Justices Refuse To Hear Veterans Benefits Case

The Washington Times ^ | 060303 | The Washington Times

[gunnyg]

Res Ipsa Loquitur...

Semper Fidelis
Dick Gaines, GySgt USMC (Ret.)
1952-72

[toddst]

"There already is a bill pending in the House and a bill in the Senate. I will be putting my focus on getting those passed into law," Mr. Day said from Salt Lake City in an interview in which the ever-optimistic veteran predicted passage against all odds.

Supporting Mr. Day is the key to getting this situation resolved fairly for veterans.

Thanks for the post.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

DAY, GEORGE E.

Rank and organization: Colonel (then Major), U.S. Air Force, Forward Air Controller Pilot of an F-100 aircraft. Place and date: North Vietnam, 26 August 1967. Entered service at: Sioux City, Iowa. Born: 24 February 1925, Sioux City, Iowa. Citation: On 26 August 1967, Col. Day was forced to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam when it was hit by ground fire. His right arm was broken in 3 places, and his left knee was badly sprained. He was immediately captured by hostile forces and taken to a prison camp where he was interrogated and severely tortured. After causing the guards to relax their vigilance, Col. Day escaped into the jungle and began the trek toward South Vietnam. Despite injuries inflicted by fragments of a bomb or rocket, he continued southward surviving only on a few berries and uncooked frogs. He successfully evaded enemy patrols and reached the Ben Hai River, where he encountered U.S. artillery barrages. With the aid of a bamboo log float, Col. Day swam across the river and entered the demilitarized zone. Due to delirium, he lost his sense of direction and wandered aimlessly for several days. After several unsuccessful attempts to signal U.S. aircraft, he was ambushed and recaptured by the Viet Cong, sustaining gunshot wounds to his left hand and thigh. He was returned to the prison from which he had escaped and later was moved to Hanoi after giving his captors false information to questions put before him. Physically, Col. Day was totally debilitated and unable to perform even the simplest task for himself. Despite his many injuries, he continued to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow aviators who were still flying against the enemy. Col. Day's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Major George E. Day (right) and Captain James B.
Stockdale receiving the Medal of Honor from
President Gerald Ford in 1976.

[Grut]

Once more, we see that nothing is too good for the troops. Also, that we can all back out of a contract if we discover it costs more than we thought it would.

[freekitty]

They will give illegals all the free education and care they can take; but they won't give anything to the people who are this country and to break a promise to boot. It's really sick.

[joesnuffy]

Sorry we gave your money to africa to fight AIDs

[Wolfie]

Imagine that, military recruiters were less than truthful.

[pabianice]

Double standard. The government is not responsible for promises it made to employees, but if a private company were to do the same, the Court would demand that the promises be fulfilled.

[Prof Engineer]

As a veteran, this sucks!

As a citizen and patriot, it's nice to see the Court functioning as intended, interpreting rather than legislating, the law.

Time for Congress to 'fess up and do the right thing for these folks.

[mikeb704]

The Supreme Court ended a legal battle by battalions of aging World War II and Korea retirees yesterday, leaving them without the lifetime free medical care recruiters promised them when they signed up.

I'm always puzzled when I read something along these lines. Were the guys in WWII and Korea promised lifetime medical care? I believe the answer is they were told they'd be treated for service connected disabilities. That's what I was told on the way out of the Army in 1968. The only promise I received with my draft notice a couple of years earlier was a stretch in a Federal pen if I refused induction.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[gunnyg]

Yeah--belief and fact are two different things!

See the this link for the facts, provided you can temporarily set aside your "beliefs" long enough, together w/its many responses, etc.

[jmc813]

Government attorneys told the high court that simply reimbursing past medical expenses for 1.5 million retirees would cost $15 billion. That would not include the cost of future care for the retirees

Here's a novel idea. Let's cancel the $15 billion we are wasting by sending it to Africa for AIDS research, and it will all even out.

[Eastbound]

"The military promised recruits who entered the service from 1941 through 1956 that those who served for 20 years would be eligible for free medical care in military hospitals the rest of their lives. But Congress never approved such benefits, and the Pentagon stopped providing the care in 1995."

They should stop calling it 'free medical care' and sue for 'benefits earned.' A promise is a contract. Sue for failure to perform. The government had knowledge that those promises were made in its name and its inaction to stop the military from using enticing recruiting practices amounted to tacit approval.

[gunnyg]

Right on, eastbound!

I, too, see this as "earned" benefits and not "free" benefits.

These idiots are so indoctrinated, they cannot get past their own bs/pc terminology

Semper Fidelis
Dickg

[gunnyg]

Another good site, for anyone interested. The Military Advocate

[Eastbound]

I'ts no wonder so many people are either protesting or not paying taxes these days. The tax money is being used for aid outside our borders when it should first be used for paying domestic debts. Not wise to steal veteran's funds to fake compassionate foreign aid when our own veterans are dying in the streets. It's like giving your money to a beggar when your own children are starving. Time for government to realize we didn't endow it with the power to be altruistic. Let's pay our bills, Congress.

[JSteff]

You are exactly right. It is a shame on our country. Illegals get all the freebies and are not even contributers to our countries freedoms.

Where is the out cry and protests from the left on this. Of course that will never happen because the troops were only fighting against a foreign enemy.

[lilmsdangrus]

I have NEVER understood why the gubmint continues to screw over our wonderful vets. I am SO grateful for them, I can't even imagine not giving them this. It's bad enough they don't get paid as much as a McDonald's worker today, yet they give up many personal freedoms we take for granted when they are in the service, LET ALONE the fact that their very job description includes the possible ultimate sacrifice, your life for your country!!! AARRGGGHHHH (ok, done ranting for now)

[A Navy Vet]

Beat me to it.