Veterans' assistance available
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

L-N File Photo Rolling Into Town Jack Fisk walks past the DAV mobile service office, which will be in El Campo Wednesday, bringing information and assistance to veterans who may not be aware of all the benefits to which they are entitled.

Local veterans served their country, but may not be collecting the benefits they deserve.

The Wharton County Chapter 72 of the Disabled American Veterans is working to ensure local veterans can collect the benefits they are entitled to receive.

A DAV mobile service office is coming to El Campo on Wednesday, April 30.

The van will be parked at the El Campo Volunteer Fire Department Training Field, 1043 N. Wharton, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day.

Veterans do not have to be members of the DAV to come by with questions on their benefits, DAV representative Jack Fisk said, adding there is no charge for the service.

Each service officer is also a veteran with service-connected, wartime disabled status, so they are well aware of the problems facing former military service personnel.

"You will be provided the best counseling and claim filing assistance you can get from any source, anywhere. These national service officers, like you, are veterans and understand problems," Fisk said.

Most of their assistance focuses on securing disability benefits from the Veterans Affairs Hospital.

"They assist veterans and their families in filing claims for VA disability compensation, rehabilitation and education programs, pensions, death benefits, employment and training programs, Social Security disability benefits and much more," Fisk said.

Participants will be asked to bring their VA claim number and Social Security numbers, as well as any other pertinent documentation.

The mobile service office program started in March 2001 as an effort to reach out to veterans, especially in rural areas. Since its inception, thousands of veterans have received advice and other assistance.

In addition to supplying the mobile service office to area veterans, the local DAV chapter is also responsible for the VA hospital transport van.

A DAV van travels from El Campo to the Houston Veterans Affairs Hospital every weekday with one brief stop in Wharton to pick up riders.