Veteran's Introductions

[SCI-Nurse]

Please share a little bit about yourself as a veteran:

1) In which country's military did you serve?
2) Which branch/units?
3) When?
4) Did you receive your SCI/D while in the military or afterwards?
5) Anything else you want to share about being a veteran with SCI/D.

(KLD)

[Sue Pendleton]

Please share a little bit about yourself as a veteran:

1) In which country's military did you serve?
2) Which branch/units?
3) When?
4) Did you receive your SCI/D while in the military or afterwards?
5) Anything else you want to share about being a veteran with SCI/D.

(KLD)

1. USA
2. Army, Military Intelligence
3. 1981 to 1985
4. Spinal stroke in 1992 non-service connected but covered by military hospitals and Tricare. My husband is a 20 year Army retiree, VN vet.
5. Some of the best years of my life.

[Annabanana]

Please share a little bit about yourself as a veteran:

1) In which country's military did you serve?
2) Which branch/units?
3) When?
4) Did you receive your SCI/D while in the military or afterwards?
5) Anything else you want to share about being a veteran with SCI/D.

(KLD)

1) Australia

2) RAAF (various units)

3) 1990 - 1996

4) My injury was service related, although at first they tried to get out of it. I was competing on one of my horses in a military equine club.

5) I have had great assistance through MCRS (division of VA in Australia), they have looked after me really well. (once you learn how to jump through their hoops that is!)

[skippy13]

1. USA

2. Air Force, Inertial navigation and radar repair

3. Vietnam Era till 1973

4. I was injured two and a half years ago, but have 100% (up from 70%as of last Saturday) service connected disability.

5. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to serve and learn. It was an experience I would do again if I could.

[Mike C]

1. USA

2. US Army - Air Traffic Controller

3. 1984-1990

4. Injured afterwards in 1996.

5. Influenced my life big time, met people from all over the US and Europe....including my wife who is German. Glad the

Soviets didn´t act up back in 1989! Currently my wife and I run a physical therapy practice specializing in neuro-rehabilitation near the US Army garrison at Grafenwöhr. It runs under the

German healthcare system, but is also Tricare and International SOS qualified.

[quadvet]

Please share a little bit about yourself as a veteran:

1) In which country's military did you serve?
2) Which branch/units?
3) When?
4) Did you receive your SCI/D while in the military or afterwards?
5) Anything else you want to share about being a veteran with SCI/D.

(KLD)

1) United States
2) Army/Engineer turned Ordnance Corps/63H20 Track Vehicle Mechanic/several units and duty stations incl Germany 77-80 and Korea 88-89
3) 1977-90
4) Service-connected/hurt on duty
5) Being a veteran with a somewhat complicated SCI has been a challenge; getting hurt and being under the care of the VA the rest of my life was my BIGGEST fear when I joined (VA in the 70s = not a good rep). I've seen the VA go through BIG changes over the years.
Serving was THE best experience of my life... regret not making it to the front lines.

[Them Bones]

1) USA
2) Navy, Submarine SONARman, ship's diver, USS Olympia (SSN-717)
3) '98 - '02
4) Non-service connected injury
5) Definitely a good time, but not what I wanted to do with my life.

[POPO367]

1) USA
2) Marine Corps, Infantry 1/3
3) 91-94
4) Non service, presently working on getting my injury covered by the VA
5) 4 years of my life that I am glad that I can look back to.

[adi chicago]

1.Romania
2.Special Forces
3.1988 -1990.
4.Non service injury
5.I had fun and tears but I loved to be a civilian .

[doingtimeonmyass]

1. United States
2. Air Force, Secure Communications, 377th Comm. Sqd.
3. 1991-1995
4. Service-connected
5. I enlisted during Operation Desert Shield. Little did I know the whole conflict would be over before I went in. It was a great experience.

[ac06]

Please share a little bit about yourself as a veteran:

1) In which country's military did you serve?
2) Which branch/units?
3) When?
4) Did you receive your SCI/D while in the military or afterwards?
5) Anything else you want to share about being a veteran with SCI/D.

(KLD)

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
1ST Reconnaissance BN LA / Scout, 1ST MAR DIV
1992 - 1996
Injured after service
Really enjoyed my time in, there is not much to say now about being a veteran with SCI, life goes on.

[Spadfan]

1. USA
2. US Navy, Attack Squadron 122 (VA-122) Aviation Electronics Tech
3. 1961-1965
4. Injured after service.
5. Squadron flew the AD Skyraider, the last prop driven attack plane flown by the Navy. It had many nicknames Spad being one of them

[RAFS]

1) In which country's military did you serve? USA
2) Which branch/units?US Air Force 26Th Supply Squadron/561st Squadron/ 381st Supply Squadron
3) When? 8/71 to 5/75
4) Did you receive your SCI/D while in the military or afterwards?I have moderate to severe lumbar spinal stenosis. Classified by VA as Paraplegic Incomplete.
5) Anything else you want to share about being a veteran with SCI/D.
I am very thankful & proud that I am a Veteran. I have no qualms w/the VA. I think they do an amazingly good job considering the huge Veteran population that they take care of. I don't know what I would do w/o the VA to take care of me.
It was the best time of my life. My mother told me to stay in & I didn't listen. BOY! was I sorry I got out w/o re-enlisting. Thought I new it all when I was in my 20's. Didn't realize at the time that Momma had more wisdom then me. If I could do it all over again I would. It was an amazing experience. Got to see some other parts of the world. Did some traveling while I was stationed in Germany. Went to several countries in Europe before being discharged a little early before my enlistment was up. I met a lot of nice people & had a ball while I was stationed in Germany. I missed the comraderie when I got out. Still in touch w/an old Army friend & his wife. I met them both on a bus tour to Switzerland when I was stationed in Germany.

[michael_carmack0946]

1. Alabama Army National Guard 1988-1990, United States Navy 1990-1994, United States Army 1994-1998
2. 31N, 31U, 32D, 31P, 63T Communications Systems Circuit Controller (U.S. Army), Storekeeper (Supply / Logistics U.S. Navy), U.S. Navy Search and Rescue Swimmer "SAR", Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems Mechanic, U.S. Army Signal Corp, U.S. Army Ordnance Corp, 3 / 12th Infantry, 1 / 6th Infantry, 1st Armored Division, USS ANTRIM FFG-20
3. 1988-1998
4. 70% Service Connected with claims pending that hopefully will put me at the 100% mark.
5. I've been fighting with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for service connection for my back injuries since learning of them while I was attending school under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation Program in 2003. When I got out of the military I was having a lot of foot, ankle, knee and groin pain but didn't equate this to possibly having back problems. I'm trying to find out if there is a way to date an injury or determine when it might have possibly occurred in order to help support my claim for service connection for my back injuries. I'm also wanting to get medical opinions concerning how my service connected Pes Planus (Flat Foot Condition) effects (aggravates) my lumbar spine and other back conditions due to my improper alignment and body mechanics. Any help and / or information about these topics would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I wanted to pass along this VERY INFORMATIVE and HELPFUL sight / messageboard about the VA Claims Process that has helped me immensely if you guys are interested. The URL for the website is: www.vets.yuku.com

[skippy13]

Michael.. I recommended someone fron VBN to CareCure. I hope you are the one, and again welcome>

Amy (CVNB)