Wounded Warriors R.A. News Clips

Important Veteran-Related Information

A Message From Your National Commander:

As the "Founding and Interim" National Commander, I wish to extend my thanks to you for visiting this web site, and showing the interest to get this far. This Association began as a "dream" to establish an organization of motorcycle-riding veterans helping other veterans. As a service-connected vet myself, I have witnessed and experienced the beaucracy involved with veterans attempting to get the help they need and deserve. We can not ignore the fact that the needs of our injured and ill military veterans often is overlooked by the general public, and by our elected politicians.

Over the years we have seen a huge increase in the demands upon our Veteran's Health Care System. Unfortunately, during this same period of time we have seen a reduction in funds available (per capita) to ensure adequate treatment of all needy Vets. With the added "burden" of new disabled veterans being returned to the U.S. from Iraq and Afghanistan, the system as we know it simply cannot continue to service our deserving vets.

There are those "in power" (elected officials) that wish to change eligibility requirements of veterans applying for "service-connected disability status", soley for the purpose of reducing the financial responsibility owed to this nation's veterans. Some wish to only consider those "directly wounded in combat" deserving of this status. Those injured or taken ill away from "direct combat" would no longer be considered "service-connected" status. In other words, if you are a with a "non-combat unit", such as a supply outfit and are involved in a vehicle accident (after delivering supplies to a "line unit", and become paralyzed from the neck down ..... you would NOT be eligible.
We as a FAMILY must raise our voices, and apply our votes, to ensure those elected honor the agreement (and to do what is right) to provide proper health/medical care to ALL veterans that require it.
Our organization will bring attention to the needs of our current military members, and veterans alike. This page will be dedicated to provide you with information regarding veterans issues such as medical/health benefits, compensation, education, legislation that could impact our "standing" and eligibility, and "current events" in Afghanistan & Iraq.

News Clips from the "Front Lines"

Note: MountainMan served in the U.S. Army (1973-1980) and spent 2 1/2 tours in the Republic of Korea (S. Korea), including 1 1/2 tours with the 2nd Infantry Division. His battalion commander (1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment) was a young LTC named Colin Powell, and the Division Commander was the "famous" Maj. Gen. Henry (Hank) Emerson ..... also known as "The Gunfighter". MountainMan, along with his comrades in the RedEye Platoon (Combat Support Company) were cross-trained in Ground Surveilance Radar (GSR), and regularly relieved the GSR Platoon from their duties along the DMZ. On several occasions, MountainMan and others were exposed to unknown "chemicals" that drifted while the DMZ was being sprayed with herbicides, which was increased following the discovery of tunnels built by North Korea, and the "murder" of Major Henderson at Pan Mun Jon. MountainMan was hospitalized for approximately 6 months, and released back to duty with no complete diagnosis. In 1978, In-patient medical records of MountainMan's hospitalization mysteriously disappeared. Shortly thereafter, his "Out-patient" records also became "misplaced". To this date, MountainMan still suffers from chronic, and often experiences severe joint pain (back, shoulders, hips, knees), chronic fatigue, intermittant tingling and loss of sensation of the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy),permanent hearing loss, among other "non-vital" medical problems. MountainMan is interested in hearing from other Korean-DMZ veterans, who have developed health/medical problems following duty along the DMZ. Please also note, the article below regarding "Agent Orange".

Funding for Veterans Health/Medical Benefits.

July/August 2005 Issue of "DAV Magazine"-'Emergency Pork'by Arthur H. Wilson, National Adjutant.

The $82 billion emergency supplemental spending bill that Congress approved in May offered lawmakers an opportunity to cover a critical shortfall in veterans medical care. But they rejected funding this urgent need and instead loaded up the must-pass measure with special-interest provisions and millions of dollars in pork-barrel spending.

Less than half way through the current fiscal year, VA medical facilities across the country report they are running out of money and face huge deficits, an emergency situation if there ever was one.

Recognizing this critical need, Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), offered an amendment to the Senate version that would increase funding for the VA by about $2 billion for the current fiscal year. Some $840 million of that money would be used to provide each veterans regional health network with an additional $40 million. The amendment designated $610 million to address the needs of servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and set aside $525 million to provide mental health care and treatment for veterans.

The amendment failed to win approval in two procedural votes largely along party lines.

July/August 2005 Issue of "DAV Magazine"-'DAV Urges Improved Disability Benefits'by Dave Autry.

The DAV has urged the commission set up by Congress to review veterans' disability programs to focus on improvements that will ensure fairness and equity for all eligible beneficiaries.

In testimony before the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, Reese (Randy Reese, National DAV Service Director) said veterans are concerned that such studies could become the basis for efforts to change the eligibility standards for service connection of disabilities. He noted that the Commission's creation stemmed from a failed attempt by the leadership of the House of Representatives to greatly restrict the terms under which service-incurred disabilities would be given service-connected status.

"This proposal to leave it to this nation's sons and daughters to serve in our Armed Forces at their own risk was simply indefensible. It was a bad idea for numerous reasons," Reese said. "Thus, the veterans' community is skeptical because this Commission grew out of a highly criticized attempt to arbitrarily change the eligibility standards for service connection of disabilities for the sole purpose of reducing spending on veterans' disability compensation. We urge the members of this Commission to take the lead in opposing such ill-advised schemes."

Sen. Akaka (D-Hawaii) told the Commission that "any proposal that scales back existing benefits in the name of fiscal responsibility cheapens the service of todays' servicemembers and those that came before them."

Sen. Akaka added that he "will not tolerate any weakening in the definition of service-connection or a system of compensation that differentiates between those injured while in combat and those who are not. Our nation's servicemembers are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

For the full July/August 2005 DAV Magazine (on-line) click on the link (warning: magazine is in PDF format and 21.75 MB) July/August 2005 DAV Magazine

Agent Orange and Other Herbicides.

January/February 2005 Issue of "DAV Magazine"-'Agent Orange: Legacy of Disability'by Thom Wilborn.
"An estimated 21 million gallons of Agent Orange and other herbicides were sprayed over South Vietnam and Cambodia between January 1965 and April 1970," said National (DAV) Service Director Randy Reese. "The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 2.6 million U.S. military personnal were affected, causing disabling and life-threatening illnesses that still are not fully understood."

Today, the list of presumptive service-connected health problems caused by exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides includes chloracne (a skin disease), Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma (a cancer of the blood cells), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, porphyria cutanea tarda (a skin disease caused by a defective liver enzyme), respiratory cancer (lung, bronchus, larynx, and trachea), soft-tissue sarcoma (cancer of the muscles and tendons), acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy (weakening of the nervous system), prostate cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and adult-onset (Type 2) diabetes.

In addition, the VA offers monetary benefits, health care, and vocational rehabilitation to the children of Vietnam veterans who suffer from spina bifida, a congenital birth defect of the spine.

Another area of questioned exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides is Korea. The DoD says that some military personnel were exposed to chemical herbicides in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

January/February 2005 Issue of "DAV Magazine"-'Studies Find Gulf War Illnesses Linked to Toxins'by Dave Autry.
The mysterious illnesses suffered by Gulf War veterans appear to be linked to exposure to toxins, including nerve gas, according to a report published by the VA's Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illness.

The report released in November (2004) said, "A growing body of research indicates that an important component of Gulf War veterans' illnesses is neurological in character" and that the evidence points to "a probable link between exposure to neurotoxins and the development of Gulf War veterans' illnesses."

Hundreds of thousands of veterans of the Gulf War have experienced a wide range of illnesses they believe are linked to the war. These include chronic fatigue, loss of muscle control, gastrointestinal ailments, migraines, dizziness, and memory problems.

"Gulf War veterans are encouraged to contact their nearest DAV National Service Officer for information and assistance with claims for disability compensation for illnesses related to their service in Southwest Asia," said Reese (Randy Reese, National DAV Service Director).

For the full January/February 2005 DAV Magazine (on-line) click on the link (warning: magazine is in PDF format and 14.54 MB) January/February 2005 DAV Magazine

Copyright © 2005 MountainMan Wounded Warriors R.A.
All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be copied or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of MountainMan or Wounded Warriors R.A.