Veteran's Voice
Las Vegas
NV 89115-2840
May 25, 2002
For the
Sebastian Sun
VETERAN'S
VOICE
Publication Date May 31, 2002
Dick
Higgins
Weldon Jump Starts
VERA. In
an unusual appearance before the House of Representatives, Subcommittee on
National Security, Veterans Affairs and International Relations, Doctor Dave
Weldon who represents the 15th District of Florida informed the
Committee that VERA is not working. VERA, the Veterans Equitable Resources
Allocation program mandated by Congress, recognized that a large number of older
veterans were fleeing from the northern U. S. Rust Belt to the more hospitable
southern Sun Belt. The law specifically directs the Department of Veterans
Affairs to “put the money where the veterans are”.
Weldon
alerted the committee with facts obtained from his veterans’ constituency about
the failure of VA to provide adequate health care for veterans who are enrolled
in the VA medical system in Florida and other growth states.
These
sources informed the Congressman that “the Viera Outpatient Clinic claims it
cannot accept any more veterans”. This was from an 80-year-old purple heart
veteran who flew 69 times as a tail gunner during WWII. Dr. Weldon also played
a tape of the Viera Clinic telephone service “our clinic has reached full
capacity and we cannot take any new patients”.
In
contrast to this Sun Belt VA Clinic, the Congressman quoted a birthday letter
from the Bronx, NY VA Medical Center passed to him by another veteran. “We have
a program whereby all veterans may receive a yearly physical examination free
including free eye exam and free glasses”.
In his
final thrust, the Congressman told the committee members “In Florida we have
over 42,000 veterans on a waiting list to see a primary care provider. They
cannot get even get in the door. Our veterans deserve better”.
Bravo,
Congressman Dave Weldon.
Happy 50th Birthday Special Forces.
Congressman Christopher Cox, of Newport Beach, CA, introduced House Concurrent
Resolution 364 honoring fifty years of missions by the U. S. Special Forces. The
birth date at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was June 20, 1952 and Colonel Aaron
Bank commanded the 10th Special Forces Group. The group came to be
known as “Green Berets”. It was the predecessor of special operations units in
the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Currently, more than 8,000 men and women
serve as special forces in defense of America according to Congressman Cox..
Airport Security
Guard to Stand Down.
Air and National Guard troops will end their tour of duty at more than 400
civilian airports today. These troops responded to the President’s call for help
after the September 11, terrorist attacks in New York. The Guard will be
replaced by civilian screeners and supervisors
Pacific Fleet SHAD
Sailors‘ Claims.
Sailors and members of other services who participated in elements of a joint
service Chemical and Biological Warfare program, Shipboard Hazard and Defense
(SHAD) during the ‘60s may receive medical and compensation benefits as a result
of damages they received during the tests. The tests with real and simulated
hazards were designed to measure the danger and quantify what was then proposed
as defense procedures.
The
Department of Veterans Affairs, for years, did not have the classified data
concerning test results that was required to evaluate veterans claims. With the
ponderous procedures of government, the Department of Defense is now releasing
fact sheets to VA that are believed to provide the basis for VA award of
benefits and compensation. VA claims experts needed to know what substances
veterans may have been exposed to and when.
Six
fact sheets for tests Autumn Gold, Eager Belle phases I and II, Copper Head,
Scarlet Sage and Shady Grove have been provided to VA in the past. On May 23,
2002, six more sets of test data were released to VA. The names of the tests
were DTC Test 68-50(Eniwetok Atoll September and October 1968), DTC Test 69-32
(Southwest of Hawaiian Island April 30 to June 28, 1969), Fearless Johnny
(Southwest of Honolulu August and September 1965), Flower Drum Phase I (off the
coast of Hawaii February through April and August through September 1964) and II
(off the coast of Hawaii November and December, 1964), and Purple Sage (Off
coast of San Diego January 5, through February 3, 1966).
Ships
involved were USS Granville S. Hall (YAG-40), USS George Eastman (YAG-39), U S
Navy Covered Barge (YFN-811), US Navy Tug (ATF-105) and USS Herbert J. Thomas
(DD-833)
Veterans who were involved in SHAD tests and desire medical evaluations should
call VA’s Help Line 800-749-8387. Complete fact sheets are available at <http://deploymentlink.osd.mil/current_issues/shad/shad_intro.shtml>.
House and Senate
Members Available.
Your elected representatives from the House and Senate will be home until June
4. Give them a call of appreciation, encouragement or castigation.
Congressman DaveWeldon (321-632-1776 or 800-939-3515),
Senator Bill Nelson (850-907-1100),
Senator Bob Graham (850-942-8415).
Richard
G. Higgins
(702) 644 8586
[email protected]
Dick
Higgins is a long-time veterans’ benefits legislation activist.
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