Another Fire Destroys More Veteran Records

As in the case of the suspicious St. Louis fire of 1973 in the VA records center which "allegedly" destroyed many veterans' files, according to the VA, the files most recently destroyed were those of deceased veterans. Ten boxes were totally destroyed, 50 boxes sustained minor to severe fire damage. How will this affect claims filed by widows of Atomic Veterans?

According to Robert Knode, records officer for the VA Benefits Administgration, "...any VA records found to be water-damaged will be 'reconstructed' as far as possible. We may be able to identify the regional office that retired these files." The possibility that arson was the cause is being investigated, however, a VA spokesperson insisted that security at the facility was very tight.

[This article based in part on the Stars and Stripes, March 13 - March 26, 2000, pp1]
[Pure bull!. A former VA Undersecretary, who broke the mold, had no trouble finding the records of a dying veteran who had been told that his records could not be found. This undersecretary was transferred shortly thereafter to a remote VA hospital. Ed]

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