I know how some of you feel. I have been dealing with the VA and hostile case workers for 27 years. I was recently at an appointment with a county vso officer, and she gets on the phone, "hey Joe I got a "peacetime vet" here, blah, blah............I am already sorry I went back to them again................

I am going to the VA tomorrow anyway, just so I don't explode..................

I think Mr. Dudkowski said it all.....................

 Well, as the Cold War Veterans get older and older... they of course are going the way of the Vietnam and World War I and World War II Soldiers. Eventually as more and more of them pass on the United States of America will finally recognize that the Cold War was indeed was a War and that the Veterans have been treated very badly, nothing like the Vietnam War Soldiers were treated, but in some ways just as bad, we were also ignored.

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At the time that this is realized then Congress, the President and of course the Nation will finally honor us. Of course by that time many of the fine men and women that stood toe to toe with the Red Machine will have passed on and their next of kin will be the ones asking for the reconization. I feel this may be a very sad but true fact. I sincerely hope it isn’t, but I don’t have a lot of faith that it isn’t.

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In the meantime all that we can do is try to continue to stand the battle line as we have already been doing. Stand the line for the ones that have already fallen. Stand the line for the ones that aren’t able to stand it on their own.

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John

I believe the reason is, the old law stated you got a 5-point preference for being an honorably-discharged veteran, ended on October 15, 1976. Also, the old law of the GI Bill education benefits ended in December of 1976. Benefits and awards and service dates don't always go together as some of us have found over the years..................so, if I had not of extended my enlistment during the Iranian Hostage crisis, and got out in 1980, I would not have received four of the ribbons I have. They had nothing to do with the crisis, but were only approved for those on active duty in 1981. Why not retroactive for everyone? I can not figure out why they do what they do, sometimes the logic escapes me. Sorry for going on so long, but I have made a study of these things for years, as I fought them for my benefits since 1981. Of course, this is just the way I see things...............