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"FRIENDLY FIRE" VET FINALLY GETS VA COMPENSATION --

"I thought it was about time. Thank God everything has

been made right. It's a big relief off my shoulder."

 

 

The story of Ryan Riddle is an interesting one.

There are three preceding stories that tell of Riddle's battle with the VA...then, today's story.

1. http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/
nf07/nfMAY07/nf050407-10.htm

2. http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/
nf07/nfMAY07/nf052707-2.htm

3. http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/
nf07/nfJUL07/nf071807-3.htm

Today's story here... http://www.wtnh.com/
Global/story.asp?S=6943220&nav=3YeX

Story below:

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Southington vet to receive benefits

by News Channel 8's Alan Cohn

Southington (WTNH) _ The Veteran's Administration has reversed its initial decision to deny benefits to a soldier injured in Iraq.

For months, the VA stubbornly stuck to its decision that it could not find any evidence that Ryan Riddle was shot in Baghdad and deserved combat-related benefits.

Riddle received the call from VA's Director of Benefits and he could not be more relieved saying, "I thought it was about time. Thank God everything has been made right. It's a big relief off my shoulder, like someone came and picked up that boulder off my shoulder."

Riddle's military records were lost after he was discharged from the Army, and when he first applied for combat-related benefits, the VA told him for all they knew he was "shot on the streets of Hartford."

Team 8 was able to track down Riddle's sergeant in Baghdad and another soldier who say they were with Riddle when he was wounded.

Corroborating letters were presented to the VA and Riddle will now get about $700 a month in benefits.

But for Riddle it more than the money, "It's them acknowledging my service and them acknowledging what I did and the problems that happened while fighting for my country. That in it of itself is what I wanted."

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Larry Scott  --