GARDEN GROVE, CA – Veterans-For-Change, an advocacy group for Veterans rights, benefits, and treatment, would like to bring to your attention the ever-increasing serious problems affecting veterans and their families every day.
President Barack Obama addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention held in Phoenix, Arizona on August 17, 2009. He stated, “Whether you left the service in 2009 or 1949, we will fulfill our responsibility to deliver the benefits and care that you earned. That’s why I’ve pledged to build nothing less than a 21st-century VA.”
Supporting President Obama’s position about Veterans benefits and care, Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, has accepted the “solemn responsibility to uphold our sacred trust with our nation’s Veterans.” According to the website, http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123198485 Secretary Shinseki stated, “We are going to break the back of this backlog this year…” The article states that, “Once the paperwork is intact, VA reps then will ‘work with the veteran to put together the best and strongest argument to win the case,” quoted Shinseki. “This is VA going to bat with itself…”
Perhaps that is what NEEDS TO BE DONE. The VA needs to go into paperwork and computer generated war to battle with itself. It is an issue and a battle that every Veteran who files a claim must continue to fight…battle…fight…battle, like a hamster or a guinea pig spinning along in a cage – getting nowhere in a hurry!
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki stated in another article quoted, “Since my confirmation as Secretary, I’ve often asked why, 40 years after Agent Orange was last used in Vietnam, we’re still trying to determine the health consequences to our veterans who served in the combat theatre. Veterans who endure a host of health problems deserve timely decisions.”
Perhaps you, Secretary Shinseki and President Obama are not aware of the problems affiliated with the VA and Veterans Benefits. Veterans-For-Change would like to address the following problems/issues:
AO, TCE/PCE, Benzene Contamination:
Every day, thousands of veterans who served in Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and CONUS are denied benefits they are entitled to for exposure to dioxin from Agent Orange and other defoliants.
In addition to service overseas, we have countless thousands of veterans who served on many military bases stateside who were exposed to TCE, PCE, Benzene and approximately 35-45 more harmful chemicals, never provided safety and use instruction or equipment, and are now just as equally ill.
In both S.E. Asia and CONUS Agent Orange was used as a defoliant. In S.E. Asia, the chemicals were used to protect our troops and prevent the enemy from hiding in the foliage to kill many more of our fighting men and women.
In the CONUS, they were used to keep surroundings of various military buildings free from unwanted vegetation growth and keeps it clean and neat looking.
On all military bases, on board ships, everywhere mechanical components were cleaned and re-used TCE was the chemical of choice as a degreaser. PCE is the chemical of choice for dry cleaners, again never used with any protective gear.
Veterans who served in Korea and on the DMZ are denied benefits due to erroneous reports about where these chemicals were deployed and that there is a “residual life” of Agent Orange Dioxin which if were true then why are we in Viet Nam helping the Vietnamese government to clean up the land that was contaminated some 40 years ago.
According to the reliable website, http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/ “October 13, 2009 Secretary Shinseki decided to establish service-connection for Vietnam Veterans with B cell leukemia, such as hairy cell leukemia; Parkinson’s disease; and ischemic heart disease. This is based on an independent study by the Institute of Medicine showing an association with exposure to Agent Orange. Vietnam veterans with these diseases may be eligible for disability compensation and health care benefits.”
Veterans-For-Change believes exposure to Agent Orange is truly exposure to a deadly chemical, regardless of the location where it was deployed. There have been far too many reports of illness, including cancers, Diabetes, heart disease, and many, many more – all related to service or tour of duty in a combat zone, or in a contaminated zone!
One of the chemicals in the Agent Orange herbicide combination contained contaminating traces of TCDD (dioxin). Dioxin has been shown to cause a variety of illnesses in laboratory animals. http://veteransinfo.tripod.com/Background_on_Agent_Orange.pdf. Studies also suggest that the chemical may be related to a number of cancers and other health effects in humans. http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/health_effects.asp The research data speaks for itself – Agent Orange was and is a deadly, toxic chemical, destroying the health and lives of many Veterans, including those who served in Korea and on the DMZ.
Many of these Veterans are continuously denied as the missions they served on were, and still to this day remain, classified by the DoD even though former President Bush signed executive order 13292 on March 28, 2003 directing classified missions beyond 25 years be declassified. Veterans-For-Change, as an advocacy group, has as its mission to broadcast and inform all veterans about their rights concerning Agent Orange, regardless of when and where the military veteran was exposed. You, the legislators of our proud, and courageous country owe a debt of gratitude and benefits and care to our veterans. Please take a stand and help us to provide the best care for our veterans. Take action today!
Veterans-For-Change expects members of Congress to uphold the promises of decades to care for those who fought to defend our Country, and to practice what was established by the Continental Congress in 1776 — “the United States has the most comprehensive system of assistance for veterans for any nation in the world.” Now, in the Twenty First Century, it is time to draft, sign, and present legislation to correct wrongs from centuries ago. It is time to practice what was created and promised to motivate, service and care for our veterans. It is time to take the Veterans Administration INTO the Twenty-first Century!
Stem Cell Research:
Stem Cell Research is critical in many areas of concern not just to veterans for illnesses such as Parkinson’s and ALS, but a host of other illnesses that the end product of Stem Cell Research can provide many benefits even up to the possibility of a cure.
Granted there are hundreds of research projects going on across the country, and even more people who are adverse to this kind of research, but no one is asking people to step up for abortions, but that the testing on cord stem cell, and other sources be thoroughly examined, tested, and potential cures developed to help the countless thousands of veterans and civilians from some pretty nasty and rather devastating illnesses.
Veterans-For-Change would ask that any future bills that come forward for Stem Cell Research be voted on, passed and enacted, not only for the lives of those who served, but civilians as well. And keep in mind that the potential cures could save the VA Healthcare system billions of dollars over time.
Depleted Uranium:
According to VHA Handbook 1303.1, transmittal sheet dated September 2, 2004, which is, suppose to be used for evaluation protocol for Gulf War and Iraqi Freedom veterans with potential exposure to depleted uranium (DU), DU is a radiation hazard primarily if internalized, such as in shrapnel, contaminated wounds, and inhalation. This protocol has not been followed as of the writing of this letter.
The area of contamination which was once thought to be only in the immediate vicinity of the incident was expanded to include a 1000 mile radius from Baghdad according to a report entitled “Silent WMD’s — Effects of Depleted Uranium”, by Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, February 29, 2004, which can be seen at this link. http://www.thepowerhour.com/articles/du_effects.htm
This report has been out for over 6 years yet nothing is being done for the thousands of Gulf War veterans who have been affected by this radiation that ravages their bodies. There have been numerous tests and scientific evidence of the vast harm that DU does and has does to thousands of Gulf War veterans yet the VA and Secretary Shinseki continue to deny service connection for DU exposure therefore denying the proper medical care and benefits those effected need. We implore you to stop delaying and denying benefits to these brave men and women and provide them what they earned by their service to this great country. Do not let this become another “Agent Orange” and the legacy that it holds. We are asking you to keep your end of the contract that these veterans signed as they have kept theirs with honor and dignity.
Veterans-For-Change expects members of Congress to uphold the promises of decades to care for those who fought to defend our Country, and to practice what was established by the Continental Congress in 1776 — “the United States has the most comprehensive system of assistance for veterans for any nation in the world.” Now, in the Twenty First Century, it is time to draft, sign, and present legislation to correct wrongs from centuries ago. It is time to practice what was created and promised to motivate, service and care for our veterans – ‘nothing less than a 21st-century VA.’
President Obama has said: “We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America, a commitment that begins with enlistment and must never end.”
If our nation rescinds its promises and ignores its obligation to those who have fought to preserve freedom throughout the world, we compromise the right to ask our men and women to serve and defend our national principals. The choice is yours. With the election of 2010 in mind, please take action to defend and service our country and our proud and deserving veterans today!
Voice Your Concerns
Take a stand to stop the endless spinning wheel of a hamster or guinea pig. Take a stand so our Veterans are treated as human beings, not pin cushions, or undeserving human beings. Veterans served our country with dedication to duty. Isn’t it time America and the VA treated our soldiers and veterans with the respect, and the benefits so promised.
Veterans-For-Change has been crying out to all 535 members of Congress going on four years this April 2010, as President Wilson said, a leader’s ears must ring with the voices of the people! Veteran’s voices will be ringing in the polling places come November! Let us all Take Action and Voice Our Concerns. Washington — Do you hear us?
Jim Davis is the son of USMC MGySgt. Lesley Davis (Ret.) who passed away on April 24, 2006, from ALS caused by Agent Orange. His dad’s mission before he passed on was to ensure all veterans, spouses, children, and widows all received the benefits, medical care and attention, and proper facilities from the VA.
Because of the promise made to his dad to carry on the mission, in May 2006 Davis began as a one-man show sending out 535 letters every single week to all members of Congress requesting and politely demanding the fulfill their promises made over the past decades to care for life those who wore the uniform and their families.
Veterans-For-Change was born in August 2006 with a very small membership of 25 people composed of veterans, spouses, widows, family members, and friends and to date continues to grow.
ATTENTION READERS
We See The World From All Sides and Want YOU To Be Fully InformedIn fact, intentional disinformation is a disgraceful scourge in media today. So to assuage any possible errant incorrect information posted herein, we strongly encourage you to seek corroboration from other non-VT sources before forming an educated opinion.
About VT - Policies & Disclosures - Comment Policy
