More than 736,000 of our nation's heroes are still waiting for their veterans benefit

[opsspec1991]

Backlog nightmare: More than 736,000 of our nation's heroes are still waiting for their veterans benefits.

Now, one state is stepping in where the federal government is falling short: Massive Veterans Claims Backlog: When Will the Problem Get Fixed? | Fox News Insider

 

[rev. dave]

Has to be intentional. There's no other excuse.

 

[gunnerbob]

I met many heroes over there... sure enough, I wasn't anywhere close to being made up of the same material.

"Never have I seen such lions fight for such lambs." I did my part, I made my sacrifice... but I am not anything close to being a hero. Most of the heroes I knew are either dead or seriously wounded. When civilians thank me for my service and call me a hero, I tell them to save that honor for the one's who come home in boxes or wheelchairs.

Since we're on the topic, visit Operation Veterans Relief at: Link Removed or search them on Facebook... This is an organization I'm involved with here in SC.

 

[rev. dave]

Gunnerbob - your lack of ego in that regard makes you a kind of hero to my way of thinking. You're correct of course, but you did your part too and yet give all the credit to those who were killed or seriously injured. To me that places you a step higher than most of us.

 

[telpinaro]

Just by being in and getting discharged with something better than a DD makes every vet a hero? The more times people say things like that, the more they devalue true heroes.

While I agree (and I'm a vet myself), I think what people who call all vets heroes mean that people who volunteer for the armed services, whether they do it for college money or to help protect the country have at some time decided they are willing to be a hero if they are called to be. A lot of naive kids don't really think about it when they first join, and maybe some never do. But at some point, everyone has to confront the idea that they may be called to give up everything, or take everything from someone else. Some people can handle that, some can't. Anyway, just my two cents. Can't speak for everyone, but that's how I take it.

 

[XD40scinNC]

Has to be intentional. There's no other excuse.

Nope, just utter and total incompetence seasoned with a great deal of "don't give a damn". As was mentioned, no one that works for the VA can do such a piss poor job that they will get fired. Go to your office and take a nap and wait for the 'exceptional employee bonus' checks that are handed out routinely.

 

[gunnerbob]

Gunnerbob - your lack of ego in that regard makes you a kind of hero to my way of thinking. You're correct of course, but you did your part too and yet give all the credit to those who were killed or seriously injured. To me that places you a step higher than most of us.

I appreciate that, Dave.

 

[thru]

if you signed on with a war going on and were not nice and safe in the Navy or AirForce,then you put your life at risk.

 

[S&W645]

if you signed on with a war going on and were not nice and safe in the Navy or AirForce,then you put your life at risk.

I think that you know little about either branch you belittle. What is the chance of a submariner being shot at by Iraq or Afghanistan. Very little but yet they still have a dangerous job and did have a hand in warfare in Iraq. Cruise missiles ring a bell? Also remember, every Marine group has someone there to treat them for wounds. A Navy Corpsman ( no 0bama, that isn't pronounced corpse man ) in most cases. Jobs in the military no matter what the MOS carry some sort of danger added above the same civilian job type. Think shipboard intel work is safe? Tell that to the families of the crew of the USS Liberty or their fellow shipmates. Or the Air Force or Navy guys on board EC-121s, P2Vs, B-57s, or the other Cold War aircraft that flew intel missions. Clerks and typist had to be trained just like cooks and infantry men to carry a rifle because they never knew when they were going to need to use one.

 

[gunnerbob]

if you signed on with a war going on and were not nice and safe in the Navy or AirForce,then you put your life at risk.

I am USAF... I was attached to the 455 SFS, which was assigned to conduct/operate within ISAF in Parwan Province, providing security to convoys going back and forth to/from FOB Shank. In today's modern military, it doesn't matter what branch you're in... you can still be "on the front" and "outside the wire". Even being a POG at a large base such as Bagram or Balad, you get harrassed with IDF daily. Did you know that some FOBs, such as Shank, have airfields...? With airfields comes Airman (along with every other branch)... What about USAF CCT, PJ, TACP, SFS and EOD.......? Those are all "combat" jobs while down range.