Veterans Corner Radio

For this Veterans Corner Radio podcast, Bill dips back into our archives and shares with you a program we played on the air prior to the birth of the podcasts. His guest is the Honorable Judge Gregory P. Holder 13th Judicial Circuit Civil Division. Judge Holder will discuss the origins and current operations of the Hillsborough Veterans' Court. He also talks about this particular court is uni...

The key to getting all veteran's benefits is to first procure a copy of your service record and it is on the DD214 form. There are a number of companies that are willing for a fee to get that form for you but there is literally no reason to pay the fee. You can get it yourself by completing the request form and either sending it in electronically or mailing it in. The short program will lead...

One of the nicest presents I have ever received is my brick in the Veterans Memorial walk. There are many reasons I am happy to be there, too many to list but most of all I just love walking along the path and seeing how many good men and women I am with. Walt Cawein had a passion to see the projected construction and once he gets something in his head there is no stopping him. Listen in to see ho...

Ann E Doran Ex. Dir of the Office of Patient Advocacy VHA Washington DC  Director Doran served her country in the US Navy and now continues to serve by heading up the Office of Patient Advocacy in Washington DC. If you are finding the VA services difficult to negotiate or need someone to help you get a problem solved, this is the office that can assist you. Director Doran shares that there are pat...

Dr. Colleen Jakey, Chief of Staff for the James A Haley VA hospital discusses where the hospital is in connection to returning serves or modifying services as the result of the Corona Virus pandemic. The good news is that hospital operations are returning albeit slowly to pre-Corona virus levels, with certain procedures instituted to ensure the patient's safety, their visitors, and the staff....

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic and Aspire Health Partners is a fabulous addition to the mental healthcare resources for our service members and veterans, along with their families. There has long been a need for counseling for not only the vet, which the VA will provide but also for the Family which for the most part the VA does not provide. Listen in to hear what clinic director Karen...

Mona Dexter is Chief of Staff for Hiring our Heroes an outreach of the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC. Hiring our Heroes actually starts helping active-duty members well prior to their transition to civilian life. They provide classes in a variety of necessary skills needed to make that transition smooth along with going so far as to arrange internships with a variety of companies. Furthe...

  | If you are a VA patient and not yet using the MyHealtheVet program for contacting your doctor you are missing a bet. Robert “Goose” Gosline, shares with us how the program works and how you can sign up for a free VA account. That account will give you access to your medical team, your health visit records, your prescription orders, and ordering. During the pandemic, this program has been a God...

Dr. Jason Watts founder of the Watts Dental Clinic in Apollo Beach Fl, has again this year gathered up a group of volunteer Dentists and Hygienists to provide a day of free dental care as a thankyou to our veterans. Last year his office provided over $100,000 dollars of services on that day in November and he hopes to exceed that amount this year. Covid19 has cause some special challenges but they...

LT. Gen Dana Atkins, is President and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America. If you are one of 23.3 million service members, past or present, from all branches of the military and the three uniformed services, MOAA exists to protect your earned benefits and to offer you resources you can't find anywhere else. But most importantly, we're here to help you connect with one ano...

Dr. Paul Lawrence is the Under Secretary for the Veterans Benefits Administration and he is located at the VA headquarters in Washington. Need a free bank account? Wondering what the VBA is doing with your disability claim? How many VA home loans can you have? What phone numbers can be called to get information? Dr. Lawrence answers those and many more questions.  Our library of shows can be found...

Brigadier General Frederick Lopez is the Commander In Chief of one of the premier Veterans' Service Organization (VSO) whose motto is, “It is nobler to serve than to be served.” MOWW was founded at the suggestion of General of the Armies John J. "Blackjack" Pershing in 1919 to promote good citizenship, patriotic education, and military and public service. Hear how they are giving ba...

Would it surprise you to learn that not all veterans get VA medical coverage? Thomas Hines is an expert working at the VA who knows what it takes to get coverage. It can depend on years of service, where you served, how you served, when you were deployed, how much money you make as a family, and 100 other variables. The takeaway from this interview is that you, if you are a veteran, should not dis...

Randy Ross, Assistant State Coordinator, Operation Outdoor Freedom has a great deal for you. So you love to hunt and fish but find it too difficult any more to get out in the streams and fields to enjoy your sport, then we may have an answer for you. Some years ago in conjunction with the Florida Forest Service, Operation Outdoor Freedom was started and it provides recreational and rehabilitative...

Dr. Elizabeth Brill, Chief Medical Officer, Office of Community Care, U.S. Veterans Administration, Washington DC. What happens if you find yourself in a hospital far from a VA facility, or in need of specialized care that your VA Hospital does not offer? That is when the Office of Community Care steps in and helps with the cost. Listen in to see how you can take advantage of this program. Our lib...

John Rowan was re-elected to an eighth term as the National President of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) at the organization’s 19th National Convention in Spokane, Washington. During this interview, he spoke of how, when our vets came back from Vietnam, there were no ticker-tape parades and even some of the mainline veterans' organizations turned their backs on the vets. Hence the start of...

Mr. Roy Sevalia Whole Health Services, James A Haley VA Hospital. Mr. Sevalia discusses the VA’s push to keep us healthy rather than reacting to illnesses. In recent years some of the VA Health Services money has been judiciously applied to defeating illness by helping VA patients to make healthy choices and now the program has been extended to the entire family. Tune in to see how this proactive...

Stephen “Butch” Whitehead National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in this interview with Bill Hodges speaks to the value-added this organization is providing to those who served their country. For those not familiar with The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) it is one of the premier veterans organizations that has taken on the task of helping veterans work their way through filin...

During this Coronavirus pandemic, The Medical Director for the James A Haley VA Hospital. Dr. Colleen Jakey will be coming on regularly to keep you informed as to what steps the VA is taking to protect you and provide essential services to the Veterans Community. This broadcast contains contact procedures and phone numbers you will need should a medical situation arise. Most of these numbers you a...

Bruce Murphy, PhD is a retired LC from the US Army and is now the President of Centenary University in Hackettstown NJ. The program centers on four points, thinking about going in the military right out of high school and the options. Once graduating from College using the military to pay off loans. What one can do education-wise while in the military and finally the education needs to transition...

Veterans Of Foreign Wars (VFW) Commander-in-Chief. William J. “Doc” Schmitz takes office during a time of great momentum for the organization, it reached a milestone achievement of more than $8.3 billion in benefits and compensation collected from the VA on behalf of veterans, and fought for the successful passage of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. Through donations and corporate...

Clara Reynolds, CEO of the Crisis Line describes to you what you would get if you dialed 211 on the phone.  What would you say if I told you that many crisis involving veterans and their families could be averted by this simple action, dial 211? Most people stare at me blankly when I ask that question. 211 is where you call if your life is in turmoil and you need help. 911 is for medical emergenci...

Sheriff Chronister is a trailblazer in the repair of lives corrupted by war. He is deeply committed to helping veterans who come into contact with the law return to being useful citizens. Listen while he shares information on the new veteran’s section of the jail and how it is centered on helping the vet, in conjunction with other agencies, to return to a productive life. We should point out that...

Troy Howell. MD, heads up the Suicide Prevention efforts in the Psychiatric Dept of the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. Dr. Howell works every day to stop suicides in our veteran population. I asked him to concentrate on the mental health effects of living with the Corona Virus not only on our vets but also on their families. Even with all of the resources being directed toward the pandemic, the...

Kelly Kowall is a Gold Star mother and when she lost her son in combat, she took it upon herself to create a safe place for returning veterans and their families. Hear how she got started and how you can help with this mission. There are a lot of veterans help organizations but few like My Warriors Place. Not one person gets paid for working there; everyone is a volunteer and 96 to 98% of all dona...