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For the Veterans out there 11/11/11

MadHatter66

MadHatter66

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
320
Location
Poulsbo, Kitsap County, Washington, USA
I was told yesterday that I wasn't a "real veteran" and do not qualify for any veteran assistance, by two different organizations no less. The back story is that I am unemployed and trying to make ends meet right now, so I contacted a veterans assistance program to see if I could get some help and they said that all the assistance they have is earmarked for "real veterans" that served in Iraq or Afghanistan and that I don't qualify. So sorry...:banghead:

The interesting part is two different organizations used the exact same terminology, of being a "real veteran" which I found odd. Seems like there has been such a huge deal made out of helping the returning war veterans, that they have forgotten about the rest of us that were not over there, but acting in a support capacity or fighting something entirely different. I get focusing on the returning vets they went through a lot over there, but there are a lot of us that weren't over there that are hurting as well... Either way it sucks...
 
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Sparky508

Sparky508

Newbie
Joined
Jul 10, 2009
Messages
347
Location
Graham, , USA
MadHatter66 said:
I was told yesterday that I wasn't a "real veteran" and do not qualify for any veteran assistance, by two different organizations no less. The back story is that I am unemployed and trying to make ends meet right now, so I contacted a veterans assistance program to see if I could get some help and they said that all the assistance they have is earmarked for "real veterans" that served in Iraq or Afghanistan and that I don't qualify. So sorry...:banghead:

The interesting part is two different organizations used the exact same terminology, of being a "real veteran" which I found odd. Seems like there has been such a huge deal made out of helping the returning war veterans, that they have forgotten about the rest of us that were not over there, but acting in a support capacity or fighting something entirely different. I get focusing on the returning vets they went through a lot over there, but there are a lot of us that weren't over there that are hurting as well... Either way it sucks...
Click to expand...

Yea I got alot of that when I got home too. Since I wasn't Vietnam vet, I didn't matter. Guess news coverage for what you did is where the money goes, smaller conflicts don't count.

Funny, couldnt get a ride from the airport either, class A, jump boots and beret. No takers for a hitch hiker, but a lot of "we support our troops" bumper stickers flying by.
 
MilProGuy

MilProGuy

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Messages
1,210
Location
Mississippi
Sparky508 said:
Yea I got alot of that when I got home too.

Funny, couldnt get a ride from the airport either, class A, jump boots and beret. No takers for a hitch hiker, but a lot of "we support our troops" bumper stickers flying by.
Click to expand...

Many who actually served in Vietnam experienced the same treatment after coming back home, too. That was truly a sad period of American history.
 
T

Trigger Dr

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2007
Messages
2,760
Location
Wa, ,
MadHatter66 said:
I was told yesterday that I wasn't a "real veteran" and do not qualify for any veteran assistance, by two different organizations no less. The back story is that I am unemployed and trying to make ends meet right now, so I contacted a veterans assistance program to see if I could get some help and they said that all the assistance they have is earmarked for "real veterans" that served in Iraq or Afghanistan and that I don't qualify. So sorry...:banghead:

The interesting part is two different organizations used the exact same terminology, of being a "real veteran" which I found odd. Seems like there has been such a huge deal made out of helping the returning war veterans, that they have forgotten about the rest of us that were not over there, but acting in a support capacity or fighting something entirely different. I get focusing on the returning vets they went through a lot over there, but there are a lot of us that weren't over there that are hurting as well... Either way it sucks...
Click to expand...

Did you try the American Legion? They are good for about $250 cash assistance. Also, contact Wade at Ken's Auto Body in Port Orchard. He has been looking for a 40 hr employee.
 
golddigger14s

golddigger14s

Activist Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
2,068
Location
Lawton, OK USA
MadHatter66 said:
I was told yesterday that I wasn't a "real veteran" and do not qualify for any veteran assistance, by two different organizations no less. The back story is that I am unemployed and trying to make ends meet right now, so I contacted a veterans assistance program to see if I could get some help and they said that all the assistance they have is earmarked for "real veterans" that served in Iraq or Afghanistan and that I don't qualify. So sorry...:banghead:

The interesting part is two different organizations used the exact same terminology, of being a "real veteran" which I found odd. Seems like there has been such a huge deal made out of helping the returning war veterans, that they have forgotten about the rest of us that were not over there, but acting in a support capacity or fighting something entirely different. I get focusing on the returning vets they went through a lot over there, but there are a lot of us that weren't over there that are hurting as well... Either way it sucks...
Click to expand...

That's BS. I never went to A or I either.
 
FMCDH

FMCDH

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2008
Messages
2,037
Location
St. Louis, MO
Sparky508 said:
Yea I got alot of that when I got home too. Since I wasn't Vietnam vet, I didn't matter. Guess news coverage for what you did is where the money goes, smaller conflicts don't count.

Funny, couldnt get a ride from the airport either, class A, jump boots and beret. No takers for a hitch hiker, but a lot of "we support our troops" bumper stickers flying by.
Click to expand...

You couldn't get a ride while in uniform? Thats just messed up!

In the few years following 9/11 you could have gotten a ride in a heart beat, and the guy/gal would have offered their daughters hand for marriage to boot.

Goes to show how quickly Americans forget that "support" should mean more than lip service.
 
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Sparky508

Sparky508

Newbie
Joined
Jul 10, 2009
Messages
347
Location
Graham, , USA
FMCDH said:
You couldn't get a ride while in uniform? Thats just messed up!

In the few years following 9/11 you could have gotten a ride in a heart beat, and the guy/gal would have offered their daughters hand for marriage to boot.

Goes to show how quickly Americans forget that "support" should mean more than lip service.
Click to expand...

Lip service is right. The only "love" I got was I was contacted by a couple of private "security" firms. Interesting how they were able to get a hold of a guy.
 
J

Justman1020

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2011
Messages
155
Location
Washington
FMCDH said:
You couldn't get a ride while in uniform? Thats just messed up!

In the few years following 9/11 you could have gotten a ride in a heart beat, and the guy/gal would have offered their daughters hand for marriage to boot.

Goes to show how quickly Americans forget that "support" should mean more than lip service.
Click to expand...

When I travelled from basic training to my first duty station we were required to wear acu's. We had a 3 day weekend before we had to be there so I spent the weekend in Atlanta with some old hs friends who had moved up there. The day I left I was waiting for the bus to the airport and some dude stopped, asked where I was going, and gave me a lift, no questions asked. He was very nice and it was my first real encounter with anyone outside of basic training.
 
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