GunnyL said:
And they talk it up far more than what it's worth. My benefits haven't changed. My buddy, who gets 100% VA disability, his hasn't changed. We must not be in the right crowd.
However, the politicans in DC, and it was the Dems before the Republicans -- continually snipe at military benefits. I was one of the last of the Mohicans when it came to getting a full 50% of my base pay for retirement at retirement. They have had two succeeding retirement programs, both of which come out to about 35% (at 20 years). A Democrat Congress did that. And voted themselves a pay raise.
Free medical for life? Well, it's free for about $35 a month. That might sound good to most civilians who pay $100 or more a week, but it's still the principle.
I still can't quite fathom though why a bunch of military-hating Dems give a rat's ass about VA benefits, except that since now it is the Republicans just carrying on a time-honored tradition the Dems were more than happy to do when they had control, it's cool to point a finger.
I'll say I honestly don't know as much as I probably should about VA benefits. My dad served in WWII. I know he got a GI Loan with 100% financing for his first house. I know he could have gone through college with 100% paid. I know he could have had a life insurance premium that cost like zip. So too medical care, but until relatively recently, that wasn't going to happen. He had plenty of insurance from work and liked picking his own docs, dentists, etc. He wanted nothing to do with army surroundings.
He was pretty badly wounded, he gets $128 per month today. (I just asked him). From the middle of his right arm down, including his hand, there are no nerve endings. (At Omaha they wanted to amputate the hand.) It works, but it doesn't look great and there is no feeling. The man cuts himself on all sorts of things and doesn't know it until he notices the blood dripping. It's been like that since before I was born; I thought lawn mowing was extremely dangerous, like changing oil in the car. He always cut himself on the blade of the mower and fan.
He has Hepatitis C, from transfusions received after being wounded. His eyesight was shot during the war, he was in the desert in TX, without eye protection for over a year. He's had two surgeries to save his sight.
He still has enough schrapnel in his back, butt, and legs to set off the detectors at airports and courthouses. When we were kids and he took us swimming, it was so 'cool' to hear pieces of metal fall out of him and hit the aluminum bottom of the pool. Then we would throw them and race to who could find 'em first. (I know, we were easily amused).
His take, the GI's today are being cared for better than those from the Vietnam era or until about 1980. At least as well as the WWII vets were treated. Today he thinks, they are doing pretty good, though the government should be more worried about the guys in the field than the vets at home; from any service, at any time. He said, "I'd gladly give up my $125, hearing aid coverage, and prescription service, if that meant the difference that those kids serving have the right helmet protection and anything else they need." But he doesn't think that is what will provide the goods.
I don't think there really is much difference between the 'Greatest generation and the Great generation', those serving today.
Personally, I don't think that we should ever short shift those that serve, but I have to agree with my dad, the first priority should be those in harm's way, literally. Then for me, would come those whose injuries, physical or mental need ongoing treatment. The hospitals should be places that call out to and welcome all Americans to come and pay tribute through visits to those they serve.
I gotta say, my dad goes to the VA at Hines every 2 months, for kidney monitoring due to the hepatitis. He visits with some of the wounded there, mostly from Vietnam Era, though there are Korean vets too. This has been going on for the past 5 years, since my mom's illness forced him to look for lower cost medical care. He's made 'friends' with several vets there, who call here pretty often. It seems they can't say enough good things about him or him them.
It's weird having an 86 year old dad with 'buddies' in their late 50's and 60's. It's even weirder having him called 'cool.' :shocked: It's also weird having a dad that has 'rediscovered' his brothers in arms. He never talked about the war, until I started teaching and asked him to join a panel of 'vets' from WWII through Gulf War I, which happened prior to 9/11. He said things in class, I'd never heard. Since then, my brother and I learned more and have kept some records for family history.
