posted on June 27, 2006 07:26:26 PM
I have SEACHED in VAIN today....all I get is a bunch of RETAILERS selling MEDALS to ANYONE who wants them and then posting a disclaimer....
I am searching for a site that gives a precise description of what EACH medal/award/citation/ribbon was given for, ie, for example, Purple Heart,,,Bronze Star,Silver Star,,,,,,Air Medal,,,,etc....The GOVERNMENT definition of why they are awarded. No one WINS any medals in War.....I did'nt WIN the Purple Heart for example....and neither did any of the other guys beside me and especially those who were killed,,,,there are SPECIFICS as to WHY these are awarded.....I got curious as i have some that I have NO idea WHY I have them....I want to read the Gov. definitions........Thanks! I found a site for example where the Korean War vets have finally been recognied with a Korean GOV. medal.....the U.s. said NO way back then,,,,,,,Now it's authorized.......
posted on June 27, 2006 07:36:48 PM
Thanks Tom, that was one of the COMMERCIAL sites I found but they DO NOT explain WHY.....they just sell stuff......
posted on June 27, 2006 07:47:45 PM
I saw on the news the other night of people buying up medals they didnt earn. They gave a vet website that gives descriptions of all the medals
not sure if it's comprehensive enough for what you need, but this site seems to have some specifics on a wide variety of US medals.
Here is their home page, looks like a fairly comprehensive site. Might be worthwhile bookmarking to help id those US military bits and pieces we all come across one in awhile.
[ edited by bcpostcards on Jun 27, 2006 07:56 PM ]
posted on June 27, 2006 08:52:07 PM
Tom, Sure I have seen them, but WHY is the question, WHY was I or any OTHER Military man Awarded them????? The specifics...the CITATION paper words......All medals/awards have spcifications as to WHY they were awarded....I don't have one but a Silver Star for example....and, my point is these things have POINTS when applying for V.A. Benies,,,and I DO know what the qualifications were/are for the Silver star,,,Savings American lives...Under fire and Usually comes with the Purple Heart.....
Someone will come up with the GOV. site that defines these awards....and Thanks!
Point is,,,, I,, am going for the section 8,,,,......the more medals, the Crazier you gotta be, and it WORKS,,,,,a Viet Vet Showed me his MONETARY award of $900.00 a month and his BACK pay of $10,000..........from One year ago......He went throught the process and WON........his award......Medals DO have meanings to the V.A.....
posted on June 27, 2006 09:27:49 PM
Jack...You don't need medals to prove to the VA that you are crazy. Just tell them to contact anyone on Vendio if they need proof Hell, if they contact me, I bet I could get you 2 grand a month.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on June 27, 2006 09:50:43 PM
Thanks Sparkz, if it were ONLY that easy, the GOV. is NOT on the SIDE of the VET as I Learned from the VET who got the Benies,,,,, took him a YEAR of classes and such,,,,,,He had to Go Throught the Gov. HOOPS to get it, kinda like the E BAY HOOPS to get Refunds and such,,,,,,,They,,, the GOV. and E BAY do NOT make it a Simple thing.....oops,,,,,,you filed too soon,,, ooops,,,,,,wait 14 days, ie, 6 months, . oops,,,,,, oops ,,,,claimed denied, you can refile in 3 months,,,,,you need LEGAL counsel to file,,,,,,you know,,,,,
posted on June 27, 2006 10:18:29 PM
Jack, I see your angle now on the medals you have. I'm guessing the VA there is at least as bureaucratic as the one this side of the line is. Still, I think there must be a VA department there somewhere that is probably still one of your best bets: in helping you gather the info you need, how best, and where to present it, to get the maximum benefits you're entitled to as a vet.
Like you did with that other vet who told you about his award, talk to as many others as you can and ask them about what they did, where they got some info, leads...anything that will help you make your own case. Best of luck. If one served their country's forces, they should and do deserve all the legitly (is that a word?) earned benefits available after that service.
posted on June 27, 2006 10:29:25 PM
Try the VFW, Amvets, American Legion or any one of the numerous other veteran's organizations. They have people who stay on top of these things and can cut through the red tape. You'd be surprised at how many members of these organizations are practicing attorneys who will help you pro bono.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on June 28, 2006 01:16:04 AM
I couldn't find anything on points per say except for the 5 and 10 point system for veteran education and employment...
posted on June 29, 2006 03:25:34 AM
Hello Jack. I think this is the Department of Defense manual you are looking for. Since you were in the military like me you should be able to read through all the military mumbo jumbo. God, the military likes their acronyms don't they. This a direct link to the DOD 1348.33-M regulations manual titled Manual of Military Decorations and Awards. It is a .pdf type file and you will need adobe acrobat to read it. http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134833m_0996/p134833m.pdf
edited to add: Forgot to mention. Happy reading Jack, you will be a while. Like most military manuals this one is long, 182 pages long.
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
[ edited by mikes4x4andtruckrepair on Jun 29, 2006 03:36 AM ]
posted on July 2, 2006 08:43:15 PM
I am a disabled Vietnam combat veteran and I have some experience in dealing with the VA bureaucracy.
Regarding medals, you won't need your citation at all for what you seem to want to do as long as your Silver Star shows on your DD-214. And if it doesn't, then a citation won't help until you get your DD-214 corrected, which your citation will definitely help you do.
And "more" medals don't count for anything either. If you are going to seek disability compensation for, say, PTSD, then a combat award -- especially a high-level award like a Silver Star -- is generally considered prima facia evidence of the necessary stressors. No one will ask you to prove up anything else in that regard if you have a Silver (or Bronze) Star or (usually) a Purple Heart and combat MOS on your DD-214. And BTW, it is pretty common for valor awards to have been given out and citations never forwarded for the record. That is, the award is on the record but the citation is not.
FWIW, almost no one in the VA system equates PTSD with being crazy any more. That is mostly a generation-old viewpoint that was over-hyped by Hollywood and the press. One kind soul said that PTSD is a normal reaction to an abnormal experience. I'm no expert, I just pass that along.
And no one is expecting you to demonstrate your "craziness" either. Most of what everyone thinks they know about PTSD is 180 degrees wrong anyway. At least in the VA, PTSD is an accepted condition that entitles those diagnosed with it to compensation based on the extent of their disability. And it's almost impossible to, say, read up on PTSD in the DSM-IV and then try to fake the symptoms. The shrinks they have doing the exams are really pretty darn good and they have seen a full measure of pretenders and wannabes. They know their stuff.
Also FWIW, the disability claims process really isn't very hard. It definitely takes a while but any eventual award will be back-dated to the month after the month you apply. It may be very helpful to contact one of the veterans organizations that were mentioned above, and there are others. While cheap drinks and steaks may be nice, their congressional charters mandate that they help veterans first and foremost. The person you want to see is their Veteran's Service Officer. That is that person's one and only job there. Their talents vary widely, so you may want to get a recommendation from local vets about who is generally successful and easy to work with.
One way to get that kind of referral and to get some help for what ails you is to visit your nearest Vet Center and just ask around. They offer counseling and readjustment help there and you can get, if appropriate, one-on-one and/or group counseling there. You may also have County Veterans Service Offices in your state which can be a big help, including doing what a veterans service officer can do. Of course, you can also get help at mainstream VA offices, VA medical clinics and VA hospitals.
This may be a whole lot more than you wanted to know, but veterans tend to help each other out by passing along their experiences. Today it was my turn. If you'd like to discuss this further, please feel to e-mail me at bulls-i-books@msnDOTcom .
posted on July 2, 2006 09:03:19 PM
Thank you Chuck,,,,,,,First,, I want to say I have NO Medal HIGHER than a little ole Purple Heart,, I don't know how Silver Star got into this.
I and perhaps other Vets who may read this appreciate your efforts.
Hopefully others can gain from your experience an Me TOO ....I'll check out those avenues ASAP..
Cpl. Jack, U.S.M.C. 67-71.
Semper Fi.
Hey,,,,,,sticka round this board and check in more often.....We need more warm bodies.....
posted on July 3, 2006 11:03:54 AM
I have an alleged disability, but have not received compensation since 1979. I went to the DAV at the local VA hospital for assistance last September. We'll call you as soon as we have an answer.........
Since then my daughter found out she was pregnant and I now have a grandson. Hellllooooo, DAV, any developments on your end? Hello?
Finally went in and talked to an old retired Chief with AMVETS. That was 'only' a week ago and I switched my POA to AMVETS, then.
It's not just the VA dishing out the flim flam.
__________
The raghead fig-puckers are fighting to spread their culture and religion, and to destroy ours
posted on July 3, 2006 05:05:02 PM
Jack,
Go to the website called Vietnam Veteran against the war and email a dude Ray Parrish,he is full time paid staff of the organisation,the only one who is not a volunteer,knows a lot and based in Chicago.
You can read his credential on the site,he would be able to answer your questions.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
......the more medals, the Crazier you gotta be, and it WORKS,,,,,a Viet Vet Showed me his MONETARY award of $900.00 a month and his BACK pay of $10,000..........from One year ago......He went throught the process and WON........his award......Medals DO have meanings to the V.A.....
Hell, if they contact me, I bet I could get you 2 grand a month.
God, the military likes their acronyms don't they. This a direct link to the DOD 1348.33-M regulations manual titled Manual of Military Decorations and Awards. It is a .pdf type file and you will need adobe acrobat to read it. 
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
[ edited by mikes4x4andtruckrepair on Jun 29, 2006 03:36 AM ]