Because our Dad’s 90th earthly birthday is Monday, October 28th, AND it was 28 years ago he joined our ancestors, I wanted to honor HIS legacy to me and my family (the Ohio based Johnsons and Edwards).
LTC Robert Allen Johnson retired from 20 years of active duty in the United States Army as an Adjutant General; commissioned in 1956. He served in Korea and Vietnam; retiring in 1977 at what was then Ft. McPherson (now known as Tyler Perry Studios). And he had a singing voice that could make any one cry!
This tribute to our Dad is also for ALL the Veterans in our own family and yours (past and present, homeless or not, physically and/or mentally challenged with PTSD, et al.).
This older version of a “military brat” and eldest daughter of “Bob” Johnson is well aware of the sacrifices all military families make because we signed up for LIFE to defend America, this great experiment called the United States, originally a Republic.
My intent is that this page be the NEW “front door” of my site as another chapter in my own life has started. For that reason, this page will remain visible through November 10, 2024 – Marine Corps Birthday
AND November 11, 2024 – Veterans Day
On a Completely Different Note:
The following is about Veterans who have been having challenges with the VA, or getting benefits you believe are due you or your family. There’s a credible source I have access to and I’m waiting to schedule a mutually convenient time for us to talk.
In the meantime, go to https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/home and create an account, if you don’t already have one. You will be able to see everything pertaining to a Veteran’s military service after you have logged in. I have not yet created an account, but am going to assume that if you are not the Veteran, you must have access to that person’s Social Security number, date of birth and full name. Having their DD-214 is even better as all that information will be listed.
Next, and most importantly, call the VA’s Board of Veterans Administration at 800-827-1000, press ZERO to speak to a human being and ask for a DIC Survivors Kit (they will know what that is.) I wrote this the same day I called (October 21) and got all the information needed to start the ball rolling. I confirmed that Veterans (or family members of deceased/disabled Veterans) can put in a claim for back pay as of October 1, 2024.
I was also told I would have a VSO (Veteran Specialist Officer) to help me navigate the paperwork. Interestingly, the other day I met my local VSO in a VA substation in the area where I live. He said he could absolutely help me so long as I had Dad’s DD-214, his death certificate and my birth certificate (good readable copies are acceptable).
I will be working on getting the rest of details that Veterans and their families are going to need to know about. The mail from the VA should arrive in 7-10 days and the email was already sent, but not yet read. There is even an educational program for dependents that did NOT exist in the 70s and 80s. Dependent benefits ended at age 23 or 26, if in college. Guess who paid her student loans back when it was reasonable to do so?
Anyway, be sure you bookmark or save this page to stay in the know as invites for a special call will be emailed to specific people I know, like and trust so they can fact-check and release the information that I am slowly releasing to the public.