Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

Kevin Krall 0:00
The content of this program is paid for by David L. Washington. The content of Veterans Affairs plus does not reflect the opinions or views of 91.5 Jazz and more, or the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Unknown Speaker 0:18
Good morning. This is Dave Washington. This is Veterans Affairs plus show. You can't see what's going on

Unknown Speaker 0:39
once. I am pleased and grateful to the GM, Mr. relief for allowing my business making moves life coaching services to host his radio show. And again, the concept and the content will primarily do with Veterans Affairs. And then we have the plus where we will talk about some of the current events that are going on in our world. I like to first of all, make a couple of quick announcements. One condolences, we've had a number of people in our community to lose their lives, some to COVID, and other just natural causes. But there are many families out there that I like to acknowledge with condolences, particularly because I've been in this community since I was three and a half a lot of yours know a lot of people. So just wanted to say that. Also, I like to encourage people to listen to Karen hunter in class with Dr. Gray car on Saturday mornings, just google him you'll find it very easy to find. And then there's another program I like people to get interested in. You don't have to be black. So don't get confused by the black achievement fun, but it's a group of people just trying to do some things. They're trying to get 10 million people to put in $9 per month. You can Google them and see if it's something that you might be interested in. We have two guests today. Mr. Tony Marshall. He has an extensive background in assisting veterans. And also we have another Veneto Fire Service colleague, a man Eugene Campbell, Jr. What I like to do, Tony, give us an indication of what what branch did you serve and how long

Unknown Speaker 2:15
United States Marine Corps serving from 19 6070 to 1970, Vietnam veteran purpleheart winner currently with the Veterans of Foreign war American Legion Purple Heart Dav and the F Ra. You want them who

Unknown Speaker 2:31
right? Yes. Tony, I know you have an extensive background, particularly as I mentioned in assisting veterans, so tell us about some of the current programs that exist.

Unknown Speaker 2:43
Alright, currently, I'm the State Service Officer for the VFW and the Southern Nevada area. But I work out of the American Legion Post 10. That's a nine to five H Street right now working two days a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays. And it's by appointment. But what I basically do is I help you with any any type of disability claims or benefit information that you might need. And you can feel confident in knowing that I've been doing this for approximately 15 years now and in the Las Vegas area for the last seven years.

Unknown Speaker 3:18
So what types of programs exists within your sphere of of work

Unknown Speaker 3:24
program, basically, what I'm doing is helping with claims right now because, again, we have a lot of Vietnam veterans, which I've helped quite a few so far. But what we're looking for now the Afghan Desert Storm, and Iraqi veterans to start coming in, especially women, there have been a lot of cases lately with the women with all types of harassment, sexual, different types of abuses. And I'd like to get some of y'all over to see if I can help you out. But as far as programs, the VA has just came out today, actually, I downloaded it today with a new help book that you can download on the Department of Veteran Affairs, which covers the entire range of all the benefits available to you. So if you go to the Department of Veteran Affairs and download the welcome package, it will cover quite a bit of information, everything from now until burial benefits family benefits, spousal benefits, your health how to get into the health system if you're not in already, as well as claims information. So there's quite a few benefits available to all veterans out here. And you should take advantage of that new welcome package.

Unknown Speaker 4:31
Great. So you say you're over at the post, post team what couple of times a week and what hours are you there?

Unknown Speaker 4:38
There are no hours is by appointment only, I'm sorry to say but by having an appointment, you can be assured that I'll get to you and get you service that day. The number you can call is 301-537-9465. That's 301-537-9465 And like I said if you get an appointment, you're guaranteed to get service that day.

Unknown Speaker 5:03
So you pretty much run this by yourself your commitment to, to your brothers and sisters who have been in the military.

Unknown Speaker 5:10
I've been like I said, I've been doing this nonstop for the last since probably since 2003. Okay, I, you know, I've gone to people's homes, I've met him at McDonald's, we've done it in the library. But now I do have a little office that I can work out of. But like I said, I've been doing it for a while I've been doing it

Unknown Speaker 5:28
for so this is I would imagine, as you discuss with people, this is all confidential information as they discuss with you what's going on with them, whatever the case may be,

Unknown Speaker 5:36
everything is confidential, what we talked about or discussing that office never leaves that office under any circumstances. And and some of you may have been told that you have to pay for this service. This is absolutely free, is no charge whatsoever for any services that I provide.

Unknown Speaker 5:52
That is good work, young man. I trust that those who have worked with you already appreciate the service that you provide some?

Unknown Speaker 6:01
Yes, yes, they do. And I can honestly say, even with the COVID going on right now, for the past year or so some things have slowed down. They're having some some issues with getting our compensation exams back since the hospital was shut down, but they're moving again, and they're moving in the right direction. But I'd say over the past two years, claims have been coming in under eight months. Like I said, I've been quite successful in getting people to the benefits and disability payments that they deserve.

Unknown Speaker 6:31
And I would imagine, folks from all branches come through

Unknown Speaker 6:35
everyone, if you served 90 days in the military, and you had some type of problem that you're qualified, all I need from you as a an honorable discharge, and just a listing of what what type of issues you have medical information is available. Also, if you're not registered with the VA, I can also make sure that you get registered in the VA system. And don't be fooled. CO payments, if they see you have make too much money or anything like that, you can believe co payments are not running more than like $15. So you're not gonna get a better insurance package than that.

Unknown Speaker 7:09
So those requirements you mentioned, served at least 90 days,

Unknown Speaker 7:14
at least 90 days of discharge. That's That's it. That's it period. But like I said, again, for those female veterans out there, don't be shy, don't be shy, got your back, and you can have my confidence and know that everything that we do is confidential.

Unknown Speaker 7:30
Great. All right. Now I know you got something huge coming up later on in the month of may give us a little bit of background on that and what you got going on? Well,

Unknown Speaker 7:41
well basically what's happening is I didn't kind of enjoy what was going on at the one of the posts that I was with and decided to create a new post, that would be a lot more inclusive. And so we started a new post even gives me more your posts, one to one and eight we made out of, again, American Legion Post in 1905. H Street. And we're coming up on our first anniversary, we're having an anniversary party, May 16, at the leather neck club, 4360 West Spring Mountain Road 89102. And it goes from 3pm to 7pm. And I like as many of us as possible, just stop by stop by because I'd like you to meet some of the young people that have become a part of our new posts and get a chance to talk to him. I'm sure you have a lot in common.

Unknown Speaker 8:31
And this is a Veterans of Foreign war post that you're embarking upon opening now. Right? This

Unknown Speaker 8:37
is Veterans of Foreign Wars. But like I said, again, many of us are cold members of the American Legion. So go let that be a problem for you.

Unknown Speaker 8:45
That is great man. And I trust that those folks that are listening audience, please, if it's not you, if you got a family member that served again, 90 days honorable discharge, please have to come and check out brother Tony over at American Legion Post 10. And it's by appointment. He's already given his number and we'll make sure that he does it again before we close out today. But that is great work brother

Unknown Speaker 9:09
and all the follow note. I will be stopping by the student veterans office here on UNLV. And leaving some information with them. So that case you don't get this message. You can also pick it up from that office.

Unknown Speaker 9:22
Wonderful, wonderful. Now I want to roll over to my colleague, Fire Service colleague and friend, Eugene Campbell Jr. Jean, what branch Did you serve in?

Unknown Speaker 9:34
I wasn't in the Marines like telling me that. I was an Air Force but you need everybody land sea air ground underwater in the air to get things done. So I was in the Air Force. So

Unknown Speaker 9:48
how long did you serve? GE?

Unknown Speaker 9:50
Just about five years?

Unknown Speaker 9:53
Yeah, so what was your job in the military in the Air Force?

Unknown Speaker 9:56
I was a security policeman.

Unknown Speaker 9:58
Security policeman So, after your discharge, what did you do?

Unknown Speaker 10:03
I was a policeman.

Unknown Speaker 10:07
So, so you want him guys who kind of woke up and say, Hey, man, I ain't gonna hear nobody shoot me. I'm gonna, I'm gonna be real crazy. I'm gonna run into a hot fire.

Unknown Speaker 10:15
Well, you know, after I left the Air Force that was North Las Vegas correctional officer than a police officer. One of the things that we were taught to do, through tutelage here in the community was Take, take many of the tests. And I also took the fire department test. So about 11 months later, fire department called me, and my sergeant Sergeant Collins in North Las Vegas, I went up to my sister chart, and I'm gonna be leaving you. And he leaned over a yellow trader leaned over to me said, Good job, kid. So that was almost 33 years ago.

Unknown Speaker 10:52
That's something. Jean, you've been on quite a journey in the last 12 years. If you don't mind, would you share a little bit of that when I put and I say that because I think you will be an inspiration to folks who are on that upper chart to upper mobility in becoming an executive officer. There's some times when one has to travel?

Unknown Speaker 11:11
Yes. Well, you know, I guess, you know, coming up in Junior ROTC and getting the discipline, the military allowed me to get some things in line, which allowed me to progress through my education. After retiring here as a deputy chief to you, chief Washington, I went to as assistant chief in Dallas, Fire and Rescue went on to be the Director of Safety and Security in New Jersey, Deputy Chief and Pasadena, California, and fire chief in Missouri City, Texas. That's about the last 12 years.

Unknown Speaker 11:47
So how does family because I know you're married, you got children? How do they fit into your movement? Well, you know, and the reason why I asked that, because I think it's important sometimes. And you and I both have seen where people to achieve a certain level of success. They lose their families, there's someone in thrived and wanting to be someone whether that's the whole person to me, when you bring your family that's that's just my own personal feelings about that. I know everybody don't agree with me, but it is what it is.

Unknown Speaker 12:18
Yes, sir. So looking back at as far as family was concerned, I waited two hours, almost my boys were almost out of college out of high school, one was in college, and one was going to be out of high school. So for that year that he was in transition, we let him finish his school here. He graduated from Cimarron and he was playing football and had all the relationships. And I just went on a TDY. As we say, in the military, temporary duty assignment, I went, that's the way I looked at it. And for one year, my family would come visit me my son graduated from school. And then my wife, of course, she was from Dallas. So that was one of the reasons why I picked her and all the places I've been we've always had family there. So it's always made my family happy.

Unknown Speaker 13:06
Now I know Jean from you know, from my own personal relationship. If you don't mind sharing, I know you've used some of the services that a brother Tony has mentioned with VA, would you mind just kind of covering because I think we want our audience to understand that these programs are available. And they should at least check out brother Tony, because who knows, you may get something that will help you to the rest of your life.

Unknown Speaker 13:31
Well, one of the things I've learned and brother Tony just brought up today is Veterans need to talk with other veterans. Oftentimes, other veterans don't know the opportunities that exist. Unless you had that master sergeant or that united gunnery sergeant or whoever it was, to give you some insight to help you own that first sergeant that would help you. And so some of the things I've learned in the last five years, I learned through friends talking about the benefits and the things that we had earned it you know, as young airmen or young, you know, Marines or whatever have you in future man I didn't know about, I didn't have anybody to, you know, to tell me about him. And I was entered into service and we started talking about it. I have a friend who was an Air Force with me 33 years ago, and he started telling me about certain things. And I wasn't aware about a lot of the benefits that Tony was talking about earlier. He was talking about earlier, that new help for the veterans to come out and the guy that came out today. So I really think that through that God, I've learned about so many things. That's helping me get through some of the things that encouraged me in the service.

Unknown Speaker 14:40
Very good. So Tony, at least, you know, there's a gentleman sitting at the table here that took his own initiative to get out there and get it done. But certainly everybody don't don't have that initiative. And initiative, including me, as Jean has always been pushing me to go and do something and what

Unknown Speaker 14:57
Wow, while he was talking, the words just go I'm going through my head denial. We have a lot of guys who have done multiple, multiple, multiple tours overseas Iraq and Afghanistan Desert Storm. And right now they're home. We're here in Las Vegas pot is legal, but not necessarily the way to solve your problems. The thing that I said a long time ago was the question that all the doctors asked, Are you trying to kill yourself? Are you trying to hurt yourself? And I said, No, of course not. But at the same time, I was doing more drugs than the law allow. Not only that drinking alcohol, like it was going out of style. So a lot of times you think that you're just doing this or recreationally, but you're doing it as a means of hiding the real problems. So if you're in that type of denial, it probably suffering from a bad case of PTSD. I can help you with that. VA has programs for that. And I'm telling you the program's work. Because I'm number one suspect. I was suffering with this problem for many, many years, and no VFW, one of those smoky joints as you guys like to say, what guys just sit around and drink. He pulled me aside and asked me, have you ever been tested? And I said, No, of course. And now you got me tested and look where I am now. You know, but I decided at that point that I would give back. And that's what I continue to do. So if you're in denial, give up the pride. Come on in and talk to me. Let's get to smell.

Unknown Speaker 16:32
Well, God bless you, man. In fact, that's very interesting that from your personal experience, you took it on to do something to assist others as you were assisted by someone. Gotta give

Unknown Speaker 16:41
back, man, you gotta give back. David, you asked me a direct question about the service organizations. And so I didn't know anything about them, I didn't know that it actually would turn into services like the VFW performed. And so when I started talking to my friends, they told me to call out to the Veterans Hospital, and they had a myriad of offices there as well as around the city. So I think that's that resource that Tony talked about that guy because every offer is there. Every person there is looking to help you. There are different disciplines, from people who are paralyzed for people who are blind through people who are veterans of Vietnam or Iraq War. So there's a lot of different things. I think veterans just need to start talking, reaching out. And Tony has that guide for you. And he's giving you a number so you can get it from him.

Unknown Speaker 17:31
And one last thing I wanted to say because we are in this COVID situation right now. COVID shots are available at the VA to all veterans, all veterans, their families, spouses and friends, no questions asked, all you have to do is go over there, get the shot. This is not a joke. Get The Shot.

Unknown Speaker 17:51
Tony, would you give that information again on the big function that you're gonna have for your anniversary? As well as your contact information again, as we close this session?

Unknown Speaker 18:01
Okay, first of all, take down my number 301-537-9465. Just ask for Tony. I'll probably answer the phone. There's no time limit day night, Saturday, Sunday 24/7. And the anniversary for post 12198 VFW is May 16. At 11 at Club 4360 West Spring Mountain Road. 89102 from three to seven.

Unknown Speaker 18:28
Thank you, Tony. Jean, got any closing remarks you would like to share with our audience? Yes,

Unknown Speaker 18:32
I would just like to say you know, sometimes you just need to call somebody in the middle of night. And I'm looking at the VA site right now. Veterans Crisis Line is 1-800-273-8255. It's 1-800-273-8255. Please reach out if you need help, or reach out to one of us, and we can give you some assistance a direction.

Unknown Speaker 18:55
Well, gentlemen, brother, Tony, for the gene. I thank you guys for coming on the show. And it will always be a part of history. You were my first guest on our show that deals with Veterans Affairs plus. Oh, thank you, gentlemen. I appreciate your time and effort. And I trust that somebody out there will be contacting you and I hope it's several people. Okay, Tony,

Unknown Speaker 19:20
thank you for having me. And like I said, I'm available when you need it.

Unknown Speaker 19:24
Right away. You're a veteran to date.

Unknown Speaker 19:26
Yes. Thank you, United States Army. Hello, Las Vegas. Once again. I'm pleased to be back here. This is Veterans Affairs plus, I am Dave Washington, your host with making moves life coaching services. And again, I want to thank you Jane Campbell, as well as a brother Tony Marshall, who are our guests in the first segment. So again, thank those gentlemen for for their time. MDF, and I hope you take it upon yourselves, you veterans, and family members to do some of the things that they suggested with respect to the various benefits that exist for our veterans of all the various conflicts, as well as if you just serve. And as Tony had mentioned, 90 days, with an honorable discharge, you're eligible. So again, thank them, I thank them. And I also want to thank Kevin, our engineer who's keeping us keeping me on point here. So kudos to you, young man. Look, I just wanted to very briefly talk about the George Florida loss of life for sure. But certainly, I think we need to make contact with our congressional delegation, Congress and Senators, with there's a bill that's pending, I think it's already passed through the house. But it's going to eliminate, you know, chokeholds, and some of the other things that, that have that have happened throughout our country, particularly for black and brown. So make contact with your your congressional delegation with respect to that particular bill, something that that we hear a lot about, and we've heard a lot about over the past, say year, year and a half has to do with police reform, and defunding police. Certainly there's there's a need, I believe, for some some reform, but to actually define the police department, to me, and again, these are Dave Washington's personal opinions and belief that that makes no sense. But certainly can some some of the funding be redirected. I think, in our country, we have done a poor job of taking care of the homeless, the mentally ill folks that that exists within our community, we've got to do a better job. So that's something that there's going to be continued discussion about, there's no need for us to get in one another's faces, whether we believe that just strictly reform needs to be done with our police departments or actual defunding of police departments. There's something that there's going to be continued discussion on. But let's do it in a rational, well behaved manner, if you will, because we're all people. And as we go through life, we all have different opinions on things that we deal with, throughout our life. Something important to me as a, a fire service professional, retired now for 13 years. I'm a life member of what's called the International Association of Black professional firefighters, we have a new president, Carrie, it was Clint want to certainly wish her well. And that's all of us who are fire service personnel out there who are members, let's help to ensure that she has great success, as she goes about doing her work as the president, very important. Another thing I want to talk about real quickly, a friend of mine is he has a soft opening today, May 1, it says 4291 Polaris Avenue, and he has what's called E cycles versus with the regular combustible engine. I believe it's a two o'clock at that address that I that I announced, which is 4291, Polaris Avenue, this show is going to be about once again, Veterans Affairs, those types of issues that that are germane to our, to our veteran community. And we're going to have a lot of different guests in here that's going to talk about things that's going to be helpful to those who need help. And as Tony had mentioned, as well as Jean, folks have got to step up to the plate, and recognize that you need help. And I know it's hard because particularly mean, we always were we're just we're superheroes. And I got Kevin over there laughing because I'm, I'm popping my arms, you know, because we we always think we're super beings. And we all got some friendly to us, every man and woman that God put on this earth. So it's important that we recognize that and do what we need to get ourselves healthy. Because your family needs you. Our world needs you. And I think we should always be trying to make a great contribution to our society. And some of you know that know me in the community know that I run a program called the call Holmes executive development institute out of Dillard University in New Orleans. And we lost one of our our great leaders, particularly he built Ireland's logistics department in s. Leroy Norwood. And I just want to acknowledge him in this space because he was a great man who did a lot to help a lot of people. And as far as logistics, on the campus of Delhi University is much needed because we have people that's doing instructions for the personnel fire personnel who attend that program. And a lot of times, we're scampering when you're instructing, you don't have time to chase down different items that you may need to ensure that you have a successful class. So Leroy Norwood in this step. In fact, Leroy retired as a fire captain with the Chattanooga Fire Department. So we will always hold this gentleman in high esteem for the work that he's done for our community. Once again, we will be on once a month on this show, and I trust that I will always have Kevin Here to assist and keep me on track. But honestly, I appreciate the opportunity to serve our community. And again, more particularly our veterans, because I think that there's a need for us as a country to step up and provide more assistance, but also, to you veterans who are out there listening, you've got to step up as well, we hope that you will listen in. And if there's someone who has some particular information that they'd like to share, you can contact me at DL w wash@aol.com, D L. W wash@aol.com. And I will respond to you and if there's some particular guests that you think we should have on this show, I will certainly be open to that D L, WW as h@aol.com. So we we hope that folks will listen to you and tell your friends that we will be coming on once a month with this show. And I appreciate everybody in the listening audience. And again, please contact me if you have suggested guests that we should have on this year.

Kevin Krall 26:06
You've been listening to a program paid for by David L. Washington. The content of Veterans Affairs plus does not reflect the opinions or values of 91.5k U and V or the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai