Support a Veteran

I would like to talk to you about a predicament that is causing myself and family a great deal of mental and emotional stress. First, I would like to highlight that I served in the United States Marine Corps from April 2008 – July 2018 as a combat veteran and was awarded the purple heart in 2011. I was discharged honorably with a separation benefit of $40,000.00 and I received this amount in a lump sum in 2018 as well as earning a Veteran Affairs Disability Compensation of 100% on January 2019. Five years later I was notified via email from the Wounded Warrior regiment that the (VA) is going to recoup my entire benefit in order to pay back the $40,000.00. They are stating that the money was an overpayment. I was confused and upset because I didn’t want to lose everything I have worked for, so I asked for an appeal or a waiver.

If I had known that I wasn’t supposed to have that money, I would have never accepted it. I was paid separation pay because of my injuries and was not able to achieve the next rank of Staff Sergeant E6 before I reached my ten years of service. I don’t have any issue with paying it back, I would just like a reasonable payment plan in lieu of the current one, which is my entire check being collected to satisfy the debt. I have contacted my Congressman Reverend Raphael Warnock and his team to help with this matter. I have also contacted my case manager with Wounded Warrior’s to also help me. I would also like to be able to speak with someone in the White House so they can be made aware of how veterans are being treated. Veterans are an important piece of our country and all I ask is that we are to be treated fairly.

Lastly, I informed them that my wife is not working because she has a broken ankle and has been out of work since April 2023. My benefits that I earned pay my mortgage and are a key component in taking care of

my family. I hope and pray that I can garner your support to aid my family in any way. Thank you so much for reading my story.