VFW Quartermaster McDonald responds to Retired Colonel Sullivan

Many of our local veterans and their families have asked me to respond to the letter to the editor by Retired Colonel Robert P. Sullivan (TRR, July 10-16).

Who is this guy? Living in Virginia, what does he know about vets’ medical services up here?

Indeed, it is he, not I, who has done a great disservice to the Defense Department, to all retired veterans and to our young servicemen and women now standing in harm’s way.

First, we have a lot of veterans in this area, but very few who retired from the military and therefore are not eligible for everything he is. Indeed, our monthly VFW meetings are full of unhappy veterans who have been shortchanged with health care, medical benefits and prescriptions. Some are even at the point of leaving the veterans’ health care facilities and returning to their family doctors.

It’s absolutely ridiculous.

Second, I did not write any article as he so stated.

TRR’s reporter Richard A. Ross, who attended an AARP picnic, wrote the article he is referring to. I had nothing to do with Mr. Ross’ being there or coming over to the table I was sitting at to “ask the opinion of the eight senior citizens” on senior citizen’s health issues.

Third, as I had nothing to do with the contents or the article, I see where he quoted me as saying what Joe Carr and our VFW Commander Paul Zimmermann said to him.

Fourth, I am not a Vietnam Veteran and never told him I was. I am a WWII Navy veteran.

Fifth, I take great exception to his stating that, “Mr. McDonald’s statement (as to a Class Action lawsuit against the government) is false and misleading.” Apparently, Colonel, you’ve been out of it too long, as even the website literature you quote is full of the class action lawsuit information.

Here’s how the class action lawsuit against the government came up at our monthly meeting.

One of our members, who served 23 years in the Army and Air Force and who is retired from the service, brought up the written literature on the case and asked for our post’s support and backing. We voted to do so. That is how we were made aware of this particular lawsuit.

The suit was brought forth by Colonel “Bud” Day’s Case 02-1226, William O. Schism and Robert L. Reinlie vs. the United States. The case involves military retiree health care restoration. The class action group’s email address is: lawsuit@classact-lawsuit.com. Call 800/972-6275 for information.

The papers I have state: “U.S. government agents promised soldiers, which the government does not dispute, lifetime government funded health care for them and their dependents in return for 20 or more years of active military service. This medical care promise applies to retirees, their families and widows. The government offered a verbal contract; military men and women accepted the offer and fulfilled the contract. The government has reneged on the contract and withdrawn the medical care.

Soldiers gave life and limb, blood, sweat and tears to save our nation during the 20th century and this case is simply seeking justice. Our government is being challenged to honor its commitment to warriors, nothing more nothing less.”

Did you know that the Veteran’s Administration would not even directly assist our veterans with an appeal to the government, which is why we need veteran’s service officers to assist us? Did you also know that the House Budget Committee recently proposed a one-percent cut in domestic spending, including funds for sick and disabled veterans?

This is unconscionable!

Did you know that we are losing 1,100 to 1,200 WWII veterans each day?

I guess the government is merely waiting for all of us WWII veterans to idle off and just go away!

I have been Quartermaster of the Tusten-Highland Memorial Post #6427 VFW since 1999 and am dedicated to the best for our servicemen and women of today and yesteryears.

How dare you challenge my dedication? Your cited www.com’s tell our membership and post nothing we don’t already know.

We have a specific Ward B in Castle Point Veterans’ Hospital, where we take Christmas gifts and hold an annual picnic for our disabled vets. We just had our picnic this past Wednesday where you would have gotten an earful right as to veterans’ care and doctors. All these men and women are wheelchair bound or in beds. One wheelchair vet has been there for six months waiting for a doctor to operate on his foot while another has been there over five years and said it’s almost impossible to see a specialist in any field.

While the medical staff and nurses are wonderful to these men and women, most all agree it’s hard to see a doctor specifically for their needs.

QM Joseph T. McDonald, Post #6427
Barryville, NY