Category Archives: Food for thought

Veterans’ Day in DaNang, 2017

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Laura

Whether veterans are celebrating Veterans’ Day Friday or on Saturday, I hope the holiday is harmonious despite the awful strangeness of having President Trump honor veterans while in DaNang.   It seems like the last place on Earth where our president … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, All about Veterans, Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, History, Inspirational Veterans, Uncategorized, Veterans Day, Vietnam Disease Issues, Vietnam War history | Tagged | 4 Comments

Tick tock

Posted on October 28, 2017 by Laura

In 2016, Gulf-era veterans passed Vietnam-era veterans (and Korean/WWII) in the general population. Click the thumbnail below to see a big readable copy of the graphic below. CAVC “wins” older veterans accomplish, pro se or with help, will eventually spare many … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, C&P exams, CAVC Knowledge, CAVC ruling, Food for thought, Future Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, Important CAVC/COVA Ruling, Lawyering Up, VA Secretaries, VA statistics | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Medical enrollment dates

Posted on October 28, 2017 by Laura

Just a few dates to note: Medicare Part D (and other Medicare plans):  Open enrollment started on October 15 and runs until Dec. 7.   Medicare says that very few people change their plans even if they will save money. … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, non-va care, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Hepatitis A: severe illness and deaths hit San Diego homeless population

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Laura

Over the last few months, Frank, an avid reader about all things “US Vet,” has emailed several articles to me about the hepatitis A (HAV) outbreak in San Diego (SD) to share with Asknod’s folk.  The ongoing story has many … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, hepatitis, hepatitis A (HAV), VA Health Care, VA statistics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Catch up on episodes of The Vietnam War

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Laura

Episodes of this important series are available to freely watch on PBS online if you’ve missed any on TV.  You may have to register with PBS. If you have a laptop, you can pick closed captions, HD settings and screen sizes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, History, Uncategorized, Vietnam War history | Tagged , | 7 Comments

The Vietnam War by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick PBS Premier: Sun. 9/17

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Laura

 Difficult to know if this 18-hour, 10-part documentary will please or anger. The byline “No Single Truth” may not go over well in 2017 since a fair slice of the population prefers to see things in tunnel vision.  I’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in Food for thought, History, Military Madness, Vietnam War history | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Cases when inactive HBV might wake up

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Laura

HBV:  “The virus has four genes (or open reading frames), designated S for the surface antigen protein, C for the protein that covers the inner core and encloses the DNA, P for polymerase enzyme responsible for replication…, and X for … Continue reading →

Posted in Food for thought, Guest authors, HBV, Medical News, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Nurse tip to me: hospital socks: “throw them out!”

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Laura

Reason:  they are full of dangerous germs you don’t want to bring home. I believed her and trashed lots of them during my recent hospital stays. I spent a week in the hospital post colon rectal surgery and another week … Continue reading →

Posted in Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, Uncategorized | Tagged | 4 Comments

MR. ENSMINGER: “What the hell?”

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Laura

The name, Sargent Jerry Ensminger, will be familiar to veterans following the Camp Lejeune tragedy through the film, or the Janey Ensminger Act, which honors his deceased child. On January 21, 2017, he participated in the public CAMP LEJEUNE COMMUNITY … Continue reading →

Posted in C&P exams, Camp Lejeune poisoning, Food for thought, Future Veterans, General Messages, Guest authors, Obtaining a C-file, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 (S. 305)

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Laura

Pres. Trump signed Public Law No.115-15 on 3/28/17.  Will towns and cities across the USA fly flags out of respect for all Vietnam veterans decades after it ended?   Although we know that tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans have … Continue reading →

Posted in All about Veterans, Food for thought, General Messages, Guest authors, Vietnam War history | Tagged | 6 Comments