RAUL: Thanks for service to veterans

I want to thank Rep. Raúl Labrador for his outstanding work helping Idaho veterans.

Last year, I contacted Rep. Labrador’s office about my husband, Roy, who served in the Vietnam War. Because of some strange government rules, Roy wasn’t considered a combat veteran, and so he was denied several medals for his service as well as any VA benefits. Amazingly, Roy was denied these things for almost 50 years.

For years, I tried to get Roy those medals. I wanted Roy to hold them in his hands and to understand that his service to his country was finally acknowledged. But it wasn’t until I contacted Rep. Labrador’s office that real progress began to happen.

As soon as I called Rep. Labrador’s office, they made Roy’s case a high priority. Within a few months, Roy was able to receive the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. He also received his Honorary Discharge Lapel Pin.

Rep. Labrador is so approachable and his staff is amazingly easy to work with. They are eager to help and to see problems resolved. When Rep. Labrador approached my husband that day, thanked him for his service and embraced him for several minutes I truly saw his heart for our veterans. It meant the world to both of us. He wants to see things made right for all veterans like Roy.

We are so very grateful that we have such a committed and principled representative.

KRISS MITCHELL

Post Falls