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Sgt. Shaft

Articles by Sgt. Shaft

SGT. SHAFT: Widow upset by what she calls a ‘Dead Veteran’s Tax’

Dear Sgt. Shaft: Will you please publicize the injustice to military surviving spouses? Although 100 percent disabled, my husband was able to receive both his military retirement pay and his VA disability, thanks to Sen. Harry Reid's bill, S. 170. When he passed away, those concurrent receipt benefits were not passed on to me. Why?

July 17, 2012

SGT. SHAFT: Can a widow’s benefits be reinstate after a divorce?

Dear Sgt. Shaft: I read your Nov. 17, 2010, post related to a woman seeking her military ID after having divorced her second husband. You stated that she could get her ID card but not medical benefits. Do you have a sense for whether or not widow's benefits could be reinstated after a divorce?

July 3, 2012

SGT. SHAFT: Veteran’s widow hasn’t received benefits for years

Dear Sgt. Shaft: My mother is 85 years old and hasn't received anything from the government. They even took her ID card at Camp Lejeune. Her husband served in World War II and the Korean War. He retired in 1967 from the Marine Corps with 25 years active service and five in the reserves. She has just gotten her ID card back. Nobody can explain why she has not received any benefits all these years, or why they took her card in the first place. He passed away in 1973 and my mother has been without benefits all these years. She has never remarried. Should she not be entitled to something?

June 26, 2012

SGT. SHAFT: Vietnam vet says he was not able to visit memorial because of security

Dear Sgt. Shaft: I have read and heard a lot of media coverage of President Obama's speech at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day, however, I wanted the public to know how much his appearance ruined the day for thousands of Vietnam veterans in Washington to honor their fallen comrades, but were denied the opportunity to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

June 19, 2012

SGT. SHAFT: Vet’s hearing injury claim denied by VA

Dear Sgt. Shaft: I attended ROTC boot camp in the summer of 1958 at Corps of Engineers, Fort Belvoir, Va. I sustained tinnitus and hearing injury at the M1 rifle range. I reported that to the VA at the time and they turned down my claim because my training "... is not considered as service in the armed forces."

June 12, 2012

SGT. SHAFT: Veteran’s widow wants to renew military ID

Dear Sgt. Shaft: I am the widow of a deceased military, and I am eligible for the military ID. I have been renewing it periodically. There are two possible locations near Dallas, Texas, where I live where I can renew my ID card. However, when I call, no one ever answers.

May 22, 2012

SGT. SHAFT: Vet seeks information on prostate cancer claim

Dear Sgt. Shaft: My wife recently suffered a heart attack during her sleep and died. One week later, I was informed that I had prostate cancer. In May 2011, I filed a claim with VA, and heard nothing, I filed another claim August 2011. Thanks to your intervention, I received a call from a VA rep in Oakland and notification of scheduled medical appointments on May 5, and 6. On May 22, I received a packet requesting any supporting documentation, which I then sent to them.

May 15, 2012

SGT. SHAFT: Veteran’s widow seeks citizenship information

Dear Sgt. Shaft: May you please help me find information on my status. I am from Lithuania and a resident of the United States since July 9, 2010. My husband, a U.S. citizen and veteran, died recently. We had been married for 10 years. Do you have any information on when and how I might apply for U.S citizenship and how is this impacted by my husband's death.

May 1, 2012

SGT. SHAFT: Vet in Puerto Rico is having tough time with insurance for wife

Dear Sgt. Shaft: My wife, Hilda, is currently enrolled in CHAMPVA (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs) as I am a 100 percent disabled American veteran. She suffers from several chronic ailments, including: rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Sjogrens Syndrome, mitral valve prolapse, cerebral infarctions, a stent implant (on Feb. 1, 2011) and a slow thyroid. She also presents a recently diagnosed condition: kidney stones.

April 17, 2012

SGT. SHAFT: Need information about Navy ships and Agent Orange?

Dear Sgt. Shaft: One of your previous correspondents, Joe R., who requested information regarding Navy ships and Agent Orange, might also like to know that he can put in a request for his own service records by going online to: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/.

April 10, 2012

SGT. SHAFT: Veteran seeks info about ships exposed to Agent Orange

Dear Sgt. Shaft: I served onboard the Prichett during 1967 and 1968, and the ship was recently (in January 2012) added to the list of ships in the "brown water" but for the year 1969. This now entitles the sailors on her in 1969 to qualify for Agent Orange-caused diseases. How do I go about getting the information to the proper place as to being in the Tonkin Gulf, Mekong River Delta and Da Nang Harbor in 1968?

March 20, 2012