In Search Of Missing and Homeless Veterans
April 14, 2008 · 2 Comments
I have been thinking for months regarding this subject. I have read an account in Georgia where a mother has been cruising the highways looking for her son who is a veteran and has been missing for months. The other day I received this comment to a post I wrote on Operation Stand Down in Huntsville, Alabama…
I was the Plt Sgt of Alabamian, Solomon Smith, in Vietnam. Searching for him for several yrs. Mr Smith is an African American, and would be in his late 50s or early 60s. Don’t know if he is homeless but if you have record of him being so, I will be able to help him. Solomon has a Plt of 40 “Brothers” who are waiting to see him again and he will have all the support he needs. Please let me know if you have any info on a Solomon Smith.
Thank you. John J Weiss, US Army Retired
janzpad@hotmail.com
This comment has made me finally get around to something I have been wanting or meaning to do for a long, long time. I have now created a page on this site where Agencies (State, Federal, Nonprofits and Charities), Families, and Friends can post and look for those friends and loved ones that are homeless and or missing.
The new page is
http://wanderingvets.com/homeless-missing-veteran-search-page/
Hopefully this new page will assist in reuniting loved ones, as well as aiding Homeless Veterans in ending their tours of homelessness by reuniting agencies to their clients, families to loved ones, as well as the vets who have thought they have just been “written off”. Thank you John J. Weiss for your compassion.
Wanderingvet
Showing posts with label Wandering Vet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wandering Vet. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Homeless Veterans and VA Prejudice
122. Homeless Veterans and VA Prejudice
The other day I was hanging around the Seattle, Washington VA Hospital with a few homeless veterans. I was listening around the eligibility check in desk for information. As the homeless veterans were getting checked in, I was listening to the “in-processor” who hands out the books, and folders to including the benefits of what one MIGHT be entitled to etc. and so forth.
As I was watching the homeless veterans looking down with a hangdog expression waiting for their VA identification cards giving their addresses as “none”, and explaining that their incomes from their work, were minimal at best as most did have some form of work, I heard the following… You are eligible for medical only. You are not eligible for dental, or eye glasses unless it is a service rated disability.
One fellow piped in and said he did not need glasses until he was in the service. She said he had to prove it of course. Of course proving things to the VA is nearly impossible in the first place, without two examinations and a rectal check. For some reason, the armed forces and the VA cannot coordinate the transference of the medical records in this modern era as of yet.
As a further example, I have written the National Personnel Records Center, sent in the prescribed forms, followed up with letters to a Senator and a Congressman, for my medical records. This has taken four years and I have yet to receive them or the NPRC to find them or the VA to receive them.
On the other hand, I am wondering if the VA is counting these homeless veterans that showed up on their door step that day at their hospital. If so, why were they not automatically referred to the Homeless Veteran’s Coordinator that is supposed to be assigned to every veteran’s administration hospital? The VA has highly touted these “highly dedicated and trained individuals”. It was not a Federal Holiday again. Undoubtedly, there is a serious lack of training system wide at the VA. What else is new at the VA?
click post title for the rest
The other day I was hanging around the Seattle, Washington VA Hospital with a few homeless veterans. I was listening around the eligibility check in desk for information. As the homeless veterans were getting checked in, I was listening to the “in-processor” who hands out the books, and folders to including the benefits of what one MIGHT be entitled to etc. and so forth.
As I was watching the homeless veterans looking down with a hangdog expression waiting for their VA identification cards giving their addresses as “none”, and explaining that their incomes from their work, were minimal at best as most did have some form of work, I heard the following… You are eligible for medical only. You are not eligible for dental, or eye glasses unless it is a service rated disability.
One fellow piped in and said he did not need glasses until he was in the service. She said he had to prove it of course. Of course proving things to the VA is nearly impossible in the first place, without two examinations and a rectal check. For some reason, the armed forces and the VA cannot coordinate the transference of the medical records in this modern era as of yet.
As a further example, I have written the National Personnel Records Center, sent in the prescribed forms, followed up with letters to a Senator and a Congressman, for my medical records. This has taken four years and I have yet to receive them or the NPRC to find them or the VA to receive them.
On the other hand, I am wondering if the VA is counting these homeless veterans that showed up on their door step that day at their hospital. If so, why were they not automatically referred to the Homeless Veteran’s Coordinator that is supposed to be assigned to every veteran’s administration hospital? The VA has highly touted these “highly dedicated and trained individuals”. It was not a Federal Holiday again. Undoubtedly, there is a serious lack of training system wide at the VA. What else is new at the VA?
click post title for the rest
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Wandering Vet recaps 2007 in style for homeless veterans
The 2007 Wrap Up
Dear Friends, Homeless Veterans and even those that may dislike what I write here.
Well 2007 has been a real eye opener as far as the cruelty of man, the stupidity of our species, as well as the best of our kind as well. It has been a year that has really opened my eyes and brought forth survival, and other skills that I had not known I possessed. For some reason, the mind can expand and go beyond itself when truly pushed to the limit. For some though it can basically breakdown under the stress as well. The homeless have a lot to cope with in daily life, especially those that did not “pick” their lifestyle. Many of the Homeless on the streets of this nation are highly talented individuals with many skills that can be tapped successfully if given a chance, but most of “Humanity” will never see through the outward circumstances. Now click for the New 2007 Wanderingvets Awards for the year!
go here for the rest
http://wanderingvets.wordpress.com/2008/01/01/99-the-2007-wrap-up/
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