Question On Fatalities At Ft Hood

[carlie]

I am wondering if those on active duty at Ft Hood,

that were killed, will be viewed by DOD

(and/or VA, for benefits for their families)

and considered as a death due to a hostile enemy action.

I think it should be.

jmho,

carlie

[pacmanx1]

Wow that is a very good question. I know they would be entitled to get the SGLI which I think the max is $400,000 or lower if the soldiers chose the lower amount. But you know VA will not want them to get the SGLI and VA survivors’ benefits.

[john999]

Maybe if they could prove the Major who gunned them down was acting on orders from jihadist group with foreign roots. If the FT. Hood victims are seen as being KIA then they should get PH's. That is going to create some controversy amoung combat troops in the field I think.

[pacmanx1]

Hey Carlie check this out,

Monthly Payments for Spouse and Children

When a servicemember dies while on active duty, the death is considered service-connected unless it was due to willful misconduct. VA pays $1,154 a month in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to surviving spouses. In most cases, survivors' claims are processed within 48 hours of receiving all necessary paperwork.

http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/survivor-benefits.asp

Edited November 11, 2009 by pacmanx1

[john999]

Who can live on 1154 bucks a month? Even with extra money for kids it is chicken fee. The kids of the "war heros" get to live in poverty. I grew up in poverty living off SSA and VA in the 1950's when a house cost 10,000 bucks. All the insurance money went to pay off the house and buy a car so my mother could get to the store. To be middle class a familiy of four needs about 80,000 bucks a year.

[akwidow]

never been there....my vet earned at or below poverty level the whole time I knew him...

[Pete53]

What about the heroes who saved lives. Do they get medals?