Urgent Help Needed for Veteran's Cremation

I've done everything in my power to avoid asking for help. There's been one previous time in which I asked for help, and that was when I went through my health issues in 2019 to pay for bills. My Father passed away last Friday (February 7th, 2025) at UCI Medical Center (across from the Block). We had discussed the means in which he passed many times before, and I respected his wishes and did not attempt to persuade him to change his mind. He is at peace now and free from pain, and that's all that matters. I don't want to share more details than that generally; people who know what happened, know.

My Father served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War with his multiple MOS's, but his final one was being 11D20 Senior Scout Observer. Initially, after Basic at Ford Ord (now Cal State Monterey Bay) and AIT at Ft. Benning, he was sent overseas. After the end of his required campaign obligation, he re-upped (being over there from 1969-1970). Initially, he was part of the 1st Calvary Division, and following his reenlisting, he was moved to the famous 11th ACR as part of 2nd Squad/G-Troop. Conveniently, this directly had him take part in multiple deadly campaigns, one of the most crucial being Operation Fish Hook. His platoon was the first to enter Cambodia, and unfortunately, the first two casualties were his medic and a fellow soldier in his platoon (which is crazy because ...all while each was no more than 10 feet away from him. His unit received both the Presidential Unit Citation and the Valorous Unit Award for their actions in 1970, directly due to their key actions in the success of that operation. I won't get fully into his exact actions that lead to him leaving Vietnam as an E-4 SPC4 instead of his rank of two weeks E-5 Sgt....but he didn't care about ranks, medals or recognition. To put it simply, he lost his promotion due to 'hostile insubordination' that saved the lives of at least a dozen men when standing up to his 'butter bar'/shake and bake 2nd lt. (By 'stand up' I mean performing an action that should have resulted in a court marshal, all in the name of not having the squad lose a single member).

As far as medals go, he received the 2 highest Unit Citations, both the Presidential Unit Citation and the Valorous Unit Award (and, of course, the Vietnamese Cross of Galantry w/Palm Leaf) while in the 11th ACR. Individually, he received the standard Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnamese Service Medal w/2 stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Medal. Also, he received his Jump Wings in AIT and a CIB for obvious reasons. As far as distinguished medals, he received the ARCOM for actions taken directly during their infiltration of Cambodia during Operation Fish Hook on May 1st, 1970. In addition to the ARCOM, he received a purple heart, but he did not consider any of these a big deal. His Purple Heart was the result of his platoon being ambushed, which resulted in being hit by a 'relatively low caliber' round in his shoulder (ie, not a .30 caliber round) as well as having a mortar explode feet from his face, causing severe white phosphorus burns. His life was directly saved by his CO (O-6/Colonel) that he was friends with, who personally went into the battlezone with his private helicopter (obviously with the whole crew). Without that hero's decision to put his life on the line during his personal rescue mission of my Father and 1 other, he would have most certainly perished. While in the hospital recovering, instead of riding it out and being told he could spend his remaining months in the hospital (and not return to the field again before discharge)...he got himself intentionally kicked out so that he could return to his squad. A nice welcome-back present was dropped on him and his entire platoon a couple days back in the form of Agent Orange...which luckily did not (to my knowledge) cause any issues like an unfortunate amount of soldiers did.

Anywho, he did apply and was approved for the VA Burial Assistance Reimbursement; however, in typical VA-fashion, it's overly complicated in the sense that it's 'reimbursement' (up to 6 months) Unfortunately, that does not help at the moment. His wish for his 'body' was to be cremated, and after that, I'll worry about all the things he is ENTITLED by the U.S. Government (VA specifically) for his service, such as his Flag and plot marker at JFK Cemetery, among other things.

I have attempted to get a payment arrangement type of system going with the only Funeral Home that offered, and, surprise, surprise, I was denied. A year ago, it wouldn't have been an issue, but unfortunately, things happened, and I am not 'approvable now.' I was VERY hesitant to make this, but I had several people tell me I should, so I thought I'd do it, and even $50 total would help. I was hesitant to make this due to a variety of reasons including; that everyone is going through a hard time, I don't feel I deserve forgiveness from a lot of people for the close to decade where I just lost myself, and just a general lack of ever wanting to ask for help...among other things.

For those that knew my Father, he was a great man...a much better man than myself, and without him, I never would've experienced some of the greatest moments of my life; the biggest of them being the many trips to Las Vegas together (at least 60 trips from age 21 onwards and at least 40 from when I was a kid to H.S.). He never bragged about anything he did in his life, and in particular, when it came to his time overseas, he disliked my talk of him being a hero and helping the people he helped. I could tell stories for days, and to be doing that right after graduating college at age 23 up to age 25 is unfathomable to me.

This has gone on long enough, I am asking if anyone has anything they can contribute. I would be more than appreciative. I understand if people can't or if no one can help out; it's a tough time for everyone, and everyone is going through something, unfortunately...to the point it's almost unbelievable how so many can be going through SO much. Once again, I'm creating this expecting to receive nothing and am doing this based off of the urgings of friends.