HAGERSTOWN, Md. — In a 9-2
decision on Procopio v. Wilkie, the court said those who served offshore in
Vietnam should receive the same benefits as those who had "boots on the
ground."
“It means that about 70,000 veterans
potentially could be covered. Unfortunately about 20,000 have died during this
process," said Military Veterans Advocacy Executive Director, John Wells.
One vet who would technically
soon be covered (as soon as Veterans Affairs agrees on regulations) is Joe
Lolley.
Lolley's story started
innocently enough.
At 18, he was bright-eyed and
eager to join the military, like pretty much everyone else he knew in town.
“Getting to see the world for
a kid from south Alabama, it was a great thing," said Lolley.
What turned out not to be such
a great thing are the lasting effects of Agent Orange that have completely
changed this "blue water" Navy vet's life.
Lolley suffered a heart attack
at the age of 48.
He had a severe acne condition
on his chest when he returned to the states in '74.
He's undergone four prostate
surgeries, has hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes--to name a
handful.
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