Physical Labor in the construction field , when he gets hired as a tree faller . He learns the ropes literally and finds he loves the rush of being up in the trees 80-100+' and swinging around up there cutting limbs . So he buys the equipment and starts his own Tree service businees . and becomes very successful , he became the commandant of the O'Fallon, Mo. VFW . Was the driving force getting "The O'Fallon , Mo. Veterans Memorial approved and built . he becomes a local celebrity and meets the now Governor of Missouri and does his trees etc . Governor tells him to address him on a first name basis which "J" would never do , but the Governor takes him to the Cardinals Games anyway . :TU: :bglasses: Okay now we're talking St. Louis , Mo., high Tornado area . 5 years ago his home is hit a glancing blow tears roof and siding off . So his brother "M" says I can fix it for you . So "J" gives him an advance for materials . Brother gets supplies and goes to work . Yepper , He fixed it awright he did .. Single hung windows go in sideways , new vinyl siding has all the "breakes" running the wrong way . Roof sheeting is up there so his brother does a few sheets and quits cuz it looks like rain . Rain Hell !! It's another twister coming down on them . "J" in the meantime sees the same and cuts his crew loose and he heads for home . He gets there and "M" is in the house watching T/V . "J" get him out and on the roof , which did not last long "J" is trying to get the roof covered to protect it from rain (guess the Tar Paper wasn't on) The wind is a bit "Gusty" it picks the whole load of sheeting and sends it a couple blocks away , at the same time it blows "J" off the roof (remember the knees and back ?) He had to get a second to pick up what the insurance did not cover due to water damage . The Tornado hits them pretty well square . It takes the roof all the way off . Now in comes the rain , It gets into the walls , insulation ,carpets and sheet rock which incidently molds and due to the Black Mold the gut the entire house except for the studs / trusses and has to put his business equipment up as collateral for a loan , (again water damage = No coverage) . They have a house where sheets are used as walls when they're pulled back in the Master B-room you can see the garage at the other end of the house . So the house finally gets done ,despite his brother taking off without finishing the job and takes the money . In the process "J" had found him constuction jobs through his clients that he has had for years . He embezzled their monies as well putting a major dent "J's" reputation , and he loses alot of clients . So downward they start . The work quits poring in . He told me one evening that he HAD to make $ 1000.00 per day to meet payroll , Workmans Comp. , and their own bills . All of these years he's been climbing and steadily getting worse physically/mentally . He is now 55 . I talked to him about applying for Service Connected Diabilities that have come to haunt him that has been getting worse quickly . He finally did apply . His reason for not applying was what Marines are famous for , Hey my Buddy needs it worse now than I do , give it to him . He met a Retired Marine Commandant at the Veterans Homecoming in Branson Mo. last year that finally rattled his cage enough to admit he can't do the work . He got a Veteran Service Officer and started his case . "J" requests his service records and they look like "Project Bluebook" freedom of info . black outs' all of his tours ,injuries etc . Because remeber ; He was NOT there in Viet Nam . So in the meantime his "VSO" sends in incomplete info that was last year . The "VSO" is a real " Dork with Ears " He does get meds from the VA and medical treatment . For the record , VA Doc's will give you a pill and tell you to see them in 6 mo. or so . No follow-up nothing just here take these . Last week he starts bleeding in the stomach and lower intestine. They have him in ICU for 4 days . He got out last night weak tired and in serious pain . Today he gets up before more testing and gets the crew to their job location and he and my wife (her twin) head for John Cochran Memorial VA . Hospital . They (VA Docs) can't find out what is wrong , they say it may be meds . ou: I took my wife up to St. Louis last saturday to help and run interferance on the Grand Kids right across the street ."J's" daughter likes to dump them after his wife gets in from work after 2 hours driving from to work plus the hours , so she can go out and drink . "J" normally gets home about 6-7 rests then runs bids until 10-11 pm. Today Chilli (my best half ) calls and said he was in tears from pain but she got him to eat a small meal and gets him to bed . She told me "J" confided in her and said he knew he was killing himself , but the IRS has put a lein on there house and the bank is forclosing their house . Everthing is behind , everything . They are Catholics and not One Iota of help have they been offered , instead their son goes to the churches school ,and they can't pay the tuition now the schools' threatening to expell their son from the Churches' excellant school program .Their bank where their Business Account has been since day one is calling in the note on his truck/equipment . This is not the whole story ,but it's close . But these stinking Dopers, Professional Welfare Recipients, Legal and Illegal immigrants get the funds . Not the ones that have never been adrain to society . Here is to our goverment that "sees" to our needs as Americans :spank: :af: :moonu: Oh, Here's a Great One ; while "J" was in the VA Hospital he shared a room with 3 others for 4 days . NOT ONCE did staff clean their bathroom including blood on floor . :blast: :blast: :blast: :af: Here is my Biotch ; Here is a man that volunteered for the Marines , gets hurt , gets home and finally gets his own business with out help from the gov. etc . Just his own "Sweat Equity" no food stamps / welfare ever . He does right by everyone that he meets . He's a Great Man , almost larger than life . Banks and the IRS will not give him and his family any more extensions . They want it all . My wife and I have been painting and getting ready to list our house to move closer to them so we could see them more often . Chilli finally told me their situation this evening . We rented a storage shed to get stuff out of the house to give it a "Clean" look for buyers . It looks like they will be coming here for quite some time . We have 5 acres and will instead try to get another house put in here for them . Well I'm settled down a bit sorry but I had to vent . Steve Ssgt . USAF 81-91
Steve, If he is unhappy with his VSO, go to the va hospital and talk the the other vets that are there, and see if one of them can recommend a sucessful vso officer they have used to file their claim. Contact that VSO, and turn his power of attorney over to him, and refile...I think you said he has his files from being in the hosp while in the service. If he has been to a private doctor since leaving the service for the problems that occured in the service, get those records, and have the doctor write a letter to the affect he has been treating him for these problems, and file that along with his service connection hosp info.. Good Luck Vietnam vet 67/68 90% rated by va
