Background:
The following is in regard to the present situation where medical benefits for retired military personnel have been seriously cut back, little by little through the years; and now, the federal government is denying that lifetime medical care for military retirees was ever promised at all. While younger Americans may believe that, there are still many of us around to say that that was definitely not the case at all! Major Pool, USMC (Ret.) is one of those who was there! And here is his statement.
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From: Gene Pool <MAJPOOL30@aol.com>
To: GunnyG@HotMail.Com
Subject: Network54 Auto Response: Lifetime Medical care was clearly promised
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 18:17:29 -0700
In response to your message titled "Vets Testify About Empty
Promise Of Lifetime Medical Care"
At:
http://network54.com/Forum/message?messageid=954872333&forumid=53892
Gene Pool has replied (with title "Lifetime Medical care was
clearly promised"):
In 1948 my recruiter told me, and my father who signed for me,
that lifetime medical care was one of the benefits of a 20 year
plus career. I was taught this in 1955 as a student at the
Marine Corps recruiter's school at Parris Island, SC. From 1955
to 1958, as a Marine Recruiter in Greenwood, Mississippi I used
that promise as a main selling point to join and serve for a
career. In 1961 and 1962 as an instructor at Marine Corps
recruiter's school,Parris Island, SC I taught hundreds of
Marines that lifetime medical care was one of the many benefits
of making the Corps a career.
As a First Sergeant of Marines I counseled thousands of marines
on the benefits of making the Corps a career. The promise of
lifetime medical care was big on that list reasons to stay. I
repeated those promises many times as a platoon commander,
company commander, staff officer, and other assignments as a
leader of Marines.
This was important to me at Inchon, Seoul and the Chosin
campaign.It was important in Dom Rep and Viet Nam. It was
important to me when I retired in 1977. It is important to me
and my family now, especially since I turn 70 next month.
Looking back on all those promises that I made, which was policy
at the time, I am saddened that my country has made a lier out
of me. Its a matter of integrity. Marine First Sergeants frown
highly on having their integrity impuned. Marine Corps Mustang
Majors get down right pissed off.
Gene Pool
Major of Marines
Retired
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From: MAJPOOL30@aol.com
To: gunnyg@hotmail.com (Richard Gaines)
Subject: Lifetime Medical Care
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 17:50:19 EDT
Gunny G.
Permission granted to include my thoughts about the promise of
lifetime medical care in your Marine Vignettes.
I am one of the Chosin Few who was one of the fortunate few who
1) Survived
2) Had a successful career in the finest organization in the
world
3) Had a
second career with an organization that recognized and
appreciated the value
of having a former Marine on their staff, and 4) Am still in
reasonably good health and do volunteer work as President of a statewide not for profit organization whose mission is to make life better for the unfortunate few that suffer with mental illness.
In my spare time I serve as a member of a national veterans
committee and drive a van once a month to haul disabled vets to the VA hospital about 150 miles away.
Keep up the good work and SEMPER FI
Gene Pool
Major of Marines
Retired
**************
My thanks, and
Semper Fidelis
to Major Pool
-Dick Gaines
