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Gentlemen. I want to apoligize if I have been over zealous in some of the posts. I have been trying to reach my Senator and representative for the last three days. Nothing to do with 16 gauges, dogs or shooting. Just has to do with being an American. I know that this is probably the wrong place for that, but where is the right place? I came home to an America that hated me. So I'm trying to contact my people in Washington and telling them what it feels like to be considered an outcast in your own country. If this has to be taken off, so be it. The freedom we all enjoy is because of those brave men and women Wouldn't it be nice if all people could debate the difference of a straight stock or ne with a drop at heel of 3"? Maybe even discuss what tastes better, grouse or pheasant? Or even better, a lab or a german shorthair?

Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 989 Location: Las Vegas

Well oldhunter, you're among friends now! With regards to what taste better, I can't say as I have ever eaten a grouse. However, I do know Labs are better than German Shorthairs. German shorthairs are tough and stringy!

Matt

Americans are also tough - sometimes stringy, never bland...keep fighting and let us know if you do - or do not - reach your rep...

of the people, by the people - FOR the goddamn people.

last I checked anyways.

In your corner;
a fellow 16 society member

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

Oldhunter--LABS ARE THE BEST---Get on the NRA website for contact info---

old hunter, thanks for fightin' for our country, sorry for how you were treated, labs are best and ruffed grouse is better than Pheasant.

Duncan

Good luck Old hunter. Our government today thinks the American people only want to embarass the other side of the aisle. And if you and I have to lose some freedom along rhe way, so be it. Lets take a non-binding vote on that one. Don't get me started.

I've never eaten Lab or Shorthair, but my wife's brother is married to an Asian. if you guys really want to know, I'll ask her...

I was in the same boat. Have already contacted the Sen.and Rep. BTW I like quail and pointers.

I quess I can explain further, while in the service I was injured in my right eye. The eyesight is deteriorating more. I put in a claim in 1987 for a disability so I could get it taken care of. Of coarse They turned me down as they allways do on the first claim. I was so pissed I just said the hell with it. At the time there was bleeding behind the eye. So I decide to try again. Now the veterans service officer says they may have lost my records in a fire at the records place. So I wrote my senator and representative. Never heard back from the representative. The senator says they need the case number. They can't find my records to give a case number. So I'm just in limbo. I've went to three different eye doctors, one says I need cataract surgery, another says glaucoma is starting. Another made me a new pair of glasses to try and correct it more as my eyes don't focus in the same spot. Have you ever tried to see through two coke bottles? Thats' how heavy the new glasses are. so yesterday when my friend had flown up from southern Minnesota, I did something I hadn't done in years. I had four beers and I got loaded. So I vented a little steam. Maybe I'm feeling sorry for myself. It's hard to drive at nightnow, but the main thing I worry about is if it gets worse, it may effect my hunting. I want to have at least one year hunting with this new pup. Who at this time is trying to eat one of my shirts.

At the risk of sounding overtly political, these damn politicians who keep chanting "support the troops" seem to have forgotten that it is just an empty slogan the way our boys and girls have been treated. We send them over there with inadequate armor and welcome them home with cuts in veteran's benefits.

If the politicians truly "supported the troops," they would siphon off some of the money being donated to Haliburton and KBR and fully fund the Veteran's Administration. I suspect this whole mess is only an excuse to make rich corporations richer. I've read too many stories like yours, Oldhunter, who served with honor and valour, and it makes me sick.

Hang in there.

It seems to take a long time to get records out of St Louis, based on my limited experience. But sometimes they do manage to send something out.

Know any names that can help verify your accident? I see regular requests for help locating witnesses in American Legion and VFW magazines. Maybe the case officer can help get it going. You may already know and tried all this, if so sorry for the duplication.

What brand of shirt does your pup prefer? I suppose the more expensive, the better he likes it Very Happy

Maybe a little BBQ sauce on the sleeve...

good luck

rayb

we're pullin for you, buddy, keep after these guys, don't give up, keep throwin mud on the wall, sooner or later it's gonna stick....

Old Hunter,
Don't give up on the VA. I have seen both sides now and am convinced it is not the system as much as people that we deal with. Some have rose colored glasses on and seem to be able to help while other seem hardened by life and treat everyone as a cheat. I have watched three friend here in Montana find help along with one in Oregon. The Montana crew had much less to overcome than my friend in Oregon. The same system just different people. Keep looking for that person that will make a difference for you.
Best,
Ron

Red letterday. i want to thank you all for your support. Nyway I allways take the dogs back into the tamarack, spruce swamp everyday. At least two or three times. Anybody from Minnesota will know what I'm talking about. Anyway it's rough walking. That's my back yard. Came back from the last walk, have a prch on the back of my house. Steps on part of it. The old dog allways jumps up where there are no steps. The pup tried but could not make the jump. Had to use the steps. Today he made the jump. That to me is more imprtant then upper class or lower class, straight stock or doglegg. Guys just keep shooting theose 16 gauges. I can't figure out why they made any of the other gauges. Don't need them. Here's sayinng hello from DJ the second, my little lab,gsp cross that made his jump today.

*Last edited by 16gaugeguy on Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:59 pm; edited 1 time in total*

Oldtimer, That line some VA jerk shot at you about a fire is pure BS. You can't be old enough to be WWII vet. I'm betting you are Nam era or Korean war era at most. In 1985, they gave me that same line about a fire in St Louis. You are one of many. It is a brush off and it is criminal.

My Dad was blasted half to hell by unexploded ordinance while riding in the last seat in a Dodge Duece and a half coming up from the beach at one of the many end around runs his outfit performed to cut off the Japs retreating along the coast of New Guinea in '44 (not Borneo). He was permanently brain damaged from the blast and the only surviver out of his squad in the truck. He was in a coma for many months.

(My dad was in the Americal Division and was a ranging officer on a 155mm "Long Tom." His outfit also served at Guadalcanal in support of the Marines. I guess he saw a lot of fighting. He did not speak of it much except to say that gun was the best field piece in WWII and helped save many American and Australian grunts. I guess the Japs did not have anything nearly as effective, because it had both superior range and accuracy to just about anything else in the Pacific Theater, and surpressed Japanese activity anywhere it was deployed.)

While my elderly parents were in Florida for their last winter there under my supervision and care, my Dad's condition rapidly deteriorated to the point where he needed constant medical care and assistance. Once his health insurance benifits ran out, I had to take him home and provide care until I could get some help.

I went to the VA for him to get some long term care since he was already a 100% disabled vet. They gave me the repeated brush off for a couple of months during which, I was my Dad's sole care taker. My Mom was also aging, frail, and could not help much with his care although she did what she could as she'd always done.

I finally got sick of their BS, drove my Dad to Tampa VA hospital and parked him at the admitting desk in a wheel chair with a copy of his service records in his lap. I walked the hell out and refused for two monthes to come get him at their demands. He was in rough shape and was not able to function without constant care. While he was there as was his right, they were forced to evaluate him, and care for his ailments and his permanent condition. They have to by law. He got good care. I had the place wired with inside help from staffers who realised how shitty the VA was. I came and went incognito to make sure and made friends among the orderlies and attendants as I went.

Finally, when VA management realized I meant business, they relented and finally helped my Mom and me place him in A long term care facility under a VA contract near my Mom's home in MA. From there, I moved back to MA so we could help monitor him and so I could help her with her own deteriorating condition.

Even after all this, later on, the VA tried twice to intimidate my Mom into letting him come home from the care facility for a trial run. That was another dodge dreamed up by some bean counting creep in VA adminstration. I put a stop to that by finally threatening to have the VA hospital director arrested for verbally threatening an old woman in poor health on the phone. I had him on tape yelling at her for being uncooperative.

This was the same woman who stuck by my Dad through thick and thin, and buddy, sometimes it got so thin you could see through it. She also cared for my Dad whenever he needed it from 1945 until she just could not do it any longer. She also used to volunteer 10 hours a week at the same damned VA hospital working in the dental clinic for over 15 years without accepting a dime as a DAV wive's auxilary member. When I played the tape for him and reminded him just who this old woman was, I was visibly shaking with rage. He wanted to become part of the wall paper. I got my point across without so much as raising my voice. The murder in my eyes said it all. He never tried it again.

All you need is your dog tags. That is enough. Have one of your family bring you in a wheel chair and leave you there. You can't drive with a bad eye, and you can't be left without medical attention. Do not bring any money or charge cards either--nothing. They have to take you in and give you care. It is your right, and it is the law.

Go there and demand your due in a quiet, polite, but absolutely resolutely stubborn, determined way. Just refuse to leave. Do not volunteer to do so under any curcumstances. It is criminal to put you out on the street. Don't let them. You stand your ground. You have already paid the bill. Do not let anyone in your family volunteer to take you home. Tell them to say no and hang up if the VA calls them. Tell them to not engage in any converstation. Just refuse to take you home until you've been completely treated and released for your ailment.

PS: As long as you live, you will never have to apologize to me my friend--ever.

Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 76 Location: north Texas

Old Joke:

When you join the military, you will be asked to risk your life for your country - twice:

First - when you are in active duty overseas

Second - when you try to get critical medical help at your nearest VA Hospital!

My experience with this has always been, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease."

Keep on squeaking that wheel.

BTW: I'm overly fond of Nova Scotia Tollers - great retrievers and close-working flushers.

xtm