A couple of days ago a very thick manila envelope arrived addressed to me. That's funny - I didn't remember sending for anything. My genealogy passion has had to take a back seat to my work since school started. When I looked at it, I was even more puzzled. It was from the Department of Veterans Affairs - WICHITA OFFICE?? This meant it was about my father. Why was I getting something from them? I quickly opened it and found my father's medical file along with the letter I wrote requesting it - dated over one year before! The stamp on the back verifies that they received it in Aug. This odyssey began when I learned that an immediate family member can request the service records at no charge - or so I thought. My parent's divorced when I was seven or eight and I never saw my father after that time. So, since my father is a bit of a mystery, I thought I would give it a go. Free is always a good price. The letter below is four months after my initial request which involved applying online then they sent a letter for me to actually sign for permission then they sent a request for $20. There goes the free part! A couple of months later I received a single sheet separation paper. Minimal, but a couple of new pieces of information. Hey! Wait a minute. Where was the medical record I requested? So I called to find out. I am nothing if not tenacious. The letter below is my next step after the phone call. I have cropped it to leave out the identifying information for my father and myself. After all, I am sure the paparazzi would be hiding in the shrubs for a photo.
I skimmed the medical file that spanned his military service until shortly before his death. It will take some time to look at it in more detail. But I will have to look at it when my mood is right. Anything about my father is either completely devoid of emotion or absolutely drenched in it.
My quick observations: It confirmed his stay in a TB hospital after the divorce. I have always tested positive for TB even though I have never had it. Interestingly, the information that was the most upsetting wasn't his continual alcoholism, which I knew about, but the fact that he had some type of infection during his military service and had lost quite a few of his teeth! Oh vanity, my vanity. I am sure there are more surprises in store.
The best part of this surprise was that over a year after my request, it was sent Priority Mail for $4.90 because they obviously wanted to get it to me as quickly as possible Remember this is the same government that paid $2000 for a toilet seat! I wonder how long it took to deliver those?
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