West Haven veteran gets discharge status changed

2015-06-25T03:25:54-04:00

Conley Monk Jr. of West Haven tried three times to have his less-than-honorable discharge from the Marines overturned because he has post-traumatic stress disorder.

Two weeks ago, as a result of a new guideline issued by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Monk had his status upgraded, to “a general discharge with honorable conditions,” he said Monday.

Monk, 66, was one of five veterans who sued Mabus in federal court over their discharges, which was issued in Monk’s case because he went AWOL after serving in Quang Tri, Da Nang and other Vietnam War battlefronts. The less-than-honorable discharge is “effectively a bar to most of the benefits that the VA provides to veterans,” including the GI Bill, education assistance and housing loans, said Virginia McCalmont, who volunteers with the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School.

PTSD was not considered a valid medical condition to enable a veterans to receive benefits until 1980, years after the Vietnam War ended.

On Sept. 3, 2014, then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel issued guidelines to the discharge-review boards that they would have to “take these applications seriously,” McCalmont said. That resulted in the five veterans’ lawsuit being dismissed without prejudice to determine if the new ruling will solve the problem.

After leaving the service in September 1970, Monk worked as a counselor at the APT Foundation and volunteered at the Columbus House shelter. He is on disability benefits because of a stroke suffered 10 years ago and diabetes. Until the recent ruling, he did not have access to military benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

There are about 80,000 other veterans who also will benefit from Mabus’ ruling, but Monk said “a lot of them may not be aware of it or a lot may not be here anymore.”

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said “This triumph for justice gives Conley Monk what he’s due four decades late and it should give encouragement and it should embolden and empower 80,000 other vets who suffer from post-traumatic stress and still have less-than-honorable discharges to also seek justice.”

Blumenthal said he’s introduced a resolution in the National Defense Authorization Act “to review the less-than-honorable discharges” to have a report completed by the end of August” to identify the veterans “who have been harmed by the barrier to recognition” and to let them know of the ruling.

Monk is married and has five children, one of whom, Zakkiya Baker, is principal of the Law, Public Safety and Health Academy at Hillhouse High School.

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http://www.nhregister.com/government-and-politics/20150622/west-haven-veteran-gets-discharge-status-changed

Response by SPC Thomas Baldwin made Jun 25 at 2015 3:34 AM

2015-06-25T03:34:43-04:00

I could say its about time the Vietnam Vets get some of there long over due benefits.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 25 at 2015 3:39 AM

2015-06-25T03:39:29-04:00

I for one hope this Marine gets back pay!

Response by Cpl Rick West made Jun 27 at 2015 8:41 PM

2015-06-27T20:41:15-04:00

Anyone who serves, as long as you are not "DISHONORABLY" discharged should get your benefits.
If you served at least 2 years. Shit happens to us all. Everyone who served during, so called "Peacetime" or wartime will leave with some sort of PTSD. We all have it. Just in different degrees. Some of us can deal with and hide it better than others. Kinda like aspirin. It might work for me but not you type a thing. Some of us are afraid to admit to it due to the stereotyping and the labeling it has. That's to bad. It's kinda like cancer. Just because someone has it don't mean they're bad or contagious but, that's how they get treated. the Marine Corps is famous for this. They have the highest "Other-than-Honorable" discharges than any other branch. If something happens and you "Piss off" the right person then it's like, "I'll get even for that." Wham !!! You just got your "OTH".
Have a wonderful life. Then the whole world will treat you like you have the plague. When all someone did was make a stupid mistake. Look it up for yourself. Don't take my word for it. That's how I found out. I love my Corps so don't get me wrong but, sometimes I think they use this way too much, too often. I think if they actually took the time to help then get-rid-of, they would have a better retention rate of some damn fine Marines. This is just my opinion. I say this because I have met way to many Marines like this that love the Corps has much as any of us and that would have made a longer career if they could have. Sometimes, I think, if they could have just had a year or so off they would have come back better and stronger than before. Care to take that bet ? Then again there are some that have just had enough. Don't destroy their lives just for that. Some weren't made to make the Corps a career. At Least they tried. Maybe they might be better in the Airforce, Army, Navy or not at all. Unless they "REALLY" screw the pooch, don't make it worse by throwing fuel on the fire or them under the bus. Which is what we're doing. Hell, Burdell, Bird Dog or what ever the "POS's" name is walked away from his post during a time of war not once but twice and had some high "POW's swapped for his ass. Him they should have left him there. I'm talking about Mr. Monk Jr. and others like him. Good men that have done even less the Mr. Monk Jr. have received an "OTH" just for pissing off the right person. So ya got your feelings hurt. Get over it. You'll live cream-puff.
I always got even in better ways and gain more respect from my Marines because I "NEVER" gave up on them. Truth be told I didn't want to break in a new-bee.. lol.. We lose too many "GOOD" men and women to this and suicide as it is. It would amaze you as to how many think their lives are over because of this crap and end it. We all have "PTSD" in one form or another. Give those that have a harder time dealing with it then "YOU" do that little extra help up. No Man (or woman), left behind. We all like to hear, "I got your back brother", (or sister) and know ya really mean it. Semper-Fi Brothers and Sisters. Mean what that means when you say it.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Oct 26 at 2015 3:47 PM

2015-10-26T15:47:09-04:00

I am a bit torn on this because it's going to open the flood gates for others who were discharged for drug use or other offenses and now will claim PTSD. I am not an expert on PTSD and I will not try to refute anything related to PTSD for those who served.
I do think that as long as you were not dishonorably discharged then you should be eligible for VA healthcare and if your service connected then receive compensation.

Response by LCpl Robert Czyzewski made Mar 21 at 2016 11:51 AM

2016-03-21T11:51:43-04:00

I got denied on my dd-149 and I fell under former secretary Hagels criteria and been wqaiting for Naval Board of Corrections decision in writing for 66 days now.This is delaying my fight in the appeals process.This fight began nearly 7years and 8 months ago-I need help!

Response by SPC David Harrington made Nov 21 at 2017 10:52 PM

2017-11-21T22:52:14-05:00

Going Awol is other than honorable. The drafted soldiers should be cut some slack though. They didn't ask for any of that crap.

Response by SrA John Monette made Oct 31 at 2019 11:01 AM

2019-10-31T11:01:08-04:00

everyone in CT harps and complains about Sen. Blumenthal. I get it. He embellished his service. But he fights like a junkyard dog for the rights of Veterans.