Comments for Veterans Voices

Comment on Brown Water Bungle: Paperwork error excluded hundreds of Vietnam Navy veterans from receiving Agent Orange benefits by Leo Fox

Leo Fox — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:39:34 +0000

Please see if you can help Merchant Marines who was exposed to Agent Orange ,I several Illness from exposure ,we also lost a daughter from my exposure. I went to Vietnam on the usns General William Weigel an MSTS Ship and the USS Amiee Lykes I have a Vietnam Service Medal I have Deck Log info . The VA said that I had proved my case but because the law did cover Merchant Marines so they could not approve my claims.

Comment on Brown Water Update: VA updates list of Vietnam Navy ships exposed to Agent Orange by Tom M.

Tom M. — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:12:31 +0000

To bad the VA doesn’t read it’s own information. After 4 years of pain, the VA is still denying my AO exposure claims while aboard the USS Belle Grove LSD-2 Nam 65 and they don’t want to believe there own web site list when I send them a copy in response to their denials.

Comment on Brown Water Update: VA updates list of Vietnam Navy ships exposed to Agent Orange by Veterans' Voices

Veterans' Voices — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:31:19 +0000

Can any of our readers help with information or documentation about the USS Obannan?

Comment on Brown Water Update: VA updates list of Vietnam Navy ships exposed to Agent Orange by JIM BARSANTI

JIM BARSANTI — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:06:46 +0000

I WAS ON THE USS O/BANAN DD450 IN V/N IN 69-70. WE WENT UP SOME OF THE RIVER AND WAS CLOSE TO SHORE. CAN YOU LET ME KNOW IF YOU HEAR OF THE SHIP AND IF WE WERE EXPOSED TO A/G THANK YOU JIM

Comment on America’s Forgotten Military Families: Nine years of non-stop deployments, exhaustion, anticipatory grief — with no end in sight by Brandy Curfman

Brandy Curfman — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:04:33 +0000

I am a military wife with a nursing degree in Another state. ive always been independent. But now I can’t even afford a bed to sleep on, and with my husband gone, I’m 13 week pregnant and havent seen a doctor because everyone keeps giving me the run around. I am very depressed, and alone and scared. I feel like I’ve been living like a savage. I really just want to go home…
Thanks for the article.

Comment on Tireless warrior: Kristy Kaufmann fights for military families by gwen pullen

gwen pullen — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:43:31 +0000

THIS IS CONCERNING MY SON AND HIS 3 BOYS HIS EX DOES NOT EVEN PAY WHAT SHE WAS COURT ORDERED TO PAY AFTER JOING THE ARMY SHE GOT A DIVORCE AND DOES NOT EVEN OBEY HER COURT ORDER THE ARMY HAS RUNIED THAT GIRL PLEASE HELP HIM AND HIS BOYS THANK YOU IM HAVING TO LET THEM LIVE WITH ME AND IT IS GETTING TO HARD FOR ME. HE IS NOT ABLE TO WORK THAT WAS HER REASON FOR JOINING THE ARMY SO SHE COULD TAKE CARE OF THEM THANK YOU AGAIN AND HOPE WE HEAR FROM SOME ONE THAT WILL TRY TO HELP US. GWEN PULLEN

Comment on Tireless warrior: Kristy Kaufmann fights for military families by gwen pullen

gwen pullen — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:38:46 +0000

I NEED FOR SOME ONE THAT REALLY WANTS TO HELP A FAMILY FOR THE MILITARY TO CONTACT ME VERY IMPORTANT.

Comment on About by david rios

david rios — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:08:53 +0000

I sorry but I need your help,I don’t know where to go how can I get the results from a VA complain that I set forth on the 23 of May this year? I was at the VA hospital in Long Beach try to get medical help for tingling sensation physical pain in my arms, shoulders and neck. I was not treated or given any medical treatment or advice. But I was peper spray in the eyes, faces and arms. I was also jailed at the Long Beach City Jail. After being release I went to Kaiser emergency and they gave me a shoot of morphine.

Comment on Sailors Adrift: The Lingering Tragedy of Agent Orange by Dr. Dennis M.

Dr. Dennis M. — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:10:32 +0000

I am the only sailor from the USS Newport News (CA-148) to get 4 Agent Orange Disabilies, a Hepatitis C Disability, and a 100% VA Unemployabitity (chronic fatigue). I was issued a Colt 45 side-arm and sent to Danang without any orders — I was told to return to the ship when my mission was completed. I did not have to prove that I touched Vietnam soil because my frst claim was submitted before “boots on ground” went into effect. All of my claims for subsequent problems were hindered by the VA and took over 8 year to be apporved. I was able to complete my VA appeals without any help from any Service Organization — they all said that they could not help me.
Dr. Dennis M. Agin LCDR USN-Ret

Comment on When doing everything right isn’t enough: A Marine’s suicide shows that even the unlikeliest veteran can fall through the cracks. by don

don — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:49:56 +0000

I am a Viet Nam era vetern. I was discharged in 1971. I have lacerations to my left hand. It took a year after I applied for benifits to finally receive them. The VA at that time treated Viet Nam era vets like we didn’t deserve our benifits. I have recently had to us the VA again for my High blood pressure and other issues all related to agent orange. I must say the VA has changed its attitude toward a vet seeking their benifits, Its a lot more positive and very caring and friendly at least the VA in San Francisco.
The first thing I noticed though is the VA is way overwhelmed. They do NOT have enough staffing nor the facilities to handle the influx of vets returning from the middle east. It seems once a vetern leaves the DOD side of service and enters the VA side of things you are on your own to get taken care of. I also feel the VA is still playing catch up with PTSD! My nephew is an Army Medic in Afganistan and has a, as he put it, sever case of PTSD and so the Dr. there put him on “Crazy Meds” as he also states. I could be wrong but I think the militarys attitude toward PTSD is cavalier at best and needs to change from the top on down.