Blue Water Navy

The Department of Veterans Affairs has started to treat transgendered vets a bit more fairly as evidenced by the Endocrinology page for the Boston region.

http://www.boston.va.gov/services/medicine/endocrinology.asp

Not so in other regions. I am at a standoff with the director in my own region and if any vet here believes freedom means freedom to be who you really are I would appreciate your help to put pressure on the director of region 10. The achievement posted above is mostly attributable to tavausa.org if I am not mistaken.

While I certainly think that's an issue that should be addressed to be completely honest my primary interest and what takes up my time and energy is getting HR2254 passed. Once that's accomplished the other fish that need frying can and will be addressed by many of us Veterans. It's my belief that winning this battle is the first step in winning the war against the DVA in all aspects of their mistreatment of veterans.

Bill

Bill, I have to live both issues everyday. I can't put off who and what I am. I work on ten issues a week.

________________________________________________________________________________

Heres data I collected in case anyone else from Ohio needs it in the fight for 2254:


This originally was sent to Sue Belanger after she asked me to contact all the reps in Ohio. I got back maybe 4 replies. People don't care about vets, Navy or otherwise until this nation gets itself in serious trouble.

FROM THE BLUE WATER NAVY VETERANS ASSOCIATION; WE ARE ASKING YOU TO **PLEASE** CO-SPONSOR HR 2254:

H.R.2254
Title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (29)
Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.



Unsworth, Natalie wrote:
> Ohio
>
> Steve C Austria (R, Ohio District 7 ) 43130-4381
> John A Boccieri (D, Ohio District 16 )I CALLED NATALIE UNSWORTH
> John Boehner (R, Ohio District 8 )45373-3282
> Sherrod Brown (D, Ohio Senate) I CALLED HIM
> Steve Driehaus (D, Ohio District 1 )45202-2821
> Marcia L Fudge (D, Ohio District 11 )44122-5247
> James D Jordan (R, Ohio District 4 )44902-1209
> Marcy Kaptur (D, Ohio District 9 )43604-1853
> Mary Jo Kilroy (D, Ohio District 15 )43212-3135
> Dennis J Kucinich (D, Ohio District 10 )44107-4408
> Steven C LaTourette (R, Ohio District 14 )44087-1718
> Robert E Latta (R, Ohio District 5 )WEB SITE IS DOWN
> Tim Ryan (D, Ohio District 17 )44503-1207
> Jean Schmidt (R, Ohio District 2 )45236-2919
> Zachary T Space (D, Ohio District 18 )43701-3437
> Betty Sue Sutton (D, Ohio District 13 )44308-2007
> Patrick J Tiberi (R, Ohio District 12 )43231-7689
> Michael R Turner (R, Ohio District 3 )45402-1872
> George V Voinovich (R, Ohio Senate)I REFUSE TO CONTACT THIS MAN-
> Charlie Wilson (D, Ohio District 6 )43968-1233
>
> Natalie Unsworth
>
> V.A. Constituent Liaison
>
> Congressman John Boccieri (OH-16)
>
> 330-489-4414 (ph)
>
> 330-489-4448 (fx)
>
> [email protected]
>
> http://boccieri.house.gov
>
>
>
>

Here's the problem as I see it. If too many issues are presented at the same time it dilutes the whole system and none get the attention they need. Everyone has their own agenda to be sure but one must, IMHO, get done first what benefits the most veterans.
I use capwiz to send letters of support to the Congress on various issues but, again, too many of those water down the issues and spread the Congress' attention too thin. Though I do support multiple issues, again it's my belief that we have to get HR2254 done first and foremost because it will lead to other wins for us. If we lose this bill this time around we, as Vietnam Vets, are done for regarding all issues, including your primary issue.

How close is HR2254 to ANY kind of approval?

My SO yesterday warned me not to go running to the mailbox every day looking for my SC letter. He said it'll take months. Hell I already figured that because my claim and HR2254 and all the rest have that one thing in common- the V.A. hoping we die so they can keep the cash and have a big party at our expense.

I still believe THIS is what'll really end up happening:

"History is littered with governments
destabilized by masses of veterans who
believed that they had been taken for fools
by a society that grew rich and fat at the
expense of their hardship and suffering."
Anthony J. Principi, former Secretary
of Veterans Affairs

SomersVet wrote:How close is HR2254 to ANY kind of approval?

My SO yesterday warned me not to go running to the mailbox every day looking for my SC letter. He said it'll take months. Hell I already figured that because my claim and HR2254 and all the rest have that one thing in common- the V.A. hoping we die so they can keep the cash and have a big party at our expense.

I still believe THIS is what'll really end up happening:

"History is littered with governments
destabilized by masses of veterans who
believed that they had been taken for fools
by a society that grew rich and fat at the
expense of their hardship and suffering."
Anthony J. Principi, former Secretary
of Veterans Affairs

How close? Who knows. It's in committee with 89 cosponsors. We'd like to see more and about 125 would be great.
Filner has assured us the bill will not die in committee. The plan was to ensure funding and after the summer break get onto pushing the passing of HR2254. That would be September. If that goes there's a good chance it will make it this session. However, we need all hands contacting their Representative to get on board and cosponsor if they are not yet a cosponsor. We need people to also push on their Senators to submit a companion bill in the Senate. Those are things that we need all Vietnam Veterans and Blue Water Navy Veterans for sure to get on board. If the Blue Water gets shot down you can kiss your pet issue off simply because it will be impossible to prove any claims.
I have a petition site that you can at least help a bit by signing and contacting everyone you know to sign it and have everyone they know do the same. It takes five minutes and will be sent to the House with the letter on the site to show support for HR2254.
Here's the link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/572686619
We're climbing the search engine ladders with most of the search engines popping my petition site up on the first page and other pages linking to the petition climbing as well.
If you check in here more often you'll easily be kept up to date on what's going on with HR2254 and some other issues as well.
Of course the DVA is hoping we all die and that's why we need to do this now. You are aware that we Vietnam Blue Water Navy Veterans are dying at the rate of over 300 per day? No? Our average life expectancy is about 66 years compared to 76 for other Vietnam Veterans. A goodly number of us are at or closing in on that age so there is little time and most of us are suffering from the effects of the dioxins in the herbicides. Peruse these forums and you'll find tons of information on those affects and how the dioxins were concentrated in the water.
Understand too the the vast majority of VSO's know less than we do about what's going on and, to put it bluntly, don't give a damn about you or your case if you are Blue Water.
There are other things in the works on getting the claims back log tidied up as well and Filner is of the opinion that all existing Blue Water claims be approved at a 30% rate and then adjusted as needed and any subsequent fraudulent claims dis-allowed. That may fly as well though IMHO it would have to be tied to HR2254 to be of benefit unless that bill does indeed fail this time around.

1. i would have been checking in as a regular had it not been for attitudes towards me way back over two-three years ago. i deal with it at my local opc- i renounced christianity seeking peace and found a smidgen of it in buddhism. i had hoped and still do hope i can find it among fellow sailors. i am a community activist so far still so i don't mind working on these issues too. i've spent a lot of time and money battling for national health care and or the public option.

2. i'm sure my girlfriend will just love those stats. i know i'm sick a lot- muscle aches that never end. me and my heating pad are inseparable buddies.

3. the treatment of transgenders isn't tied to any house bill or claims process. its a civil rights after discharge thing. we maintain that the armed forces should have no opinion on how we live our lives after our service obligations have been fulfilled. region 20 (portland) has a very successful program. mostly the east or the west are good places to be.

-Sharon

transgender- Isnt that when a person, is born with one sex, but, for whatever reason, believe they are the opposite sex? or maybe even bi-gendered?

Personally, I dont see where that would, or should, fit into the VA services.. If a person such as above, wants a sex-change, that is entirely a private matter, but should NOT be covered by veterans administration.. it has nothing to do with a veterans service. and I dont believe treatments should fall into a category of his/her service, to be eligible for treatments,, that should be entirely on the individual. That, IMO, is your freedom.

Now, Im not homophobic. that defines a fear of Homosexuals, which i am not afraid of them.. If thats what they want to do, fine,, do it in the privacy of your own home. I dont want to know/hear/see about it.. that is our freedom, again.

but, IMO, I see no place for treatments, in the DVA system.. just my personal opinion.. others may feel different.. Maybe my opinlon could be swayed, with good reasons for it. Perhaps there is a circumstance, where someone could tell me where transgender treatments should be done, but i'll be danged if I can figure out one with what has been asked.

Papaw

Papaw, I think what Sharon is trying to bring about is a change in the way transgenders are treated by the DVA, whether for SC or non SC related medical issues. From what I hear that is also an issue with women as well.
All veterans should be treated the same with the sole exception, IMHO, of those with SC illnesses having priority or non SC illnesses and even then gender should not come into the equation.

Dak,

hmmm,, Im not sure I got it right, in my head or not,,

but,

1. if the transgender is a veteran, with a SC injury/illness, or non-SC, then IMO they should be treated, as any other veteran. actually, transgender shouldnt even come into play.
2. I could care less, what anyone elses "lifestyle" as far as that area goes. but then, it goes to #1. above. and it shouldnt be considered.

When I see the word, transgender, I almost automatically think of someone getting the meds/hormones etc for the change operation.. IMO,, vet or not, it should NOT be considered by the VA. That too, is a private issue, and the taxpayer shouldnt be paying for it, And too, I see no way possible for any of that to be SC.

Im still open to change my mind, if Sharon (nice to meet you, sry it isnt under better circumstances) or someone can give me a good explanation, as to why it should be considered by the VA.

thanks for your attempt, Dak

Papaw

Papaw wrote:Dak,

hmmm,, Im not sure I got it right, in my head or not,,

but,

1. if the transgender is a veteran, with a SC injury/illness, or non-SC, then IMO they should be treated, as any other veteran. actually, transgender shouldnt even come into play.
2. I could care less, what anyone elses "lifestyle" as far as that area goes. but then, it goes to #1. above. and it shouldnt be considered.

....

Papaw

That sir, is what I was trying to convey and you do have your head around it.

OOOOOOkay... here I go getting myself in trouble again. I agree with Papaw in that transgender has NOTHING to do with SC or even NSC, I don't believe it should even be discussed on this board because it has absolutely nothing to do with our agenda here therefore I am not going to state my opinion on transgender. There are other sites dedicated to the discussion of that issue, this site deals with BWN and the denial of the benefits we have earned and deserve. Sharon, as far as I'm concerned, you are welcome here and free to express any opinions you wish as long as they are relative to BWN, or other topics and the constraints put on them (i.e. Offtopic, Political, etc) I don't think you are attempting to use this forum and cross the line by getting a "plug" in for your cause, but I wish again to make a point of the goal of this site.
Frank

I agree , this subject is simply a distraction . We have serious things to consider here .

Very true!

Well, guys,, this is the "OFF TOPIC" part of the forum. So just about anything, is up for discussion.
though I do find it distasteful to talk about this issue.

In another thread, she was discussing with Mac, about the drafting of women, mandatory service, etc.. and posed the question, of whether we would even be having our BWN problems, if we were all Veterans.. IMO, yes,, because it was the DVA that took our benefits away from us.. if everyone were Veterans, there would just be more Veterans without benefits.

just my opinion, and again, off topic discussion for our cause. Im done with this topic,, time to move on.. LOL

Papaw