Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 12/12/2005

Dear Sgt Shaft
SOMETHING YOUR READERS MAY NEED TO BE AWARE OF; I AM IN RECEIPT OF CONCURRENT RECEIPT DUE TO AN 800/0 service connected DISABILITY, OR SHOULD I SAY WAS. IT SEEMS THE VA INSTRUCTED THE DFAS TO TAKE MY CONCURRENT RECEIPT AND RESTORE IT AS RETIRED PAY. THE VA THEN REDUCED MY DISABILITY BY $463.00. THIS SHOULD BE A WAKEUP CALL TO ALL RECIPIENTS OF CONCURRENT THAT WE ARE NOT SAFE. I SENT E-MAILS TO THE VA REGIONAL AND DFAS PLUS THE AMERICAN LEGION AND DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS OF WHICH I AM A LIFE MEMBER. THIS WAS OVER A WEEK AGO. THE DISAPPOINTMENT? NOT ONE SINGLE ENTITY HAS EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED MY E-MAILS. I AM NOW DOWN TO WAITING GOD KNOWS HOW LONG ON THE 800 NUMBERS IN THE HOPES OF TALKING TO A HUMAN. WARN YOUR READERS THAT THE OAKLAND REGIONAL OFFICE IS A BUNKER AND ALL THOSE VA PEOPLE ARE HUNKERED DOWN IN THERE.

David E.
California

Dear David
As you know by now, I had the top echelon at VA review your concerns. They informed me that their contact with the Oakland, California VA Regional office determined that you had sent your email to an address taken from an old letter. Individual stations' email inquiry mailboxes were replaced by a new, nationwide benefits inquiry form found at the VA website, www.va.gov. Unfortunately, Oakland's obsolete email address had not been disabled. (This has since been corrected). A representative has since contacted you and provided the correct inquiry address. Your VA compensation is not being reduced. Confusion regarding a change in the concurrent receipt of disability pay (CRDP) was due to a retired pay statement from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). The CRDP benefit is paid by the Department of Defense and is being phased in over a 10-year period. Your VA disability benefit is not changing. The representative from DFAS has also provided further explanation of your CRDP and retired pay.

Shaft Notes

A sad farewell to good friend "Mack" McKinney who died November 15, 2005.

Mack was a veteran of three wars and a distinguished military legislative advocate for over 30 years. In 1942, McKinney enlisted with the Marine Corps at age seventeen to join  America's fight against tyranny and oppression, and shipped off to war. He served honorably and tirelessly for over 29 years and participated in the invasion of Okinawa during World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War before retiring as a Sergeant Major of Marines in 1971. McKinney is the recipient of 16 medals and commendations to include the Combat Action Ribbon. He was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service in 2004.

McKinney's service to this country didn't end with his retirement, however. Over the next 34 years he lent his time and efforts to improving the recruiting, retention and readiness of the Armed Forces by petitioning Congress for military compensation and benefits packages commensurate with the "extraordinary demands and sacrifices associated with military service."

At the time of his death he was legislative counsel for the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), headquartered in Alexandria, Va.

He began his long public-service career with the Marine Corps League (MCL) and the Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA). He played a key role in these organizations and was credited with helping stem the losses of highly-skilled mid-career military personnel by convincing leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to authorize two consecutive double-digit pay raises during the late 1970s.

Recognizing that there is strength in numbers, McKinney became a driving force behind the creation of The Military Coalition (TMC) in 1985, and the
original 12 co-founding organizations which stopped legislation that would have zeroed out retired pay cost-of-living adjustments for a seven-year period. He served as TMC co-chairman, coordinator and administrator * having been reelected as the later on November 3, 2005. Today TMC is comprised of 36 military and veterans organizations and represents more than 5.5 million active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retirees and veterans of the uniformed services as well as their families and survivors.

McKinney was a member of numerous professional organizations and held leadership roles in many of them. He was a founding member and President Emeritus of the Exchange Club of Capitol Hill and helped found the Gang of 30 for the purpose of fostering good fellowship and staying abreast of Corps' activities for active duty and retired Marines.

Above and beyond his enviable work ethic, McKinney's most memorable quality was his impressive knowledge of legislative issues affecting the service member. McKinney could speak to the issues passionately and convincingly, whether it was one-on-one, or to an entire room. He had a way of speaking that drew attention to his words, and his presence commanded attention. Well known at military retiree and transition seminars, McKinney constantly implored service members to stay abreast of the issues that affected their quality-of-life, remarking often that "what Congress gives, Congress can take away."

Sergeant Major McKinney worked until the very end to better the quality-of-life for America's veterans and their families. McKinney is survived by his wife of 52 years, the former Rosemarie Swinford of Lansing, Mich., three children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

I know the shy Sgt Major Mack is now in the process of organizing his heavenly Marines to take their positions to guard the pearly gates. As our sacred hymn says, “You will find the gates are guarded by United States Marines.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-257-5446 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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