Posted on Jan 7, 2014
What were your feelings when you heard families of fallen Soldiers wouldn't receive their SGLI/death gratuity?
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I have never been ashamed of any part of my committment to serve,but when I heard that fallen Soldiers families were told they wouldn't receive SGLI I was ashamed of decisions that allowed politicians and the Army to do such a thing. I immediately got mad, I felt these Soldiers did their duty. They didn't go AWOL or hide when faced with deploying. Why couldn't our nation follow through and honor their committment. And more importantly what if this happens again? Your thoughts?
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SGLI
Posted 11 y ago
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It felt as if we were a "pawn" in a game of political chess. It was very disappointing. The Fisher House and other agencies really stood up and helped out during that time period. I really couldn't believe that I was watching and listening to congressmen and congresswomen and their comments were so far out of touch with what was going on at the time with affected families. It was really disappointing and pathetic.
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I was devastated when my wife was infected with (what is now accepted as Gulf War illness) this so-called rare disease. Although she was infected during active duty, she did not reenlist because of her sickness and later passed away. I was then told that I would not receive SGLI. There I was now a widow with 3 little children and had to just go back to work as if nothing happened. It affects me up to this day.
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Lt Col Jim Bemis
This is a gap in a broken system. If you have not done so already, You might want to reach out to an assistance officer from one of the VSOs (i.e., American legion, VFW, DAV, etc.) While they might not be able to shake any SGLI loose, they might be able to get you and your family help financially in other ways.
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