Monday 3 March 2014

Did You Ever Feel Like a WIENER?

No,... I do not mean like the US politician who like's to make and post selfies minus a little linen on the internet. Or, ...not like a big city mayor from Canada being on a late night comedy show for his intellectual input. I mean, I mean,.... more like a Navy person on let's just say, a 60 year old boat, that recently caught fire.

If not for the heroic efforts of the crew, we would have lost 1/2 of our entire Naval Supply Fleet. Well done and I mean that from my heart.

Not changing the subject,....I saw Ron James the other night. Wow, what a breath of fresh air. I actually heard some stuff that made sense! It was even the truth! It was like the windows of truthful talk had swung open and the smell of that darn pig farmer (simile for political mumbo-jumbo), was momentarily swept away.

With this pleasant smell came another odor quickly behind it. This one not so nice. After such a pleasant scent was enjoyed, the pig farmer was back and with fans this time.

You see my mind wandered back to those heroic Naval men and women who fought the fire and saved the vessel. All of my past and current experience with VAC & DND started filling my head with the excuses to be used 5, 10 maybe 20 years down the road when these poor sailors try to get a Veterans Pension Award.

The poor member will not be asking for a VAC pension unless they believe it was due to their service. Let us just say for example, a fire aboard a supply ship North of Hawaii. This service person may have since then, developed lung cancer, asthma, or some other chronic breathing difficulty.

First things first for VAC. We do not believe the cause of your problem was due your service and because of that we will not make any benefits retroactive until we decide whether you can prove it to us.

On your first application, you will be denied. Why you ask? The reasons they will list are endless. Some of which will include; Did you ever get caught in traffic? Did you ever smoke or know anyone who did? Is there dust anywhere in your house? Have you lived anywhere East of Toronto or in the BC or Halifax area? Have you ever been exposed to diesel or diesel fumes? Do you drive a car? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are denied.

But what about when I was exposed to all those toxic chemicals while I was fighting the fire? Well there is no way to prove that and in any case, the boat runs on diesel and you must have been exposed to exhaust or fumes at some time during your career. Did I ask you if you ever drove a car? Again, the Veteran is denied.

This goes on for years without end so, since you already felt like a wiener at a weenie roast with you being the weenie fighting the fire, don't be a wiener twice.

Go see the doctor. Demand every test you can get and for god's sake, get and keep a copy of everything. Sadley, you will need it because it did happen and you risked your life for this Country. You can be sure there will be few medical records to prove anything and the American civilian company in charge of your medical files will most definitely be concerned about you.

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