Michelle Obama Makes Military Families Her Mission

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I am a veteran of the viet-nam era. I have been denied my rights to fair benefits for over 20 years. The most recent being adenial of increase in compensation due to the VA using my the wrong social security number to obtain proper medical information on me to support my claims. I received ahead injury while doing a hookup to a chopper during a storm, then another during a base basketball game which left me with a one inch gash in my right upper hairline which is now a very visible dent an scar. I received a serious injury to my left knee and ankle during a base football game which later lead me to have to have surjury on my left knee and finally a third injury at the incapable hands of a base doctor who opened me up to do a hernia repair and for some reason could not find the knot which pertruded out of my belly when I stood up and hid behind muscle tissue when I laid down(this mishap lead me to have two more repairs done after I got out). By the way the end result of this operation was that the doctor sewed me back up and sent me back to my unit saying "it was probably just an over grown lymp[h node". My head injury caused me to lose my job at the US Postal Service because they diagnosed the headaches and black outs I begain to have a few days after the elbow smash to my head during the game,as narcolepsey, caused by the head trauma. Due to the wrong SSI# used to get my information the VA has denied my claim for over 20 years even though it shows in my medical exit exam as a new scare.I received service connection for hernia in 1988, they didn't start paying me until 2000 and only at a 10% rate and they have never given me the retro-pay for this claim. They keep calling my knee injury claim a sprain ignoring the fact that I had to have surjury on left knee and now wear a heavy duty brace every day but again they could not get proper information due to wrong SSI#. I have since sent them the copies of their mistake on VA letter head from Washington DC and they still are now after 20 years of dragging my family through the mud by taking away my income at postoffice. I 've been married for over thirty years with five kids most grown now but the VA has taken a lot from my family. Please contact me if you can help because I am at the end of my rope with patience with this system and I am trying for one last time to go about justice for my family due to the VA neglect and oversight. (919-3955983)

Michael Pope of NC 7:41AM May 28, 2012

How can i help the wives and daughters, sisters, mothers of our military ? I believe it is a wonderful thing that our 1st lady Michelle Obama is doing and i would like to support her....

Audrey L. Ledgister of WA 4:18PM February 19, 2012

My daughter Heather Hammer is a Medic in the 329th Med CO out of Erie, PA. She is a single parent of a 2 yr old daughter, Waverly. My husband and I have been taking care of our granddaughter since Heather deployed in October 2010 we have put our lives on hold to raise our granddaughter, we get enjoyment daily. ( This is Heather's second deployment she first deployed to IRAQ, now she is in Kuwait/Iraq.) We gladly take on the responsibility of our granddaughter so our daughter can serve her country.
Heather is a medic in the Reserve 329th Army Med Co out of Erie, PA. While Heather was on leave here at home her name was put in for a new assignment. SHe is to be Medical support for a Combat Patrol unit. SHe was told all through her deployment and before she left that a single parent would not be put into the combat situation since she was the main support of her child. This should be the same no matter if you are a single mom or dad.
Heather only had 1 yr with her daughter before she was deployed she could be injured physically or mentally because her command took it upon them selves to assign this situation to her. I understand she is trained for that, that is not our only concern. Our concern is that there were more than a handful of her fellow soldiers that had volunteered for that position.
It will be hard enough for Heather and her daughter to bond once she is home, but it will be more difficult if Heather was injured mentally or physically.
I am also the FRG Leader for the families of the 329th, so all of our families mean alot to me and I am willing to fight for all of them. Unless you know a military family or are a military family you have no Idea how much they sacrifice for their country.
Valerie Buck
329th FRG LEader/ grandmother of Waverly, Mother of SPC Heather Hammer

Valerie Buck of PA 11:35PM July 18, 2011

Hi Deborah,
That is such a wonderful idea, please know that some of us here in AZ are trying to put the same type of home together in Clarkdale, AZ. It's called "The Vetraplex" and it will be a community for vets ran by vets. The president Gary Rideout a former US Marine came up with the idea and has been working very hard trying to make this come to light. Keep in mind that with God on our side anything is possible. Vetraplex.com
Please tell you son thanks for his service,
Donna Grannis

Donna Grannis of AZ 11:43AM July 06, 2011

eWas surprised that my GI, upon arrival was put to sleep, by the doctor, over my protests. He was medicated without my permission or his (even tho he had Alzheimers, he was awake enough to ask for
medication if he needed it. He did not want medication or food of any kind. He proved this in earlier days. He was kept medicated
more than necessary until he died. One worker loudly pronounced
over his bed: YOU KNOW HE'S GOING TO DIE! I could not believe her
behavior. She even called me 6 hours before he died, to tell me that he died. The Chaplains were not a support group, because the Hospice Chaplain was in a training session. The Patient Advocate would not honor my Health Power of Attorney because I was not a blood relative. She refused to act an the capacity of an advocate
for the patient. this type of nightmare should not add to that
final episode in a GI's life. Staff behavior codes might be helpful. A Hospice can provide a quality of life to those who are dying. This one created additional stress.
G.L. Smith, Tucson, Arizona

G.L.Smith of AZ 4:41PM June 25, 2011

I'm 100% disabled vet, I have finally found 2 Doctors at the VA in Richmond who care about ME and my health. I've been fighting for 27 years with various cancers and other issues related to my service in the Navy.
We need Doctors who care, not just trying to get through their residency and use the VA hospitals as a way to move on to the their private practice.
During all my illness I worked full time for the gov't sometimes 2 jobs to ensure my children had what they needed because their father was never around, he was a marine but he had his own priorities and family wasn't one of them (he had girlfriends), so I ensured my children had what they needed and they grew up to be strong, healthy, mature Americans with good work ethics and morals. Both are home owners with good jobs, who continue to work on their education, not with help from the gov't but one class at a time. I'm proud of my children and how I've raised them. When I'm ill and in need of another surgery they are there for me, in fact my daughter is my landlord.
I'm a 3rd generation Marine Corp Bratt and my children are Military Brats as well and proud of it. I love my country and if I could I'd still be working for my country.
I stand beside you and your Husband and I would be honored to help on his next campaign. I type 110 words a minute, I've written multiple documents for the gov't on topics I can't name, I can't walk far, but with the proper chair and laptop i can type, answer phone, make calls and assist. I believe in what you both stand for and not since Teddy Roosevelt have I had this much respect for a Present, (I'm 55, he's my fav Pres, I love history). I have denounced both political parties, I am an American and that is all that matters. God Bless you, Your Momma, your Beautiful Daughters and your Wonderful Husband, and of course your Puppy. Respectfully, Deni Taylor

Deniseann of VA 2:16PM February 15, 2011

Deborah Gauthier
495 Stanleys Cay
Vero Beach, fl 32966
772-564-0561 or 772-205-9921
August 26.2010
To: Michelle Obama;
I am writing to you for direction or input into this proposal. I have contacted the Veterans Homeless Program at the local level and have not received any response.
I purchased a depressed property in Fort Pierce, Fl and would like to set up a Program for veterans to live independently. I have learned that many veterans do well living and helping one another. Some just cannot conform to life as they once knew it. This program would allow veterans to have independence, learn new skills and help their fellow veteran and be recognized for their accomplishments. There are many HUD Homes in the area and this could become a project for rebuilding the community and also help veterans..
Each apartment has 2 bedrooms a living room and a bathroom and a shared laundry room.
My vision would be to have 4 veterans in each apartment.
Responsibilities would be cooking, cleaning, yard work, laundry and other responsibilities as needed.
Veterans to keep medical and counseling appointments, attend meeting pertinent to particulars
Learn job search skills and computer search skills.
Register with One Job stop.
Actively seek employment
purchase additional housing for veterans and require veterans whom are not employed and that are residing in the first house to perform minor repairs, painting, yard work, and other duties as skills are obtained, to ready the house for occupancy of new veterans in need.
Each veteran would have a personalized goal plan
Weekly group meetings
Veterans will take classes on computer or at an institution that teaches leadership and other skills.
Each resident will have an opportunity to apply for the position of house lead after 2 years ,if they have acquired the skill set..
After 4 years Residents will have the opportunity to purchase the house and will
be required to keep it a Veterans Home and enforce the bylaws that will be in place.
Things needed:
House repairs, furnishings, inspections
Air conditioning /heating system.
Transportation for medical appointment and self help programs such as AA or NA.
Purchase computers and printers and software to learn skills.
On line computer classes /or continuing education classes
House Lead for the first two years
Van Driver
Contact Veterans Administration
Local Government
Form a board of directors and by laws.
Hiring Process
Compliance Agreement
Eviction Process
Financial tracking program
Contract for veterans (only) to purchase the property after 4 years
Or pay market value rent.
Write a final proposal
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this proposal. Any advice or help
You can give me would be greatly appreciated by me and our proud veterans.
Respectfully yours,
A proud Mom of a marine
Deborah J Gauthier

Deborah Gauthier of FL 10:00AM August 27, 2010

i am writting this comment in hope of it catching the right eyes and touch a heart.
i've applied for survival benefits from my huband,i am 55 yrs old and laid off.living off unemployment,very difficult to survive.
my husband had a honorable discharge with service connected mental illness which happened to him there in the military,thats been thirty yrs ago or better,i find it hard to complete the info or track down some info to prove his illiness was service conn.which lead him to die from the virus.
they want me to link this together and the only way is back track every hospital that treated him on his stays in the mental ward,filled with the drug therozine to name one,most of the time he was so over druged he forgot most of his appt.which sometimes stopped his dis-checks,i need help with this matter

brenda baker of CT 10:26AM July 18, 2010

Dear First Lady Michelle Obama:
My husband is in need of your help desparately! He is a 100% disabled, however, 80% is for Disability and 20% for Unemployability. After 15 years of misdiagnoses, his case was reviewed many times and finally approved. My husband is gravely ill and his case has not been given the attention he deserves as an American Viet Nam Veteran. His illness is service connected for MS and was granted by the BVA on September 1, 2010. It has been 9 months since my last notification of approval and I am still waitng for this great need award. There are other related issues that I need to speak to you about. Mrs. Obama could you please contact me and let me know you received this note. Thank you, a veteran's wife feeling betrayed)

Mrs. Harriet Crawford of GA 5:51PM June 01, 2010

I am an American citizen, wife of a Navy retiree and the daughter of a WWII Army Officer, and I strongly support the White House’s recent initiative to identify the most promising ideas and programs that support military families.
As a reading specialist at Willoughby Elementary School in Norfolk, Virginia, I work with the children of military service members. Willoughby is unique because it was built on land donated by the United States Navy over forty years ago. The U.S. Navy wanted a school built for military children who live in the adjacent housing complex, so that their needs would be better served. These children deal with issues many other children do not experience, such as missing a parent because of deployment, having to make new friends due to constant moving or entering a new school and having to adapt to new curriculum expectations.
The staff and myself welcome children from districts across the country. Many of our children enter our door several grade levels behind in core subjects and it is our responsibility to insure they receive high, quality instruction focusing on individual needs. As a reading specialist, I designed and created a variety of reading materials which have been successful in filling the missing gaps of learning our at-risk learners experience.
In 2009, Willoughby was recognized with a commendation from the Virginia General Assembly for having the highest test scores of any of the other 1800 schools in the state and that’s because we understand and are committed in meeting the needs of our transient students.
One example in meeting the needs of our students is the nationally acclaimed After-Breakfast Buddy Reading Club. This club, http://www.readingisfunlibrary.com,
I developed and sponsor, began in 2007. Second-grade team leaders involved in this club receive a National Presidential Volunteer Service Award. This year 14 second-grade students will receive this award on June 14th, in a formal ceremony. Imagine! Young children involved in community service, an obvious reflection of true American spirit and certainly a tribute to the military family.
If the White House is truly interested in finding programs that support military families, then Willoughby Elementary is a true example. Unfortunately, the School Board is considering closing Willoughby in the 2011-2012 school year.

Sharon Oberne of VA 10:14AM May 15, 2010