Our Veterans Deserve Better

I’m sure any career military serviceman who served during the Korean War knows all about the pending protest in Washington, D.C., next month. Even so, I thought it’s worth repeating for those who may not have gotten the word.

According to a release I received from Col. Dan Cedusky of Champaign, Ill. (Ret.), this is what is being planned:

On Feb. 12, former career military veterans from across the country will congregate on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., in support of the filing of a lawsuit concerning promised health care.

In November 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed the decision of a lower U.S. Court that had authorized World War II and Korean former career military veterans free lifetime health care that was promised and earned as a result of their career military service. After the November court decision, the lawyer representing the retired veterans, retired Air Force Col. George “Bud” Day, a former Vietnam Prisoner of War and a Medal of Honor recipient, said that the case would be taken all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Feb. 12, 2002, will be the filing date.

In January, 2001, President Elect George W. Bush told a gathering of military veterans which included numerous Congressional Medal of Honor recipients that his administration would fully honor the promise made to veterans. Yet, he instructed the U.S. Justice Department to challenge the court suit filed by World War II and Korean War veterans.

Does America Keep Its Promises?

The U.S. District Court ruled 7-4 that even though the government made specific promises to secure a career military service, they were not obligated by law to keep the promises made to these veterans.

2002 has been a dark and bleak year for the military retirement community, especially for the thousands whose military service was during WW II and the Korean War. During the years of WW II and the Korean War, financial remuneration of military service career men and women was poor. But because they believed their government would keep the promises made to them about health care and other services would be available in their retirement years, they stayed the course and served honorably.

They had no way of knowing that the government in future years would not keep its word. Now, when the need is so great, the government is adding insult to injury — it admits that it have no moral obligation to keep its word.

Today, our government is busy sending off a new generation of men and women to fight in our name. We have promised them much, and have again professed undying support for them and their families. Meanwhile the government’s trying quickly to dispatch one generation of veterans before the first of the new generation of wounded come home. 

Veterans groups and veterans coalitions numbering over 6 1/2 million veterans have told our government that it is wrong on the issue of health care, disability payments and survivor benefits of veterans’s widows.

They, however, seem to forget that freedom is not free.

I would urge all Americans to stand up and protest the actions that have been taken regarding benefits for those who have served our nation faithfully and honorably.

We simply cannot forget the sacrifices made by those who have served in the past and those who currently serve.

Our nation has the resources to keep promises to our fighting men and women.

Note: If you would like more info contact Col. Dan Cedusky at (217) 359-5139 or e-mail him at: [email protected] Also check out : www.classact-lawsuit.com