I need some assistance regarding u.s. veterans services

[catmandu57]

My wife's mother's boyfriend is a korean war veteran and p.o.w. from that war. His leg was damn near shot off and the only thing that kept him alive was lying in a snow bank for two days, the cold kept the bleeding down until the N.Koreans found him and made him a prisoner.
What the situation is, he has medical problems now, and recently discovered he is diabetic. If he goes to his VA doctor in Kansas City, he can get his meds at no cost. The problem is getting there, he's getting at the age I wouldn't want to see him coming towards me in a car, and the traffic down there is much more demanding. We need to get him to KC and I'm wondering if there is a transportation service for veterans? One that would give him a ride to and back.
One other thing that has me puzzled, my wife tells me that he never recieved his purple heart, that's odd I thought that even getting scratched during wartime qualified one for a purple heart. How can I rectify this? Thanks, Rick.

[demnan]

1. I suggest you write to your Congressman

Congressional offices usually have a person who specifically helps with Veterans issues that may be able to make an arrangement for him. Go to http://www.house.gov and type in your zip code to find the Congressman if you don't know him. Then I would recommend contacting the Kansas City Branch office and asking for someone to help with Veterans Affairs.

[catmandu57]

2. You know I hate my congessman so much

that I don't know if I could write anything other than eat shit and die maggott. The Disabled American Veterants have a service representative that I'm going to go through. I'm waiting for a repy from them, thanks for the info.

[supernova]

3. Write your congressperson

even if you hate him. In veterans affairs he (or at least his staff) can be your best friends.

Write to his office explaining in very plain English your Father in law's situation and could they please investigate getting him his Purple Heart.

They may or may not have an answer to the transportation problem.

But give them a chance to help you. Not letting your pride over rule your compassion for your FiL is the noble way to go.

If their office turns out not to be helpful, then you can say eat shit and die maggot.

edit: wife's mother's boyfriend. Sorry, got it. But the advice still applies. Afterall, the office dosen't know you're a leftie. To them you're a constituent they must respond to.

[molly]

4. I just talked to my husband - the military has started

refilling prescriptions per phone call once on file. They then send it thru the mail. He suggested you call the VA.

Someone must not have written him up for his purple heart. The officer in charge needed to do it - he cannot write himself up for it. His commanding officer may have died and things fell thru the cracks. You need to contact the dept of the army. They can then look up his service record. It may take time.

[oneighty]

5. Hey Freddie

Google 'Veterans Benefits'. You will get good information there!

Ed

[catmandu57]

8. Thanks 180

I knew if anyone could tell me you could.

[catpower2000]

6. You could petition the VA to have them call in his prescritiptions...

to a pharmacy local to him, since there is a hardship with him getting there. Also, check to see if there is a telephone or online prescription service.

I know with the local VA here in Virginia, vets can see providers who are not regular VA providers if they have it approved beforehand. Maybe it's the same with prescriptions.

However you handle it, be prepared for a LOT of paperwork. They don't get anything done at the VA without at least 50 pieces of paperwork filled out.

Cat

[bicentennial_baby]

7. Call the VA!

My dad gets his prescriptions sent via mail from the VA. If you really need transport to the VA, they should be able to set it up for you. Try to talk to a Patient Advocate, every VA hospital has at least one.

[Johnyawl]

9. about the Purple Heart

Normally the Commanding Officer writes the report to have the Purple Heart awarded, and that's often based on medical reports. Since he wasn't recovered by US forces, or treated by US Medical personnel, no report was generated, at that time. HOWEVER, when he was repatriated (or rescued) they should have done a pretty complete physical on him, and noted the wounds, scars, etc. Wounds suffered while a POW would also garner a Purple Heart. You need to have the VA, or a sympathetic Congressman's office, help research his military record. If they noted in his record his wounds, and no Purple Heart was awarded, he certainly has one coming, but your going to have to demand it, and the best way to do that is politically. You mentioned that you don't like your congressman. How about your Senators? Politicians like doing this sort of thing, it plays well with veterans groups. And the VFW, or American Legion might be a resource, too.

the best of luck to both of you.

[Aristus]

10. As for the ride, many regions offer a professional car pool service

that he may be able to take advantage of. Call the mass transit office and see if they have such a service in that area. It'll probably mean riding the short bus for "special" passengers, but if it gets him his meds and keeps the roads safe, it's worth it.