Vietnam veteran discovers he isn’t eligible for veteran’s benefits

Vietnam veteran discovers he isn’t eligible for veteran’s benefits
“Either keep us home or take care of us.” —Bruce Gray, veteran
By Rachel Johnson
Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Bruce Gray received a Vietnam Service Medal from the U.S. Department of Defense. He has his DD-214. He served his country proudly.

But this year Gray learned he doesn’t qualify for veteran’s benefits.

“I thought I would go ahead and sign up for it for the time when I decide to retire,” Gray said.

Gray, like many Vietnam veterans, thought his service automatically qualified him for benefits.

“If you were in Vietnam you were supposed to be guaranteed,” he said. “We came back to the U.S. and if you wore your uniform in the airport you had tomatoes and sandwiches thrown at you. We were spit on. But whenever the government starts spitting on you…”

That is how Gray feels after being denied benefits. He received his rejection letter the Saturday before Veterans Day.

“I was told the law changed in 2009 and the income cut-off is $42,000. It was passed because there were so many veterans coming back,” he said.

Gray is upset he didn’t qualify and didn’t know, but he is more upset for other veterans.

“This isn’t about me,” he said. “Imagine a family making $48,000 with three kids where a veteran has just come home and can’t qualify because they make $6,000 too much.”
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