29 Years of Leave No One Behind
Jan 20, 2026 marks 29 years since HadIt.com first went online on January 20, 1997.

I could tell you about the numbers — 40 million visits, 26,000 community members, hundreds of thousands of claims filed. But that's not what this anniversary is really about.

This is about what you built.

Every question answered at 2 AM by a veteran who'd been through it. Every piece of advice that turned a denial into an approval. Every time someone said "search HadIt first" instead of giving up. Every form explained, every regulation decoded, every frustration validated.

You didn't just use a website. You built a movement.

The Paper Trail No One Walks Alone
In 1997, I started HadIt.com because I was drowning in the VA claims process and needed help. I never imagined it would become what it is today — not because of anything I built, but because of what you built together.

You turned a simple message board into:

The most trusted veteran claims resource on the internet

A 24/7 support network that never asks for a dime

A place where experience outranks credentials

A community where "thank you for your service" means actually serving

The Hard Truth About Money
I need to be straight with you about something.

HadIt.com costs money to run. Hosting, security, software, updates — the bills don't stop. Right now, AdSense brings in $2-3 a day. Contributions help, but they don't cover the gap. The math doesn't work.

We've turned down lucrative offers for 29 years — lead generation schemes, affiliate deals, VSO partnerships that would compromise our independence. I'm proud of that.

But I'm also not going to lie to you: we may need to accept sponsorships or advertising from lawyers, claims agents, or other service providers to keep the lights on.

Here's my promise if that happens:

Full disclosure. You'll know exactly who's paying for what.

Editorial independence. No sponsor gets to influence what we say or what advice gets shared.

Clear labeling. Ads will be clearly marked as ads. Sponsored content will be clearly marked as sponsored.

Vetting. We won't take money from predatory services or anyone who preys on veterans.

Your voice matters. If you see something that crosses the line, call it out. This is still your community.

I hate that we're even having this conversation. But I'd rather be honest with you than quietly sell out or shut down because we can't afford to keep going.

If you want to help keep HadIt.com as independent as possible, here's how you can support us. Every contribution means one less sponsorship we have to take.

Built on Justifiable Outrage
Someone asked me once why I'm still doing this after 29 years.

The answer is simple: I'm still angry.

Angry that veterans have to fight for benefits they earned. Angry that the system is designed to confuse and delay. Angry that getting what you're owed requires an internet law degree and the patience of a saint.

But here's what keeps me going: You're angry too. And you're doing something about it.

Every time you answer a question, share your timeline, or tell someone "don't give up" — you're turning that anger into action. You're making sure the next veteran doesn't have to figure it out alone.

That's the mission. That's always been the mission.

What's Next
HadIt 3.0 is underway. We're modernizing the site, improving search, making the information easier to find and use.

And I'm being realistic: after 30 years, I'll be 30 years older. At some point, HadIt.com will need someone else at the helm — someone who shares the mission, understands the community, and won't compromise what you've built here.

If that's you, or you know someone, let's talk. Not today, but when the time comes.

What won't change:

Veteran-run

Veteran-focused

The mission stays intact

Your trust comes first

Because this isn't my site anymore. It's ours. And whoever takes it forward needs to understand that.

Thank You
To every veteran who's ever:

Posted a timeline to give hope to someone waiting

Explained a regulation for the hundredth time without complaint

Shared a win so others could see it's possible

Stayed up late to answer "just one more question"

Refused to let another veteran walk the paper trail alone

This is your anniversary. You built this. You earned this.

29 years down. At least one more to go.

Leave No One Behind — Not on a jungle trail, not on a desert trail, not on a paper trail.

— Tbird
Founder, HadIt.com
Still mad, still fighting, still here

Share your HadIt.com story in the comments:
What year did you find us? What claim were you working on? How did the community help you?