GALLANT VIETNAM
VETERAN ABANDONED TO HIS FATE BY CALLOUS U.S.
Yet another woeful case of neglect by the U.S. Authorities
is highlighted by the plight of courageous Vietnam Vet, Richard Weinberg, who
served in Vietnam as an elite Airborne Ranger, and was severely wounded,
sustaining two severe head wounds. These resulted in paralysis to his left side
and left him confined to a wheelchair.
However, undaunted, he devoted himself to remedial methods; first
gym and later yoga and Chi Kung, miraculously managing to free himself from the
wheelchair and partially regained the use of his left arm. He took up yoga,
studying first under the noteworthy university yoga teacher, Nicky Knoff who
now runs the prestigious KNOFF Yoga ” School of Excellence ” in Queensland, Australia, then under an ex-SAS yoga therapist, Martin Jackson. Following this he became a private student of the doyen of yoga,
B.K.S Iyengar, after which he took up teaching yoga to able-bodied students,
despite being incapacitated, himself.
While in Vietnam ,
Richard was exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange that US forces liberally
doused the jungles of Vietnam U.S.
Richard, however, had his own remedy, Chi Kung, the Taoist
practice which restores the immune system and cleanses the body of toxic
residues. By undertaking such disciplines as yoga, Chi Kung and latterly, Thai
massage and herbalism, Richard saved the US
Richard is now 100% disabled, staying in Thailand and totally dependent on his US disability pension of $3,400 (102,552 Baht)
per month and reluctant handouts from the US
However, it is now 30 plus years since Richard was injured and his
condition has worsened with the onset of stenosis of L4 & 5 and
deterioration of the spinal and sciatic nerves. He is reliant on post-payments
from the VA to pay for the medication of his service related condition, but
speaking to one of Richard?s friends, Tim Coxon,who has been helping him with
his communications with the VA, Tim says the department adopts a
hyper-demanding policy as regards repayment.
Tim says that the VA expects those under its care to pay up
front for all their medical costs, this despite the minimal allowance,
grudgingly given. Often, apparently, they take months and months to repay these
incurred costs (3 months normally) and the bureaucratic procedures that the VA
put its dependents through is unbelievable. It often appears, according to Tim,
that the VA employs a whole legion of people whose sole function is to prevent
the dependent ever receiving any repayments.
The real crunch came when Richard?s condition deteriorated
to such a degree that he badly needed a remedial operation on his spine,
effectively to save his life. He appealed to the VA for payment in advance, as
Thai hospitals, like those in the US
” Under FMP, VA may authorize payment for certain necessary
medical services associated with the treatment of those service-connected
conditions.
The FMP office does not issue pre-certification for foreign
medical services. If you are in need of medically necessary treatment for the
care of your VA rated service-connected condition, and that care is accepted by
US/VA medical community, then you may just submit the bills with a copy of all
required medical documentation to the FMP office for payment consideration.?
Richard implored the VA to make an exception in his case, but they stuck to their guns, despite being told that the operation was a life saving one and he effectively had no funds to pay the 120,000 Baht operation bill atSiriraj Hospital in Bangkok (phone 02-419-7000).
Richard implored the VA to make an exception in his case, but they stuck to their guns, despite being told that the operation was a life saving one and he effectively had no funds to pay the 120,000 Baht operation bill atSiriraj Hospital in Bangkok (phone 02-419-7000).
The US Embassy in Bangkok
Richard?s friend, Tim, considers the current policy of the US Government as regards those who faithfully served their nation?s cause in what he describes as a benighted war to be totally inhumane.
Richard?s friend, Tim, considers the current policy of the US Government as regards those who faithfully served their nation?s cause in what he describes as a benighted war to be totally inhumane.
He says the government was keen enough to send them off to
be killed in their thousands (over 56,000 US
troops were killed in action and untold thousands suffered innumerable
incapacitating injuries and severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), but when it
comes to adequately looking after the injured survivors, the US US as
regards their policy towards injured veterans in their current conflict in Iraq
Tim is not prepared to abandon Richard to his fate as the US
Authorities has done and is accordingly starting an appeal on Richard?s behalf
via PDN, as he is well known and highly regarded by the PDN staff and all those
in the neighbourhood.
Richard Harvey Weinberg, 61, born 12.1.46 in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA
Richard Harvey Weinberg, 61, born 12.1.46 in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA
We would appreciate any help you
may be able to give in this regard. You can email via
pdnnews@gmail.com and CC
richard.h.weinberg@gmail.com
pdnnews@gmail.com and CC
richard.h.weinberg@gmail.com
1:15 pm, 20/7/07
In an update to this news concerning Richard Weinberg, our reporter again interviewed Tim, Richard?s friend in view of recent news we’ve received. Tim, read some of the recent comments concerning the case on our website and would like to thank those who sympathize, on Richard?s behalf. As for skeptics, Tim wished to inform them that Richard is 100% incapacitated with 2 bullets still in his head, making written communications very difficult. As for funding, Richard has inordinate expenses. He has to fly or take a bus to various specialist hospitals around the country for treatment. His medication for pain killers (he?s in constant pain) is exorbitant and he has to employ 3 masseurs constantly to keep him mobile. Consequently, relatively fantastically expensive hospital bills and after-care and accommodation costs, to be paid in advance, are financially crippling.
In an update to this news concerning Richard Weinberg, our reporter again interviewed Tim, Richard?s friend in view of recent news we’ve received. Tim, read some of the recent comments concerning the case on our website and would like to thank those who sympathize, on Richard?s behalf. As for skeptics, Tim wished to inform them that Richard is 100% incapacitated with 2 bullets still in his head, making written communications very difficult. As for funding, Richard has inordinate expenses. He has to fly or take a bus to various specialist hospitals around the country for treatment. His medication for pain killers (he?s in constant pain) is exorbitant and he has to employ 3 masseurs constantly to keep him mobile. Consequently, relatively fantastically expensive hospital bills and after-care and accommodation costs, to be paid in advance, are financially crippling.
In a further development, PDN also learnt that Richard?s
carer and partner collapsed, yesterday, in hospital, due to exhaustion. She has
also to undertake tests for suspected cancer. It never rains, but it pours! Tim
has once again appealed for financial aid on Richard?s behalf. We will keep you
updated.
2:20 pm. 22/7/07
RICHARD WEINBERG UPDATE ? OUTPATIENT STATUS
Richard?s operation apparently went successfully, according
to our reporter that interviewed Richard?s friend, Tim, who keeps in constant
touch with him, being his conduit to the outside world. The operation was
performed by one of the king?s surgeons no less! It was definitely life-saving
and couldn?t have waited a minute longer; ?no thanks to the Department of
Veterans? Affairs,? says Tim, ?but, at least, they would have been prepared to
have paid posthumously, so they wouldn?t have made any savings on that one!?
Richard has had to move out of the hospital and become an
out-patient, as he couldn?t afford the nearly 2,000 Baht a night residence
costs, while also having to keep a hotel going to simultaneously house his
support band of carers and masseurs that he has to drag around with him
wherever he goes. None of the peripheral support being paid for by the VA,
incidentally!
Once again, Richard has saved the US
Richard has asked that we play down his Vietnam Ranger
experience. As far as he?s concerned, it was all in another lifetime, so to
speak, and his whole life since his original rehabilitation in the US and
subsequent relocation abroad, has been devoted to remedial self-help therapy,
largely through yoga, Chi Kung, herbalism and latterly Thai massage. Not just
for himself, incidentally, but all those he has helped through his 20 years
teaching yoga to able bodied individuals.
One good thing about now having changed his status to an
out-patient is that he?s out of the deleterious atmosphere of the hospital,
which is located in a highly polluted area of Bangkok
warina
warina
Remarks:
If you are really interested in helping Richard, pls read his story carefully.
If you are really interested in helping Richard, pls read his story carefully.
Richard is 100% incapacitated with 2 bullets still in his head, making written communications very difficult. As for funding, Richard has inordinate expenses. He has to fly
or take a bus to various specialist hospitals around the country for treatment.
His medication for pain killers (he?s in constant pain) is exorbitant and he has to employ 3
masseurs constantly to keep him mobile. Consequently, relatively fantastically
expensive hospital bills and after-care and accommodation costs, to be paid in
advance, are financially crippling.
Here is the exchange rate figure:
Here is the exchange rate figure:
We are not talking about 120,000 baht here now, for his
situation. We are talking about how can we help him to survive quite
comfortably.
Thank you for all your concern.
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