RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158769,00.html
i wonder how guy,s from WWII made it through their live,s without this kind of charity??Audie Murphy for one

Charity? A vet earns every damned dime of that compensation when they put their life on the line doing what their country asks of them! No veteran should need to feel shame about expecting his/her country to take care of their wounds, either physical or psychological and to compensate them for their loss of livelihood. I don't know you personally, but I know a moronic statement when I read it!

quote:

Originally posted by JimSorber:
Charity? A vet earns every damned dime of that compensation when they put their life on the line doing what their country asks of them! No veteran should need to feel shame about expecting his/her country to take care of their wounds, either physical or psychological and to compensate them for their loss of livelihood. I don't know you personally, but I know a moronic statement when I read it!

Could be a Troll........................

Charity? Apparently, you've not served in a combat zone; otherwise you would surely know that it is not "charity".

quote:

Originally posted by davorevo6437:
RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158769,00.html
i wonder how guy,s from WWII made it through their live,s without this kind of charity??Audie Murphy for one

I'm glad that you didn't suffer an apparent accidents/disabilities while in service to our country. To make a CHARITY statement though is rather obtuse.

While serving for 20 years in the U.S.Navy I had my back broken, hearing loss from working around aircraft/RADARs, and suffered the loss of one lung to a botched military surgery. I didn't complain when each and every one of these things happened to me. I picked myself up (so to speak) and carried on with my career.

Now you have the audacity to tell me that the compensation that the V.A. pays to me is CHARITY? I have to disagree. Seems to me that it is earned rather than given. Maybe if you had to walk a mile in a disabled person's shoes, you wouldn't be so quick to speak.

Respectfully,
George Suchey, AT1 USN (Retired)

They need to have a set amount across the board. With the welfare system, more northern states hand out more then southern counterparts. The result is some folks moving north specificly for welfare bennies. Not that I'm equating welfare & VA stipends, just for analogical purposes.

quote:

Originally posted by davorevo6437:
RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158769,00.html
i wonder how guy,s from WWII made it through their live,s without this kind of charity??Audie Murphy for one

Once upon a time if a worker was killed or permanently injured on a job site there was nothing for the worker or surviving family. Did that make it right?

Charity?? Let me explain how this works: the compensation that soliders receive are part of a benefits package that they work towards when they are in the military. It is not welfare, a handout or charity. Just as many private sector jobs have short and long term disibility that employees either pay into or are part of a benefit plan, so is the disibility compensation that soldiers receive. This is paid into by the soldiers with their blood, sweat and tears. I certainly hope that Americans are not looking at this compensation as charity. Charity is something you get but dont have to give to receive. These are benefits that people gave for to receive.

As for the varying rates of compensation for PTSD, my husband is a Vietnam Vet who still receives nothing for PTSD although the VA has been treating him for 16 yrs. He put in for benefits, but its been almost year and we have not gotten a response yet. The longer they wait to pay, the less years they have to pay the Vet.

I am so glad you never had to hold your buddy's hand while he died and there was nothing you could do to save his life. I am pleased that you never had to shoot and kill a 12 y/o boy because he and other teenagers had set up and ambush to kill you and your troops.

Oh, and by the way Audie Murphy, one of America's greatest heroes, admitted that he had problems with PTSD.

Audie sufferred from what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)and was plagued by insomnia and depression. During the mid-60's he became dependent for a time on doctor prescribed sleeping pills called Placidyl. When he recognized that he had become addicted to this prescription drug, he locked himself in a motel room, stopped taking the sleeping pills and went through withdrawal symptoms for a week. Always an advocate for the needs of veterans, he broke the taboo about discussing war related mental problems after this experience. In a effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean and Vietnam War veterans, Audie Murphy spoke-out candidly about his personal problems with PTSD, then known as "Battle Fatigue". He publicly called for United States government to give more consideration and study to the emotional impact war has on veterans and to extend health care benefits to address PTSD and other mental health problems of returning war vets.

quote:

Originally posted by davorevo6437:
RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158769,00.html
i wonder how guy,s from WWII made it through their live,s without this kind of charity??Audie Murphy for one

I cannot believe that anyone who has ever had dealings withthe evaluation process employed by the VA would be even remotely shocked by the inconsistencies.

In the words of the late, great Sam Kinnison "WAKE UP"

Semper Fidelis

combat veterans shouldn't have to pay any taxes for the rest of their lives either.

DISBAILITY COMPENSATION IS A MONETARY BENEFIT PAID TO VETERANS WHO ARE DISABLED BY AN INJURY OR DISEASE THAT WAS INCURRED OR AGGRAVATED DURING ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE.THESE DISABILITIES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE SERVICE-CONNECTED. THESE BENEFITS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO FEDERAL OR STATE INCOME TAX...

quote:

Originally posted by davorevo6437:
RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158769,00.html
i wonder how guy,s from WWII made it through their live,s without this kind of charity??Audie Murphy for one

quote:

I certainly hope that Americans are not looking at this compensation as charity.

The have's (politicians and so forth) are looking at this as just another welfare system problem, that people looking for a free ride will abuse; and that they will have to sink money in to. What will happen is that the ones who abuse it will cause the ones who need it to suffer more; eventually causing those who really need the help, not to get any. We already see this in the differences by State. I guess in Montana, PTSD is less harmful on a person because of the serenity of the mountains and stuff. Yea, right. I will never understand their logic and I guess I won't even stress over trying to.

Merry Christmas everyone...enjoy the holidays. To all our military brother's and sister's; our prayers are going up for you. Stay safe!

AdminNCo1 ROFLMAO

More often than not I remember this poem and it always puts a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. For those of you that have, and to those of you that haven't, seen this, here it is.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS



Author - Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan



TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

Merry Christmas EVERYBODY. May GOD smile upon you and yours this Holiday Season and I hope to read posts from each and every one of you in the new year to come.

quote:

Originally posted by davorevo6437:
RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158769,00.html
i wonder how guy,s from WWII made it through their live,s without this kind of charity??Audie Murphy for one

The military does not give out charity.
CEO's that make millions a year and after they have run their companies into the ground they get multi-million dollar buyouts...that's charity.
Not one single servicemember expects or wants charity. They have EARNED every single penny of compensation they get and then some.

quote:

Originally posted by 67NOV:
They need to have a set amount across the board. With the welfare system, more northern states hand out more then southern counterparts. The result is some folks moving north specificly for welfare bennies. Not that I'm equating welfare & VA stipends, just for analogical purposes.

There are set amounts. The issue is with the individuals working for the VA who "decide" what each PTSD rating is. That is what varies from state to state. A lower rating means lower payments. A soldier could conceivably get a different rating from different VA centers for the same condition. There needs to be a more level way af rating PTSD. It should be done at a central location so that all soldiers get a similar rating for their specific level of "suffering" (for lack of a better description).

quote:

Originally posted by davorevo6437:
RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158769,00.html
i wonder how guy,s from WWII made it through their live,s without this kind of charity??Audie Murphy for one

This from audiemurphy.com:
Audie sufferred from what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)and was plagued by insomnia and depression. During the mid-60's he became dependent for a time on doctor prescribed sleeping pills called Placidyl. When he recognized that he had become addicted to this prescription drug, he locked himself in a motel room, stopped taking the sleeping pills and went through withdrawal symptoms for a week. Always an advocate for the needs of veterans, he broke the taboo about discussing war related mental problems after this experience. In a effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean and Vietnam War veterans, Audie Murphy spoke-out candidly about his personal problems with PTSD, then known as "Battle Fatigue". He publicly called for United States government to give more consideration and study to the emotional impact war has on veterans and to extend health care benefits to address PTSD and other mental health problems of returning war vets.

Reference davorevo6437 about "this kind of charity??" You do not know about the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea or any other true COMBAT Veteran. You have not seen or been through what they or I have been through. My Great Grand Father (WWI) was gassed and witnessed several of his friend die - had "shell shock" for his life until it ended when he was about 85 years old. My Grandfather had "shell shock" due to his WWII combat experience with Gen. Patton's tank troops. So I back up the rest of the vets who are address your comments.

Iraqi veteran.