Loose Lips Sink Ships

[hedgey]

I hope I'm not wrong to post this, but I feel like it's something that we can't stress enough...

We all have a right to be proud Veterans, and should wave that banner high if we want to. We all here sacrificed, willingly. As it was said by someone here, we all signed a blank check to the Military to give our lives (I can't remember who said it, but it really helped me). We were injured in a thousand different ways and that makes us a community, helping each other and sharing the glow of winning some respect and a little compensation that's too often long overdue.

We can talk to each other here about our injuries and our fight for what the VA owes us based on the contract they are meant to uphold. But when it comes to talking to non-vets or non-disabled vets about our benefits, etc., not so much.

It's hard not to talk about your struggles with the VA with the people in your 'real' life, it's even harder sometimes to keep your victories to yourself. But humans don't seem to be wired so that they'll be truly happy for someone else's perceived luck.

People are really strange. They look at you and if you have all your limbs and can walk and talk, they figure you're just fine. They don't live with pain, or fear, or both. They didn't sign their lives away to the military, and if they did, they figure that they survived so you must have too.

No one needs to know anything. Not your siblings, cousins, aunts, friends, not even your kids until they're on deck to take care of you. Kids can be the worst, cause they don't understand and when asked what their mom or dad does, they'll say precocious things like "Oh, Mom got hurt in the Army and now they pay her not to work". Then when you're seen at the post office or market, they see a pretty healthy looking person. "What's up with that? They look like they can work... Geez, my back hurts sometimes, and I sure get depressed sometimes too, but no one pays me to sit on my buns and collect money from the government. Huh... must be nice!"

When we first got into the VA healthcare system (after many years of not knowing we could) my hubby was so tickled he was telling everyone at work about it. Me, I had no one to tell. But after reading here a bit, I told him to STOP TALKING!! He heard "Free healthcare? Must be nice!" from more than one of his co-workers, even though my husband's got burn scars on his arms, hands, head, ears that they can clearly see... they just don't make the connection.

Criminy, I worry about saying too much on here. I know the people who post here are good guys who are here looking for answers and/or are here to help. But I also know there are countless faceless lurkers...

Anyway, as it's been said before, here it is again: Keep your VA benefits & your finances PRIVATE. You, your spouse, and whoever you might have helping you handle your affairs are the only people who need to be in the inner sanctum!

[Stretch]

I don't hardly get around any people.

When I get mail from an advertizer I load it with someone elses advertisement or just anything that is available, that has my name and bar code removed, and sent it back. They can throw the junk in there own trash can and pay the mailing expense to boot.

[Carl the Engineer]

Hedgey,

Civilians will never understand a military (veteran) person. That is why they never joined. I will say though, them that were drafted got a bitch. With that said, while attending OCS in 83, five of us on the left of the formation had ours left ears frostbit. Class A formation at Camp Douglas WI in January outside. The temp was in the 10's and the windchill was in the -20's. The next day they sent the five of us to the doc who told us we should have just left the formation and gone inside. Obviously, he didn't go through OCS. Pretty much did whatever I was told in my entire army career, 27+yrs.

Same as trying to explain why and what the VA does to a civilian. They just don't get it. Hell we don't know most of the time. Again, I usually just stand in line like I did in the army when and were they tell me...

Hamslice

[Tbird]

I use retired like Pete said. The other day I was talking to someone and was annoyed so when they asked what was wrong with me, I tried I have a dysfunctional hippocampus and over active amygdala and my overall limbic system is anyone's guess. Let them chew on that awhile.

[Philip Rogers]

Me, too!

pr

I don't hardly get around any people.

When I get mail from an advertizer I load it with someone elses advertisement or just anything that is available, that has my name and bar code removed, and sent it back. They can throw the junk in there own trash can and pay the mailing expense to boot.

[retiredat44]

Amen hedgey. I'm real tired of the ignorance of some. I have two neighbors that are all teed off because I get the reduced valuation on my real estate taxes. It only adds up too a little over $100 a yr. but they make it sound like I live Tax free.

David

same thing happens with SSDI, people consider it welfare. it is insurance.. and on top of that, it is mandatory out of your check.. and to make matters worse you have to fight to your dying breath to collect when you become too disabled to work.. the people running it treat you like an animal that is lying to get it it..

[Pete53]

Ham

Its even worse for the VA who are not even exposed to military. I was drafted but I obey every order given to me. Some with more enthusiasm than others. I never volunteered though.

Believe it or not I have a soft spot in my heart for all in the volunteer military especially for lifers.