I was just touring the
House Veterans Committee website
on Capitol Hill and came across a
headline tidbit that I chased for
about 15 seconds before I became
bored and moved on to other things
to look at which were more
interesting.

It seems that the national
commander for American Legion,
Thomas Boch, made a guest appearance
before Congress today to handover
the Legions "top priorities" for
the year to Congress. Only one
"top priority" was given in the
website article that he cited,
and on that note I yawned and
changed screens.

His top priority was "helping the
VA's technology infrastructure
become more automated and to cut
down on waste".

Of course, being an old fool
who is disconnected from the REAL
world of us veterans down here,
one can hardly expect anything
different.

This has always been the
problem of American Legion,
mental delusions and disconnect.
They don't know that the
entire VA disability compensation
program is broken beyond repair,
and that thousands upon thousands
of innocent sickbed Veterans
are having their claims documents
falsified by Psycho-Adjudicators
running amuck in the system.

Ya see, American Legion has
built an entire useless,
dysfunctional, know-nothing
"cottage industry" consisting of
non-lawyer volunteers who could
not organize a beer run if
their lives depended on it. This
"cottage industry" thrives on
the backs of sick and dead veterans,
in name only for fundraising
purposes and to put on a phoney
FRONT that disabled veterans are
actually being helped, when the
truth is there isn't a licensed
lawyer to be found anywhere, at
anytime, or for any reason who
is even affilliated with American
Legion.

But what does the national
commander care as long as he
gets his personal audience and
self-absorbed moment of smirks
and giggles in front of a bungling
Congress who is simultaneously
aloof about the great and
unprosecuted VA murder factory?

Veterans are bungled by Legion
"volunteers" into having YEARS
added to their VA claims while
this Commander Space Puppy
has lunch with Howdy Doody on
Capitol Hill. Give me a BREAK !!!

Aside from the American
Legion commander not even
doing a task that I as a
disabled Veteran am even
interested in, he is also not
speaking to, or acting on
behalf of, or being a part of
the bureacracy ordeal that I
am hopelessly trapped in and
have been so for some 33 years
now. In the meantime, this
pile of Private Benjamin
incompetence is somehow touted
by the nations highest as a
legitimate guy who is miraculously
sitting in The Know in the
veterans arena.

Here is your public news flash:
The VA agency's technology
infrastructure, not now, nor at
anytime, is or has been ANY
Veterans national priority for
any reason, or on any day of the
week, or any Vet-lifetime !!!
NOT EVER !!!

I think I can say here, with
COMPLETE and total confidence,
that the VA agency's technology
infrasture does NOT even cross
the proverbial Vet-Mind !! So
what is this clown in a Monkey
Suit busy doing at the House
Veterans Committee saying that
this is a "national priority" for
me as a Veteran???

The truth is that American
Legion used to be something,
and now it is nothing at all.
Several Legion Halls have closed
here in the upstate New York
area because memberships are not
holding and nobody cares about
what this nursing home brigade
is all about. Let this major
bungle at Congress be living
proof as to why nobody joins
anymore.

There is nothing coming out
of American Legion that is
even in touch with today's
Veterans issues; who we are,
what we care about, or even
what we like or don't like.

The Legion is a voice for
noone and has been deaf on us
for a long time. Yet STILL, they
perpetuate the phoney myth that
they are somehow representative
of todays Vet-constituency. NOT!

I'm here to testify today, that
American Legion is a hoax, a
sham, a trick, a disconnect, a
fraud, a dog and pony show to
nowhere, and they could be shut
down tomorrow and it would not
effect my personal standing as
a U.S. Veteran not one IOTA.
In 33 years they have never helped
me once, and I've had plenty
of issues and emergencies that
needed help. So let's get real
here about the dysfunction of
this Archie Bunker meathead
show!

Hold your money, and hold
your memberships on this one
because their magazine is
propaganda, their efforts are
from La-La-Land and endorsed
by none of us, and they are
growing into an alzheimers crowd
who needs to go home to their
wives and move on.

Shut it down, close it up.

What does the ‘about-face’ action by a Georgia superior court Judge Alan Keeble, in the Jere Beery court ordered VA disability compensation award to his ex-wife, show veterans? Jere Beery had asked for help from several major veteran’s service organizations, with all their expertise, and the VA, for assistance in defeating court actions. Actions in violation of both state and federal laws, he was turned down.

It disturbs me, and it should disturb all veterans, that issues like this, which affect all veterans, is what these national veterans organizations should be involved in, but are not. Consequences affecting not just this one veteran, but all veterans. Although Jere Beery prevailed, they chose to deny Jere Beery the help he was seeking.

While veteran’s are playing bingo, socializing, collecting dues, at veterans’ posts all around the country, their national leadership is refusing to help veterans’ when asked. Did they refuse because they knew it was a case they could not win? Take too long? Or, is it that, veterans’ mis-understand Veterans Administration policies? If so, they guessed wrong. This was not just Jere Beery’s fight. This is every veterans’ fight, which goes on in court rooms all over the country. But, you see, finally, where these so-called national veterans’ organizations refused to help, Beery, finally prevailed in his belief that federal law regarding disability compensation is separate from any alimony claim, or garnishment claim. He won his disability compensation claim, without this VSO assumed expertise.

If you expect your national veterans’ organization to help you, as I have learned, think again. Although I do not belong, I had previously asked, then Commander Conley, of the American Legion for help about an issue affecting all veterans, and was told by a field representative, “..veterans’ mis-understand Veterans Administration policies.” Or is it, that you have to, be an active member belonging to a national veterans service organization, before you are recognized? As Jere Beery had been told by American Legion National Headquarters, Mr. Philip R. Wilkerson, Depart. Mgr. for Operations and Training said, “The American Legion does not normally become involved in civil legal matters”. Normally? It appears, individual veterans cannot initiate veterans’ causes, that these organizations will defend. Even if the cause is valid, affects veterans as a whole, and eventually proven valid in a court of law.

I have nothing against socializing and getting together with comrades. I also realize there are veterans who are unable to communicate, or express their thoughts, and the apparent loyalty to the veterans’ post in keeping stability within the organization. Is their purpose then, the status quo? And therefore, helping just members only, or all veterans? This is why, the purpose should be, and the roll of post members is to re-think their purpose, and question their national commanders. The Jere Beery case illustrates, and leaves us with the knowledge, we cannot assume, and leave the protection of our rights to veterans benefits, be left up to VSO leadership, or their organizations.

Just as the American Legion, and these other national veterans organizations take credit for their accomplishments, we have to, and must give them credit for their non-commitment to veterans, in those things that they should be doing, and what they have failed to do.

However, credit must be given to two VSO‘s, the DAV and PVA, who supported by their voice, Dale Van Luven and Jere Beery’s campaign to protect veteran’s benefits from third party awards. Although, not mentioned by name, within DAV and PVA statements, they believe they are directly responsible for bringing this issue to the forefront of veteran affairs in this country,” This is so, because vocally, they made it an issue. The American Legion thought it was not a veterans’ issue. Just when is it, does the American Legion get involved?

Jere Beery not only had these other so-called national veterans organizations fail him, but his own lawyers who represent him. If all these professionals have done, their job, with a little research, years ago, this would have been settled years ago. They didn’t even try. Everybody, who you would think that was able, and in the position to help, failed him. Beery’s ex-wife’s attorney, suggested going after disability benefits. Judge Keeble, decreed it so, in the final divorce decree,.. All, doing their professional work in violation of the law.

This ‘about face’ by Judge Keeble, all came about because, individual veterans sticking together, when seeing something obviously wrong, against the law, and interested in helping other veterans, with focus, determination, researched the law, the judge, case law, digging in. They keep at it. Who knows, you may not come up with, or find anything, but then again, as we have found out, you will be surprised what you will find. Beery’s own lawyer, could not do, what veteran’s who decided this judge, is not going to get away with “trashing” veterans law, and VA disability rights.

A FIREBASE Atlanta message to friends and supporters, from Jere Beery and Dale Van Luven had indicated ..“A couple of people have suggested that ‘they’ are only hearing one side of the story, and they simply can't believe everything that has been posted…… there are always people that will seek out a reason, not to get involved."

Can’t believe everything that has been posted? It doesn’t take much to research the ‘other side’ of the issue, and the law, if you are interested. Did these commentators do that? NO! It didn’t take much thinking to figure out, a violation of the law, is a violation of the law, If they would have taken the time, they would have resolved the issue in Beery’s favor, long ago. Jere Beery, by vocalizing the issue, and stuck with his belief, has made it just a little better for all veterans’, including members of all VSO’s, such as the American Legion.

See 'Jere Beery' for complete updates
William H. Heino Sr.
Wheino92@netscape.com

This message has been edited. Last edited by: haiki,