Cedar Creek Voice

“A MAN WHO IS GOOD ENOUGH TO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR HIS COUNTRY IS GOOD ENOUGH TO BE GIVEN A SQUARE DEAL AFTERWARDS.”

     -Theodore Roosevelt- 

americanflag.jpg, www.livingroomtaipei.com                                                                               

                 WHERE LOCAL VETERANS CAN GO FOR HELP:

    by Joseph A. Fuscone, Jr.

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January 8, 2009

A comment — under the POST ” U.S.Troops & Veterans–was received by a Mr. David Brooks who suggested that if any military soldier needed assistance, he / she could check out the “David H. Brooks Foundation for American Wounded Soldiers.”

I searched the internet under David H. Brooks Foundation and a number of sites came up.   I think they are pretty self-explanatory, so if you need special assistance of any kind, do peruse the sites to see if they can be helpful for you.

 

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Cadillac News,  Dec. 5, 2008

DEPARTMENT SAYS IT WILL OPEN

VETERANS’ CLINIC IN CADILLAC

by Matt Whetstone

YOUR LOCAL CONNECTION

New  VA  Clinics:

• What:  New VA clinics announced.
• Where:  The Community Based Outpatient Clinics will open in Cheboygan, Crawford, Huron and Wexford counties.
• When:  The clinics are expected to be open in early 2010.
• Why:  The clinics are designed to ease the burden of veterans who regularly make long trips to VA hospitals in other parts of the state, like Saginaw and Ann Arbor.

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A LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THE V.A.

November 10, 2008 

VVA and VMW Fight For Faster Benefit Decisions and Interim Benefits “Lifeline”

On this date a lawsuit has been filed against Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by two groups, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and Veterans of Modern Warfare (FMW), in the United States District Court for the Distric of Columbia.  The lawsuit seeks to end the unconsciounable delays experienced by veterans when applying for disability benefits.   VVA and VMW seek immediate action to prevent further irraparable harm to our nations’ veterans.   (For more information, read the whole press release by VVA on this week’s – 11/22/08 –  Post  ”U.S. Troops & Veterans News”;  Contact:  Mokie Porter…301-585-4000, Ext. 146, 301-996-0901.)

[January 2009,  followup:  This lawsuit was thrown out of court.]

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SOME GOOD NEWS !

10/17/08:  The December 1, 2008, Cost-Of-Living-Adjustment (COLA) for military and federal civilian retirees, disaabled veterans and survivors will be 5.8 percent, withthe increase first appearing in January 1, 2009, checks.  The same increase will go to Social Security recipients.  President Bush signed the 2009 veterans’ COLA meansure September 25, 2008.

(For more details, see full article in 10/17/08 Post titled: “U.S. Troops & Veterans’ News.”)

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         ATTENTION!          ***   MICHIGAN VETERANS ***

If you are having a problem getting your benefits or if you are just getting the run-around or if you have nowhere else to turn with a problem:

           Call:   SENATOR CARL LEVIN,  D-MI,  Detroit Office at

         (313) 226-6020 and explain your problem to his staff.

                 These people are PRO-VETERAN!

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ARE YOU A VETERAN IN NEED OF A JOB?   For veterans who need a job, please see the following web site: 

Military Jobs,  Go to:    http://www.destinygroup.com 

(Also listed as a permanent Link in Cedar Creek Voice)

These are employers seeking veterans for employment.  Over 100,000 jobs.                                            <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

VETERANS:  Please see the 10/11/08 Post, “U.S.Troops & Veterans’ News” regarding President Bush signing the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act,  especially the part about V.A. home loans:

“…One change in the benefits law that would be vital to many veterans at a time of turmoil in the home mortgage is an overhaul of the veterans’ home loan program that makes it easier for people with non-VA loans to refinance their mortgages through VA. This is done by raising the amount VA will guarantee and reducing the amount of equity a homeowner must have in order to refinance…”

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VIETNAM WALL GOES DIGITAL

A digital image of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial enables users to locate each etertan’s name in the exact location it appears on the memorial in D.C.  From there, information on that person is displayed and any visitor to the website can upload photos of veterans and leave comments and stories free of charge.  While all the records used to make the database are accessible at a National Archives research room in College Park, MD., and at www.archives.gov, the site allows people easier access to these Vietnam records.  Veterans can be searched through 54 different catagories, including name, age, birthday, hometown, home state, start of tour date and rank.  Read the full article at www.military.com.

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(1)     For an explanation of available veterans’ benefits online, go to http://www.military.com/.  (Also, check out the benefits for college for those currently serving, for veterans, or for their children.)

(2)     For medical benefits, call the V.A. Medical Clinic in Traverse City, MI, at (231) 932-9720.  Someone there can explain how to get medical benefits started.

(3)     For other V.A. benefits/compensations,  call Grand Rapids Veterans’ Center, (616) 243-0385.

(4)     For help with any V.A. benefits–or just to meet and socialize with other vets–call local veterans’ organizations such as:

American Legion Post 94, 422 N. Mitchell, Cadillac, MI, (231) 775-6500.

American Veterans (Am-Vets) Post 110, 127 W. Cass Street, Cadillac, MI, (231) 775-7433.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7806, Manton, MI, call(231) 824-3742, and ask for George Blessingham.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV), local chapter meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, 7:00 pm, at the Am-Vets building in Cadillac.

(5)     To request a military funeral for a veteran, contact Ray Nelson, Cadillac Honor Guard, (231) 775-0622.

(6)     For veterans in need of financial aid, contact Michigan Veterans Trust Fund, Wexford County Courthouse, Cadillac, MI,  (231) 775-6654.

(7)     D.A.V. NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICES: 

Michigan Disabled American Veterans

V.A. Regional Office

McNamara Federal Building, Rm.1200

477 Michigan Avenue

Detroit, MI 48226

(313) 964-6595.

               ~~~~~

National Service Program

Disabled American Veterans

807 Maine Avenue, SW

Washington,  D.C.  20024

Internet:  www.dav.org.

 

(8)     Fire-Base Independence. 

[David Frazier passed away Feb. 5th, 2009.   Due to lack of funds, his widow will not be able to keep Fire-Base Independence going.]

“In Serving Each Other We Become Free.”  & “Never Again Shall One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another.”  

For more information, contact David and Gloria Frazier, 1101 Musser Road, Mancelona, MI 49659, (231) 587-5627 or (231) 564-2790.  glofrazier@torchlake.com.

(9)   For those who need TRANSPORTATION to and from Michigan V.A. clinics and medical facilities call:

Harvey Showalter, Treasurer, DAV Chapter 43, Manistee, Michigan…………………(231) 723-5845. 

The van and driver provided by the Manistee DAV chapter will serve those in the Cadillac/Manton area. 

(10)     THE GRAND RAPIDS HOME FOR VETERANS is operated by the Michigan Deptartment of Military and Veteran Affairs.  Ninety tree-covered acres of well-tended lawns with picnic areas and a duck pond provides a peaceful setting for the 755-bed facility. 

ELIGIBILITY:  To be eligible, a veteran must be a Michigan resident or a Michigan veteran and have served honorably for at least 90 days or have been honorably discharged prior to 90 days due to a service-related disability.  A veteran must have been on active duty in the US Armed Forced during a period of war.  [World War I; World War II; Cold War; Korean Conflict; Vietnam War; or Persian Gulf War.]   A spouse, widow(er) or parent of an eligible veteran may also be a member.   Members are required to pay what they can, determined on an individual basis.  The factors considered include the level of care required, ability to pay, and dependency status. 

HOW TO APPLY:  Admission applications are available from the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans,  hospital social service departments, V.A. Medical Centers, veterans’ organization representatives, County Couselor’s Trust Fund, and the Soldier’s Relief Office. 

CALL:      1-800-MICH VET  or  visit website: www.mich.gov/dmva, select “Veterans Affairs”, then select Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.   

 (11)    VA TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT INCREASED.

 Over a million eligible veterans will now see their mileage reimbursements more than double for travel to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities.  The 2008 appropriations act provided funding for VA to increase the travel reimbursement rate from 11 cents per mile to 28.5 cents per mile.  The increase went into effect on Feb. 1st. 

This is the first increase in the mileage reimbursement in 30 years.  VA also increased the deductible amounts applied to certain mileage reimbursements.  The new deductibles are $7.77 for a one-way trip, $15.54 for a round trip, with a maximum of $46.62 per calendar month.  However, these deductibles can be waived if they cause financial hardship to the veteran.  (military.com/benefits, 2/7/08) 

[Editor's note:  Thirty years ago the price of gasoline was about 65 cents per gallon.]

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(12)      ~~~~~ MICHIGAN SOLDIERS~~~~~

“For the men and women from Michigan who have lost their lives while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.”       

Welcome to the official webpage of Fallen Heroes Memorial Foundation, Michigan Chapter, Lest They Be Forgotten Memorial Project.  Our mission is to create, establish, and help maintain hometown memorials in honor of the brave men and women from Michigan, who have lost their lives defending the United States of America in the war against terrorism.

     Please visit the site frequently as it will be continually updated with new information and pictures as they become available.

     Just click on this e-mail address:   

    http://www.michigansoldiers.com 

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(13)      WAR HERO, AUDIE MURPHY AND PTSD.

     Audie Leon Murphy was the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of WW I I and in U.S. history, serving 3 years in the Army and fighting in 9 major campaigns in the European Theater.   He was wounded 3 times and earned 33 awards, including the Medal of Honor.   After returning home, he later became a movie star, his most famous movie being about his own war experiences, “To Hell and Back.”

     After surviving WW I I , Audie Murphy suffered the rest of his life 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 an effort to draw attention to the problms 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 the 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.

(14)     POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER OVERVIEW.  

          (Military.com/Benefits, 03/13/2008)

          Posttraumatic Stress Disorder can occur following a life-threatening event like military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape.  Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time.  However, some people have stress reactions that don’t go away on their own, or may even get worse over time.  These individuals may develop PTSD.           

           People who suffer from PTSD often suffer from nightmares, flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, and feeling emotionally numb.  These symptoms can significantly impair a person’s daily life. 

            PTSD is marked by clear physical and psychological symptoms.  It often has symptoms  like depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other physical and mental health problems.  The disorder is also associated with difficulties in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital problems, family discord, and difficulties in parenting. 

            In the face of rising suicide rates among Soldiers, the Army is making a renewed effort to help Soldiers at risk and educate Soldiers and leaders about the signs to look for in their battle buddies and subordinates.

Here are few resources from Military.com:

National Center for PTSD

PTSD Resources.org

Readjustment Counseling Resources

PTSD Facts for Veterans

PTSD Information for Guard and Reserve members

Military Severely Injured Center

(15)   VA TO ACCEPT MILITARY’S PTSD DIAGNOSIS

Army Behavioral Health Website 

                         (Military.com/Benefits, 03/13/2008)         

Veterans who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while on active duty will now be recognized as having PTSD for VA purposes.  This decision will end VA’s requirement that veterans diagnosed with PTSD while on active duty provide additional evidnce of exposure to specific stressors during their service in order to establish their diagnosis of PTSD.   Responding to an inquiry from U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, VA Secretary Peake directed the VA regional offices to no longer require such evidence but instead to immediately schedule examinations for such veterans in order to determine the severity of their PTSD for VA compensation purposes.       

(16)  AMERICA’S VET DOGS.

America’s Vet Dogs provide guide, service, and therapy dogs to disabled veterans throughout the country and is a new program from the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.  The organization trains and supplies guide dogs for the visually impaired veteran and service dogs for those who have disabilities other than blindness.  In addition, training on Trekker, an orientation aid that uses GPS technology and digital maps to help blind and visually impaired people navigate unfamiliar territory, is also offered.  For more information, visit the America’s Vet Dogs website.