At a couple points in our lives in Kaohsiung, Char was pregnant. In 1991, when our son was “on the way” we learned that the health department was offering all kinds of free prenatal care for residents of the city. I visited the office confused an intake worker there, because both Char and I were obviously not citizens (then), so we were judged by this low level staff member to be ineligible. I left my phone number and address for her, and was later informed that we were, indeed, eligible. So various services extended to citizens were offered to Char (and to our son-to-be).
This incident, from 1991, came to mind through a chance acquaintance in an Amtrak dining car somewhere east of Dodge City, Kansas last week. The dining car tables are for four, but if you’re only two, you sit with folks you didn’t know previously. We were across from a couple from Oklahoma. The gentleman was full of stories about his youth and military life (he had served in the Army in the early 80s). I mentioned that I’d been in the army, too, and had served in Vietnam in 1970. When he heard this, he advised that I apply for a 100% service-connected disability status through the Veterans’ Administration. He said that just being on the ground in Vietnam made me eligible because it was presumed I’d been exposed to agent orange. The only way to get beyond that topic was to promise to look it up when we got to a place with Wi-fi (which most Amtrak trains west of Chicago don’t have).
So, I looked it up. And, indeed, he was right. There are a dozen medical conditions for which anyone who served more than a few days in Vietnam between 1962 and 1975 can apply to the VA for treatment. As I read down the list, I found myself ineligible, because I have none of those. Rats! (or maybe, Whew!).
David Alexander resides in Holland, MI after 39 years in Taiwan.
Aboksu 