What has happened to thousands of America's former fighting elite?  Those who manned the battlements, stormed the beaches, cut their way through dense jungle growth and trudged through hot desert sand in the service of their nation have ended their patient dialog with Washington.  Years of false promises, twisted language and pretended support have brought our county's disabled military retirees to the point of frustrated tears.....and when heroes weep, rage follows. For more than 112 years, a discriminatory law has targeted career military personnel. Written to impact only those who served twenty or more years of active duty and became disabled while defending their homeland, this law penalizes each disabled retiree one dollar from his or her retirement pay, for each dollar of disability compensation received. 

Year after year pleas have been made to change the legislation.  Many words have been spoken agreeing with the retirees....all the way from President George W. Bush saying "We must keep our commitments to our veterans", to Congress passing legislation saying this concurrent receipt of payment ruling should be changed, but providing no money for the change to take place.  False promises and delays have gone on for so long,  anger against all of Washington is the only emotion these former warriors  now feel. Action in new forms is now being addressed. 

On April 17 of this year, hundreds, perhaps thousands,  of disabled military retirees will assemble in Branson, Missouri for a conference on what future attacks are needed.  Organized by the Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees (USDR), this conference will explore all options from a march on the nation's Capital to the targeting of specific congressional races. "I have been advocating a March on Washington for over a year now", says Robert Edwards, the South East Director of  USDR.  "I think if we begin making plans and start implementing them we will get the attention of Congress." Another veteran, who became 80% disabled in Vietnam feels the same way.  Retired First Sergeant Danny Medders claims Congress turned him into... "one of those disposable soldiers."  He says after 26 years of service and being the recipient of 27 awards and decorations, he gave the country ten times more than it asked.  The nation's reward for that service..."is to be treated as though I am stealing."

One of the most serious considerations is the formation of a political organization, such as a PAC or some other special interest group.  The retirees would not favor any political party or candidate.  Instead, they would target those congressional candidates who have refused or only offered "lip service" to their concerns.  Being spread across the entire country, USDR members would have little impact in any election.  However, with more than 600,000 disabled retirees combining their resources in specific districts and against specific candidates...their strength would be felt.

Don Tyson is another USDR Director.  This former Navy SEAL has paid a very heavy price for his many years of service.  After Korea and Vietnam, where he earned 16 different decorations, Don received one more award....100% disability, due to ruptured discs while parachuting and a bacterial infection developed during service in Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.  It resulted in three open heart surgeries. Tyson has been in the forefront of this battle to end the dollar per dollar pay-offset imposed on the disabled retirees.  He is now a strong advocate for targeting representatives who have been placing road blocks in the way of legislative reform.  He says, "not a damn thing will be done without action on our part.  We are standing on firm ground and are ready for the final run.  I am more than willing to provide my time, talent and treasure to get the job accomplished."

The time of weeping is long past for these heroes.  Rage has become their banner... and everyone knows what happens when American fighting men get angry.  If I were a representative or a senator running for reelection and had not been on the Side of the Angels concerning disabled retirees...I would be looking over my shoulder.  They are coming.

Editor's Note:  The writer is a twice wounded retired Marine combat correspondent and former Texas state official.  He is a past national president of the United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association and now resides in Harlingen, Texas .