Conditions

[landend]

I been talking to a friend about when we at basic training and I remembered that there was a heat wave going on and back in 1970s there was no ac ,so everyone was really cranky and tried from to hot to sleep well.

Sickbay was full and the med staff were really cranky and tired.

Also there was a really large forest fire going on and the smoke was really thick and hard to breath and fire trucks 24 hours a day for weeks,started moving people around.

There was also a bunch of guys caught selling and using weed, drugs

Really a confusing time and still try making it through basic, so I thought that this should go towards claims for state of mind on awol,the way you were treated

Just a thought for some that might need some things to go with the claims

[Berta]

"so I thought that this should go towards claims for state of mind on awol"

I dont feel any if this would be a good enough reason to try to change bad paper-if that is your point.

[landend]

I just thought that ,in my case 17 years old and assaulted and went awol,so the Va is deciding character of discharge, this would be a contributing factor, but I'm new at this and there is no doubt that you have forgot more about claims than I will ever hope to know.

[Bonzai]

I guess I am confused, as you have "yes" instead of percentage listed as service-connected disability, so why is character of discharge being brought up. The VA must have already decided that you are eligible for benefits, in order for you to be service-connected.

[Berta]

During this heat wave time frame in the USA , thousands of men and women were suffering from tropical heat with no AC in Vietnam -not to mention the Agent Orange that was still being sprayed on them and the fact they were in a dangerous combat zone.

If you can prove you were assaulted in service, and went AWOL due directly to that, this would possibly be a factor the VA would consider for the Character of Discharge-

if that is what you are concerned about.

[Berta]

I hope you were not offended by that post I just made-

I am simply making a logical point-as to the best evidence you would need-as to a contributing factor.

Did the VA send you a VCAA letter for the Character of Discharge claim?

Have you applied to the BCMR yet?

[john999]

Considering the conditions at Ft Benning where I took basic in July 1969 all of us should have gone awol. Consider the guys in Vietnam humping 80lbs on their back in 100 degree heat you just won't get sympathy on that issue. You have to do as Berta has said and connect your awol directly to the MST. If you drag in drugs, forest fires, and being tired that is going to hurt you more than help. When you are in basic you are supposed to be tired and miserable. Those loving souls at BCMR will laugh at you if you say you went awol because you were tired and some people were using drugs.