| El Salvador, the Country, and the Veterans Who Live There
By David Lord - july 2005
 I left beautiful Antigua, Guatemala, for my next leg of travel on a Ticabus. The first class bus trip is a good way to travel Central America, and the cost is hard to match: round trip to Panama and back to Guatemala was just $134 USD.
The trip to San Salavador -capital city of El Salvador- was an easy 5-hour trip from there, arriving at six p.m. The miles melted away, watching the scenery and people of that country and my excitement was rising with each mile, as I had never been to that place, and knew only one of the American Legion Veterans I would be training.
I had been told that it was prudent to be in a hotel and stay there until daylight broke, as the unrest and poverty combined at times to bring desperate folks to robbery. The smoke filled the air, it was sugar cane fields burning as far away as Cancun, Mexico, moving south. It also came from Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador. This thick and smoky smog disrupted airplanes landing in neighboring Honduras, and all hotels were pricing rooms much higher than I had planned for. I was reluctant to fork over the 135 bucks to secure a room for the night, but remembered the repeated and continuous travel alerts issued by the U.S. State Department. I registered in a comfortable Hotel on the southwest side of town, away from hazard.
Eight veterans attended, they organized themselves during the day for training at 8 p.m. at my hotel. Then, I would leave on the 3 a.m. Ticabus for the 18-hour ride to Costa Rica. The Veterans in El Salvador were the most attentive of all the Legion Posts of this tour. Some spoke English, but most did not, and patiently endured my Spanish version of the benefits, related to their personal claims and questions. For me, their interest was a demonstration of the power I possess to change lives by the use of existing laws. Pensions for all veterans, age 65 or older, having 90 days or more of military service -one of those days being during a period of war- and other than a dishonorable discharge, guarantees them $10,126. USD if single, or if married, over $13,000. Dollars in cash, and then an equal amount for them and their dependants' medical needs, not to exceed the amount of pension.
These men were mostly from WW II, Korea, and the Vietnam era. Most of these men had no idea as to the benefits they were entitled to. I was extremely proud of myself for making this trip, I knew I was making a difference. I knew because they told me some of the reality about living in El Salvador. A college graduate, if he or she could find employment, will be paid $3,000. Dollars per year. Imagine the sum of $10,000.+ Dollars for a single veteran that has been surviving on a few hundred dollars per month! El Salvador Post 1 plans to serve the community by reaching out to the widows of U.S. Veterans, and then assisting them in filing the claims for death pension benefits, which amount to over $6,000. Dollars per year, and a like amount for medical care. The obvious question was, did the deceased Veteran have to die from a service-connected disability? The answer is NO! If anyone makes claim for this benefit by virtue of having been married to a U.S. Veteran, they are entitled by law to benefits that maintain a level income, and an equal amount of money for general medical care up to the amount of pension. This benefit does not require them to leave their country for the thirty days per year - as is required for those claiming marriage benefits from Social Security.
I had the taxi driver pick me up at one a.m. I had wanted enough time to tour the city center, to see the historical district. I checked out on time, and was driven downtown. We circled the main park, I felt as if I had slipped into hell. The wandering, sleepless poor filled the square, the shacks of tar paper and black plastic ringed every square block. These blotted out any chance of seeing the historical buildings. The devastation of the earthquakes of 1995 and 2001 left most buildings abandoned because of the hazard of falling down on the occupants. Without the funds to tear down these monsters, the government can only wait for the next earthquake to reduce them to rubble, while engulfing, I predict, thousands of street vendors, and the homeless.
The misery of these people, trapped in a life of poverty, pierced the very marrow of my bones. I felt the grip of their poverty, and the desperation reflected in blocks of filthy, rat-invested huts, on streets rank with rotten fruit and vegetables. I wanted away from here, I had enough of hell on earth; get me to the Ticabus terminal!
In another 20 hours, I would have passed through Honduras, then Nicaragua and be in San José, Costa Rica, where I will pick up the story next time.
Call me on my cell phone 044 (322) 205-1323 if you can assist me during the convention next week at Paradise Village American Legion Convention. My number at the new Cornerstone Hospital is 224-9400, ext. 150. I will be there three times per week, Mondays and Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m., and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
David Lord E-mail: mophmx@yahoo.com
David Lord served in Vietnam as combat Marine for 1st Battalion 26th Marines, during which time he was severely wounded. He received the Purple Heart and the Presidential Unit Citation for his actions during the war in Vietnam. He was awarded the Volunteer Service Officer of THE YEAR (2004-2005) by The Military Order of the Purple Heart.
In Mexico, David now represents all veterans south of the U.S. border all the way to Panama, before the V.A. and the Board of Veterans Appeals. He is Department of Mexico/Latin America Service Officer, and Commander Puerto Vallarta / Banderas Bay's (new post #14). He was also elected to a one-year term (2004-05) as 1st Vice Commander for the American Legion's Department of Mexico/Latin America. He is the only Accredited Department of Veterans Affairs Service Officer in Mexico/Latin America, and the Regional Coordinator for the American Consul, Guadalajara, - Medical Program to assist veterans with medical needs & benefits processing, using the Mexican doctors and hospitals/clinics in Vallarta to have treatments paid by V.A. Insurance directly to the doctors or hospitals with U.S. Treasury checks.
David Lord provides service to veterans at no fee. In order to do this he works at Bayside Properties, 160 Francisca Rodriguez St. on the South Side. Tel.: 223-4424. Veterans are welcome to drop in and discuss claims / benefits to which they are entitled by law. David would appreciate the opportunity to serve veterans with any real estate sales or purchase decisions. Veterans always come first for benefits, so why not for business too?
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