Beech Tree News Network

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Service Officer P.R. “Poochie Rock” Webster has been helping veterans file for benefits though Morgantown’s VFW post for close to a decade.

“I’m a Service Officer with the VFW Post 5837 in Morgantown, KY. I’m also the Quartermaster and the Adjutant and our VFW post. I am the District Service Officer , which includes Warren, Allen, Simpson, Edmonson and about 4-5 more,”  stated Webster. “A service officer is something like a union steward. If you have a complaint or something like that you can come to me and I can do paperwork and help resolve the problem with the VA. That is what I do as a service officer. I help file claims for Veterans, their spouses or widows, and children. Education could be entirely paid for by the VA if the children qualify. That is what I do. I help you file your paperwork, send it off, and wait for your response from the VA. For instance, Vietnam Vets  - if they have proof they were exposed to Agent Orange, there are 15 presumptives they can file a claim on. Just a few of them are: Diabetes, prostate cancer, respiratory cancer, Ischemic Heart Disease, skin cancers, Hodgkin’s disease, Leukemia.”

P.R. currently has over 100 people that he is actively working with to obtain benefits across his service area, giving him an insight into common concerns for veterans. Webster has observed that certain health problems for Butler County veterans are common based on when and where vets served.

 “The Vietnam vets in Butler County, a lot of them have had prostate cancer. I myself have. A lot of them have Ischemic Heart Disease, some have lung or respiratory cancers.  [There are] a lot of them with PTSD/anxiety/depression. Those three all run together. Some cases like me, I developed chronic B-Cell Leukemia from being exposed to Agent Orange when I was in Vietnam and I take a chemo pill every day for the rest of my life. Hearing loss, of course – we get hearing loss, skin cancers," said Webster.

”You have the Gulf War veterans. Their symptoms are chronic fatigue, headaches, respiratory problems, aching joints and muscles, diarrhea, things like that. The Gulf War veterans, I see them. They come back and have joint aches, some of them, even men, are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, which is most often a women’s disease. [Fibromyalgia] is damage of the nerve endings. They come back with TBI, Traumatic Brain Injuries, from the IED’s," said Webster.  "Of course, [many come back with] PTSD, anxiety, depression. Some of them have stomach problems, some of them have respiratory problems because of the garbage over there and the oil fires and the sand… a lot of respiratory problems form the Gulf War vets. They had the oil fires and of course that affected breathing, the respiratory system. For some reason there are joint aches, headaches, and stuff like that; who knows; it could come from packing around all that gear they carried. They had two or three weapons on them, ammo, the helmet with camera. A lot of Gulf War veterans also have TBI: Traumatic Brain Injuries from the IEDs, the roadside bombs. There is compensation for that. “

“The Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton both had bad drinking water there for 30 some years. If a Marine was in the service at that time and they have stomach problems today they can file a claim for compensation just like the Gulf War veterans and the Vietnam Veterans.  If you’ve got something wrong with you we can file a claim and get you compensation,” stated Webster. 

While many of the nation’s veterans have developed health problems, P.R. states that the needs of veterans and their families that file are being seen to by the VA.

“I really don’t see anything that hasn’t been addressed. Of course we have to go to Bowling Green or Nashville to go to the VA. After the incidents out in Arizona three or four years ago, the VA has really stepped up their game. They welcome you when you come in that door. They want to help you,“ added Webster.

 “Most [Veterans] are satisfied after they come to see me and file a claim. Most of them are happy with the amount of compensation they get… not all of them receive compensation. You have to prove some of this stuff happened to you in the military. A lot of people come to me with hearing loss and tinnitus, which is ringing in the ears. If you were a clerk in the military, you most likely were not exposed to loud noises. Most likely you will not receive any compensation for something like that. But, if you were in the armed branches such as artillery, infantry, and armor then of course you have loud explosives going off all the time. Even in peace time, you are firing with these tanks and large weapons. You are exposed to loud noises. Hearing loss is probably the most common claim I get,” said Webster.

While Webster is kept busy with his current case load, he encourages any veterans or their families to contact him for help with paperwork free of charge.

 “As far as Butler County veterans, I know I haven’t seen a quarter of them. I want them to come and see me. No matter what branch of service you were in, wartime or peacetime. My phone number is (270) 993-9245. Text me or call me anytime. Tell me who you are and what’s wrong with you. When we first meet to file a claim, there are things I need to know. I need to see a DD-214. Unfortunately, if you got a less than honorable discharge, we cannot file a claim for you. It has to be a honorable or with honorable condition discharge. Give me a call. I meet in Morgantown twice a month scheduled at the Pizza Zone the first and third Mondays of each month. I am there from 10:30 to 5 o’clock in the afternoon. I got to Franklin once a month – that is the second Tuesday of every month. I go to Scottsville the last Monday of every month. I go to Sebree over in Webster County once a month – that is the first Thursday of every month. But if you call me I will meet with you about any time. I want [Veterans] to get in touch with me, even the spouses or widowers of deceased veterans. Call me if you want your spouses’ medals, ribbons, badges, etc. There are forms to fill out. We get those free of charge. Of course, I don’t charge anything. What I do is all volunteer work,” added Webster.