VA Loan Updates

By Bob Otto

About halfway through my Marine Corps enlistment I thought, man did I make a big mistake. All that marching, inspections, short haircuts, shining boots, cleaning my M-16 rifle, and living in a crowded barracks didn’t appeal to me much. But my four-year hitch went by quickly.

Now, almost 40 years later, if you ask me: “Bob, did you make a mistake enlisting in the Marine Corps?”

“Absolutely not,” I’d answer. In those 40 years since I enlisted, I got far more from Uncle Sam than he ever got from me.

My college education? Paid for through the G.I. Bill.

My first home? Purchased through the G.I. home loan program.

My health care? The best I’ve ever had. The provider? The Veterans Administration Health Care System - namely through the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center in Loma Linda.

Recently two kidney stones lodged themselves in my urinary tract. The pain was excruciating. So my wife hauled me down to the VA’s emergency room on Saturday. Within an hour I was in a hospital bed, hooked up intravenously receiving a painkiller. The doctor ordered a blood test, a urinalysis, X-rays and a CT scan to find out where the two little culprits were hiding.

The staff treated me like a four-star general. I pay no premium other than the standard co-pay like most private medical coverage. And I get all this fantastic health care.

The military’s not for everyone, I know. Forty years ago I thought I had made a big mistake signing up.

But those four years were a small price to pay for the multitude of benefits I’ve received: A free education, a home loan, and great health care. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I traveled. The Marine Corps stationed or sent me to Japan, Okinawa, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey, Arizona, and California.

Veterans, it’s not that difficult to enroll in the VA Health Care System. You can apply online at www.myhealth.va.gov. Select from the top menu “Apply Online” then “Healthy Eligibility” and follow the directions. It’s that easy to get started. You can even download and print the application. If you’re not computer savvy, you can enroll at any VA medical center or clinic.

For most Inland Empire veterans, the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center, 11201 Benton Street, Loma Linda is the nearest location. The phone number is (909) 825-7084, or 1-800-741-8387. VA community clinics also exist in Corona, Palm Desert, Sun City, Upland, and Victorville.

Thank you, Uncle Sam.

Found here.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites