Monday, October 27, 2008

More Welding today in chilly WI weather. Brrr.

Another full day of welding repair and good fellowship.

Since my close friend has entrusted me with some personal things today as a fellow Vietnam combat Vet and Christian brother-- I will only speak about the stuff that I consider OK... We took our time this morning getting started at 0900 at the church garage again, and today was very windy and cold, about 37 F., and we both should have dressed a bit warmer. We are both about the same age, I am age 59. Bro. Marvin [one of the many names I call him-- and we love to joke around and kid each other] seemed to have much on his mind so I MADE time for him-- and we ae both retired from Chrysler. Marv just felt the need to take a sit down break and talk to me and clear the air about the past, etc.
There was a lot on his mind about the past and his insight/ observations/ past fears/ nightmares and problems. I didn't know that he contracted Malaria over in 'Nam, and also used to be very heavy! Now he is skin and bones, about 6 ft tall, but malaria whittled him down, plus he suffers from Emphysema and COPD. His doctors say that he has already out lived their projected 5 years.. and he knows that he is living on borrowed time and looks forward to Heaven. Stuff like this has always bothered me and angered me-- that every time I finally get to meet and like another person, they either die, leave, move and I have lost them some how! Or perhaps, God is using me in a small way to walk into their lives and help, encourage and listen to their problems, pray for them/ with them and share the grand hopes of the Bible, God's Word. We biblical Christians and combat Vets seem to have a peaceful out look on Death and eternal life.
As we go on with life and Witness to others about God's salvation where ever our paths may take us, we recognize that this is the finest labor/ work that we can do for the Lord--- WITNESS! The 'fruitage of the Lips.'
I agreed to help Marvin with his new claim to the VA for another service-connected disability, PTSD [100%], and I believe that if he gets it, he will only pay off his bills to help his wife survive and gain a tiny bit of dignity before he goes to meet the Lord. We both prayed and confessed our many sins of the past to each other and expressed some guilt. But I kept reminding him that he [ we] are already forgiven and should NOT feel any more guilt-- but just try not to make the same mistakes [me too, of course...lol]. Both dodging bullets in Vietnam, and missiles from Satan afterward, we know the mercy of Jesus Christ, our personal Savior.
Actually, just writing this post is getting me too emotional and misty with some regret. I may have a way with words but it rough on the soul to be dredging up the proper words that best express my feelings and thoughts. I have a number of buddies like Marvin and they all tell me they love and pray for me too! God has blessed me-- and I see His purpose more clearly now.
It is my personal opinion that who ever wins this coming election in America will have inherited a wild tiger and a world mess, and NO HUMAN CAN CHANGE THIS FOR THE BETTER-- as it is too little/ too late. The world as a whole, generally speaking, has REJECTED Jesus Christ and are hell bent to continue their greed, corruption, God hating, selfish, prideful, wicked ways. They are steeped in gross immorality, abortions, the Gay agenda and violence. We are RIPE for the Lord's mighty sword of vindication and JUSTICE. My wife and I are voting for the McCain/ Palin ticket-- the lesser of 2 evils, but even if John does win-- he is pulling/ working against a loaded deck of far Lefty, Dems agenda with the majority in both houses! He would be a 'lame duck' from the get go.
Friends, in all this confusion and total mess, we can still TRUST in the promises of God's Word, the bible. We are not left alone in the 'Lion's Den' but we must continue to do the Lord's work and stay as close to Him as possible in these 'end times.' I guess that there are many other web sites like mine-- but if you ever want to just sit down and talk... I will be here for you. Bless all my feinds and believers!

Warm Regards,
Tom
tschuckman@aol.com
http.//tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com Heli gunner Tom at Monday, October 27, 2008 2 comments

Great VA 'Watch Dog' web site for Veterans ! Share!

Heli-gunner Tom. http://heli-gunnertom.blogspot.com/
I just found a few more super good Veteran 'watch dog' groups/ web sites! Woo Woo! Please share these important sites withother Vets and their families! Thank you!

Tom Schuckman
tschuckman@aol.com
On Wisconsin! >>>> www.hadit.com <<<<<


This just got worse -this is my post this AM at www.hadit.com as to
latest VA Watchdog story-

"On October 22, 2008, the New York State Division of Veterans'
Affairs held a Counselor Refresher Training Seminar at Stewart Air
National Guard Base in Newburgh, NY. Early in the meeting a New York
VARO representative, who gave his name as John B., said problems
found by VAOIG were improper entry dates on documents and improper
procedures. John B. stated 20,000 pieces of mail were not opened and
paperwork files were not collated or properly attended to.
Apparently, this had been going on for some time."
full story at the Watchdog link-
Source :http://www.vawatchd og.org/08/ nf08/nfoct08/ nf102708- 1.htm

Larry Scott said it all this morning:

"And, it's time for more VA employees to come forward with
information to help the VBA and VAOIG, and the veterans they serve.
Can one person make a difference? Remember, this entire shredder
scandal story started with just one VA employee in Detroit who cared
enough to do the right thing."

Doing the right thing is what will help resolve this problem.

VBA employees are actually posting on the comment section at Watchdog
and other vets sites-anonymously-
while I applaud their willingness to confirm what we claimants have
known for years-and of course who really knows if they are a RO
employee or not-
the unsung hero of this whole story is a Detroit VARO employee who
had enough and was brave enough to come forward.

Jim Strickland -VA Watchdog -will be my guest at SVR on November 5th.

By then it will probably be worse-

Any vet or widow with active denied claims whose evidence was Never
considered by the VA should send the VA (and the OIG too) a letter
demanding that in light of the recent news, they want their evidence
found and properly assessed for their claim.

Of course this isnt to replace a formal NOD (but you could throw this
into a formal NOD)

Vets and widows have never had this power before to demand that their
ignored evidence be properly assessed by the VA.

and they should write to

House Committee on Veterans Affairs October 25,2008
335 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
335 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.. 20515
and

Department of Veterans
Affairs January 8, 2006
VA Office of Inspector General Hotline (53E)
P.O. Box 50410
Washington, D.C. 20091-0410

and tell these entities how the VARO must have lost, misplaced,or
destroyed your evidence-
because they did not consider it all -your basic rights for DTA.

I am sending my letters in an hour.

Only if vets and widows step up to the plate on this and overwhelm
these entities -will anything really be done-

And I am counting on more VA emploees to have a conscience and step
up top the plate too.

--- In veteransinfo@ yahoogroups. com, "Aletta"
wrote:
>
> My hubby's paper work is lost in the St. Louis RO. I have the
stamped
> receipt' on the copy of the claims that they don't have record of.
I
> contacted our senator and it is confirmed ..plus Dr. Peake had a
new release
> on the story. I feel that is confirmation enough.
>
> -------Original Message----- --
>
> From: Thomas Schuckman
> Date: 10/26/2008 8:43:48 PM
> To: veteransinfo@ yahoogroups. com
> Subject: Re: [veteransinfo] Just a reminder-Veterans Day balloon
release
>
> Have you heard, even if we cannot confirm that news about the "VA-
> Shredder-Gate" thing that is being emailed by some knowledgeable
watch dogs?
> As Sen. Obama and Akaka are visiting the Great Lakes VA system--
VA staff
> are said to be shredding many letters from Vets that include some
claims for
> service-connected disability.
>
> Respectfully,
> Tom S
> tschuckman@. ..
>
> Heli-gunner Tom. http://heli- gunnertom. blogspot. com/
>
>
> --- On Sun, 10/26/08, Aletta wrote:
>
> From: Aletta
> Subject: [veteransinfo] Just a reminder-Veterans Day balloon release
> To: undisclosed- recipients@ ...
> Date: Sunday, October 26, 2008, 1:48 PM
>
>
>
> A nationwide balloon release to remember and honor all veterans
> affected by Agent Orange is planned for Veterans Day. Balloons will
be
> released simultaneously all across the nation at 1 p.m.EST.
> Everyone is invited to participate.
> For further information visit this link:
> http://www.agentora ngequiltoftears. com/Events. html
>
> The event is organized by the Agent Orange Quilt of Tears in
Florida.
> As of mid-Octoberthere are 48 participating locations.
>
> Any questions contact me at Armrdangel@aol. com
>
> Hugz & Prayers to all! Shelia Snyder
>            
>
> Veterans Information
>
> Veterans Information Forum
> Veterans Information Group
> PTSD and TBI
>
>
> Support Groups
> Christian Veterans and Wives
> Veterans, Wives, and Families
> AO-Awareness and Info
> Christian Parents & Grandparents Alliance (ccpga)
>

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http.//tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com Heli gunner Tom at Monday, October 27, 2008 0 comments
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