Making Your Voice Heard Walter Russell, LTC, USA (Ret) MOAA Member Since 2001
Walter Russell’s military career was cut short in 1965 when he was shot in Vietnam. The bullet wounded him in the head, leaving him paralyzed on the left side of his body. After 15 years of service, the West Point graduate would retire from the Army 100-percent disabled. With the advent of concurrent receipt in 2003, which allowed disabled veterans to receive both their pension and disability pay, Walter knew he wasn’t eligible because he did not retire with 20 years of service. As a MOAA member, he would call to check the status of MOAA’s work on expanding concurrent receipt.
“I was angry, because people with 20 years of service got both their disability pay and pension,” he says. “I only had 15 years, but I got all shot up. I served as much as any guy.” One day he called and spoke with a MOAA government relations deputy — Col Mike Hayden, USAF (Ret) — and learned about combat-related special compensation (CRSC). “I didn’t know I was eligible,” Walter says.
6 | Awe-Inspiring Views
Walter wasn’t aware that in 2008 the law had changed to allow a veteran with any years of service or disability rating to apply for CRSC. At Mike’s urging, Walter applied for CRSC. Mike immediately called the Army’s CRSC personnel to inform them that an 81-year old disabled retiree was applying for CRSC and requested they expedite the claim processing. Within days, Walter’s claim was approved. Less than two months later, Walter received $57,000 in back pay. He also began receiving $2,142 a month in CRSC. He was thrilled and used the money to become a Life Member of MOAA. “Mike was very generous with his time,” says Walter. “I upgraded my membership because what he did meant a lot to me.”
TAKE ACTION MOAA makes it easy for you to contact congress:
www.moaa.org/takeaction
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