Helping a Korea Vet probono, trying to corroborate his story from Army's 622 MP unit 1954.

[Stetson Vet Clinic]

I am a law student providing probono representation to a Korea War Veteran for his VA Disability claim. I’m on here today because we need your help to finish the job. Our client’s orders do not show that he was stationed where he says he was. If you know someone who was in the Army’s 622 MP Company in/around February 1954, or who was familiar with assignments to protect/defend water towers in Korea, please contact me. You would be making a world of difference for a fellow Vet.

[broncovet]

Vets sometimes have "instamatic" camera's too, and took photos of some rather specific sights.  Ask the Vet if he has any Korea pictures which identify the country..such as the airport, the people, signs, etc.  

[Stetson Vet Clinic]

Wow! This is an amazing number of replies in one day. I won't be able to respond to everyone individually because of the volume, but I'll try to provide some more helpful information.

The first thing we did was request his entire military and medical record. No word yet whether they were lost in the fire, but they have our request and will get to it eventually. In the meantime we're trying to strengthen his case. We have good descriptions from him, but the best thing we can think of is getting him a buddy statement or finding a unit history that places him where he claims he was.

His claim is for PTSD, arising from an undocumented assignment to protect a water tower over night. He was there more than once, but we can't place him there on paper (although we don't have the full record yet, we know that it reflects his Korea service but not his traumatic nights at the water tower). He provided us with photos and personal letters from his time in service, but they only help us place him in Korea. None of the pictures or correspondence make mention of these water towers. There were apparently many of them, so someone else must have had similar orders (documented or undocumented).

Again, thank you SO MUCH for all of the helpful suggestions. I was not aware of the Korean War Project and will check that out now. I'm fairly familiar with the VA claims process, FOIA requests, etc., but I don't know a lot about the Korean conflict because most of our clients now are returning from service in the Middle East.

[broncovet]

I have personally had 19 RO decisions, 3 board decisions, and 2 trips to the CAVC,   (One was a Pro Se Writ of Mandamus) over a period of 14 years.   By the way, the Pro Se Writ, which was denied, almost certainly resulted in the majority of my benefits, where the most favorable of the 19 decisions I got arrived about 2 months after the Writ.   Probably the most important thing I learned is:

1.  You cant always believe what the VA tells you.  

2.  If you are in doubt, see rule number 1.  

Edited March 29, 2016 by broncovet