The Veterans Corner

I'd like to point out that there are two main VA facilities in Phoenix area: The Main VA Hospital which is located at 650 E. Indian School Rd. That's on the north side of Indian School Rd. - The entire area between 3rd Street and 7th Street. https://www.phoenix.va.gov/ and The Southeast Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic 3285 S. Val Vista Drive, Gilbert AZ That's Val Vista Drive north of the southern 202. https://www.phoenix.va.gov/locations/southeast.asp These are the two main facilities for health care as well as different programs offered by the VA. In addition there are numerous clinics located throughout the Valley.

Probably one of the first places to begin is finding out who actually IS a Military Veteran. Throughout this Blog I will be pointing to Websites that I believe answer questions.  The hope is that even that information is correct. To that goal is my first pointer: https://va.org/what-is-a-veteran-the-legal-definition/ Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” This definition explains that any individual that completed a service for any branch of armed forces classifies as a veteran as long as they were not dishonorably discharged. But even that definition doesn't fully define who is eligible for benefits.  But it is a starting point.

What I am hoping to do with this Blog is to inform everyone - but especially MILITARY VETERANS - of the various benefits that have been afforded by a grateful Nation. My hope is that it will be easy to follow, and most of all INFORMATIVE! Because I live in Arizona and that is what I know principally, I expect that much of what I will present is regarding the VA here.  Over time I hope to share what I know about the VA here especially in different and new postings. As the format for the Blog is listing the latest up front, my hope is that the 'Archive' will be used to locate a desired entry.  The headings will be the index and/or Table of Contents. In time I am hoping various postings will inform in a simple way the things about the VA that I have become aware of.  Sometimes my feelings about things I know and have witnessed.  Mostly programs and classes available in the Phoenix VA and in the area for VETERANS. Occasionally I hope to interject bits of inform...

The Recession caused me to to limit the amount of work I had until I could no longer successfully pay the numerous bills required in raising a family.  My phone no longer provided enough work for me to work some 5-7 days a week that I needed for that income. People no longer had money, or thought they didn't, or thought they wouldn't.  Whatever the reason, people were afraid to spend and no one NEEDS tile!  Like many businesses, I didn't have work enough to continue paying bills. It was my wife's suggestion to go to the VA.  It was her reasoning that I had served two tours in Vietnam and it certainly behooved me to investigate if the Veteran's Administration could be of any assistance through these troubling times. With great resistance I went there.  I believe it was in 2008.  Until then I had only applied and received assistance in the form of the GI Bill towards a college education.  In that endeavor I only acquired an AA Degree. Now I was g...

By way of introduction my name is John Sullivan but I am currently using my nickname 'Jack' as often as my given name.  I was named after my grandfather (also born John) who I only knew as Jack. I joined the US Navy in 1966 at the age of 17 and my sole desire was to go to Vietnam.  It was the only war our Country was in at the time and with a sense of patriotism I felt the need to participate.  I wasn't eager to kill, and certainly had no desire to be killed, but I was prepared to do whatever was asked of me. Throughout my life I have felt very blessed to have been born into this Nation and have always been proud of being a US Citizen.  From time to time I have been disappointed by the policies of the Government but I have maintained an attitude of tolerance when I was uncomfortable and strong pride when in agreement. I happen to be very proud and pleased with the direction the Country is finally headed once again.  Some of it is my age and seeing the Nati...