Benefits for Widows Due to Lou Gehrig's Disease

Widows Benefits Due to Lou Gehrig's Disease
Widows Benefits Due to Lou Gehrig's Disease

A reminder: On Sept. 23, 2008, Lou Gehrig’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, was made a presumptive condition for all veterans who served in our armed forces for at least 90 days.

This means that widows of those veterans who died of Lou Gehrig’s disease in years past are now eligible for the VA widows’ monthly benefit.

For more information, contact Fred Campbell, Chairman of VA Outreach for American Ex-Prisoners of War, 3312 Chatterton Dr., San Angelo, TX 76904, or at fredrev@webtv.net.

This benefit affects widows of all veterans, not just former POWs).

It is  vital information such as this that generally circulates by word of mouth or helpful sites like ours.

Possible Reasons for Membership Troubles in Veteran Fraternal Organizations; VFW/American Legions/Vietnam Veteans of America/DAV

In the recent confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, Senator Jeff Sessions made a comment that was modestly disturbing to me.  He stated; ” to be sympathetic to one party, is to be prejudiced to another.” The disturbing aspect of this mindset is that  it is delivered in such an authoritative and declarative fashion, as if it is objective truth.

This style of polarized, ‘us versus them’ mentality,  that dominates most all editorial boards and certainly the mass of talk shows, has so divided the nation that I am not sure how we  can put Humty Dumty back together.  We seen to be in a permanent Red vs. Blue State  campaign mode and have forgotten how to stop campaigning and shift to governing.

I am of the ilk that it is this new, in your face zeitgeist that has become the dominant cultural thinking style  of our time,  and  is at the core of the waning membership in many of our venerated veterans organizations.

What returning soldier wants to place themselves in such an environment?  While the Charters of organizations like the VFW and  American Legion have clauses about  being  a  bit to raucous or one sided we nevertheless have created an environment where the young men and women who need the advocacy of the group do not want to associate with such charged personalities.  Especially with someone who would think that to be sympathetic begets the polar opposite of prejudicial behavior.

Is it possible that there are hidden forces in DC who would prefer to have Veteran organizations fade into the sunset?   If we continue with the divisive and extreme partisan behavior that blankets our daily lives, we will see an incremental  decline in the simple desire to associate  for common causes, so as to avoid confrontation, and the consequent weariness  it brings.

The diminished influence of  the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the  American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, DAV and others, would not  be a good thing, and I fault the elected leaderhip and the insatiable needs of 24/7  media with the lagging  membership rolls, as they feed on the polarity they created.

A Marine Visits Fort Sam Houston Army Base

In my 50 years of living in the wild west with many excursions to innumerable places throughout the Republic of Texas, I never once visited the army base named after the first President of Texas, Sam Houston.

While traveling with an old friend, Tom Dorgan, to San Antonio, we stopped to visit his daughter who is stationed at Fort Sam Houston Army Base. Our casual intent was to attend an on-base soccer tournament between the brigades. My pal’s daughter is one of the stellar performers in the tourney, and very possibly a future soccer player for the Army squad. Little did I know what an enlightening experience I would have during our leisure time between matches.

At first glance, this may not appear to be a localized story were it not for the abiding faith I have in our Armed Forces to protect us in any locale, whatever the need, including natural disasters, internal unrest, and charitable aid to nations. It is our collective humanity that speaks through the young men and women who are the fruits of the training at Fort Sam Houston.

Fort Sam Houston has been the home of soldiers defending our nation for over a century. Prior to World War II, this was the largest base in the nation, and the home of Eisenhower and Patton. Military aviation was born here in 1910. In 1917, General Pershing housed 427 Chinese refugees from Mexico here, and subsequently employed them on the base. In 1921, the Chinese were granted legal residency in the United States. (There may be a modern day message here.) It is now the home of the U.S. Army Medical Department Regiment where much of the training for the Armed Forces is accomplished.

The U.S. Army Medical Department was formed on July 27th, 1775 when the Continental Congress authorized a medical service for an Army of 20,000. It created the Hospital Department, and named Dr. Benjamin Church of Boston the first Director General. In 1818, Congress passed an act establishing the role of Surgeon General, marking the beginning of the Medical Department of the Army.There was no formal regimental organization until WWI. In the 1950’s, the brigade replaced the regiment as a tactical unit.

The U.S. Army Medical Department Regiment was activated on July 28th, 1986 bringing together training for the Army Reserves, and the Army National Guard, contributing to the Total Army concept.

The Army Medical Department Museum is an eye opener for the average civilian. While this museum depicts the history of military medicine from 1775 to the present, it simultaneously provides a glimpse of the history of science and technology from the inception of the Republic. It’s archival, photographic, and reference materials are par excellence.

Without the work of Army medicine and research, we would not have had such rapid control of typhoid and typhus and smallpox, and very possibly not experienced the current level of world trade and travel. Infection control, water purification, use of penicillin, ether, and x-rays all had their test runs in the United States Army.

The storage of blood, and the understanding and correlations of weather and health had their genesis in Army Medical Specialties, both of which contribute to a readiness for any eventual mass casualty or disruption of nature.

Technology is clearly a force multiplier, and every citizen of this nation in every state of the nation is a beneficiary of the training and skills imparted at Fort Sam Houston.

The history of the Army may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I do sleep well after touring this base, meeting the men and women who serve our nation in the capacity of nurses, combat medics, veterinarians, medical doctors, and the myriad support medical services. The esprit de corps of these soldiers from ages 17-60 is most impressive. Even for an old Marine!

Carry on Soldier!

Border Agents Plan Use of Agent Orange-like Herbicide on Rio Grande

Defoliate 130 miles of populated land along the Rio Grande to thwart illegal crossers? Is that even moral? Sounds sickeningly familiar. We used defoliation in Vietnam to eliminate hiding places. The Vietnamese, our own Vietnam generation, and all our children are paying the price in birth defects, deaths and disabilities. Read more at Natural News.

Meds to Go to Bed

Army researchers have been examining an inexpensive and generic drug called prazosin that has been used for combat veterans in need of more restorative sleep.

The principal investigators for this study are based at the Puget Sound Veterans Administration Hospital, Col. Kris Petersen, Chief of Psychiatry at Madigan Army Medical Center, and Dr. Murray Raskind, the director of mental health services.

Prazosin came to market in 1973 as a adjunct treatment for high blood pressure and also to ameliorate the symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

In the late 1990’s Raskind was able to demonstrate that prazosin was effective in reducing nightmares, and their effects on sleep patterns in a population of Vietnam Veterans. Recurring nightmares and intrusive recollections of war are quite common in veterans of war.

It is theorized that surges in adrenaline in the brain are a causative factor in nightmares. These surges are part of the adaptive survival mechanism in combat. When leaving the combat arena, the arousal mechanism does not shut down, leaving the veteran in a hyper-vigilant state, even in sleep. Prazosin assists in suppressing that surge of bio-chemical reactions.

Many veterans have unfortunately turned to alcohol to slow down the brain in order to sleep, and abate the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress. This is, of course, a false tonic and leads to endless other health issues. With small doses of prazosin near bedtime and one during the day, it has been noted that alcohol usage has abated, suicidal ideation has disappeared and normal sleep patterns have returned.

I can testify to knowing a handful of veterans who have reported these positive results. However the question always remains, with a nursing drop-out like me, do we report all of the findings and the effects of long term usage? I am also somewhat suspect of an old drug that is “morphed” for a new usage. For the meantime, a pharmacological answer to searing of the soul is probably okay. But the soul has its own pilgrimage, and it is not with pills. What do you think?

Veterans Global

The intention of creating this category is to seek and find veterans from around the world who may be interested in a dialogue regarding the state of nation in our respective countries.
Over the years I have received emails from veterans in Italy, Greece, and Israel, yet we have never had a forum that is ongoing. This may be the chance to create something quite unique.
For instance, I have always wondered what is was like for the French after they lost so significantly in Vietnam in 1954. Those vets would be the age of our Korean Veterans. I would also like to track down some South Korean Marines; ROKS, who not only saved my fanny in the Nam but were critical to our war efforts. It would be a real energizer to connect with these men. Maybe one day Gannett will help us with this!

Memorial for John Mair

The Memorial for John Mair will be held at Abbey Funeral home on North First Ave. on Tuesday July 7th from 4-7pm. Since John had not been rated 100% Disabled for very long, his VA death benefits will not be able to transfer to his wife. In fact his last check went into the bank by way of automatic deposit and will need to be returned. His mortgage payment was taken out of that check, and his wife is now in jeopardy with their new home.
I know that there are many heartfelt stories out there in these trying financial times, yet it seems like such a miscarriage of justice that the man who helped everyone get their claims through is without assistance when it is needed most.
Donations can be directed to Bertha Mair c/o Don Barton at 380 S. Treston Ln. Tucson, Az. 85712.
If someone gets hurt in heaven, I am sure John will be there to pick them up.

A Very Good Man

A very good and decent man passed yesterday. His name was John Mair. He was one of the finest Veteran Service Officers in the State. He worked for the Arizona Department of Veterans Affairs, and saved the lives of many men and women who needed advocacy with their Disability Claims. John succumbed to a brain tumor. So tragic as he had just retired. I will post Memorial Information when I am informed. God speed John.

Retreats For Combat Veterans

I just completed the 14th workshop/retreat for combat veterans at the Merritt Center in Payson, Az. I cannot say enough about how unique and powerful this venue is for the learning of new life skills while transitioning from war to civilian life. While the local VA does a stellar job in their service to returning vets, this program is a spiritual addendum to conventional care. By spiritual, I do not mean mainline churchy stuff. I am talking about deep soul sharing and the validation that combat veterans afford each other in dialogue and structured Native American Talking Circles, Sweat Lodges, and Hopi Ceremonies. This is not your Father’s therapy! I wish I could take every single returning veteran to this sacred place before they enter the workforce. And it is free!