Download PDF of this full issue: v5n5.pdf (8 MB)

From Army Trenches To The V.A. Benches

By VVAW

On June 5th in Chicago, the VA administration's usual routine was disrupted by 15 angry vets and supporters demanding an open hearing and 100% disability for Joe Blanco. Two weeks earlier, Joe and VVAW/WSO members had been promised some action on the demands by two supervisors. On this second trip we weren't interested in any more red-tape; we were there to collect!

Joe Blanco is an ex-paratrooper who had his back and both legs damaged while in the Army. He is now unable to work and can't even stand up for long periods of time. After 9 months of shoveling red-tape, the VA came up with a 10% disability rating and then it took several more months for Joe to get his check--$32!

We went into the VA and surrounded the front desk demanding to talk to the supervisor, George Penn, who finally had to come out of his office and face the crowd. Not impressed by his arrogant attitude, we confronted him with his promise of action on Joe's case. While he was blustering, one of the VA workers pointed out J.J. Abadaka, Penn's supervisor who was lurking around the corner. J.J. however, had no stomach for facing the angry vets. Penn's only response to our demands was to try and get Joe alone in his office where he felt more secure in telling his lies, but after he failed to split up the group, he retreated. One of his underlings promised to bring down Joe's records--which never happened.

While the bureaucrats were doing their red-tape shuffle, we took the opportunity to unite with the VA workers and the vets in the waiting room. Many vets came forward to say, "this is the same thing that happened to me and I want to fight about it too!"

We soon decided that the VA wasn't going to come up with anything, so after chanting "Foster and Penn get out of the say, No more red- tape, we want Joe's pay!"and other chants, we marched out of the VA to a picket line outside. Although Joe and the chapter didn't get any action, the demonstration was a success. Hundreds of vets have heard about the case and the whole campaign, and many are interested in working around the demands. Victories are won when vets get organized and militantly push the campaign forward; this is what's happening in the case of Joe Blanco. The VA is running scared--they see angry vets getting together.

Joe Blanco's case is typical of the way the VA strings vets along the red-tape trail. The bureaucrats there will try and tactic (including the vaudeville act put on by Penn and J.J.) to keep people from seeing the VA's true role--to keep us from getting our benefits. But in Chicago, and everywhere else, veterans are organizing. Through actions like this, we are building a campaign--a vets movement--which intends to fight for those disabilities, fight for better medical care and fight against all the oppression the VA brings down on us. Dark clouds are already on the horizon for the VA, and the storm is coming!